PhD studies at the Institute of Technology at Linköping University

PhD education at the Institute of Technology aims to develop the students' ability to independently use scientific methodology and conduct their own research in the academy or the industry; to benefit the society and industry, and to spread the research and knowledge outside the academy. 

The Institute of Technology offers PhD studies in many engineering fields but also in physics, chemistry, biology and economics. PhD studies are offered at seven of the fourteen departments at Linköping University and is also organized in several graduate schools.

The PhD education concludes with the award of a licentiate degree or a PhD degree. The actual period of study stipulated for a licentiate degree is two years (corresponds to 120 ECTS credits), and for a PhD degree four years (corresponds to 240 ECTS credits).

Almost all of the PhD students frequently spend 20 per cent of their time on their departmental duties, such as teaching in undergraduate courses. Accordingly, a PhD student who concludes with a licentiate degree spends about two and a half years at the university and a PhD student whose aim is a PhD degree spends five years at the university.

A PhD degree is the highest academic degree awarded in Sweden.