Dear Sir thanks for your response, actually i did my Ph.D in english literature(feminine sensibility in the novels of george eliot)and teaching as a guest faculty in a govt. P.G. College. I want to do post doctoral degree, or any other research related work. So please guide me for a better career.

Asked by Dr Bharti Asthana on 19 June 2008 at 7:34 PM.

Answered by Studyplaces Counsellor Australia New Zealand

Degrees and post-docs Prior to the public defence or Licentiate degree For a Licentiate or PhD, students are required to have passed the tests that are a part of the postgraduate programme and have written an academic dissertation or thesis that has been accepted. The Licentiate degree From July 1, 2007 a new credit system based on the European Credit Transfer System will be introduced in which 1.5 higher education credits will correspond to each university credit awarded today. A Licentiate degree of 120 higher education credits with an academic essay or thesis corresponding to 60 higher education credits may be a degree in its own right or a stage in the programme leading to award of a PhD. Nearly 30 per cent of the qualifications awarded in postgraduate programmes are licentiate degrees. Writing a Licentiate thesis naturally takes extra time, but many people find that in return the time is used more effectively after getting the Licentiate; taking notes becomes more systematic, and students have the training to write and an understanding of how much time it requires. For students who do not complete their postgraduate studies for some reason, the Licentiate degree is valuable proof of what they have achieved. The Licentiate degree is also recognised in the private sector. Since 1 May 2002, it is possible to admit applicants to postgraduate studies who intend to take only a Licentiate degree. This opportunity was primarily created to increase the opportunities of people in employment to enhance their qualifications. A study undertaken by the National Agency (See links: Reports: Enrolment to postgraduate programmes aiming at licentiate degrees) shows, however, that some applicants are being enrolled in postgraduate programmes aiming at licentiate degrees even though they really want to take PhD''s. Licentiate seminar The Ordinance does not stipulate how the academic essay is to be examined, but it is customary that students seeking a Licentiate degree hold a seminar and discuss their work. Listeners can present their views and any criticism - it is like a mini-defence. There must be an examiner who studies the essay, but in many instances there is an opponent as well as a more or less official examination board. PhD To be awarded a PhD, students must pass the courses that are included in the postgraduate programme and have written a dissertation corresponding to at least 120 higher education credits that has been approved by the department. Printing the dissertation The faculty board decides on the minimum number of copies for the public defence and on payment for printing costs. Previously, issues related to printing were regulated in a special ordinance; now, instead, the faculty board (or the body that the board delegates decision-making powers to) will decide what is suitable in each case. Decisions thus vary between universities and between research topics. Nor is it obligatory any longer to provide libraries with copies, but many universities have adopted local rules, which are often similar to those previously stipulated in the ordinance. Posting of the dissertation The vice-chancellor is to decide far enough in advance the time and place of the public defence. The dissertation should be available in a sufficient number of copies three weeks before this date to enable the academic community and the general public to study it prior to the public defence. This is done in part by 'posting the dissertation'. In the past, dissertations were actually posted on the University''s official notice board; today most departments are content to post information about the time and place of the public defence. Press release One way of disseminating research findings is by issuing a press release - the information department of a university is usually able to help with this. Remember to write clearly, present the new findings first, provide contact details for further information, and if possible explain what the research means in a broader perspective. Every university and most other institutions of higher education in Sweden belong to ExpertSvar - a service for journalists who need rapid access to researchers. Using ExpertSvar, information departments will be able to disseminate their press releases to a large number of journalists in Sweden, and receive any help with required international dissemination. Furthermore, most of these press releases are also available at the forskning.se website (see links: Websites), and a selection is published in the e-mail newsletter issued by forskning.se once a fortnight. The public defence The defence of the dissertation is oral and public. Supervisors should ensure that the dissertation is good enough to be approved before the student is recommended to defend the dissertation. For compilation dissertations, the articles have often already been published in refereed journals. In other words, it is unusual for a student to fail at a public defence. Prior to the defence, the fa