Doctoral Students at the Psychology Department

Doctoral students at the Psychology Department

Information from A-Ö

Foreword
This handbook is prepared in close collaboration with the Doctoral Students Group (doktorandgruppen) for doctoral students at the Psychology Department, University of Gothenburg. It is a local complement to other documents that provide information aboutdoctoral studies and the conditions that apply to graduate students. The handbook aims to answer questions with respect to practical matters that graduate students come across at the department.
For more general information about the department, please visit the website below:
If you find it necessary to include further information in this handbook, please contact:
Ann Backlund, FUB-Secretary ann.backlund @ psy.gu.se; 031-786 1637
Boo Johansson FUB-Chair
The keywords are presented in alphabetical order in Swedish.

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A– Ö
Arbetsrum(Workplace) / Every doctoral student is entitled to a workplace, either to aprivate or a
shared office. The responsible person for assigning rooms is Bengt
Carlsson. Matters regarding the rooms arehandled case by case and solved
depending on supply and demand.
Beredningsgrupper(Department’s Committee) / To handle different errands at the departmental level the psychology department has created a number of different committees. The committee responsible for taking decisions concerning
doctoral studies and doctoral students iscalled Forskarutbildningberedning
(FUB-Commission ofDoctoral Studies). There is a student representative
present at the Committee’sregular meetings. See below.
Datorer
(Computers) / Doctoralstudents may use the computers in the student computer labs howeverit is not possible toconnect to the department's network with a personal computer.
Every student gets an e-mail address with the following form:
To have access to your email account from home, you log into the employee portal (Medarbetarportalen) or through webmail.gu.se
PhD students are on the e-mailing list ‘’ which is used to distribute information concerning the doctoral studies (e.g. courses). Ann Backlund is responsible for adding the students to this list.
For further support, you may also call the IT department: 031-786 2020.
Doktorandrådet (SDR)
(Council of Doctoral Students) / The Council of Doctoral Students is a group within the Faculty of Social Sciences consisting of doctoral students. The council brings the students together on a faculty level and aims to increase their influence on their education and work situation. The council, consisting of representatives who are also in the Faculty of Social Sciences committee and FUB, allows us, the students, to monitor and influence both short-and long -term decisions regarding our education.
The council meets once every semester to prepare for upcoming meetings of the faculty’s committee and FUB as well as to give feedback to othersregarding these meetings. Moreover there are other formal and informal groups on a departmental level within the faculty. We use our meetings to exchange knowledge and experience regarding the activities of these student groups.
As a result of the cooperation between other groups (within GU’s doctoral students committee), our commitment is no longer necessarily on a voluntary basis, and we can now be compensated for our positions (Reg A11 4918 /03). For example, you as a member of the SDR may prolong your employment and your position as an elected representative.If you are interested in getting involved in the SDR and establishing contacts with other students or if you have comments and/or questions relating to the graduate program please visit
Doktorandgruppen
(Doctoral Students Group) / The psychology department's doctoral students group functions as a body under the Göta Student Union (see studentkåren below). The union is a safeguard for students. It promotes and oversees the interests of PhD students, specifically on issues regarding education, equal treatment, safety and welfare. The group invites all graduate students at the department to meet approximately twice per term. Helen Alfredsson is the contact person:
Doktorandombud
(The doctoral students’ombudsman) / During their education, doctoral students face various difficulties. Most of the issues are typically sorted out with the help of the supervisor; however it is also important to have a person,other than the supervisor and examiner, who we can turn to.
PhD students can turn to Olle Persson for such issues:
; tel: 031-786 1671
Examination(Examination) / There are two forms of examination during the doctoral studies. First, there is an examinationofindividual courses and second, anexamination of the thesis which is orally defended in front of a public audience. All course credits should be completed before the defence. The institution recommends that all graduate students take a licentiate examination. This typically happens approximately halfwaythrough the studies.
Examinator(Examiner) / The examiners are appointed by the faculty after admission to the graduate program based on the department’s proposal. The examiner shall be a professor at the department. The examiner’s duties,on behalf of the faculty,areto ensure that the study plan is followed and that the courses and the dissertation meet the study plan as well as the requirements of the doctoral program. The examiner also has the role as the chairman at the defence.
Forskarutbildningsberedning
(Commission of Doctoral Studies) / FUB is the commission that proposes and decides on issues related to the doctoral education. FUB meets once a month during terms, usually on the last Monday of the month. There is a doctoral student representative at the meetings.
FUB - main tasks:
• Admission of postgraduate students
• Organisation and administration of the education
• Deciding on students’ examiners and supervisors
• Study plans and follow-ups of the plans
• Courses, syllabi, course leaders, course evaluations
• The reviewing procedures of
• Licentiate/ PhD theses including quality assurance of the theses
• Examinations(licentiate seminars and PhD defence)
• Statistics: number of graduates per year, monitoring of alumni, etc.
• Positions for doctoral student
• General issues regarding research and research training
Also:
• Arrange supervisor meetings (one per semester)
• Introduction for new students
• Post- doc. issues
• Docent matters (Associate Professor); trial and lecture
• Referrals related to research and research training
• National coordination of the graduate program
• Research award (Institution 's prize / National Committee’s prize)
FUB ordf
(FUB Chair) / Boo Johansson leads the FUB meetings and he is responsible for coordinating graduate studies.
FUB Sekreterare
(FUB Secretary) / The FUB Secretary is Ann Backlund.
General inquiries about the program and questions regarding the regulations for doctoral students can be directed to the Secretary. The Secretary is responsible for the registration of the course credits and for many other practical issues, such as preparation for the defence.
Handledare
(Supervisor) / Doctoral students are assigned a first and a second supervisor by FUB. The firstsupervisor shall have at least the title of associate professor (docent) at the department. The second supervisor does not need to be a docent and can be found both within the institution and outside of the institution. The supervisor is the person who guides the graduate student through the doctoral education with respect to the course work and above all the dissertation. The supervisor is also expected to provide information on other matters.The supervisor must familiarise the student with various matters in the research process, from problem solving to reporting and presenting the results.
Hemsida
(Home page) / General and specific information about the department and research are available on the department's homepage:
Högskoleförordningen
(Higher Education Commission) / The regulations regarding the graduate program can be found at:
Högskoleverkets doktorandhandbok(Handbook for postgraduate students) / The handbook is intended for those who are interested to start a PhD program as well as for those who have already started their graduate studies.

