THE STUDY PROGRAMME

THE GENERAL SYLLABUS

For each third-cycle subject area there is a General Syllabus. The main content of the third-cycle programme, special entry requirements, and other necessary stipulations are all outlined in this syllabus. Here you will also find the goals for third-cycle degrees that have been established by the Higher Education Ordinance.

INDIVIDUAL STUDY PLAN

Every third-cycle student admitted to a third-cycle programme at University West has an individual study plan that is established by the Research- and Research Programmes Board. This individual study plan contains a plan for completing various stages of your studies, information regarding supervision, employment, research specialisation, a progress report related to the national goals for this degree, and other concerns in accordance with the established individual study plan template. 

SUPERVISION

Every third-cycle student has two supervisors with doctoral degrees. These supervisors are appointed when the individual study plan is established. One of the supervisors is given primary responsibility for the third-cycle student. This principle supervisor should be a reader/associate professor or a professor in the subject area. When the supervisors are appointed, it is important to ensure that enough time is set aside that the supervisors can offer good guidance. Furthermore, the third-cycle student's preferences should be taken into account, and an effort should be made to provide role models for both genders. The third-cycle student has the right to choose another supervisor without providing his or her motivation for the change. If a supervisor for some reason is unable to continue in this role, the third-cycle student has the right to a new supervisor. If there is a change in supervisor, the individual study plan should be
updated. If changes are made in supervision, the student should contact the Director of Studies, who together with the departmental board appoints a new supervisor.

the THESIS WORK-IN-PROGRESS

Every student who has been admitted to a third-cycle programme at University West should follow the general study plan established by the Research- and Research Programmes Board for his or her chosen subject area. Moreover, every third-cycle student should have an individual study plan established by the Research- and Research Programmes Board.

Planning seminar

To guarantee a good start on the dissertation, the third-cycle student should present his or her thesis proposal for discussion at a seminar. The planning seminar is normally held within twelve months of admission to the thirdcycle programme.

Mid-way review

When a third-cycle student is halfway through his or her studies, there is a seminarat which the student presents his or her dissertation work and it is discussed as a whole, thus providing advice and support for the second half of the thesis. 

Final seminar prior to the mid-way review

Before the third-cycle student undergoes a mid-way review, he or she presents the thesis for discussion. At this time the thesis, such as the student intends it to be published, is discussed. This seminar is meant to provide support for the third-cycle student in that the first half of the thesis is discussed in detail and the author is provided with constructive criticism before the final draft is printed and the student applies to schedule a mid-way examination seminar.

Normally there should be plenty of time allowed between the final seminar and the scheduling of the mid-way review.

Final review

Prior to the public defence, the third-cycle student presents his or her dissertation for a final review. At this time the thesis, such as the student intends it to be published, is discussed.
This seminar is meant to provide support for the third-cycle student by discussing the thesis in detail. Hence, time should be allotted for constructive criticism before the final draft of the dissertation is printed and the student applies to schedule a public defence. Normally there should be plenty of time allowed between the final review and the scheduling of the defence.

COURSES

The General Syllabus for each subject area indicates the scope (in terms of HE credits) of the third-cycle student's participation in courses, and also specifies which and how many compulsory courses are to be taken during his or her studies. The individual study plan should show both the coursework that the third-cycle student has done and which compulsory and elective courses he or she plans to take. Courses that are part of thirdcycle studies should normally be taken at that level.

University West offers compulsory courses in the three subject areas of specialisation: production engineering, informatics with a specialisation in work-integrated learning (WIL), and education studies with a specialisation in work-integrated learning (WIL). We also offer a number of electives every term. When necessary, we offer the possibility of tailoring individual courses to third-cycle students' needs. This is done by agreement between the third-cycle student and his or her primary supervisor.To the courses.

Syllabi

For each UW course at the third-cycle level, there is a syllabus in Swedish, and if the course is given in English, there is an English translation of that syllabus. In the syllabus you can find the level of the course, the number of HE credits it is worth, its goals, content, entry requirements, forms of assessment, and other necessary information.

In the case of courses that are created for individual needs, students must ensure that the director of studies for third-cycle courses approves an ad hoc syllabus before beginning the course.

Application
It is necessary to apply to take a course at least two weeks prior to the date the course starts. This is done by clicking on the link to the course, which is found on the page where course offerings are listed. To the courses. To be eligible to take courses at the third-cycle level, you must be admitted to a third-cycle programme at an institution of higher learning. There may be other entry requirements, such as admission to a specific programme. If you have been admitted to a third-cycle programme at another institution, you must enclose a copy of your letter of acceptance in your application.

