Information and checklist for licentiate thesis preparation and the licentiate seminar

Rules and guidelines

It is important that you reads up on the guidelines and are aware of the rules that surround the licentiate seminar. Please see the following documents:

Regulations Handbook for Third-Cycle Courses and Study Programmes at Örebro University

Time and date

The time and date of the licentiate seminar is planned by the principal supervisor (and assistant supervisor) in consultation with the licentiate candidate and the subject coordinator.

Course requirements

The mandatory courses must be approved in order for the seminar to be held.

Examiner

The principal supervisor proposes an examiner with docent or professor competence and the appropriate subject expertise. For more information, see section 12.3.1 in the Regulations Handbook for Third-Cycle Courses and Study Programmes at Örebro University.

The grade is determined by the examiner. For more information, see section 16.3 in the Regulations Handbook for Third-Cycle Courses and Study Programmes at Örebro University.

External reviewer

The principal supervisor proposes at least one external reviewer who holds a minimum of a doctoral degree.

The chair of the seminar

The chair at the seminar must be an employee of Örebro University.

Production of the licentiate thesis

When preparing the scientific paper, a specific Word template should be used (please note that it is primarily intended for the production of a doctoral thesis). Link to the webpage for thesis structure and template.

Printing the licentiate thesis

Printing is to be done after the licentiate seminar and after a passing grade has been awarded for the thesis. The school meets the cost of ten copies. The doctoral student shall contact the Printing Office (Repro) at Örebro University concerning the printing and will at the same time submit the necessary details for invoicing and delivery arrangements. These details can be obtained from the study and research administrator.

Proposal for the public defence of av licentiate thesis

Once you have agreed on a preferred date and time for the licentiate seminar, the supervisor shall inform the study and research administration thereof. The study and research administration will book a lecture hall and a meeting room.

A proposal for public defence of a licentiate thesis, complete with all appendices, must be submitted to the study and research administration eight weeks before the seminar. 

• Form for proposal for public defence of a licentiate thesis

The following attachments must be included with the application:

• Brief summary of the licentiate thesis, in Swedish or English. Approx. one A4 page.
• A list of the studies included in the licentiate thesis. This list must contain details of co-authors. It must also say whether the papers have been submitted to a journal or whether they are still manuscripts.
• Information of the assessment made of any conflicts of interest [jäv] relating to the persons nominated, in relation to the doctoral student and the supervisors.
• A brief account by the supervisor, describing the doctoral student’s work and their contributions to the studies if the articles are written in cooperation with others
• Transcript of records from Ladok
• All applications for and decisions on ethics approval relating to the substudies of the licentiate thesis.

Decision

Decision on the public defence of the licentiate thesis is made by the Head of School  and expedited to the doctoral student, supervisors, the subject coordinator/specialisation coordinator and the director of studies for the doctoral programme in question.

Information to the external reviewer, examiner and chair of the seminar

The study and research administrator will send an e-mail with practical information before and in connection with the licentiate seminar to the external reviewer, examining committee including substitute and chair of the seminar. 

Distribution of the licentiate thesis

The study and research administrator will send the licentiate thesis as a pdf via email to the external reviewer, examining committee including substitute and the chair about three weeks before the licentiate seminar.

The doctoral student distributes the licentiate thesis to other persons concerned.

The licentiate seminar

The doctoral student begins by presenting their work (approx. 30 minutes).

The external reviewer is tasked with critically reviewing the licentiate thesis and discussing the content with the author of the thesis. 

After the seminar, the examiner is to ask questions relating to the content of the thesis with the purpose of assessing whether the intended learning outcomes for the award of the licentiate degree have been met. Other attendees in the seminar will also be given the opportunity to ask questions.

After the seminar, the examiner completes the protocol and returns it to the study and research administration. The result is registered in Ladok.

Language

The seminar is conducted in Swedish or English.

Duration

The seminar is estimated to last approximately 2 hours.

Remuneration and travel costs

The subject covers remuneration, travel, and any accommodation for the external reviewer.

Degree certificate

After receiving a passing grade at the public defence of the licentiate thesis, the former doctoral student requests their licentiate degree certificate. Further information is found on the web page on how to apply for degree certificate. Note that the degree cannot be issued until a formal decision about “All courses completed for Research Education” has been made. If you have questions, please contact examen@oru.se.