UMEÅ UNIVERSITY GENERAL STUDY PLAN

Faculty of Social Sciences

2008-03-31
Doc. No. 512-1904-07

General Study Plan for Doctoral Studies in Business

Administration

Establishment: The general study plan was established by the Social Sciences Faculty Board
June 4, 2007.

Enacted: July 1, 2007

1. Program Goals

1.1 Licentiate Degree

To be awarded a licentiate degree, according to the system of qualifications, a graduate

student must:

• demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of business administration, including any

relevant specialist knowledge within a particular sub-branch of the field, as well as advanced
knowledge of scientific methodology in general, and of methods applied in business
administration, in particular;

• demonstrate the ability to critically, independently, creatively, and with scientific diligence
identify and formulate questions, to plan and perform a limited research project and other
advanced tasks using suitable methods and within set timeframes, thereby contributing
knowledge and evaluating this work;

• demonstrate the ability to clearly present and discuss research and research findings in both
national and international contexts, both in written and oral form, in dialogue with the
scientific community and the community at large, and;

• demonstrate the proficiency required to be able to independently pursue research and

development work, and to be able to work independently as a part of other advanced efforts;

• demonstrate the ability to make decisions that are in line with the principles of research
ethics in their own research;

• demonstrate an understanding of science’s possibilities and limitations, its role in society

and humanity’s responsibility for the way it is used, and;

• demonstrate the ability to recognize their need for further knowledge and to assume
responsibility for their own continued acquisition of knowledge

Umeå University SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden. Phone: +46 (0)90-786 68 63. Fax: +46 (0)90-786 66 75. E-mail: asa.isaksson@adm.umu.se
1.2 Doctoral Degree

To be awarded a doctoral degree, according to the system of qualifications, the graduate

student must:

• demonstrate broad-ranging knowledge and a systematic understanding of business

administration, as well as advanced and relevant specialist knowledge of a sub-branch of the
field, and;

• demonstrate familiarity with scientific methodology in general, and with the methods
associated with business administration, in particular;

• demonstrate the ability to conduct scientific analyses and syntheses, as well as to

independently and critically review and assess new and complex phenomena, questions and
situations;

• demonstrate the ability to critically, independently, creatively, and with scientific diligence
identify and formulate questions, to plan and perform research projects and other advanced
tasks using suitable methods and within set timeframes, and to review and evaluate this work;

• by means of a dissertation, demonstrate the ability to make a significant contribution to

increased knowledge within the field via their own research;

• demonstrate the ability to present and discuss research and research findings in an
authoritative manner in both national and international contexts, both in written and oral
form, in dialogue with the scientific community and the community at large;

• demonstrate the ability to identify the need for further knowledge, and;

• demonstrate the capabilities required to be able to contribute to social development and

support others in their learning in research, education, and other advanced professional
contexts;

• demonstrate intellectual independence and scientific integrity, as well as the ability to make
decisions in harmony with the principles of research ethics, and;

• demonstrate an advanced understanding of science’s possibilities and limitations, its role in

society and mankind’s responsibility for the way it is used.

2. Eligibility and Prerequisites

To be accepted to the doctoral program, the applicant must meet basic eligibility
requirements as well as any special eligibility, which the Faculty Board may have prescribed,
and be judged to have the ability otherwise considered necessary to be able to benefit from
the academic studies (The Higher Education Ordinance (HF), Chpt. 7 §35).

2.1. Basic Eligibility

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Those considered to possess basic eligibility are students who hold an advanced degree or
have completed studies equivalent to at least 240 higher education credits, at least 60 of
which have been completed at an advanced level, or students who in some other manner,
whether within or outside of Sweden, have acquired skills which are basically equivalent to
this requirement. The Faculty Board may grant exemptions from eligibility requirements on
an individual basis if there are sufficient grounds for doing so (The Higher Education
Ordinance (HF), Chpt. 7 §39).

A student who obtained the qualifications necessary to satisfy the requirements of basic
eligibility for admission to a doctoral program prior to 1 July 2007, i.e. basic undergraduate
level education equivalent to 120 higher education credits or equivalent qualifications
obtained by some other means, either within or outside of Sweden, will be considered to meet
basic eligibility for admission to doctoral-level studies, though only until the end of June
2015 (The Higher Education Ordinance (HF), Chpt. 12 §11)

2.2. Special Eligibility

In order to meet the requirements for special eligibility for admission to the Business
Administration doctoral program, an applicant must have satisfactorily undertaken courses
within Business Administration equivalent to at least 90 higher education credits, including
an independent work (thesis/equiv.) worth at least 15 credits.