Course evaluations

After each course, a course evaluation is carried out. The purpose of this is to collect students' views in order to improve the programme. At our university we use an electronic course evaluation system called EvaSys. The results of the evaluation are published in a report that is available for third-cycle students to read within five weeks.

canvas (learning platform)

DOCUMENTATION OF STUDIES

Ladok is a system for the documentation of credits that is used by all universities in Sweden. In addition to students’ personal data, Ladok saves information about eligibility, admissions, registration on courses, results, credits, dropped courses, studies abroad, and degrees. Data in the system form the basis for issuing the degree.

What happens if there is an error in Ladok? A large amount of data is uploaded to Ladok manually. It is important that you as a student check to make sure that all the data are correct. If you discover that an error has been made, contact servicecenter@hv.se.

If you have taken courses at another university, it is important to make certain that your credits have been reported and uploaded to Ladok. Sometimes you need to request a transcript from the examiner at the other university. Transcripts are handed to an administrator for third-cycle studies at University West. It is a good idea to enclose official transcripts of your grades when handing in your individual study plan to the Research- and Research Programmes Board for the annual update.

Documents generated by research

According to this legislation, even research documents are considered public. When a research project isinitiated, it is advisable to begin planning for the filing of administrative documents, primary research material, and reports. When the research project or your individual research has come to an end the primary research and presentation material should be filed in the archives. Administrative documents are continually registered in a daybook system.

INSURANCE

All registered students are insured by ‘Kammarkollegiet’. This insurance covers accidents and is valid whenever you are on campus, unless it is an activity arranged by someone outside the university. You are not covered by this insurance during your free time.

NON-COMPLETION

If you decide to discontinue your studies, you should inform the university of this decision by filling out a form for this particular purpose.

BEING EXCUSED FROM A COURSE COMPONENT THAT IS COMPULSORY

If you are unable to participate in a course component that is compulsory due to religious, ethical or other reasons, you may request to be excused. To be excused, you should fill out a form: If your request is denied, you can appeal the decision to the Higher Education Appeals Board.

EXAMINATION – COURSEWORK

The grading system

The grading system is goal-related. University West has only two grades the third-cycle level: pass and fail.

Getting your results

When exams have been marked, the course coordinator posts results.

Reporting results

Results are reported to the documentation system Ladok.

Certificates/Transcripts

If you need to have a certificate of enrolment or an official transcript of your grades, contact an administrator for thirdcycle studies.

DISCIPLINARY MEASURES

Any third-cycle student who has purposefully attempted to deceive the invigilators/the lecturer while taking an examination (what is called cheating, and includes plagiarism, unapproved collaboration, and the use of unapproved resources), or disturbs the class/ examination, can be suspended or given a warning. The disciplinary board makes the decisions with regard to these issues. The board is made up of the Vice Chancellor, a member with legal knowledge, and representatives for faculty as well as students.

Similar measures are taken against a student who causes disturbances in the library or harasses an employee or another student at the university. Decisions taken by the Disciplinary Board can be appealed to an administrative court.

Any student who causes a disturbance in class or elsewhere at the university can be temporarily dismissed.

RESEARCH MISCONDUCT

If the university is made aware of research misconduct (fraud and deceit in research), it will be necessary to investigate these suspicions.

EXPULSION

In the case that a student on the programme is judged to be a threat to others or others’ property, whether it is due to a psychiatric condition, serious criminality, or abuse of alcohol/ drugs, that student be expelled from the programme. These problems are investigated, and the Higher Education Appeals Board  hands down a decision. This board serves all Swedish institutions of higher learning.

THE RIGHT TO SUPERVISION AND OTHER RESOURCES

If a doctoral student is neglecting his or her commitments to the extent that s/he is not following the individual study plan, the Vice-Chancellor will take the decision to suspend that student’s right to supervision and terminate access to university resources. Resources cannot, however, be terminated as long as the student is employed as a doctoral student. If resources needed for study have been withdrawn, the doctoral student can request that the Vice-Chancellor have these resources, as well as the right to supervision, reinstated.

A decision to terminate a student’s access to resources for study can be appealed to the Higher Education Appeals Board (ÖNH).

THE RESEARCH- AND RESEARCH PROGRAMMES BOARD (FFUN)

The Research- and Research Programmes Board is the university's interdepartmental board for dealing with issues regarding research and third-cycle programmes. FFUN is, in particular, responsible for third-cycle programmes and its members make a variety of decisions regulating everything from the admission of individual students to overarching policy decisions, such as establishing guidelines for third-cycle programmes and general syllabi.