PhD course offers a better start and the courage to ask questions
Doctoral students at KTH’s ITM School now receive a joint introduction to life as a doctoral researcher. The course, which runs for the fifth time this autumn, strengthens both confidence and community – and gives students the courage to ask those difficult questions.
Being a doctoral student is unique. You are both a student and an employee, often in your first real position and sometimes far from home. The need for support has long been evident, and previously there was no common introduction at the ITM School. It was up to each supervisor to guide the doctoral student into work and routines, resulting in varying outcomes. That is why Mats Magnusson, Director of ITM’s Third-Cycle Education, initiated the development of a course together with programme directors and THS.
“Many doctoral students experienced a lack of guidance and unclear expectations around issues such as authorship,” says Mats. “The goal was to provide a shared foundation and a more secure start.”
A Smorgasbord of topics
Each course intake gathers around twenty doctoral students from various programmes, including industrial doctoral students. They attend short lectures and participate in discussions with guest lecturers from ITM, KTH Innovation, and KTH Library. Topics range from academic writing, communication, and philosophy of science to sustainability, gender equality and diversity (JML), and publication strategies.
“The students gain an overview, learn where to turn in the future, and, importantly, practice asking questions,” says Linda Söderlindh, course coordinator and lecturer in scientific communication. “They also get insight into the available advanced courses.”
Course elements include reading and discussing a scientific article, completing their individual study plan, and receiving tips from a journal editor on how to get published. A popular but sometimes challenging exercise is interviewing their supervisor about mutual expectations, which often reveals significant differences in working methods between departments.
Building networks and confidence
A key idea is for doctoral students to view research from multiple perspectives and get to know each other across departmental boundaries.
“It’s easy to become isolated in your own subject. Here, a materials science PhD might meet someone from INDEK and discover completely different scientific methods. They can inspire each other and understand why things differ,” says Linda. “At the same time, they practice discussing difficult topics early on.”
The course is usually held in person to foster networking, but a digital version will be tested this spring to support industrial doctoral students based far away from KTH campus. In addition, the school will work on other aspects of the onboarding of new doctoral students during the autumn.
A major boost
Delight Ezeh from Nigeria, who began his studies in December 2024, appreciated the course:
“I would describe the course as a tour of a general toolbox for PhD students. It was helpful to grasp routines early and understand the criteria for earning a PhD at KTH.”
The course is now mandatory for all doctoral students at ITM. The effects are clear: completion rates have stabilised, and administration receives fewer queries from new students. Moreover, students have a much better understanding of what to expect from their supervisors.
“After each course round, I meet doctoral students who feel more secure – both in their roles as young researchers and as university employees,” says Linda. “And perhaps a bit more curious about the world beyond their own research group.”
Text and photo: Ulrika Georgsson