Financial plan

The Faculty Board is permitted to admit only those applicants to postgraduate studies who gain postdoctoral studentships or who are awarded study grants. The Faculty Board is, however, permitted to admit applicants who have some other form of financial assistance for their studies if the Faculty Board judges that this financial assistance can be ensured for the whole period of the postgraduate studies and that the applicant can devote enough time to his/her studies to complete the study programme.

(Extract from the Swedish Code of Statutes, SFS 1998:80)

Plan for financing studies

A financial assistance plan for all 4 years must be submitted together with the application for admission to research studies, regardless of whether the source of financing is the Faculty or external grants, and whether the studies are to be pursued full-time or part-time.

The financial assistance plan must state how the research studies are to be financed up to the doctoral degree. Postgraduate students usually receives a study grant for the first two years and is appointed to a postggraduate studentship for the final two years. For a postgraduate student with external financial assistance it is not unusual for them to hold a postgraduate studentship for all 4 years. Clinicians normally pursue their postgraduate studies simultaneously with their work in clinical practice.

Full-time graduate studies

Students admitted to full-time postgraduate studies must be awarded a study grant or appointed to a postgraduate studentship at the time of admission; those who are awarded a study grant must be given a postgraduate studentship at the latest when 2 years remain before obtaining theis doctoral degree. This is stated in the Higher Education Ordinance and applies to doctoral candidates admitted to postgraduate studies after April 1, 1998. There are special transitional regulations for doctoral candidates registered prior to this date.

There are different methods of financing full-time graduate studies.

Grants for postgraduate studies administered by the Faculty

From July 1, 2002, new regulations apply to the financing of postgraduate studies. Opportunities for financing are announced twice per year, in April and September, and are advertised on the Faculty of Medicine's homepage.

The following are advertised:

1. Postgraduate grants in specific projects (50% faculty financing for 4 years). This funding is applied for by the supervisor
2. Tempoary postgraduate studentships (for a number of months), intended for students in the later stage of their postgraduate studies. This funding is applied for by the student and supervisor together.

These forms of funding are also sent to academic staff, secretaries and postgraduate students according to the Faculty's e-mailing list.

The Faculty's so-calles study package was advertised for the first time in January 1999. The final allocation date was January 2002.

The Faculty and the postgraduate student's department/research group share the costs financing studies for 4 years as follows:

Year 1: project group/department 100% study grant

Year 2: project group/department 100% study grant

Year 3: project group/department 30% and Faculty 70% postgraduate studentship

Year 4: project group/department 30% and Faculty 70% postgraduate studentship.

Postgraduate students awarded a study package retain these for the whole of their study period. Students admitted to postgraduate studies with external financing before July 1, 2002, are subject to the previous regulations, according to wich, they can not apply for Faculty funding during their postgraduate study period.

In order to be accepted for a grant administered by the Faculty, the applicant must meet the eligibility requirements. This means applying in good time to the Graduate Education Committee to have one's eligibility approved so that this step is completed before application is made for a grant administered by the Faculty. Approval of eligibility may also be undertaken at the time of admission.

Other financial assistance for full-time studies (external financing)

A postgraduate student engaged in full-time postgraduate studies can also obtain the necessary financial assistance through grants from foundations, research councils or pharmaceutical companies.

If a department/research group can guarantee a postgraduate student financial assistance for the entire period of studies (for example a study grant for 2 years followed by a postgraduate studentship for 2 years, or a postgraduate studentship for all 4 years), the Graduate Education Committee may admit the candidate to postgraduate studies at any time during the year.

Part-time postgraduate studies

Students intending to combine their studies with a professional occupation such as a clinical position may be admitted to part-time postgraduate studies at any time during the year. The application must be accompanied by both a financial assistance plan for the whole of the study period and a certificate from the employer confirming that it should be possible for the student to set aside enough time for the postgraduate studies, including the obligatory courses, to be completed within 8 years.

Important note regarding externally financed study grants

Any student who has commenced full-time studies with external financial assistance in the form of a study grant or postgraduate studentship before July 1, 2002, must continue with this financial assistance during the entire period of study and cannot therefore apply for a grant administered by the Faculty at a later stage of his/her postgraduate studies.

Postgraduate students with external financing accepted after July 1, 2002 may, however, apply for Faculty financing after their halfway review.

Limited external financial assistance for part-time students

A supervisor may institute a limited externally financed study grant or a postgraduate studentship for a period of a few months for a postgraduate student who is engaged in part-time studies but wishes to study full-time for certain periods. Applications for a study grant or an appointment to a postgraduate studentship are to be submitted to the Office of Postgraduate Studies.

