welcome as a phd student at lth 2014

7/21/2019 Welcome as a PhD Student at LTH 2014

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Welcome as a PhD studentFACULTY OF ENGINEERING, LTH | LUND UNIVERSITY


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2 PHD STUDIES, FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, LTH

Edition: Autumn 2014


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3PHD STUDIES, FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, LTH

Welcome as a PhD Student

at the Faculty of Engineering, LTHI am truly happy that you have chosen to work with us and as a new employee I am

sure you have many questions about how things are organized here. To help you, as a

newly appointed PhD student, we have therefore put together this introductory hand-

book. It is important for us that you feel at home here, that your work environment

feels inspiring and safe and that you know who to turn to when you have questions.

Your choice to pursue your studies at LTH has opened up for exciting challengesboth as a PhD student but also in your future career. With increasing demand for

qualified skills in ever more intense international competition, graduates of research

studies are becoming even more attractive at companies, in particular for the most

knowledge-based sectors of business and industry. Likewise an academic career,

within the country or internationally, can be challenging and rewarding.

In recent years, research studies at LTH has been developed and modernized in order

to fulfill todays requirements even better. Within the framework of LTHs research

studies, both deep and broad knowledge within a given field is acquired. I addition,PhD students are given the opportunity to work on project leadership and to develop

their teaching and leadership skills in a broad sense. Research studies are demanding

but are also mostly found to be a very stimulating and enriching experience which

can be concluded either with a Licentiate degree or a PhD.

We wish you a warm welcome to your PhD studies at LTH!

Annika Mrtensson, Deputy Dean with special responsibility for the

PhD programme, Faculty of Engineering, LTH, Lund University


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Employment as a PhD student

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT FOR PHD STUDENTS

The admission and employment of PhD students are regulated in the Higher Ed-

ucation Ordinance (1993:100) Chapter 5. www.uhr.se/sv/Information-in-English/

Laws-and-regulations/The-Higher-Education-Ordinance

PhD students who are employed are also covered by the collective agreement General

Agreement on Pay and Benefits for Government Employees (Villkorsavtal).

www5.lu.se/staff-pages/terms-of-employment/terms-of-employment

WORK DUTIES

PhD students are primarily to dedicate their time to their research studies. To a

limited extent, however, at most 20% of their working hours, PhD students are

permitted to work in teaching/education, research and/or administration, so-called

departmental duties.

FORM OF EMPLOYMENTPhD students are always employed full-time, but part-time leave of absence is per-

mitted if the doctoral student requests it. In case of leave of absence at 50% or

more, the PhD student is not to have any departmental duties. A PhD student who

is employed at LTH is entitled to a maximum period of 4 years of research studies.

If departmental duties at 20% are to be taken into account however, this means a

period of employment of 5 years in practice. The period of employment may also be

extended in circumstances such as:

absence due to illness parental leave

elected office within union or student organizations

military service

The first period of employment as a PhD student is always 1 year at most, sub-

sequently renewable for a maximum of 2 years at a time. Appointment as a PhD

student can never be extended for more than one year after the completion of the

PhD degree.


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WORKING HOURS

As a PhD student, your working hours are calculated on an annual basis. It is the

number of days of annual leave to which you are entitled that determines how many

hours per year you should work.

The total annual working hours for PhD students are *:

1700 hours if you are entitled to 35 days annual leave



*up to and including the year you turn 29 you are entitled to 28 days annual leave,

31 days annual leave as of the year you turn 30 and 35 days annual leave as of the

year you turn 40.

SALARY INCREASE AND STANDARD RAISE

Each department has a set starting salary for new PhD students. Some exceptions

can be made if the future PhD student has relevant professional experience or a

double degree.

PhD students employed at LTH are entitled to a salary increase when they have com-

pleted 60, 120 and 180 credits. The principal supervisor and the head of department

asses how many credits the PhD student has achieved. The following rates apply:

- 60 credits SEK 1100/month increase

- 120 credits SEK 1100/ month increase

- 180 credits SEK 600/ month increase

- PhD degree SEK 1500/ month increase

The yearly update of the individual study plan is a suitable occasion to check your

progress. The head of department and the main supervisor are to complete the formon performance-linked salary increase available here:

www.lth.se/anstalld/min-anstallning/personalfragor/blanketter

Send the completed form to the Salary Office (Hs 23).

In addition to this, your salary is also increased by a standard amount an amount

which is equal for all PhD students set in connection with each salary review.


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ADMISSION WITH ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF FUNDING

The main rule is that PhD students at LTH should be employed. In certain cases, PhD

studies may be financed by alternative means.

1. Other forms of employment. The student may be employed by a company (in-

dustry-employed PhD student) or at another university. A contract must be signed

between LTH and the employer in question.

2. Forms of funding other than employment. This means PhD scholarships awarded

directly to individual foreign students. Lund University does not award scholarships

for PhD students. There are however different possibilities to obtain other scholar-

ships.

