Guidelines for education

There is much to consider when setting up a new course, training programme, or defense. Follow our guidelines and you'll get it right.

Course syllabus

See our guidelines, forms, and templates for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

Establishment of a new course

Decisions on the establishment of courses are made by the Chair of the Faculty of Social Sciences' working group for first- and second-cycle education (SAGA) on delegation from the Faculty Board following a request from the Department Board.

The University's rules for the establishment and discontinuation of programmes, section 2.3, contain the University's rules for the establishment of courses. See also the documents: Template for course syllabuses at the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Procedure for course syllabuses at the Faculty of Social Sciences

If you have questions about setting up a course, contact: utbildning@samfak.su.se

Preparation process

Proposals for the establishment of a course are prepared by the department's decision-making and delegation regulations. Student representatives must be given the opportunity to participate in the preparation and decision.

  1. The department board submits a proposal for the establishment of a new course to the faculty board by sending a request to the faculty office: utbildning@samfak.su.se.
  2. The request must consist of the document Request for the establishment of a course and a pre-marked draft course syllabus in Ladok with the basic information required for establishment.
  3. The administrator at the Faculty Office reviews the request and provides feedback to the department if there are any questions.
  4. The administrator sends the proposal to the student representative for comments.
  5. The administrator presents the case to the chair of the Faculty of Social Sciences' working group for first- and second-cycle education (SAGA), which decides on the establishment of a course on delegation from the faculty board.
  6. The administrator forwards the decision to the department and creates the syllabus in Ladok.

Requests for establishment are processed in the order they are received by the Faculty Board. The processing time is normally two to three weeks, but maybe longer during peak periods (e.g. December-January). Remember to also check the deadlines in the study administration calendar.

After the decision on the establishment

After establishment, the department board decides to establish the complete syllabus and the department establishes the syllabus in Ladok.

Adoption of the syllabus

The establishment of a syllabus means that the content is decided by the department board (which may be sub-delegated to the head of the department) and is implemented in Ladok by the department.

The content of the syllabus must adhere to the faculty's guidelines in the Procedural Rules for Syllabi at the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Template for Syllabi at the Faculty of Social Sciences.

For any questions about syllabi, please contact: utbildning@samfak.su.se

Deadlines for finalization of courses applied for via Antagning.se


A syllabus that is to be searchable on Antagning.se must be confirmed at the latest when registration opens (normally 15 March and 15 September). See deadlines in the study administration calendar.

If there are special reasons, exemptions may be granted by the Board of Social Science. The exemption is only granted for courses given within programmes and courses within further teacher training (VAL), the Bridging Programme for Teachers Educated Abroad (ULV) and comissioned education. In the case of exemption, the course plan must be established no later than eight weeks before the start of the course.

Courses with no enrolment deadline

A syllabus for a course with no enrolment period (registration only) must be finalized at least eight weeks before the start of the course.

Revision of the syllabus

Revision means that the content of the syllabus is updated and approved by the Department Board. The decision to approve may be sub-delegated to the head of the department. After a decision has been made, the revised syllabus is approved in Ladok by the department.

When a syllabus is opened for revision in Ladok, all sections of the syllabus are unlocked, except the basic information. The content of the syllabus must follow the faculty's guidelines in the Procedural regulations for syllabi at the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Template for syllabi at the Faculty of Social Sciences.

A revised syllabus can take effect at the earliest from the semester following the most recently adopted syllabus.

For questions about revision of syllabi, please contact: utbildning@samfak.su.se

Deadlines for the adoption of the revised curriculum

A syllabus that is to be searchable on Antagning.se must be confirmed at the latest when registration opens (normally 15 March and 15 September). See deadlines in the study administration calendar.

If there are special reasons, exemptions may be granted by the Board of Social Science. The exemption is only granted for courses given within programmes and courses within further teacher training (VAL) and further training of teachers educated abroad (ULV) and assignment training. In the case of exemption, the course plan must be established no later than eight weeks before the start of the course.

Courses with no enrolment deadline

A syllabus for a course with no enrolment period (registration only) must be finalized at least eight weeks before the start of the course.

Cancellation of the syllabus and discontinuation of the course

The institution decides to discontinue a course and cancel the syllabus. Decisions on discontinuation and cancellation must be made both when a course is to be completely removed from the course offering and when a new course syllabus replaces an existing one.

