Doctoral theses in media, journalism and communication studies in the Nordic countries

What is it about?

This study looks at PhD theses in media, journalism, and communication in the Nordic countries from 2019 to 2023. It focuses on two things: whether students wrote a monograph or an article-based thesis, and whether they wrote it in English or a national language. On average, about 14 theses were finished each year. More than half were article-based, and the use of English increased over time, especially in Finland and Sweden. Even though universities require theses to be openly available online, one in four monograph theses could not be accessed. A survey of recent graduates shows that decisions about format were mainly influenced by disciplinary traditions and supervisors’ preferences. The study concludes that universities and supervisors need to provide clearer guidance on publishing strategies and how to make theses visible.

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Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This study is important because how a PhD thesis is written and published affects who can find, access, and benefit from the research. By showing how thesis formats and languages are changing across the Nordic countries, and that many theses remain difficult to access, the study highlights the need for universities and supervisors to help doctoral researchers make informed publishing choices. Better guidance can increase the visibility, accessibility, and impact of doctoral research.

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