While most NORDTEK universities already provide some support for students experiencing mental health challenges, many also acknowledge that some of the main stressors originate from within the structure of doctoral education itself. These include the quality of supervision, unclear expectations, and excessive workloads. A range of measures is emerging to address these systemic challenges—particularly by strengthening supervisor training, improving student-supervisor relationships, and enhancing the overall doctoral experience.
This section presents institution-by-institution insights on the initiatives in place to support the well-being of doctoral students.
University of Southern Denmark
At the Faculty of Engineering, several measures support doctoral well-being:
- Inclusive onboarding and respectful research group culture
- Designated PhD contact persons for administrative guidance
- Departmental follow-up on workplace assessments related to PhD well-being
- Structured alignment of expectations between students and supervisors
- Support from the International Office for international doctoral students
- Supervisor training and transferable skills courses (e.g. pedagogy, grant writing, ethics)
- Confidential coaching with the PhD School head
- Social activities and student representation in PhD School governance
Aarhus University
Aarhus University supports PhD well-being through:
- Wellness conversations
- Mentor and buddy systems
- Social clubs and community activities
- Active PhD committees
- Access to career and well-being consultants
TalTech (Tallinn University of Technology)
TalTech offers a broad suite of services:
- Free psychological counselling (in-house and external)
- Regular mental health training and workshops
- Biennial satisfaction surveys with well-being indicators
- Affordable access to sports facilities
- Social events (e.g. Rector’s Cup, Mental Health Week)
- A Council of Doctoral Candidates promoting well-being initiatives
- Equality Officer-led Diversity Week events
Tampere University
Tampere University highlights these supports:
- High-quality supervision as a primary well-being pillar
- Peer support groups within degree programmes
- Access to learning support staff and career counsellors
- Annual mentoring programme
- Doctoral School courses fostering interdisciplinary networking
University of Turku
University of Turku structures doctoral well-being around:
- Minimum of two supervisors per candidate
- Regular supervisory meetings
- Supporting committee including external members
- Annual progress meetings with career planning
- Access to psychological services (for employed candidates)
- Biennial well-being survey with institutional follow-up
University of Oulu
The Graduate School supports well-being via:
- Follow-up groups for each doctoral researcher
- Regularly updated supervision/training plans
- Well-being workshops and community events
- Study psychologist access
- Occupational health coverage for grant-funded students
- Supervision Academy in development
- Ethics training and equality policies
Aalto University
Well-being at Aalto is supported by:
- Initiatives like OASIS and social events by Aallonhuiput
- Psychological and ombudsperson services
- Annual surveys and follow-up action
- Semester-based supervision meetings
- Supervisor training sessions
- Orientation tutoring to build early social networks
Reykjavik University
PhD well-being is supported through:
- Counselling and psychological services for all students
- Individual sessions, lectures, and courses on well-being
- Online or on-site appointments via Kara Connect
- Career and guidance counselling
- Services run by clinical psychologists and advanced psychology students under supervision
- Preventive health measures and referrals when long-term care is needed
Riga Technical University
RTU ensures support through:
- A centralized Student Service Department (psychological support, career guidance, social well-being)
- A cross-faculty Doctoral School serving as a central contact point for PhD support
Kaunas University of Technology
KTU provides well-being services including:
- Free psychological counselling for all PhD students
- Additional resources highlighted under its “Emotional and physical wellbeing” support framework
Vilnius Tech
Vilnius Tech addresses doctoral well-being by:
- Organising onboarding sessions with psychologists and support staff on Day 1
- Hosting quarterly informal discussions with students to voice challenges
- Offering biannual training sessions for supervisors on supporting student well-being
NTNU (Norwegian University of Science and Technology)
NTNU implements well-being support through:
- Biennial Work Environment Survey used to make improvements for PhD candidates
- Buddy system for new candidates (first 3–6 months)
- Welcome events and resource introduction
- Supervisor involvement in research group and social life
- Channels for independent help beyond supervision
- Departmental social initiatives like hikes and gatherings
- Annual progress reports with teaching environment feedback
- A PhD interest organisation offering support and networking
University of Agder
Doctoral well-being is supported through supervisor training seminars focused on:
- Recognising signs of PhD stress or burnout
- Knowing critical intervention points
- Balancing supervisor well-being with student support
Uppsala University
Uppsala supports doctoral students through:
- Occupational healthcare and preventive stress management in introductory courses
- The course “Finish on time – and feel good along the way” targeting academic productivity and well-being
LTH, Lund University
LTH monitors and supports well-being via:
- Faculty-wide and PhD-specific surveys
- Discussion of survey outcomes at multiple levels (faculty, department, group)
- Identification of areas where further support is needed for PhD students
Linköping University
Linköping ensures structured support including:
- Employee surveys (“medarbetarbarometer”) with departmental action plans
- Annual reviews of doctoral conditions via Individual Study Plans
- Checklists and welcome sessions for new students
- Optional mentoring programmes
- Collaboration with occupational health services on personal development courses:
- The Doctoral Role – My Personal Leadership
- A Competitive Environment with High Performance
- From Doctoral Studies to Doctorate
- Wellness allowance for employed PhD students
- Follow-up through regular surveys for continuous improvement
Umeå University
The Faculty of Science and Technology supports PhD well-being through:
- Assignment of independent reference persons for conflict prevention
- Strong doctoral student representation in decision-making
- Access to employee health services and well-being surveys
Blekinge Institute of Technology
BTH provides support via:
- A pro-dean who liaises with the doctoral committee on mental health matters
- Departmental contact persons for student concerns
- Weekly meditation sessions
- Monitoring of workload and teaching commitments during ISP reviews
Karlstad University
Support measures include:
- Supervisor education requirements (typically associate professors or higher)
- A science and technology doctoral research school fostering community and supervision development
- HR-led stress management workshops and a five-part “Finish on time” series
Mid Sweden University
Mid Sweden University offers:
- Access to both student and employee health services
- Counselling for stress, lifestyle, and academic challenges
- Regular social and academic gatherings (e.g. biweekly coffee sessions, annual conference)
- Frequent surveys to monitor doctoral work environments
Mälardalen University
MDU supports PhD well-being through:
- Centralised student services and employee mental health programmes
- Financial support for social activities
- Dedicated communal spaces for PhD students
- Open-door policy with doctoral education leaders and admin staff
- Supervisor forums to discuss doctoral support strategies
- Mentorship programme for new PhD students
- Annual ISP reviews and surveys that inform action plans