Institutions- och fakultetstjänstgöring
(Vacancies at the institution) / If you are keen to teach as a doctoral student, you can express your interest via this web form. You may reach the form after you log in to the portal. Applications for the upcoming fall semester are open from 1/1 to 15/2 and for the upcoming spring semester from 1/8 to 15/9. Registration applies for only one semester.
Institutionsråd (IR)
(Institution’s Council) / Institution’s Council functions as an advisor to the head of the department (see ‘prefekt’) as well as providing a forum for dialogue and discussion. Staff from all sectors of the department should be represented in the council. The council holds its meetings at least five times per year with a student representative present.
Kopiering/Utskrift
(Copying and printing) / In order to have access to the copier machines contact Bengt Carlsson:
Löneutveckling(Salary raise) / There is a 4-level salary system for the doctoral students. There is a raise after each level is completed.
The wage levels are:
• Initial salary
• 120 ECTS credits completed
• 192 ECTS credits completed
• PhD
For your current level of salary,contact Ann Backlund.
The student and the supervisor are responsible to see that the salary is up to date.
Materiel
(Stationary) / Marie -Louise Ryberg is responsible for the storage room. She is usually available between 8:30 and 16:00. All graduate students are allowed getstationary from the storage room.
Nycklar/Passerkort
(Keys and keycard) / Students receive their keys to their offices from Bengt Carlsson. They also receive a multifunctional keycard called the GU card. Thisfunctions as a keycard for locked areas, a library card and mecenatcard (student discount card) and allows access toprinting and copying.
The GU card is also valid as a university ID showing that you are a registered student at the University. The card is ordered first byone of the GU service points and it is then updated on the vending machine downstairs at the entrance of the institution.
Parkering
(Parking) / Graduate students can get a parking lot(P-tillstånd)allotted fromBengt Carlsson.
Personskadeförsäkring för doktorander
(Insurance) / From July 1st2000 and on, all PhD students at state universities and colleges are insured during the semesters and during their journey between home and the university.
Post
(Post) / All doctoral students are awarded a post box of their own.
If a large quantity of incoming mail is awaited, special arrangements are made in consultation with Marie -Louise. The outgoing mail should be submitted, no later than 15:00 every day. Please note that all posts should be signed. For mailing packages, contact Marie -Louise Ryberg or Kjell Söderberg.
Prefekt
(Head of the Department) / The prefekt is the head of the department and has the task of managing daily operations, and leading the ‘Institution’s Board’. The head of the department is Anders Biel until 1st of June 2014. Jesper Lundgren willtake over as prefekt from the 1st of June.
Reception
(Reception) / The reception is open from Monday to Thursday from 8:45 to 19:30 and on Fridays from 8:45 to 16:30.

Repro

(In house printing) / Kjell Söderberg assists the students with more extensive copying or printing jobs. Contact him in advance regarding your request.
Stipendier
(Scholarships) / Many foundations award scholarships to graduate students.
For information about scholarships, visit You may also check the bulletin boards at the department for information about various scholarships.
Studieplan(Studyplan) / The complete study plan available on It contains useful information for graduate students.
Studentkåren
(Studen Union) / For information about Göta Student Union visit :
Telefonerna
(Telephones) / All graduate students are allowed to use the phones for their needs and for international calls (press 99 for the help service for international calls) Bengt Carlsson is responsible for the allocation of telephone numbers.
Terminstider
(Semester dates) / The semester dates are synchronized with the bachelor program.
Fall term : September 1 to January 18
Spring term : January 19 to June 7
Trakasserier
(Discrimination or harassment) / Ombudsman for equality (JämO)
Ombudsman for ethnic discrimination (DO)
Disability ombudsman (HO)
Ombudsman for gender discrimination
GU recommends that the cases are investigated and dealt with at the place where the problem arose. This means that as a doctoral student you should first approach the head of the department.
In some cases it may be easier for the student to turn to another member of staff who is in touch with the head of the department. Each department/institution should allocate a contact person for those who feel they are subject to discrimination or harassment. If the institution fails to find a solution, the dean should be contacted.
Öppettider(Opening hours) / Opening hours of the institution is available on

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