Doctoral Studies

As a PhD student in Media and Communication Studies at the Department of Communication, you will be part of a creative and international research environment, exchanging ideas with academics from around the world. We foster an open and dynamic academic culture, offering regular seminar series, workshops, and conferences. Our researchers engage in pioneering interdisciplinary projects that explore key societal developments, digital communication technologies, and their impact on politics, industry, culture, and society.

The doctoral programme comprises a total of 240 credits, which corresponds to four years of full-time studies. It is divided into a course component of 60 credits and a thesis component of 180 credits. The Licentiate programme comprises two years of full-time study, consisting of a thesis component of 75 credits and a course component of 45 credits.

The department actively supports doctoral students' learning and progress throughout the programme. We provide individual supervision and mentoring during the work on the thesis, as well as workshops on essential academic skills, including publishing, grant writing, research presentation, and teaching opportunities.

Entry requirements for research studies

A completed second cycle (Master’s) degree.
Completed course requirements of at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits in the second cycle.
Equivalent knowledge acquired in some other way in Sweden or abroad.
The specific entry requirements for admission to third-cycle studies in Strategic Communication are completed course requirements of at least 30 credits in the subject of Strategic Communication, of which at least 15 credits from a Master’s degree project, or equivalent knowledge acquired within or outside the country.

What does a doctoral programme entail?

For a doctoral degree, the student must write a scientific thesis (doctoral thesis), which must be based on independent research work and be of a high scientific standard. The thesis is defended at a public defence (a Viva) in the order prescribed in the Higher Education Ordinance and local regulations for the Faculty of Social Sciences in Lund.

General syllabus for third-cycle studies in Media and Communication Studies

You defended the thesis at a public defence in the manner prescribed in the Higher Education Ordinance and in the local regulations for the Faculty of Social Sciences at Lund University. The thesis may be a written monograph or a compilation of scientific articles and an introduction. A doctoral dissertation comprises 180 credits of the programme. A licentiate thesis is 75 credits.

Before the defence, three seminars are organised to support the thesis work: an idea seminar where the project's focus is presented, a middle seminar and a final seminar.

You take advanced-level courses comprising 60 credits for the doctoral degree and 45 credits for the licentiate degree. The courses can be for several participants or individual reading courses. In addition to the department's courses, you can choose other courses available at Lund University or other universities in Sweden or abroad. It is compulsory to take 30 credits in methodology and 3 credits in ethics.

Students who have completed second-cycle courses before admission to the doctoral programme may be considered for credit transfer. The credits form the basis for reducing the length of the doctoral programme. Credit transfer is examined at the doctoral student's request. The department's board decides if the credit transfer is eligible.

The department offers several reading courses in key areas. After consultation with the supervisor, the examiner for the course is contacted to plan when it should be completed.

The PhD programme may include participation in teaching and other departmental work. This work constitutes a maximum of 20 per cent of the PhD programme and is planned in consultation with the director of studies for the undergraduate programme. You are compensated by a corresponding extension of the study period.

Doctoral students who teach must have completed at least two weeks of high-level pedagogical training or have otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge. The course credits (maximum 3.5 credits) can be included in the course component of the doctoral programme. Thereafter, the faculty offers additional pedagogical courses. Lund University strives to ensure all employed teachers have 10 credits in higher education teaching courses.

Read about courses in higher education teaching and learning at the Faculty of Social Sciences.

A main supervisor and an assistant supervisor guide your work from start to finish. They help organise and develop the thesis work and provide advice and support.

The Head of Department, in consultation with the Director of Studies for the doctoral programme, appoints the supervisors after discussion with the doctoral student. The main supervisor must be an associate professor with previous experience in doctoral supervision. This is not required for assistant supervisors. The supervisors are part of a supervisory committee that discusses the work in a larger group.

An individual study plan is drawn up for each doctoral student to support the thesis process. It contains a timetable for the doctoral education and the thesis work, including completed and planned courses, a plan for the scope and organisation of the supervision, a plan for completed and planned departmental service and a study financing plan. The plan is annually discussed and revised with the supervisors (no later than 1 November), then approved by the Head of Department.