Supervision

Supervision in Doctoral Education at KTH

The supervisor is the doctoral student’s primary point of contact throughout their studies. Supervisors are responsible for research supervision, study guidance, and follow-up of the doctoral student’s progress. At the same time, programme directors, directors of third-cycle subject areas, HR, and other support functions provide administrative and practical support. In addition to the principal and assistant supervisors, there should be a clearly designated contact person. If such a contact person has not been identified, the doctoral student is advised to consult their supervisor or the school’s HR function for guidance.

Right to Supervisors

Every doctoral student at KTH is entitled to two supervisors: one principal supervisor and at least one assistant supervisor. The principal supervisor has overall responsibility for the doctoral student’s education and for ensuring that supervision is conducted in accordance with KTH’s regulations and objectives.

Regular Supervision Meetings

Supervision meetings must be held on a regular basis and adapted to the needs of the research project. These meetings provide an opportunity to review the progress of the research work, discuss results, and plan the next stages of the doctoral education.

Annual Follow-up

At least once a year, the principal supervisor and the doctoral student must jointly review and update the Individual Study Plan (ISP). As part of this follow-up, progress in both coursework and thesis work must be assessed, and any need for revisions must be documented. The principal supervisor is responsible for ensuring that the doctoral student’s work progresses at an appropriate pace.

Division of Responsibilities Between Supervisors and Doctoral Student

The principal supervisor is responsible for providing support in the planning, implementation, and quality assurance of the research work, as well as for proposing the reviewer for the licentiate seminar and the opponent and examination committee for the doctoral defence.

The assistant supervisor complements the principal supervisor and may contribute specific expertise or practical support.

The doctoral student is responsible for actively driving their research project, following the Individual Study Plan, and maintaining regular communication with their supervisors.

Checklist for Follow-up Meetings

Prior to annual follow-up meetings, it is recommended that the supervisors and doctoral student jointly review:

• Progress in relation to the Individual Study Plan
• Publications, completed courses, and conference participation
• Any obstacles encountered or need for support
• Planning for the coming year
• Updates to goals and timeline

Change of Supervisor

Doctoral students have the right to request a change of supervisor. Such a request must be submitted in writing to the person responsible for doctoral education at the school. If that person is also one of the doctoral student’s supervisors, the request should instead be submitted to the deputy person responsible for doctoral education or to the Head of School. A form for requesting a change of supervisor is available in KTH’s forms archive .