The minimum level accepted at Lund University is SEK 12 500 per month (2014).

PhD students with alternative sources of funding

should have access to the same resources, in terms of workplace and supervision

etc., as those employed

need to check the contract for information regarding benefits, rights and

obligations

All PhD students at LTH must however be formally admitted. For questions, please

contact: LTH Faculty Office (LTH:s kansli). You can find more information at

www.lth.se/english/Study at LTH/PhD studies


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Study plans

GENERAL SYLLABUS

For each research studies subject, there is an approved general syllabus. The general

syllabus includes a brief description of the research studies subject and its outcomes

and objectives. It also contains information on the number of credits required for a

licentiate and a PhD degree respectively, regarding passed courses and a pass grade

on a research dissertation or PhD thesis.

You can find the general syllabus for your research studies subject by searching

among the general syllabi on LTHs website. Look under Study at LTH/PhD studies.Take the time to skim through your general syllabus as it contains important informa-

tion for PhD students.

INDIVIDUAL STUDY PLAN AND STAFF APPRAISAL

Each PhD student should have regular staff appraisals and updates of the so-called

individual study plan. The study plan, which aims to support the PhD students

development and the progression of his or her research studies, is attended by the

student, all supervisors and a representative of the department. A staff appraisalshould be held at least once a year. It should cover issues such as:

The students research studies

The students departmental duties

Supervision

The physical work environment

The psychosocial work environment

The result of the staff appraisal is documented in the individual study plan whichrecords the mutual agreements and measures reached. The individual study plan

should be realistic and aim to facilitate the fulfillment of the goals of the research

studies as well as establish the content, guidelines and scope of the thesis work

and the course component. In addition, the document should clarify the rights and

obligations of the student, the supervisors and the department.

The first individual study plan must be approved before admission to research studies

and the first revision should take place within six months of admission. Subsequently

the plan is to be revised at least once a year.


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RANGE OF COURSES FOR PHD STUDENTS

The general syllabus for each research studies subject states which courses

are to be included or may be included towards a degree. At LTH the range of

courses consists of LTHs faculty-wide courses on the one hand and the cour-ses offered by the departments on the other. There is more information on:

www.lth.se/anstalld/for-mitt-arbete/kompetensutveckling/faculty-wide-phd-courses

INTRODUCTORY COURSE

At LTH there is a very much appreciated and well-attended introductory course

for newly admitted PhD students. The course covers one weeks work and

is equivalent to 2 credits. The aim of the course is to welcome LTHs new PhD

students and to contribute to a good start to their research studies. Youcan find information on how to enroll on the course and its syllabus via:

www.lth.se/english/Study at LTH/PhD studies.

Useful information

SUPPORT

Your supervisor and head of department should give you support and help in your

role as a PhD student. If you feel that you need support from someone outside your

department, you are welcome to contact one of LTHs directors of research studies

(Studierektor fr forskarutbildning) or the doctoral student representative. You can

find contact details and further information here:

www.lth.se/forskning/forskarutbildning-lth/studierektorer/

www.ldk.lu.se/domb

You can also contact the Occupational Health Service. This is an independent

service which offers specialist knowledge of work-related healthcare at Lund

University. The service is free of charge for all PhD students. More information here:

www5.lu.se/staff-pages/terms-of-employment/occupational-health-service


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STUDENT UNION PHD STUDENTS SECTION

The student union at LTH is called TLTH. The PhD students section within TLTH is

dedicated to improving the quality of research studies at LTH through coordination

of student representatives, and to manage the mentoring program for PhD students.In addition, the section organizes social activities as well.

Find more information on the PhD studentss section and TLTH on http://dokt.tlth.se

and http://www.tlth.serespectively. The section is part of TLTH and thereby not part

of the Lund University Doctoral Students Union (LDK), but both unions cooperate

on educational issues that affect the students.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Go to the LTH websitewww.lth.se/english/Study at LTH/PhD studies. Here you can

find out more about things like:

general and individual study plan

public defense of thesis, etc

LTHs local regulations on research studies

The website also contains the LTH study guide for PhD students.

There is further information on the terms for PhD students on the Universitys web-

site: www.lunduniversity.lu.se/International Students / PhD Studies.

The Swedish Council for Higher Education also has lots of information on its website

about research studies. This is intended for current or potential doctoral students

www.doktorandhandboken.nu. The site contains most of what you need to know

about your rights, obligations and conditions during research studies, and provides

a great number of practical tips and advice.

The International Researchers & Scholars Office (IRSO) at Lund Univer-

sity supports international staff with information and practical tasks. Their

website contains valuable information on insurances, Swedish langu-

age courses, accommodation agencies and the Offices own social activities.

Go to the website www.lunduniversity.lu.se/Current staff/IRSO


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FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

LTH

Box 118

221 00 Lund

Tel 046-222 00 00

www.lth.se/english

Lund

University|FacultyofEngineering,

LTH2014

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welcome as a phd student at lth 2014

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