Decisions on discontinuation of a course and cancellation of a syllabus are made by the Department Board and may not be sub-delegated. The Department Board shall also determine the length of the discontinuation period. During the cancellation period, the syllabus is still legally binding, and registered students are entitled to be examined on the course according to the transitional rules of the syllabus. Rules on the length of the winding-up period can be found in the Rules and Procedures for the Establishment and Discontinuation of Programmes, section 3.3.2.

Proposed wording for the decision: "The decision on cancellation is made by the department board at [specify department] YYYY-MM-DD. The course is canceled during the period YYYYY-MM-DD to YYYYY-MM-DD. The syllabus ceases to be valid YYYY-MM-DD."

The Rules and Procedures for the Establishment and Discontinuation of Programmes, section 3.2, contains the university's rules for the discontinuation of first- and second-cycle courses. Among other things, it regulates what applies to the discontinuation of courses given within programmes or degree-granting courses and how students who have not completed the course are to be informed of the decision to discontinue.

Procedure for cancellation of course syllabi in the educational databases:

  • Course syllabi in Ladok: When a decision to discontinue a course has been made, the department shall inform the Ladok group, which will add the decision wording to the course syllabus. The syllabus can then be canceled in Ladok.
  • For more information about Ladok, see the manual and instructions: https://confluence.it.su.se/confluence/display/SK/Ladokmaterial+-+Education planning

For questions about cancellation, contact the education group: utbilding@samfak.su.se


Programme curriculum

The department board applies to the faculty board to start a new programme, whereupon the faculty board decides to establish the programme and set the curriculum. When a programme is to be changed, the department board requests the Faculty Board to revise the curriculum. The Faculty Board also decides, at the request of the Department Board, to discontinue a programme, which means that the syllabus is canceled.

Establishment and definition of a new study programme

  1. The department prepares proposals for the programme by the department's decision-making and delegation regulations. Feel free to take support from the faculty office in the preparation. Remember that a student representative must be included in both the preparation and the decision.
    Please note that if the request for a new degree program is made in connection with a request for a new main field of study or new specialization, a separate request must be made for the degree programme and the main field of study/specialization.
  2. The department board decides to submit a proposal to the faculty board for the establishment of a degree programme and the adoption of a syllabus (such a decision may not be sub-delegated) and sends the request to the faculty office utbildning@samfak.su.se. The request should be submitted at least 4 weeks before the Faculty Board meeting. See the calendar.
  3. The request consists of a missive and a draft syllabus in PDF format downloaded from Ladok, and as far as possible syllabi for the programme courses. According to the Rules and Procedures for the Establishment and Discontinuation of Programmes, the request must contain information on the following:
  • Formalities
  • Reasoning
  • Fulfillment of objectives
  • Teaching resources
  • Research linkage
  • Internationalization, sustainable development, and widening participation
  • Gender equality
  • Learning environment
  • Student participation
  • Economy and infrastructure

The Rules for the establishment and discontinuation of education (point 2.2 Education programmes) state which information is requested under each point and which must be included in the request to the faculty.

Appendices to the request:
- Completed draft programme syllabus (pdf from Ladok),
- Completed degree objective matrix
- Descriptions of the (compulsory) courses that the programme consists of (incl. within the different specializations). If the (possible) elective courses are necessary for the fulfillment of the degree objectives, descriptions of these must also be included.

If a degree programme is given in collaboration with another institution/university, the memorandum must state that the request has been anchored with the partner.

4) If necessary, also submit a draft of a new or revised degree description.

5) The administrator at the registrar's office reviews the request and provides feedback to the department in case of questions.

6) The administrator presents the case to the faculty board, which decides to establish and approve the programme syllabus.

7) The administrator implements the decision in Ladok by establishing and approving the programme of study and sends the decision to the department. The programme syllabus must be established no later than when the programme opens for registration.

Remember to also check further deadlines on the Study Administration Calendar.

More detailed descriptions can be found in the document Template for programme plan and Procedure for programme plan

Adoption of revised programme syllabus

  1. The department prepares proposals for a revised programme syllabus by the department's decision-making and delegation regulations. Remember that a student representative must be included in the preparation and decision.
  2. The Department Board decides to submit a proposal for revision of the programme syllabus to the faculty board and sends the request to the faculty office utbildning@samfak.su.se.
  3. The request consists of a missive and a draft of a revised syllabus in Ladok and, as far as possible, syllabi for new programme courses.

    The missive shall contain:
    a) A description of the changes requested
    b) Who has prepared and decided on the revisions
    c) State how students have been involved in the process
    d) If courses from other departments are included in the programme syllabus, it must be stated that the respective department board agrees to the new programme syllabus.