3. Selection Process
A selection process will also be undertaken for those applicants who meet the eligibility
requirements in order to assess their ability to benefit from the doctoral-level education they
will receive. This assessment is based on the following criteria:

• Personal suitability
• Previous academic results
• The quality of the submitted research plan/outline.

The decision that an applicant may have previous professional experience or education
counted as credit toward the doctoral program may not be the sole rational for accepting the
applicant ahead of others. (The Higher Education Ordinance (HF), Chpt. 7 §41)

The Licentiate Degree is primarily intended for professionally active persons who wish to
increase their skills through doctoral studies. The decision as to an applicant’s admission to
the doctoral-level course with the intention of obtaining a licentiate degree is made by the
Faculty Board (and may not be delegated), and may only be made upon receipt of a written
request made to the Faculty Board by the applicant (see Umeå University’s Admissions
Procedure).

Decisions regarding admission to doctoral-level courses with the intention of obtaining a

doctoral degree are made by the Head of the Department at the relevant department on the
basis of a recommendation received from the department’s Admissions Group.

4. Course Structure and Content

4.1. Course Structure

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General
The doctoral program in Business Administration concludes with an examination for either a
licentiate degree or doctoral degree. The course includes 120 higher education credits for the
licentiate degree, and 240 higher education credits for the doctoral degree. A graduate student
who has been accepted to the doctoral program culminating in a doctoral degree may, if
he/she so desires, take the exam for the licentiate degree as an interim goal.

The doctoral program in Business Administration culminating in a licentiate degree equals a

total of two years’ study and consists of one section comprising 45 higher education credits
and one licentiate paper worth 75 higher education credits.

The doctoral program in Business Administration culminating in a doctoral degree equals a

total of four years’ study and consists of one section comprising 90 higher education credits
and one doctoral dissertation worth 150 higher education credits.

Study Plan and Supervision

An individual study plan is to be drawn up for each graduate student in which funding,
supervision, courses, dissertation work, etc. are specified. The study plan is to be reviewed
each semester.

At the commencement of the course, a principal advisor and at least one assistant advisor are
assigned for each student. The subject for the student’s paper or dissertation, respectively, is
to be chosen in consultation with the examiner and advisors. The advisors provide support in
the form of advice and instruction during the planning phase and the duration of the studies
and also ensure, together with the student, that the work progresses according to the
individual study program. A full-time student has the right to receive supervision for a period
of two years (licentiate degree), or four years (doctoral degree). Part-time students have the
right to receive supervision for an equivalent amount of time based on the extent of their
studies.

Scientific Seminars
The purpose of participation in scientific seminars is that the student will gain the ability to
participate in the scientific debate on this subject, as well as the ability to discuss their work
within a scientific forum.

Final Seminar
The final seminar, equivalent to an internal disputation with designated opponent(s), is to be
held when the paper or dissertation, respectively, is judged to be sufficiently close to
completion.

4.2. Content

4.2.1 Courses

General
There are both required and elective courses. These courses provide theoretical and
methodological support for the resulting papers and dissertations. The required subject
courses expand the student’s understanding of the subject, while elective courses can be
Umeå University SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden. Phone: +46 (0)90-786 68 63. Fax: +46 (0)90-786 66 75. E-mail: asa.isaksson@adm.umu.se
taken within areas outside the topic of the student’s paper or dissertation. Courses are chosen
by the examiner in consultation with the student and advisor. The program’s English
requirement is to be taken into consideration, and is to be equivalent to 7.5 higher education
credits for the licentiate degree, and at least 15 higher education credits for the course
culminating in a doctoral degree. External courses offered by other departments and
universities may be counted towards the student’s degree. External courses must be chosen in
consultation with advisors.

Licentiate Degree
The Business Administration doctoral program with a licentiate degree as an interim or final
goal consists of course work comprising 45 higher education credits, with required subjects
making up 30 credits, and elective courses making up 15 credits.

