The graduate school is organised within the Department of Technology Management and Economics.
Vice head of department: Susanne Ollila
Director of studies: Karl Palmås
Administrator: Satenik Atanesyan
Read more about the graduate school at the Department of Technology Management and Economics.
Syllabus
Established by the Vice President on 2005-05-17, registration number C 2005/604.
Latest revised on 2021-06-21, registration number TME 2021-0137.
This syllabus applies to doctoral students admitted as of 2021-09-01.
Regarding older syllabus, please contact the vice head of department.
Transitional regulations:
A doctoral student admitted to an older syllabus may earn a degree in accordance with this, provided that the current Appointment regulation for doctoral programmes and current Local Qualifications Framework – third cycle qualifications are followed.
Doctoral students admitted to an older syllabus of graduate school Technology Management and Economics can, however, change to the current syllabus by an application to the Deputy/Vice Head of Department. The change must be documented in the individual study plan.
The graduate school is regulated by the Appointment regulation for doctoral programmes and the Local Qualifications Framework for Chalmers University of Technology - third cycle qualifications and is described in the syllabus for the graduate school. In the event of any conflict between the documents, the Appointment regulation for doctoral programmes and the Local Qualifications Framework for Chalmers University of Technology - third cycle qualifications are governing. For the most recent version of all regulatory documents referenced in this syllabus, see Chalmers’s internal website.
1. Subject description
The Department's doctoral studies is a unique education in which the doctoral students take on issues relevant to academia as well as industry. We put emphasis on good theoretical and methodological skills. Research education has an interdisciplinary form and includes economic, organizational, and social aspects of technology and use of technology. Social science, natural science, technical and mathematical knowledge areas are all covered in the scientific base.
Within the department's doctoral studies, the graduate school of Technology Management and Economics includes studies in different areas, such as the role of technology for social development, industrial renewal based on technological innovations as well as management and organization of technology-based business and business sector activities.
2. Objectives of the doctoral program
Objectives
The national objectives for third cycle degrees (licentiate and doctoral degree) and local requirements are stated in the Local Qualifications Framework for Chalmers University of Technology – third cycle qualifications.
The doctoral study programme shall prepare for leading positions in academia, industry, and the public sector. Further, the students shall learn to plan and lead research and development activities, as well as collaborate in interdisciplinary work.
3. Entry requirements
General entry requirements
To be qualified for admission in Technology Management and Economics the student must have earned a degree at the second-cycle level. The orientation of the student’s degree shall also have a sufficiently close connection to the subject of the doctoral programme. The field of Technology Management and Economics is a broad and interdisciplinary field. Applicants may therefore hold degrees in the social sciences and humanities, as well as engineering. Equivalent requirements apply to individuals who have taken their first degree in a country other than Sweden. The examiner, in consultation with the principal supervisor, shall assess whether the applicant has the requisite capacity to successfully complete the doctoral programme. Other requirements for general entry are regulated in Appointment regulation for doctoral programmes.
Admission
Regulations regarding admission are stated in Appointment regulation for doctoral programmes.
4. Curriculum
The study programme towards a doctoral degree encompasses 240 higher education credits. The study programme towards a licentiate degree encompasses at least 120 higher education credits. One year of full-time studies equals 60 credits.
For the licentiate degree programme, the credits are distributed between courses and thesis work as follows: courses at least 50 credits and thesis at least 70 credits.
For the doctoral degree programme, the credits are distributed between course work and thesis work as follows: courses at least 75 credits and thesis at least 150 credits.
Courses
Courses within the graduate school include general courses that cover all doctoral programmes at Chalmers as well as courses specific for the graduate school.
General courses in Chalmers’s doctoral programmes
The general course requirements for doctoral programmes at Chalmers are regulated in Local Qualifications Framework for Chalmers University of Technology – third cycle qualifications.
