Licentiate degrees

Postgraduate studies may be concluded with a licentiate or a doctoral degree. The studies comprise 240 credits for a doctoral degree and 120 credits for a licentiate degree.

A university or other higher education establishment may, however, decide that part of postgraduate studies intended to be concluded with a doctoral degree, comprising at least 120 credits may be concluded with the degree of Licentiate of Medical Science [Swedish Statute: SFS 2002:139].

The 120 credits must include both coursework and a dissertation.

The programme must be so designed as to provide the student with in-depth knowledge of the subject as well as with training in research methods and advanced independent study.

Eligibility and admission

Prerequisites for admission to studies leading to a Licentiate of Medical Science are:

• that the applicant satisfies the requirements for general eligibility and such special eligibility as the Faculty Board may have prescribed, and also
• that the applicant is deemed to possess the abilities required for satisfactory completion of the programme.

A student may be admitted to postgraduate studies with the aim of obtaining a licentiate degree. The Postgraduate Education Committee is, however, restrictive in this form of admission.

Taking the degree

A licentiate degree requires the student to have passed all parts of the programme required for this degree under the terms of the current regulations and the established syllabus for the subject. This means that the postgraduate student must not only have taken and passed the courses included in this part of postgraduate studies (those students admitted to postgraduate studies after 1 July 1998 must have taken and passed the courses that are obligatory for all postgraduate students) but also have had a dissertation approved.

The Postgraduate Education Committee has decided to apply the following interpretation of Chapter 8, Section 14 of the Higher Education Ordinance:

To obtain a Licentiate of Medical Science, the student must have written at least one scientific paper and a short summary. The paper must be arranged in the form of a scientific article. The dissertation/papers are to be orally defended at a seminar held at the student's department.

Application to receive a Licentiate

The application to receive the Licentiate of Medical Research is submitted by the professor/head of department to the Postgraduate Education Committee of the Faculty of Medicine approximately 2.5 months prior to the intended date of the examination.

The application must include the following:

• A proposed chairperson for the examination
• A proposal for 3 full members of the examination committee, only one of whom may be from the student's own department, and 2 deputy members. The members of the examination committee must have doctorates.
• The title of the dissertation
• A brief statement from the supervisor describing the student's scientific project and individual input to the work and testimonial that the student has performed satisfactorily in achievement tests in the subject.
• 3 copies of each article.

The Postgraduate Education Committee appoints the chairperson and the members of the examination committee. The decision is sent to all those concerned.

Submitting the dissertation

Three weeks prior to the day of the examination the student must submit the dissertation or summary and articles to:

• the chairperson of the examination committee
• the members and deputy members of the examination committee
• the office of the Postgraduate Eucation Committee (3 copies, 2 of which will be forwarded to the University Library, UB).

One copy of the dissertation must be available at the department during the 3-week period prior to the examination.

The office announces the availability of the dissertation and the time and place of the examination on the Faculty of Medicine's bulletin board in the University Building (Byrålogen) and on the Faculty's web site.

Examination

The examination begins with the chairperson's presentation of the student, the examination committee and the dissertation. The student then gives a brief presentation of the contents of the dissertation. Under the direction of the chairperson of the examination, the members of the committee conduct an examination of the work. Finally, the proceedings are opened to questions from the floor.

The members of the examination committee meet immediately after the examination, appoint one of their own number to chair their proceedings, and arrive at a grade of "approved" or "not approved". The supervisor must be present at the meeting, but may not participate in the decision. Minutes are kept, signed by the chairperson, and then sent to the office of the Faculty of Medicine.

Licentiate degree certificates

A certificate is issued on request to those who have fulfilled all the requirements for the degree of Licentiate of Medical Science. A translation of the diploma may be obtained upon payment of a fee.