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Funding
Third-cycle studies can be funded in different ways. According to the regulations relating to study funding, admission to a programme of research training should in the first instance take place in connection with appointment to a doctoral studentship or the approval of a study grant.
The higher education institution may, however, admit applicants who have some other form of funding for their studies if it considers that the funding can be guaranteed during the entire period of study and that the applicants can devote enough time to their studies to enable their completion within four years in the case of a licentiate degree or a licentiate degree in the fine, applied and performing arts or eight years in the case of a PhD or a doctorate in the fine, applied and performing arts. (Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 7 Section 36).
One example is that scholarships are often not taxable and therefore offer no entitlement to social benefits. Normally appointment to a doctoral studentship is the most advantageous form of funding. Many students begin their postgraduate studies with study grants before being appointed to doctoral studentships when they are some way into the programme.
It is usual for doctoral students to have some form of departmental duties, such as administration, research or teaching, alongside their research training. The scope of such work may not be more than 20 per cent of full time. It is important to distinguish between time devoted to study and time spent working for the department, and the simplest way of doing this is to regulate it in the individual study-plan. There are often regulations relating to this in local agreements on working hours made between the employer and the trades unions. It is important to prolong the time allowed for study in proportion to the time spent working. If students are uncertain about how a department will compensate them for the work they do, they should ask to be advised of this in advance. They should not begin working without a clear idea of the details of the compensation they will receive.
Higher education institutions (HEIs) are only permitted to admit an applicant whose funding is considered to be guaranteed for the entire programme (Higher Education Ordinance 7 Section 36.
Some HEIs consider that they have the total responsibility for funding. If other funds dry up the HEI then has to support the doctoral student from its own resources. Other HEIs interpret this as meaning that the board has no unconditional obligations or that the responsibility is shared by the faculty and the doctoral student.
To avoid future problems certain faculty boards require a written certificate from the provider of the funds in question. It seems easier to accept a certificate from an employer who is providing funds, and the same applies to scholarships and study support from CSN. There are examples of students who have been admitted with their parents or a partner as financial guarantors. This has been severely criticized, as it means that an individual's personal financial circumstances may influence their opportunities of being admitted to a doctoral programme.
In a report (1997/98:UbU7, p 11, Swedish only), the Parliamentary Committee on Education states that institutions of higher education are responsible for ensuring that the stipulated requirements with respect to study funding can be met. In the Budget bill for 2000 (item 16, p. 117) the Government added the following:
The stipulation of the Higher Education Ordinance in Chapter 7 Section 36 should thus be regarded as an admission rule; the assessment applies only to the funding situation when the admission decision is made. In the longer term the question of responsibility is unregulated - if the assessment should prove to be wrong and a doctoral student's funding is inadequate, the situation must be assessed by the faculty board in each particular case and be resolved on the basis of the institution's own local rules.
Read more in the Higher Education Ordinance (new window) »
The way in which studies are funded has an important impact, for instance, on how much time can be devoted to study and therefore the length of the entire study period. Social security is also affected, as some forms of funding do not offer the same level of social benefits.
Stipends offer no social benefits
One example is that scholarships are often not taxable and therefore offer no entitlement to social benefits. Normally appointment to a doctoral studentship is the most advantageous form of funding. Many students begin their postgraduate studies with study grants before being appointed to doctoral studentships when they are some way into the programme.
Distinguish between work and training
It is usual for doctoral students to have some form of departmental duties, such as administration, research or teaching, alongside their research training. The scope of such work may not be more than 20 per cent of full time. It is important to distinguish between time devoted to study and time spent working for the department, and the simplest way of doing this is to regulate it in the individual study-plan. There are often regulations relating to this in local agreements on working hours made between the employer and the trades unions. It is important to prolong the time allowed for study in proportion to the time spent working. If students are uncertain about how a department will compensate them for the work they do, they should ask to be advised of this in advance. They should not begin working without a clear idea of the details of the compensation they will receive.
Funding is necessary
Higher education institutions (HEIs) are only permitted to admit an applicant whose funding is considered to be guaranteed for the entire programme (Higher Education Ordinance 7 Section 36.
Read more in the Higher Education Ordinance, chapter 7, section 36 (new window) »
Different interpretations
Some HEIs consider that they have the total responsibility for funding. If other funds dry up the HEI then has to support the doctoral student from its own resources. Other HEIs interpret this as meaning that the board has no unconditional obligations or that the responsibility is shared by the faculty and the doctoral student.
According to the report, departments are very hesitant to admit doctoral students with ‘other sources of funding'. This applies in particular to applicants claiming private means or funding from relatives, etc.
Financial guarantees
To avoid future problems certain faculty boards require a written certificate from the provider of the funds in question. It seems easier to accept a certificate from an employer who is providing funds, and the same applies to scholarships and study support from CSN. There are examples of students who have been admitted with their parents or a partner as financial guarantors. This has been severely criticized, as it means that an individual's personal financial circumstances may influence their opportunities of being admitted to a doctoral programme.
Each higher education institution is responsible
In a report (1997/98:UbU7, p 11, Swedish only), the Parliamentary Committee on Education states that institutions of higher education are responsible for ensuring that the stipulated requirements with respect to study funding can be met. In the Budget bill for 2000 (item 16, p. 117) the Government added the following:
'If an applicant cannot be appointed to a doctoral studentship or be offered a doctoral grant, it is incumbent on the faculty board to make a thorough assessment of the applicant's funding situation in so far as this can be appraised when admission is taking place.'
To the Parliamentary Committe on Educations report 1997/98:UbU7. In Swedish. (new window) »
What happens in the long run?
The stipulation of the Higher Education Ordinance in Chapter 7 Section 36 should thus be regarded as an admission rule; the assessment applies only to the funding situation when the admission decision is made. In the longer term the question of responsibility is unregulated - if the assessment should prove to be wrong and a doctoral student's funding is inadequate, the situation must be assessed by the faculty board in each particular case and be resolved on the basis of the institution's own local rules.
NB!
The Higher Education Ordinance does not apply to non-state HEIs, such as the Stockholm School of Economics, Jönköping University and Chalmers University of Technology. Conditions at these HEIs may therefore differ; make comparisons with information from each HEI or consult SULF, for example.
Last updated: 2012-04-19
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FACTS
Employment on a doctoral studentship is the most secure and today the most common form of study funding during a programme of third-cycle study. In the autumn of 2010, 56 per cent of doctoral students were employed on doctoral studentships, while 10 per cent had doctoral studentships and 9 per cent had scholarships. The rest had some other form of funding or received external funding.
Swedish National Agency for Higher Education www.hsv.se, Luntmakargatan 13 Box 7851, SE-103 99 Stockholm
Phone: +46 8 563 085 00, Fax: +46 8 563 085 50, Mail: To contact form
Phone: +46 8 563 085 00, Fax: +46 8 563 085 50, Mail: To contact form
