This summer I will be going up for my licentiate degree. In Sweden the licentiate marks the the halfway point in a PhD programme. It requires a combination of research and coursework – and results in a thesis.
I will be defending my thesis on Friday, 5 June 2009. This is a public event, where I will present my research, and then answer questions from those in attendance.
Everyone is welcome to attend – if you want the details just contact me. My parents will be coming over from Australia. Until then I am finishing up my last three assignments to complete the coursework component.
Today I passed a major milestone – I received a bound copy of my thesis from the publisher to check and approve. There was one small problem that the publisher has now fixed, so I have approved the manuscript for printing.
Is the licentiate equivalent to a Master’s degree?
In Sweden a licentiate degree is part of the PhD programme. Specifically, it marks the half-way point in the programme. You need to complete half the coursework and research points towards your PhD, and prepare a mini-thesis.
It seems that Sweden won’t have the licentiate for too much longer, with the standardisation across Europe with the Bolognia process.
So it is more than a masters degree, but less than a PhD.
I hope that the presentation went well. I have to do my upgrade seminar soon, similar to the licentiate, which allows me to continue my own PhD. I really don’t feel ready for it :S
Thanks Janek! I was really happy with the presentation and I was approved on the thesis. Now I continue working towards my PhD thesis.
Good luck with your upgrade seminar! Let me know how you go.