Licentiate degree at CLINTEC

Admission to doctoral education is granted with a doctoral degree as the intended final degree, but exceptions to this rule may be made. A doctoral student who has obtained a licentiate degree may continue their studies with the doctoral degree as the goal.

Admission to a licentiate degree

According to Karolinska Institutet’s regulations for doctoral education, a doctoral student should as a rule be admitted with a doctoral degree as the intended final degree. Only individuals who are professionally active, wish to pursue additional qualification or specialization within a research field, and intend to obtain only a licentiate degree may be admitted with the licentiate degree as the goal.

If you wish to apply to supervise a prospective doctoral student aiming for a licentiate degree, please contact doctoral education administrator at CLINTEC for guidance.

Obtaining a licentiate degree

If you have been admitted to doctoral studies with a licentiate degree as the intended final degree, or if you were admitted with a doctoral degree as the goal but wish to complete your studies after two years of full‑time study, you may apply to obtain a licentiate degree. A licentiate degree is a postgraduate degree that may be awarded provided that the degree objectives have been met and the doctoral student has successfully defended their licentiate thesis at a licentiate seminar.

The application is made using the same form and with the same supporting documents (with the exception of the half-time review protocol) as for a doctoral degree. On our page Public defence, doctoral degree at CLINTEC, you will find instructions on what must be submitted. 

Continued studies towards a doctoral degree

If you are a registered doctoral student with a licentiate degree as the intended final degree but wish to continue toward a doctoral degree, you must be admitted as a doctoral student with the doctoral degree as the goal. A new green light application must be submitted and, in some cases, a new doctoral position must also be established. An eISP must be prepared, and a new financing plan must be approved. Please contact the doctoral education administrator at CLINTEC for guidance.