All types of SLU research schools have the same overarching goal – to create a larger cross-departmental educational context with a large and varied range of educational activities in a way that may be difficult to prioritize or finance for a single department or research group.
A research school at SLU is an organisation that does not need to follow the regular departmental and faculty structure. It is usually thematically defined, and provides educational activities in the form of courses or seminars, workshops, networking events and field trips that are relevant and valuable to doctoral students from different departments and faculties. The education offered should be of a high, international level. Networking is important, and a research school may have close interaction with external stakeholders and with other Swedish and international universities.
Usually there is a core group of doctoral students whose thesis work fits in well with the school's theme, and who benefit from most activities. Other students may prefer to take part in the activities of several different research schools.