As an externally-funded doctoral student, or a so-called industry doctoral student, you are employed at, for example, a company, organisation, or other university and are at the same time admitted to a doctoral education programme at the University of Borås. Thus, the employer is willing to let you pursue doctoral education during your working hours at the same time as the University of Borås is responsible for providing the education. For this to be possible, an agreement must be drawn up between the employer and the University of Borås. The funding needs to at least reach the salary level (after tax deductions) for a doctoral student with a doctoral studentship position. An externally-funded doctoral student is covered by the employment law benefits that their employer offers.

An entirety of (or a part of) a doctoral education can in some cases be funded by an external scholarship, but there are many rules in place around this to ensure fair conditions.

In general, the scholarship must be paid directly to you as a doctoral student from the funder. Additionally, there may be no requirements for work performance from the funder’s side, hence you as a scholarship student should not have demands to repay the scholarship if a degree is not obtained. The scholarship must be given either within the framework of an “assistance or capacity building programme” or within the framework of certain types of formalised collaborations, for example through EU-funded projects. The funding also needs to reach the same salary level after tax for a doctoral student with a doctoral studentship. In the event that the funding lapses during the study period for you as a scholarship doctoral student (for reasons that are beyond your control), the university is responsible for ensuring that funding is secured during the remaining study period.

As a scholarship doctoral student, you are not covered by the benefits and the traditional safety net that comes with an employment. For those of you who are scholarship doctoral students, the university has made an agreement for a group insurance with the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency (Kammarkollegiet in Swedish) that covers health and parental leave insurance. The insurance applies in cases when your scholarship lapses due to a long-term absence from studies due to illness or parental leave. The insurance does not entitle you to compensation if you are entitled to corresponding compensation under any other insurance agreement.

The insurance consists of three parts:

• Sickness benefit
• Parental allowance
• Temporary parental benefit

The form for applying for compensation is available on website of the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency. An application must be signed by both you as the insured and by your Head of Department.

Please note that if you request compensation, you must report illness, parental benefit, or withdrawal of temporary parental benefit to your department and to the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency at forsakring@kammarkollegiet.se  no later than the day after the first day of sick leave, parental benefit, or withdrawal of temporary parental benefit.

Read more about the insurance terms and conditions.