A doctoral degree is the highest formal education available. A Swedish doctoral degree forms a total of 240 ECTS credits, equalling four years of full-time study.

Third-cycle studies consist of both course work and of research work. The aim of the research work is to produce a doctoral thesis, that is defended at a public seminar. While following the doctoral programme, the doctoral student normally teaches at undergraduate level.

Doctoral students are normally employed at the university under a doctoral position. It is also possible to finance the studies in other ways, such as by an external employer who agrees to let the employee follow doctoral studies.