Net study periods for doctoral students

For a doctoral degree the net study period is to be no longer than four years and for the licentiate degree no more than two years. According to Ladok’s reporting guidelines for doctoral student activity and funding, one term is always equivalent to a calendar half-year. The autumn term runs from July to December and the spring term from January to June. A doctoral student’s activity is averaged out across the term. A full-time activity is equated with an activity level of 100% which is equivalent to 40 hours a week on average in a calendar half-year. Faculties can report activity and funding at any time during the current calendar half-year. If your reports are sent in early, however, you should recheck the information at the end of the calendar half-year to make sure it is consistent with actual outcome.

Knowing your net study period, i.e. how much time has elapsed and how much remains, is an important prerequisite for planning your thesis and its various phases. It is therefore vital when following up an individual study plan that doctoral students and supervisors evaluate whether the remaining work can be completed inside the timeframe of the remaining net study period.