    The processing time is normally 2-3 weeks.
  4. The Office reviews the request and provides feedback to the department in case of questions.
  5. The administrator sends a proposal for a revised programme syllabus to the study supervisor, who is given 2 working days to submit comments on the documentation.
  6. The administrator presents the case to the dean, who decides on the adoption of the programme syllabus on delegation from the Faculty Board.
  7. The administrator implements the decision in Ladok by approving the programme syllabus and forwards the decision to the department.

Remember to also check further deadlines on the Study Administration Calendar.

The programme syllabus must be approved no later than one month before the application deadline. A programme syllabus can only be revised once per semester and can apply to the next semester at the earliest.

More detailed descriptions can be found in the document Template for programme plan and Procedure for programme plan.

Cancellation of a curriculum and discontinuation of a training programme

Cancellation of a programme that is completely withdrawn or replaced by an equivalent programme.

  1. The department prepares proposals for the cancellation of a programme by the department's decision-making and delegation rules. Remember that the student representative must be included in the preparation and decision.
  2. In the investigation, an overall assessment of the study programme must be made based on:
    a) Strategic considerations
    b) Application pressure
    c) Financial outcome
    d) Quality programme and uncertain/unclear labour market
    e) Impact analysis regarding the financial and personnel consequences of discontinuing the programme for the departments concerned
  3. The Department Board decides to request the Faculty Board to cancel the education plan (and the associated discontinuation of the education programme) and sends the request to utbildning@samfak.su.se. The request should be submitted at least 4 weeks before the Faculty Board meeting.
  4. The request shall consist of a justification for the cancellation and information on:
    (a) The number of students remaining in the programme
    b) When the programme last had admissions
    c) How the quality of the programme is ensured for those students (including those granted a study leave) who have started their studies on the programme
    d) If the programme is offered jointly with other departments, it must be stated that the respective department board agrees to the closure.
    e) Information on the closure period.
    f) Whether student representatives have been consulted in the matter.

    If the curriculum is replaced by an equivalent programme, the request only needs to include a short justification.
  5. The Office reviews the request and provides feedback to the department in case of questions.
  6. The administrator presents the case to the Faculty Board, which decides on the cancellation of the syllabus and the discontinuation of the programme.
  7. The administrator implements the decision in Ladok by cancelling the degree programme and sending the decision to the department.

A more detailed description can be found in the Regulations and Procedure for Establishing and Discontinuing Courses and Programmes.

The main field of study and local degree description

The purpose of establishing a new main field of study is to enable the award of a general degree in that main field. When the Faculty Board decides to establish a main field of study (with or without specializations), it also decides to establish a local degree description. The local degree description states which courses are compulsory for a degree in the main field of study.

In the event of changes to the programmes offered within a main field of study, a revised local degree description must be established. Examples of changes include changing the range of compulsory courses or adding a specialization within the main field of study.

Decisions on the discontinuation of a main field of study or a specialization within a main field of study are made by the Faculty Board following a request from the Department Board.

Establishment of a major field of study and possible specialization

  1. The department prepares proposals for a new main field of study and any new specialization at a level of education through the department's decision-making and delegation regulations. Remember that a student representative must be included in the preparation and decision.
  2. The department board decides to submit a request to the faculty board for the establishment of a main field of study and any specializations, as well as the establishment of a local degree description, and sends the request to utbildning@samfak.su.se. The request should be submitted at least 4 weeks before the Faculty Board meeting.
  3. See Rules and Procedures for the Establishment and Discontinuation of Programmes (point 2.1 Main field of study and specialization) and Rules and Procedures for the Establishment of a Main Field of Study and any Specialisation within a Main Field of Study at the Faculty of Humanities for information on what the request should contain.
  4. An administrator at the Office reviews the request and provides feedback to the department if there are any questions.
  5. The administrator presents the case to the Faculty Board, which decides to establish the main field of study and any specializations and establishes the local degree description for the main field of study.
  6. The administrator forwards the decision to the department and student division.

More information can be found in the Guidelines for the establishment of a main field of study and the establishment of a specialization within a main field of study. For further information, see rules and regulations.

New and revised degree description

When a new or revised programme syllabus (leading to a general degree) has been established, the department needs to review the degree description of the main field of study. If changes are made to the independent study programme, this needs to be prepared at the department in consultation with the student representative and decided by the department board.

