Monograph thesis

A monograph thesis consists of a single, coherent text that describes in detail the research carried out by a doctoral student during their doctoral education. The aim is to demonstrate the doctoral student's ability to make a significant contribution to the development of knowledge through their own research.

Writing a monograph

A monograph is expected to be more comprehensive than the comprehensive summary (“kappa”) of a compilation thesis. The monograph should consist of an account of the entire doctoral work. In particular, the "materials & methods" and results sections should be more extensive than in a kappa. A monograph does not contain publications or manuscripts.

The support available for writing the comprehensive summary (“kappa”) also serves as support for monographs:  

  1. The document Support for writing the thesis (see Documents below).
  2. Workshops and seminars arranged by the University Library (KIB).
  3. The web page "Using generative AI when writing the comprehensive summary for your doctoral thesis"
  4. The text matching system iThenticate 

AI tools should be handled responsibly, and the doctoral student needs to declare in the thesis which generative AI tool(s)/service(s) have been used, and for what purpose(s) and how they have been used. The use of generative AI in writing may be discussed at the thesis defence.

Writing a thesis contributes to the fulfilment of the objectives for doctoral education according to the Higher Education Ordinance and is an opportunity for the doctoral student to demonstrate that the degree objectives have been achieved. Please read about fulfilment of the intended learning outcomes (ILOs) for the Degree of Doctor in the thesis as this can generally also be applied to monographs.

Below are the headings listed in the monograph thesis template. To get access to the template, contact the printer. Information on templates and printing.

Headings in the monograph thesis template

  • POPULAR SCIENCE SUMMARY OF THE THESIS
    • It is strongly recommended that the thesis contains a popular science summary in English.
    • It is permitted for anyone who so wishes to additionally write a popular science summary in Swedish or in another optional language.
  • ABSTRACT (maximal 1000 words)
  • CONTENTS
  • LIST OF ABBREVATIONS
  • INTRODUCTION (recommended)
  • BACKGROUND (includes a literature review)
  • DECLARATION OF OWN CONTRIBUTION AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF OTHER RESEARCHERS
  • RESEARCH AIMS
  • MATERIALS AND METHODS
    • It is strongly recommended to include ”Ethical considerations”
  • RESULTS
  • DISCUSSION
  • CONCLUSIONS
  • POINTS OF PERSPECTIVE
    • e.g. for future research, clinical implications, or health policy
  • ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
  • DECLARATION ABOUT THE USE OF GENERATIVE AI
    • The following AI assisted tools…….specify name and version……were used in writing the “kappa”/comprehensive summary of the thesis, for …….. purpose ….. .  Describe also how/in what way AI assisted tools have been used in the writing process. Tools/services used for language support and reference management do not need to be declared and the declaration is not mandatory if AI assisted tools only have been used for these purposes.
    • I take full responsibility for the content of the thesis.
  • REFERENCES

Thesis defence process for monograph thesis

An application for a thesis defence with a monograph thesis takes about six weeks longer than for a compilation thesis.  Please also note that it usually takes longer time to write a monograph thesis than to write a compilation thesis.

The application for a public defence with a monograph thesis must be made using a special form. Contact disputation@ki.se for access to the form.

Together with the application for a public defence, a draft monograph is submitted together with a proposal for two expert monograph reviewers. 

After the application for thesis defence has been approved by the Dissertation Committee, the thesis is sent to the monograph reviewers, see below. This review takes three weeks. The doctoral student is then asked to submit a so called rebuttal to the Dissertation Committee as a response to the written statements of the reviewers and to revise the thesis if necessary. 

The thesis is then sent to the Examination Board together with the written statements of the monograph reviewers. As for all theses the Examination Board has two weeks to judge whether the thesis is of a scientific standard expected of an internationally pre-eminent university and of a scope corresponding to four years of full-time doctoral education (information about the Examination Board and the preliminary review). After the Examination Board's preliminary review, the thesis can be submitted to the printer. 

The defence then proceeds in the same way as for other theses.

Flowchart of the defence process for monograph theses.

Monograph reviewer

Unlike compilation theses, monographs must be reviewed by two monograph reviewers before being sent to the Examination Board for the regular preliminary review. The reason is that, unlike compilation theses, there has been no peer-review process of published scientific papers.

The reviewers go through the thesis and write a statement similar to the referee statements of scientific journals. The statement should result in a statement on the scientific quality of the thesis. The statement is sent to the Dissertation Committee. 

At least one of the reviewers must come from a different department than the doctoral student or the main supervisor.

Nailing of monograph thesis

It is possible to publish only the abstract of the monograph thesis at the electronic nailing. This must be stated in the application for the public defence.

It is possible for monograph theses to have an embargo of up to 1 year for the electronic nailing. This must be stated in the application for the public defence. 

Even with limited electronic nailing, monograph theses must always be physically nailed.

Fees for monograph reviewers

A fee of SEK 5000 is paid to monograph reviewers. This applies to everyone, including employees at KI. 

For payment of fees to reviewers from other countries, a so-called SINK-decision is needed. For more information, see "Fee to the opponent" on page Examination board and opponent. 

See also: Salary and bank accout registration

 

Questions about monograph theses, examiners and fees can be addressed to:  disputation@ki.se 

Documents