General Plan of Study for Phd (Third-Cycle) Programmes in Library and Information Science

Department of ABM General plan of study for PhD (third-cycle) programmes in Library and Information Science Adopted by the Faculty of Arts on 18 December 2012 1. Aim of the programme For a PhD degree, the doctoral student should: • demonstrate a broad knowledge and systematic understanding of Library & Information Science as a whole as well as a deep and up-to-date specialist knowledge in a defined part of this subject, • demonstrate a familiarity with scientific methods in general and particularly as regards scientific methods for Library & Information Science, • demonstrate an ability to make proper and appropriate scientific analysis and synthesis, as well as critically review and evaluate new and complex phenomena, hypotheses and situations, • demonstrate an ability to critically, independently, creatively and with scientific precision identify and formulate hypotheses as well as plan and conduct research and other qualified tasks with adequate methods and within given time frames, including the capacity to review and evaluate such work, • be able to demonstrate an ability with a dissertation and through own research to make an im- portant contribution to the development of knowledge in Library & Information Science, • demonstrate an ability to present and discuss research and research findings orally and in writing in a dialogue with the scientific community and the broader society, • show an ability to identify needs for further research, • demonstrate a competence, both within research and teaching, as well as in other qualified pro- fessional contexts, to contribute to the development of society and support other’s learning, • demonstrate intellectual independence and scientific integrity as well as a capacity to make ethi- cal scientific assessments and, • demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the potential and limitations of science, its role in society and our common responsibility for how it is applied. 2. Eligibility and required qualifications For admission to third cycle studies, applicants must be generally eligible and meet any special eligibility requirements laid down by the faculty board. Furthermore, the applicant must be deemed to pos- sess the general capabilities needed for the successful completion of the studies (cf. SFS 2010:1064, Higher Education Ordinance (HF) Chapter 7, section 35). The faculty board of the Faculty of Arts sets the special eligibility requirements (AFUU section 2, RUF section 4)1. 2.1. General eligibility Applicants are generally eligible if they have completed an advanced-level degree comprising at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits at the advanced level, or if they have acquired the equivalent knowledge in some other way either in Sweden or abroad. The faculty board may grant an exemption from the general eligibility requirements for an individual applicant if there are special reasons (cf. SFS 2010:1064, HF Chapter 7, section 39). Requirement exemptions are granted by the faculty board 1 Translator’s note: See section 9 at the end of document for the full name of these abbreviations 2 of the Faculty of Arts (AFUU 2 §). Applicants are likewise generally eligible if they have acquired equivalent knowledge in a different order in Sweden or abroad. Anyone who, prior to 1 July 2007, satisfied the requirements for general eligibility for third cycle studies, i.e. first-cycle courses or programmes of at least 120 credits or equivalent knowledge acquired in a different order in Sweden or abroad, shall also thereafter be considered to be generally eligible for studies at the third-cycle level, although only until the end of June 2015 (cf. SFS 2006:1053, Chapter 11). 2.2. Special eligibility requirements An advanced degree in Library & Information Science or another relevant subject is required to satisfy the special eligibility requirements. Applicants also satisfy the special eligibility requirements if they have acquired equivalent knowledge in some other manner either in Sweden or abroad in such a way as to satisfy all of the above-mentioned requirements. Anyone, who prior to 1 July 2007, satisfied the special requirements for special eligibility for third cycle studies, i.e. a Master’s degree in Library & Information Science or equivalent knowledge acquired in some other way in Sweden or abroad, shall also thereafter be considered to satisfy the special eligibility requirements for studies at the third-cycle level. 3. Admission and selection 3.1. Information and notice The announcement of available places in third-cycle studies is to be made on the website of the De- partment of ALM www.abm.uu.se and on www.uu.se at least three weeks prior to the deadline for applications. A preliminary dissertation plan of 4-6 pages shall be attached to the application. The dissertation plan should include a preliminary title, problem statement, delimitation of the subject, presentation of material, theory and method, research overview (including any ongoing research) and a preliminary work plan for the four years’ comprised in the programme. A Master’s thesis, degree thesis or equivalent independent research project from the advanced level should also be attached to the application. 3.2. Admission Admission to third-cycle studies and the allocation of financial support are performed openly and in competition. Applicants are only admitted when the resources for supervision and general funding for the place are available. The admission application should be directed to the Department of ALM and be submitted to the head of department on a special form. Decisions on admission are made by the department board. 3.3. Selection Selection among applicants who fulfil the requirements is done taking into consideration their capacity to benefit from third-cycle studies and is based on the following assessment criteria: • previous study results and other qualifications, • the quality of the proposed project, • independence and originality, • the ability to carry out the project within the given time frame, 3 • the ability to express oneself effectively and clearly in writing, • the department’s capacity to provide supervision in the selected subject. The capacity to benefit from the third-cycle studies should form the basis for the selection of applicants. The selection also considers the applicant’s ability to understand scientific texts in English. 4. Content and arrangement of the programme 4.1. Arrangement of the programme Third-cycle studies are completed with either a PhD or a Licentiate degree. The studies shall comprise 240 credits for a PhD and 120 credits for a Licentiate degree. A doctoral student admitted to third- cycle studies that are intended to lead to a PhD degree may, if he/she wishes to do so, obtain a Licenti- ate degree as an intermediate objective. An applicant may also, if he/she wishes to do so and the faculty board considers it appropriate, be admitted to third-cycle studies comprising 120 credits that lead to a Licentiate degree. For part-time doctoral studies, the period of study is extended in proportion to the extent of studies. The slowest study pace is 50 per cent (30 credits per year). A PhD degree comprises 60 credits from courses and a scientific dissertation corresponding to 180 credits. The Licentiate degree may be obtained when the doctoral student has acquired 30 credits of courses and produced a scientific report corresponding to 90 credits. The course study and the dissertation work are to be carried out simultaneously. Doctoral students shall start their dissertation work early on. This work is normally reported at the department’s semi- nars. The supervisors should continuously discuss the studies’ progress with their doctoral students. 4.2. Supervision Two supervisors shall be appointed for each doctoral student. One of them shall be designated as the principal supervisor with primary responsibility for the studies, including the dissertation work – and the other shall be the assistant supervisor. At least one of the supervisors shall be employed at or co- opted to Uppsala University. The supervisors shall have a PhD degree/equivalent and at least one of the supervisors shall be an associate professor (cf. UFV 2006/1135, section 1 AFUU). Doctoral students are entitled to supervision unless the Vice-Chancellor has decided otherwise by virtue of HF Chapter 6, section 30. A doctoral student who so requests shall be allowed to change supervisor (cf. SFS 2010:1064, HF Chapter 6, section 28). The department board accepts and handles applications to change supervisor. 4.3. Individual plan of study An individual plan of study shall be drawn up for each doctoral student. The head of department shall, by delegation of the faculty board, confirm the individual plan of study after consultation with the doctoral student and his/her supervisor. The individual plan of study shall include a timetable for the doctoral student’s studies, particulars on the organisation of the student’s supervision, a description of the other commitments that the doctoral student and the faculty board (i.e. the department) have during the period of study as well as other requirements for pursuing the studies in an efficient way. The individual plan of study shall be reviewed at least once a year. During the review, the doctoral student and the principal supervisor shall inform the faculty board about the progress of the studies. The faculty board may then, or at another time when it is justified, make necessary changes to the individual plan of study. The period of study may only be extended if there are special grounds to do so. Such grounds may comprise leave of absence because of illness, leave of absence for service in the total defence or an elected position in a trade union or student organisation or parental leave. The doc- 4 toral student and the supervisors shall be given an opportunity to make a statement before any changes are made.

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