A student intending to use personal means to finance his/her studies may be admitted only on condition that he or she does not utilize resources at the expense of better qualified students.

Financial assistance for postgraduate students at clinical departments

Most postgraduate students in clinical subjects have specialist qualifications. They are often assigned duties in positions for doctors with advanced training. Within certain clinical specialties, however, a student may both commence and complete postgraduate studies before becoming qualified as a specialist. An important source of financial assistance is "clinical research time", which is applied for by the supervisor.

Temporary appointment as a clinical assistant

A clinical assistant is to work within clinical training and research. The requirements for such posts are a medical degree or admission to postgraduate studies in a field of medical science. These appointments are made on the recommendation of the department following publication of their availability. The appointments may be full-time or part-time. Appointments as clinical assistants are granted on a temporary basis, for up to one year at a time, the total length of such appointments is three years.

The opportunity of carrying out research during working hours varies greatly from clinic to clinic and from job to job. Consequently, a clinical postgraduate student must count on having to do a certain amount of research during off-duty hours.

Amount of grants

The current monthly stipend for full-time studies, as of April 2002, is SEK 13,650. For part-time studies, the stipend must be at least 80% of the full amount. Grants may not be drawn on while other financial aid or special adult study assistance is being provided. Study grants are taxable. Hence, other sources of annual income may affect the net worth of the study grant. Study grants are counted as pensionable income for Swedish basic and supplementary retirement plans (ATP), but not for service (employer) retirement plans. It is not included in the calculation of sickness benefit entitlement (SGI).

Payments

Study grants are paid out at the end of each month. They may be paid out for a maximum of 3 grant years, but for no longer than is equivalent to a maximum of a full grant for 2 years 5 months.

Those who have received study grants for postgraduate studies must, once they have applied, be appointed to postgraduate studentships, at the latest 2 years prior to obtaining their doctorate.

Spare-time employment

Graduate students with full study grants may have spare-time employment amounting to no more than 20% of a full-time job, e.g. 8 hours per week as a health care assistant or an assistantship amounting to 20% of a full-time job. If a postgraduate assistant is required to work more than 20% of a full-time job, this must be reported to the personnel officer concerned. The study grant is then reduced accordingly (an assistantship of 40% may, for example, be combined with an 80% study grant).

Assistants

Postgraduate assistantships can only be awarded to students who have study grants. At pre-clinical departments, many graduate students will be required to take up 20% assignments in undergraduate education; at departments with a small number of graduate students and many undergraduates, the assignment may amount to as much as 40%. 20% assistantship duties do not lead to any extension of the duration of study grants.

Postgraduate students who are recieving a full study grant and are teaching at undergraduate level must recieve their grant for their postgraduate studies and a salary for their teaching. Normally, a postgraduate student is appointed to a 20% assistantship. If the student carries out work equivalent to more than 20%, the study grant will be reduced by the corresponding amount.

The study grant is intended to finance postgraduate studies. Teaching is work for which the student is remunerated with a salary which is taxed. Neither the department nor the supervisor is permitted to demand that a postgraduate student recieving a study grant carry out work and be paid for this with part of his/her study grant.

The student has the right to continue drawing on the grant during:

• military service (or equivalent) not in excess of 60 days during an academic year;
• leave of absence for a period as specified in the Swedish National Insurance Act (Lagen om allmän försäkring), Section 4, governing entitlement to parental allowance;
• illness leading to complete inability to carry out postgraduate studies;
• official duties in a trade union or a student association.

Withdrawal and interruption

Any postgraduate student who wishes to participate in an undergraduate course, or is for some other reason prevented from drawing on a study grant, must immediately notify the personnel department and the Faculty office in writing.

Sickness benefits and other compensation

The calculation of sickness benefits is complicated, and it is important that students obtain information about the current regulations. Those who before receiving a study grant have had often higher sickness benefit entitlement income have so-called "dormant sickness benefits" at the Social Insurance Office and can return to their earlier income to draw on them in the event of absence due to illness, parental leave, etc. In this case, no benefits are paid out by the University.

Postgraduate students who have not previously had sickness benefit entitlement income before receiving a study grant continue to draw their grant during parental leave. If a student believes it may be necessary to apply for an extension of his/her grant beyond the maximum period of 48 months, however, he/she should draw the minimum benefit payment of SEK 60 per day from the Local Insurance Office during parental leave, which means that the study grant is reduced by this amount. In such cases, a special application for leave (appended) is submitted to the personnel department in good time before parental leave. The grant is paid out as usual by the university, but with a deduction for the benefit that has been paid out.

Postgraduate students recieving study grants (who have no dormant sickness benefits from previousincome) who fall ill may, according to the regulations governing study grants, retain their grant, according to Chapter 3, Paragraphs 26-32 in the Ordinance on Study Grants.

