Admissions to Doctoral Education at KI SÖS

Examples of such costs include

• IT costs (email, AI systems) SEK 10,000/year 
• Software (for example SPSS)
• Publication costs
• Costs associated with the mid-term review (for example travel for the mid-term review committee)
• Conferences (registration fees and travel costs)
• Printing costs for, for example, posters for presentations 
• Salary costs while attending courses (30 credits)
• Printing of the thesis 
• Venue costs for the doctoral thesis defence (at Södersjukhuset, venues are free of charge) 
• Travel costs for the examining committee and external reviewer in connection with the doctoral thesis defence 

Start-up grant for new supervisors at KI SÖS

To encourage and support new supervisors at KI SÖS who plan to register their first doctoral student, it is possible to apply for a start-up grant from KI SÖS. KI SÖS awards annual grants of SEK 100,000 each. The start-up grant must be used to cover costs related to doctoral education as described above (excluding salary). The start-up grant may only be applied for once and in connection with the registration of the first doctoral student. To apply for the start-up grant, a personal letter must be attached when submitting the application for Establishment of a Doctoral Student Position to KI SÖS. In the letter, the applicant explains why they should supervise a doctoral student and why they should receive the start-up grant.

During 2026, eight start-up grants will be offered to new supervisors.

The document Guidelines for Funding Doctoral Thesis Defences below contains a description of which costs are covered by the region.

Clarification of doctoral studentship employment at KI SÖS

Salary setting for doctoral studentship employment at KI SÖS, regardless of the length of employment, is governed by KI’s doctoral student salary scale, see Employment as a doctoral student at KI.

Mandatory attachments to the form Establishment of a doctoral student position (Part 1)

1. Application for Green Light,.
2. Research plan including background, research questions, methods, planned studies and relevance (approximately 5 pages including references), together with a preliminary timetable for the doctoral student. See example of a research plan below.
3. CVs for all supervisors (maximum 2 pages per person). CVs must include information about current employment, supervisory experience and grants received during the past five years.
4. Description of the supervisors’ expertise and role in relation to the research project. Attach as a separate appendix.
5. Description of the research environment. Attach as a separate appendix.
6. Funding plan
7. Justification for why exemption from external recruitment is not required.

Step 2: Recruitment to KI SÖS

During recruitment, the doctoral student's eligibility, suitability and ability are assessed. At KI SÖS, recruitment often takes place with exemption from the requirement to advertise, as many doctoral students hold a clinical position.

Eligibility is assessed in the following way when exemption from the requirement to advertise applies

1. The doctoral candidate contacts the doctoral education administrator at the department, who gives the candidate access to the Varbi recruitment system, Eligibility Statement.
2. The doctoral candidate uploads the requested documents according to the instructions in Varbi.
3. An administrator at the Professional Services (GVS) assesses the eligibility of the individual concerned.
4. If the candidate is eligible, an eligibility statement is issued and must be attached as supporting documentation for the admission decision. Please note that for candidates who are not in Sweden, eligibility must be assessed before arrival.

If external recruitment is required, contact the administrator or director of studies via forskarutbildning@kisos.ki.se.

Step 3: Admission decision at KI SÖS

The Head of Department decides on admission to doctoral education on the recommendation of the department’s Director of Doctoral Education.

The following are required for admission to doctoral education

• Decision of admission form
• Certificate of supervisor training for the principal supervisor.
• Eligibility statement from the Professional Services (GVS). Contact the doctoral education administrator to gain access to the Varbi recruitment tool, where the application for an eligibility statement is submitted.
• Description of the selection process and how the applicant’s suitability has been assessed.
• The applicant’s CV. The CV must include information about current employment.

Mandatory attachments to the form Decision on admission to doctoral education (Part 2)

1. Eligibility statement.
2. Description of the selection process and how the applicant’s suitability has been assessed.
3. The applicant’s CV.
4. Certificate of completed supervisor training (principal supervisor).
5. Where applicable, documentation regarding collaboration with another university (joint degree).

Step 4: Establishing an individual study plan (ISP) at KI SÖS

The individual study plan (ISP) describes the scientific project, the courses and other learning activities planned, and how the doctoral student, within the relevant research field and based on the specific project, will achieve the learning outcomes for doctoral education. The study plan then becomes the roadmap that the doctoral student and supervisors follow. A well-developed ISP clarifies expectations and therefore creates good conditions for effective supervision.

What is an individual study plan?

ISP seminar at KI SÖS

After the admission decision (Step 3), an ISP seminar is held in which the new doctoral student gives a short presentation, approximately 10 minutes, in English to the KI SÖS admissions committee about their project and is given the opportunity to receive feedback.

Purpose of the seminar

• To serve as an introductory seminar and welcome for the new doctoral student.
• Presentation of the research project and educational components from the doctoral student’s perspective, with the opportunity to receive feedback.
• A learning activity for the doctoral student. Please note that the seminar must be held in English.

Overview of ISP procedures

1. Work on an ISP begins immediately after the start of studies (note that the research plan and funding plan have already been completed). The principal supervisor creates a new study plan in the ISP system, after which the doctoral student and supervisors complete the information in consultation with one another.
2. ISP seminar (see above).
3. No later than one month after the ISP seminar, the doctoral student and supervisors submit a proposed ISP.
4. The director of studies ensures that it is correctly completed and thoroughly prepared.
5. The director of studies approves the individual study plan. 

Clarification regarding mandatory courses for doctoral students at KI SÖS

The mandatory courses should, as far as possible, be completed within KI to ensure that the general learning objectives for doctoral students at KI are met.

The course in Quality Assurance of Clinical Research provided by KI is mandatory for all doctoral students at KI SÖS who conduct research involving humans. 

For questions regarding admission to doctoral education, contact the administrator or director of studies via forskarutbildning@kisos.ki.se.