Required subjects for the licentiate degree (30 credits):

Subject studies in Business Administration Theory 15cr.
Studies in Business Administration Methodology 15cr.
Methodology/Research Design 7.5cr.
Qualitative or Quantitative Methods 7.5cr

Elective courses for the licentiate degree (15 credits):

For example, additional subject studies, advanced methodology, history of ideas and
scientific theory

Doctoral Degree
The Business Administration doctoral degree program consists of courses comprising 90
higher education credits, with required subjects making up 60 credits, and elective courses
making up 30 credits.

Required subjects for the doctoral degree (60 credits):

Subject studies in Business Administration Theory 30cr.

Studies in Business Administration Methodology 30cr.
Methodology/Research Design 15cr.
Qualitative Methods 7.5cr
Quantitative Methods 7.5cr

Elective subjects for the doctoral degree (30 credits):

E.g. additional subject studies, advanced methodology, history of ideas and scientific theory

Examinations
The following examinations form part of doctoral studies: students are examined by means of
oral or written tests, oral presentations given at the research seminar or via reports presented
in seminars. The forms of examination to be used are decided on by the examiner.
Examinations are graded as either ‘pass’ or ‘fail’.

Licentiate Paper Plan or Dissertation Plan

The licentiate paper plan or dissertation plan is to be submitted at a required seminar,
ordinarily held in conjunction with the annual doctoral studies days. The guidelines for the
plans are specified in a separate document.
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The submitted plan is assessed as being either ‘approved’ or ‘rejected’ by the Supervisors'
Committee, which is also able to make decisions about any adjustments needed in order for
the plan to be approved.

4.2.2 Licentiate Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation

The licentiate thesis/doctoral dissertation is to be formulated as either a unified, coherent
scientific work (monograph thesis) or as a compilation of scientific articles with an
introduction to and short summary of these (compilation dissertation). The requirement for
independent work does not exclude the possibility of the respective paper or dissertation
forming part of a larger research project. A scientific dissertation written by two or more
authors collaboratively can be approved as a doctoral dissertation if the authors’ individual
contributions can be differentiated.

The licentiate thesis is to be orally defended at a public seminar. It is to be assessed as either

‘pass’ or ‘fail’. The assessment of the thesis is to take into consideration both the content of
the thesis and its defense.

The doctoral dissertation is to be orally defended at a public disputation. It is to be assessed

as either ‘pass’ or ‘fail’. The assessment of the dissertation is to take into consideration both
the content of the paper and its defense.

5. Degree

A licentiate degree in Business Administration is awarded after the student has completed the
doctoral program consisting of 120 higher education credits within Business Administration,
and has received a passing grade for those examinations which are included in the program,
as well as having both written and defended a licentiate thesis at a seminar, which was
assessed as satisfactory by the Grading Committee.

A doctoral degree in Business Administration is awarded after the student has completed the
doctoral program consisting of 240 higher education credits within Business Administration,
and has received a passing grade for those examinations which are included in the program,
as well as having both written and defended a dissertation at a public seminar, which was
assessed as satisfactory by the Grading Committee.

A degree diploma is issued upon application to StudentCentrum/Examina.

6. Additional Instructions

The principle rule is that from July 1, 2007, research students must follow the new course
procedure in order to be awarded a degree for a doctoral course.

Students who began their research studies prior to July 1, 2007, and those who were accepted
to such a program but were then granted an extension until after this date to begin the
doctoral program, have the right to complete the program and receive a degree according to
the previous regulations, though only up until June 30, 2015.

Umeå University SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden. Phone: +46 (0)90-786 68 63. Fax: +46 (0)90-786 66 75. E-mail: asa.isaksson@adm.umu.se
The rules currently governing doctoral programs are found in:
− Higher Education Ordinance (HF): Chpt. 5 (Employment as a Graduate Student), Chpt. 6
(The Education) and Chpt. 7 (Admission to Education), Appendix 2 (System of
Qualifications)
− Admission Procedures for Doctoral Programs at Umeå University (520-3000-06)
− Local Examination Procedures at Umeå University (Doc. No. 540-3839-06)
− Guidelines for Doctoral Programs at the Faculty of Social Sciences (Doc. No. 502-2414-
06)

Umeå University SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden. Phone: +46 (0)90-786 68 63. Fax: +46 (0)90-786 66 75. E-mail: asa.isaksson@adm.umu.se