WASP runs a national graduate school where the PhD students, supervisors and examiners all belong to one of the participating universities. From the 1st of April 2021 a common curriculum for all PhD students is introduced and the students will be divided into yearly classes. Students enrolled before the 1st of April 2021 belong to either of two tracks, focusing on AI (AI-track) and Autonomous systems and Software (AS-track) respectively. The tracks are divided into “batches”, consisting of students who are in the same grade. Students who belong to the same class or the same batch meet frequently through the graduate school courses and activities.
The overall goal for the Graduate School is to graduate 600 PhDs of which 150 are industrial PhDs. The WASP Graduate School provides a carefully designed program which adds unique value to the graduate experience. Below you can read more about the Graduate School courses and activities and other opportunities made available for you as part of the WASP community.
As a student in the WASP Graduate School you can achieve international research excellence with industrial relevance. In addition to these extraordinary skills and experiences, you can establish networks for your future career with Swedish industry and with academy on both a national and international level.
The WASP Graduate school does not replace local rules and requirements and the doctoral degree is awarded by one of the partner universities.
Courses
Specially designed WASP courses are given exclusively for WASP PhD students. Some of the courses will broaden their knowledge in relevant fields. Other courses are highly specialized and may provide useful tools for their research. Both kinds of courses fill a need that is rarely met at the university PhD programs. Most courses include one-three meetings, where the participants gather for joint exercises and activities for two days.
Some of the courses are mandatory, others are elective. To meet the doctoral degree requirements, the PhD students must take additional courses. These can be courses given at their home universities or electable WASP courses.
Summer Schools
In August every year thematic summer schools are arranged somewhere in Sweden. The PhD students gather to conduct in-depth studies in selected topics. Normally a mix of lectures and exercises is offered together with social events. For first-year students a community building summer school is offered.
Study Trips Abroad
During the first two years in the WASP Graduate School, the PhD students are invited to two international study trips, normally during fall. The international study trips give excellent opportunities to tie connections for possible future collaborations. In higher grades, the PhD students can arrange their own study trips in smaller groups with common interests.
All PhD students work in a research project. Some projects involve more than one student. Regardless if you work in a collaboration type project or on your own there are possibilities for you to interact with other students and researchers in the program. The WASP Clusters were formed to enable contact between researchers with similar interests. All PhD students can choose to engage in several clusters. The WASP Winter conference is an internal event where you will present and discuss your research results with the WASP community in a friendly environment.
Through WASP Research Arenas (WARA) industrial resources are made available for the WASP PhD students. WASP Research Arenas give a unique opportunity to conduct field tests and collect data in industrially relevant settings. Through the collaboration researchers from academy and industry will together drive the development of relevant research questions with high impact on industry and society.
In later grades, you can apply for a grant to spend some time as a visiting researcher at a university abroad. There is an exchange program agreed with Stanford University and UC Berkeley, but you may also visit research groups at other universities.
As a member of the WASP community you will also be invited to WASP events that are not organized by the WASP Graduate School. These can typically be external meetings with academy and Swedish industry where research is presented and discussed.
Networking is a very important ingredient in your graduate experience. Through all opportunities described above you have the possibility to connect and create contacts that will advance your career, regardless if you choose a career in academy or industry.
A WASP doctoral student who has completed her or his dissertation is entitled to apply for the two-year WASP Postdoctoral Scholarship, which is open exclusively for WASP PhD students and is announced once every year by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation.
Wheather you choose to continue your career within academy or industry, we hope that you will continue being part of WASP through the WASP alumni activities.