The student retains his/her stdy grant and reports sick to the National Insurance Office, which sends out a form. This is filled in and returned by the student, together with a doctor's certificate. The National Insurance office then records the period of illness in their database. If the student should wish to apply for an extension of his/her grant at a later date, they may then request a certificate from the National Insurance Office confirming their period of illness.

Obligatory certificate from the Local Insurance Office

NOTE: To obtain an extension of the financial assistance period beyond 48 months, due to parental leave or illness during the period in which a student is recieving a study grant, the Postgraduate Education Office requires the student to submit a certificate from the Local Insurance Office stating the period of sick-leave or parental leave. In order to obtain such a certificate, the student must have collected some form of sickness or parental benefit.

When parental leave is to be taken while the student holds a postgraduate studentship, application for leave of absence is to be made in the normal way to the personnel department.

Insurance coverage for postgraduate students recieving study grants

Insurance coverage for work-related injuries to postgraduate students recieving study grants is unsatisfactory and considerably inferior to the blanket industrial-injury coverage for public employees, which does not apply to such students. This in turn means that postgraduate students are not compensated for work-related accidents by the employer. However, the Postgraduate Students' Union has taken out insurance coverage for all postgraduate students recieving study grants, wich includes life insurance, accident insurance, and special insurance covering laboratory work.

Postgraduate studentships

Under the provisions of the Higher Education Ordinance, Section 5, the Faculty of Medicine in Lund has chosen to adopt the following rules for postgraduate studentships.

Those who have received postgraduate study grants must, once they have applied, be appointed to postgraduate studentships, at the latest when according to the individual study plan, 2 years remain before obtaining their doctoral degree.

Before awarding a postgraduate studentship in other cases, the student's capacity to benefit from postgraduate studies will be considered. When such a post becomes vacant, the University must announce this by advertising it, or by some equivalent measure, so that those interested in the post can apply to the University within a certain time limit. This position, however, need only be advertised if the post is to be financed wholly or in part from the University's budget for research and postgraduate education (Swedish Code of Statutes: SFS 1998:80).

A postgraduate studentship may be instituted for a maximum of 48 months of full-time research (including the time during which the student previously recieved a study grant). A postgraduate studentship is instituted only as a full-time appointment. The appointment is for one year at a time, and as a rule not beyond the end of the calendar year in which the student obtains their docotate.

The holder of a postgraduate studentship must devote most of their time to postgraduate studies and research, but may to a limited extent (not exceeding 20%) work with teaching, research and administration. The holder of such a position should not have a spare-time job of the kind that may involve any appreciable prolongation of the period of postgraduate studies. However, the rules governing leave of absence from public sector positions provide a certain flexibility that can be utilized when it is obviously valuable for a student's education to combine the application of skills with continued studies. Hence the student can be given leave of absence to some extent, to work part-time - for example as a doctor. A postgraduate studentship may also be held on a part-time basis under the dispensations for parental leave. The hoder of a postgraduate studentship may not be engaged in undergraduate studies, either before or after obtaining their doctorate.

In awarding postgraduate studentships, the Postgraduate Education Committee considers that great weight should be placed on the aptitude of the appointee to teach at undergraduate level. A postgraduate student is required to teach the number of hours equivalent to a maximum of 20% of a full-time position, this being regarded as part of postgraduate studies. If the student has been carrying a very extensive and heavy teaching load, the postgraduate studentship may be prolonged. In such cases, this must be financed entirely by the departmental budget for undergraduate studies. If, however, the postgraduate student has carried what is regarded as a normal teaching load, then no extension will be granted.

If it is to the advantage of the student's postgraduate education and does not entail prolongation of the normal duration of studies, there is no obstacle to postgraduate students pursuing some of their studies in an educational establishment or research institute abroad (in another country).

Postgraduate studentships cannot be filled by substitutes.

A postgraduate studentship carries the same social benefits as other posts.

It is not possible to obtain holiday pay from the Faculty. The supervisor must ensure that the holder of a postgraduate studentship takes holiday time during the period of the appointment.

Once the holder of a postgraduate studentship has obtained his/her doctorate, their work will embrace full-time involvement in research and teaching until the end of the period of appointment.

NOTE: Students who at the time of obtaining their doctorate hold a postgraduate studentship or a study grant must inform the personnel department at the University (the name of the appropriate person appears on the payslip) as to how long they wish (within the time-frame of the appointment) to retain the post or grant after doctoral graduation.

Studies abroad

At the request of the student and with the approval of the supervisor, the grant may be payable and the assistantship retained during the time the student is actively pursuing studies relevant to his/her postgraduate programme in another country.