Courses specific for the Graduate school Technology Management and Economics
The programme includes three compulsory courses:
- Researching Technology Management and Economics (7.5 hec) eller Theory of Science (7.5 hec)
- Quantitative methods (7.5 hec)
- Qualitative methods (7.5 hec)
Licentiate thesis
A licentiate thesis shall be written in English. In exceptional cases it can be written in Swedish; in such cases it shall contain a summary in English.
The purpose of the licentiate thesis is to account for the relevant scientific results that have been attained during the thesis work and describe these in a way that is accessible outside of the scientific inner circle of researchers. A licentiate thesis can either be written as a compilation thesis or as a monograph. If the licentiate thesis is a compilation thesis it should begin with an introduction, a summarizing text, followed by the included scientific articles. The purpose of the summarizing text is to put the studies in context, and to present relevant results that for various reasons are not described within the articles.
The articles must have the form and quality for acceptance in peer-reviewed, scientific journals of a high international standard. The licentiate thesis is to be presented at a public seminar.
Other regulations concerning the licentiate thesis are stated in Appointment regulation for doctoral programmes.
Doctoral thesis
A doctoral thesis shall be written in English. In exceptional cases it can be written in Swedish; in such cases it shall contain a summary in English.
The purpose of the doctoral thesis is to account for the relevant scientific results that have been attained during the thesis work and describe these in a way that is accessible outside of the scientific inner circle of researchers. A doctoral thesis can either be written as a compilation thesis or as a monograph. If the doctoral thesis is a compilation thesis it should begin with an introduction, a summarizing text, followed by the included scientific articles. The purpose of the summarizing text is to put the studies in context, and to present relevant results that for various reasons are not described within the articles.
The articles must have the form and quality for acceptance in peer-reviewed, scientific journals of a high international standard, and most of the articles should have been accepted for publication in such journals.
Other regulations concerning the doctoral thesis are stated in Appointment regulation for doctoral programmes.
Supervision
The Appointment regulation for doctoral programmes states that for each doctoral student at least two supervisors shall be appointed. One of them shall be appointed principal supervisor. The doctoral student has the right to supervision during the studies unless the Head of Department decides otherwise.
The research of the students’ is to be reviewed regularly at seminars. During the course of the thesis work, students shall have continuing contact with their principal supervisor and meet periodically with the whole supervisory committee. When the thesis work is nearly completed (approximately 6 months before the planned date of the defence), it shall be presented and defended at a final seminar.
Other regulations concerning supervision are stated in Appointment regulation for doctoral programmes.
5. Examination
After completion of a doctoral programme a doctoral degree is awarded. A licentiate degree can be an intermediate stage in a doctoral degree. If a licentiate degree is not a part of the individual study plan, a midway seminar shall be held to denote that licentiate level has been reached.
Examination, licentiate degree
For a licentiate degree to be awarded, the doctoral student must have received a grade of pass for the licentiate thesis and its presentation and must also have received a grade of pass for the other elements that are included in the programme.
Examination, doctoral degree
For a doctoral degree to be awarded, the doctoral student must have had a doctoral thesis and its defence approved and must also have passed the other elements that are included in the programme.
Other regulations regarding examination are stated in:
- Appointment regulation for doctoral programmes
- Local Qualifications Framework for Chalmers University of Technology – third cycle qualifications
6. Title of degree
The title of qualification is Teknologie doktorsexamen i Teknikens ekonomi och organisation or Filosofie doktorsexamen i Teknikens ekonomi och organisation. The English translation of the title of the qualification is Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Technology Management and Economics.
For a licentiate degree the title of the qualification is Teknologie licentiatexamen i Teknikens ekonomi och organisation or Filosofie licentiatexamen i Teknikens ekonomi och organisation. The English translation of the title of qualification is Degree of Licentiate of Engineering in Technology Management and Economics or Degree of Licentiate of Philosophy in Technology Management and Economics.
The degree is given a title corresponding to the name of the faculty within which the undergraduate degree was earned. The title is determined by the Head of Department in connection with admission.
Any decision regarding exemption from use of the defined title is made by the Head of Department. In some individual cases, it is possible to use a title that does not correspond to the name of the faculty within which the undergraduate degree was earned.