Half-time review KI SÖS

A half-time review must be carried out for every doctoral student intending to obtain a doctoral degree and should take place two years after admission or when the equivalent of two years of full-time doctoral studies has been completed.

Purpose

The purpose of the half-time review is

to give the doctoral student feedback from experienced researchers with no connection to the project or supervisors on what has been completed and what is planned.
to identify any areas for improvement. 
to provide a learning opportunity for the doctoral student.
to ensure that the department is aware of the doctoral student’s progress.

The half-time review is not an examination. The focus is on progress, feedback and learning rather than results, assessment and control. 

Timing

Please note that the timing is important. The half-time review must be carried out when the doctoral student has reached the halfway point. There is no requirement for any sub-studies or papers to be completed in order to undertake the half-time review. On the contrary, half-time feedback may be even more important if the project has stalled for any reason.

Some courses are important for the doctoral student’s learning and should be taken early in the programme. Therefore, certain courses must be completed before the half-time review, preferably during the first year. See the general syllabusfor details of the required courses. If the doctoral student does not meet the course requirements for the half-time review, this must be raised with the Director of Studies in connection with the half-time review application. 

Overview of the procedures for the half-time review

Approximately 2 months before the half-time seminar

The doctoral student writes a half-time report.
The literature review is checked in iThenticate.
The doctoral student and supervisors discuss scientific writing, ethics and ethical approval.

Approximately 5 weeks before the half-time seminar

Notification to the department using Form 5, Form 5, Half-time review (application and protocol).
The supervisor opens a new version of the ISP (the revision mode remains open until after the seminar).

At least 2 weeks before the half-time seminar

The doctoral student sends the documentation to the half-time committee.
The department announces the half-time seminar.

Half-time seminar

After the half-time seminar

The doctoral student and supervisors follow up on comments from the seminar.
Revise the ISP.
Upload to the ISP system:
The doctoral student’s half-time report 
The half-time review protocol
The doctoral student sends the signed protocol (Part 1 and Part 2) to forskarutbildning@kisos.ki.se for registration in Ladok.

Application for half-time review

Part 1 ofForm 5, Half-time review (application and protocol) is used for the application for a half-time review. The form should be sent to forskarutbildning@kisos.ki.se.

Half-time report

Before the half-time review, the doctoral student must compile a half-time report. The report should be written using this template (follow the instructions in the template).

The half-time report includes

a literature review of the research field.
a status report on the doctoral research project. 
a status report on the doctoral student’s learning progress in relation to the learning outcomes for the doctoral degree. 
a plan for the remainder of the doctoral education. 
a reflection on ethical considerations.

iThenticate

Doctoral students must run the literature review included in the half-time report through the iThenticate plagiarism detection tool. The report generated by the system should form the basis for a discussion between the doctoral student and supervisors regarding scientific writing, including referencing, plagiarism, self-plagiarism and copyright. Please note that this discussion must take place before the application for the half-time review is submitted (see the flowchart). 

Please note that the plagiarism check results are not included in the documents sent to the half-time committee, but the doctoral student is nevertheless encouraged to prepare for questions from the committee regarding scientific writing and plagiarism.

Documents for the half-time committee

The supervisors and doctoral student must ensure that the committee receives the documents at least two weeks before the half-time seminar. These documents must include

The half-time report.
A PDF printout of the individual study plan (ISP). The ISP must be in revision mode for the latest Ladok registrations to be included.
Research plan.
Copies of current ethical approval decisions (decision documents only, not the application).
Any completed publications and manuscripts to be included in the thesis.
The document Information for the half-time committee . 
A copy of the approved application for the half-time review, see Application for half-time review above.

*The digital study plan is automatically updated with the latest Ladok registrations whena new version is created. The ISP should then remain in revision mode until after the half-time review (see After the half-time review below). The study plan remains in revision mode until both the doctoral student and supervisor have approved it. Please note that only the principal supervisor can create a new version in the ISP system.

Half-time committee

Following proposals from the doctoral student and supervisors, the Director of Studies at the department appoints a committee consisting of three researchers with doctoral degrees, relevant subject expertise and no connection to the project. At least one member must belong to a department other than that of the doctoral student. It is advantageous if one of the members of the half-time committee also serves on the doctoral student’s examination committee at the public defence.

Procedures at KI SÖS after the completed half-time review

After the completed half-time review, the doctoral student sends the signed protocol (Part 1 and Part 2) Form 5, Half-time review (application and protocol) to forskarutbildning@kisos.ki.se for registration in Ladok.