General skills courses

On this web page you will find General Skills (GS) courses, given at doctoral level. Depending on the program, some GS courses are compulsory. The number of course credits available for elective GS courses can be found in the programmes' third-cycle subject syllabi, which can be found on the web page for the school's doctoral programmes .

GS courses should:

1. contribute to cover the goals of third-cycle education as defined by the Higher Education Ordinance (Högskoleförordningen, HF) and by KTH
2. cover additional goals deemed to be useful for the education and professional preparation of doctoral students

The four doctoral programmes at EECS have different sets of compulsory courses. While certain parts of the courses are similar, other parts are unique due to the specifics and traditions of the respective research areas. The compulsory courses are shown in the chart below.

For more details about the structure and development of courses at EECS, read: Report from the PA working group (pdf 222 kB)  (February 2021, courses are subject to changes).

Below follows a list of GS courses that can be taken by EECS doctoral students, at the EECS school or at other schools at KTH. Before signing up for non-compulsory courses, the supervisor shall ensure that course funding is available.

For convenience the HF and KTH educational goals are presented after the list of courses. Where course activities are relevant for any of these goals, a numbered reference is made under "Educational goal" in the course list.

General Skills courses at KTH, available for EECS doctoral students

The HF and KTH educational goals

Knowledge and understanding

For a Degree of Doctor, the doctoral student must demonstrate

1.1 broad knowledge and systematic understanding of the research domain, as well as advanced and current specialised knowledge in a specific part of the research domain, and

1.2 familiarity with the scientific method in general and the methods employed in the specific research domain in particular.

Skills and abilities, including communication skills

For a Degree of Doctor, the doctoral student must demonstrate

2.1 skills in scientific analysis and synthesis, as well as the ability to independently review and assess new and complex concepts, issues and situations,

2.2 the ability to critically, independently, creatively and with scientific precision identify and formulate issues, as well as plan and use adequate methods to conduct research and other qualified tasks within given timeframes, as well as reviewing and evaluating such work,

2.3 the ability to make significant contributions to the development of knowledge through their own research as described in their thesis,

2.4 the ability to present and discuss research and research results with authority both in writing and verbally in dialogue with the national and international scientific community and society in general,

2.5 the ability to identify the needs for additional knowledge, and

2.6 the capacity to contribute to societal development and support others in their learning, both in research and education, as well as other professional contexts.

Judgement and approach For a Degree of Doctor, the doctoral student must demonstrate

3.1 intellectual independence and scientific integrity, as well as the ability to perform ethical research assessments, and

3.2 in-depth insight regarding scientific possibilities and our responsibility in its application

Sustainable development and equality

For a Degree of Doctor, the doctoral student must demonstrate

4.1 knowledge and ability to make environmental and ethical assessments in order to contribute to a sustainable societal development

4.2 ability to contribute to the transition to an equal and climate-neutral society