  1. The department prepares proposals for revised degree descriptions by the department's decision-making and delegation regulations. Remember that the student representative must be included in the preparation and decision.
  2. The department board decides to submit a proposal for a new or revised degree description to the faculty board and sends the request to the faculty office utbildning@samfak.su.se.

    For new degree descriptions to be decided by the Faculty Board, the request is sent at least 4 weeks before the Faculty Board meeting.

    For the revision of a degree description, the processing time is normally 2-3 weeks.
  3. The request consists of a draft local degree description and a missive. The missive contains information on why the degree description needs to be revised and any changes that have been made. In case of revision - insert changes using the track changes function in the Word document.
  4. An administrator at the Office reviews the request and provides feedback to the department in case of questions.
  5. For new degree descriptions, the administrator presents the case to the Faculty Board, which decides on the adoption of the local degree description.
  6. For revised degree descriptions, the administrator submits a proposal for a revised degree description to the study counsellor, who is given two working days to submit comments on the document. The administrator then presents the case to the dean, who decides to approve it on delegation from the faculty board.
  7. The administrator forwards the decision to the department and the Student Services, which publishes the degree description on the web.

    There are different templates:

    Template for local degree description bachelor's degree
    Template for local degree description master's degree
    Template for local degree description master
    Instructions for completing degree descriptions

Discontinuation of the main field of study and specialization within the main field of study

  1. The department prepares proposals for discontinuation of the main field of study by the Decision-making and Delegation Rules. Remember that a student representative must be included in the preparation and decision.
  2. The Department Board proposes to the Faculty Board to discontinue the main field of study and its possible specializations and sends the request to utbildning@samfak.su.se.
  3. See the document Rules and Procedures for Establishment and Discontinuation of Programmes for what should be included in the request.

    The request should be submitted at least 4 weeks before the Faculty Board meeting. The registrar's office reviews the request and provides feedback to the department in case of questions.
  4. The administrator presents the case to the Faculty Board, which decides whether to discontinue the main field of study and any specializations.
  5. The administrator forwards the decision to the department and student division.

More information can be found in the Guidelines for the establishment of a major field of study and the establishment of a specialization within a major field of study at the Area of Human of Science.

Postgraduate education

The basic regulations for third-cycle education are found in the Higher Education Ordinance (HF). The rules of the Faculty of Social Sciences complement the basic regulations in the Higher Education Ordinance, as well as the overarching policy documents Stockholm University's Admission Regulations and Rules for third-cycle education and examination.

  • Rules for third-cycle education at the Faculty of Social Sciences
  • Individual study plan
  • General study plan

Licentiate seminar and defense

Licentiate seminar

Examination of the licentiate thesis takes place in connection with a publicly announced licentiate seminar. For each licentiate seminar, an opponent, a chairperson, and an examiner or an examining committee with three members shall be appointed. There are rules for licentiate seminars at the Faculty of Social Sciences

Licentiate degree

Those who have passed a licentiate seminar and completed their courses may take a licentiate degree. Application for a licentiate degree is made to the Student Services.

Defence of doctoral thesis

The public defense is the public examination of the doctoral thesis.

  • The time and place of the defense is decided by the Student Services.
  • The defense notification with proposals for faculty opponent, chair, and examining committee members is filled in by the supervisor.
  • The faculty examiner, examining committee, and chairman of the defense are appointed by the faculty board.

Registration for the defense

To register for the public defense, please fill in the document; Public Defence Registration and send it to samfakdisputationer@su.se no later than six semester weeks before the public defence.

See also the document; Rules for Public Defence at the Faculty of Social Sciences.

If you want a form for the defense of a thesis where the number of members of the examining committee must be five, please contact samfakdisputationer@su.se.

  • Defend your thesis at Stockholm University
  • Rules on disqualification

Doctoral degree

Those who have passed the defense and completed their courses can obtain a doctoral degree. Application for a doctoral degree is made to the Student Services.

Contact details

For questions regarding licentiate seminars and doctoral theses, please send an e-mail to: samfakdisputationer@su.se

Contact

The Education Group
utbildning@samfak.su.se

Director of Education
Anna Nyberg, phone +46 (0)8-16 24 91
Kristina Nilsson Björkenstam, phone +46 (0)8-16 39 28

Administrator
Anders Nilsson, phone, + 46 (0)8-16 44 78
Sandra Strandberg,phone: +46 (0)8-16 2609

Last updated: 2024-09-30

Source: The Faculty of Social Sciences