Individual Study Plan

The individual study plan includes a timeline for the doctoral student's education, information about supervision arrangements, description of commitments for both the student and the board, and other factors necessary to ensure an efficient education. It is a dynamic tool that is continuously updated according to the board's guidelines. The doctoral student and the supervisors together document the scientific problem, development, and ongoing planning of the research project.

The individual study plan and the doctoral student's thesis work are reviewed annually by the Board for education at the doctoral level. During the review, the doctoral student and the supervisors inform the board about their work and progress in the education. The board can make changes to the study plan if necessary. Before implementing any changes, the doctoral student and the supervisors are given the opportunity to provide their input. The review also serves as part of the basis for the head of department's decision on the extension of the doctoral student's employment.

Supervision

Supervision in the education should be qualified and provided in a professional, informed, and reflective manner.

Upon admission to the doctoral program, the Board for education at the doctoral level shall appoint a main supervisor and an assistant supervisor for the doctoral student. The main supervisor should be a docent and have the primary responsibility for ensuring that the doctoral student receives the support and assistance necessary to carry out the thesis work.

Both supervisors should possess sufficient expertise to supervise the doctoral student and have the time, knowledge, experience, and commitment to provide adequate support to the thesis work.

Each doctoral student is entitled to continuous supervision at least six times per academic year. A written supervision plan should be established in consultation between the supervisors and the doctoral student. The doctoral student has the right to supervision during the five years (four years of full-time study) normally required for a doctoral degree. For education that concludes with a licentiate degree, the doctoral student's right to supervision covers two years of full-time study. The right to supervision applies unless the board, with the support of Section 30 of the Higher Education Ordinance Chapter 6, decides otherwise.

Courses

The doctoral education at the Faculty of Law includes not only thesis writing but also courses that are important for achieving a doctoral degree (or a licentiate degree). These courses correspond to 33 higher education credits for a doctoral degree (18 higher education credits for a licentiate degree).

Here are the three mandatory courses: