The PhD education
The education shall qualify candidates for research and other work requiring high levels of scientific insight and analytical thinking. The PhD degree is conferred on the basis of:
- completion of the programme's educational component
- the doctoral thesis
- the doctoral examination
The PhD examination consists of a trial lecture and a public defence of the thesis, also known as disputation.
The educational component
The educational component can be carried out throughout the admission period, but the bulk of it should be completed during the first year.
It consists of a compulsory part of 10 credits and an elective part of 20 credits.
The educational component must be approved before you can apply for thesis evaluation.
The doctoral thesis
The thesis shall be an independent, scientific work that meets international standards with regard to ethical requirements, academic standards and methodology. More about thesis requirements can be found in the rules and regulations.
The PhD examination
The PhD examination consists of a trial lecture and a public defence of the thesis (disputation). The trial lecture must be passed before the public defence may take place.
Internal and external PhD candidates
PhD candidates employed by the University of Oslo must sign a separate employment contract with the university. These candidates are internal PhD candidates.
PhD candidates who receive financial support from an external party in the form of funding, employment or other contributions must fill out an agreement with an external party. Being employed by a university hospital is not the same as being employed by UiO.
Changes to the PhD Project
You do not need to do anything if the changes are minor, i.e. if the main features of the original project description remain unchanged.
If the changes to the project are major with new hypotheses, theories, approaches, etc., the project may have to be regarded as a new research project. Please send a well-founded application to the Faculty regarding the changes you want to make. The institute will give its opinion before the application is submitted to the Faculty which will make the final decision.
Progress meetings
All PhD candidates (both internal and external) must attend a progress meeting at least once a year. The meetings are organized by the faculty, and the relevant candidates are invited by e-mail.
The progress meetings replace the mid-term evaluation and should help the faculty and the candidate to assess whether the candidate is on the way to achieving the PhD education’s expected learning outcomes and to gauge whether the project is en route according to the progress plan. The meetings should also give the candidate feedback as regards achieved results, suggest further work and, if relevant, identify areas of research that require more work and attention. Completed progress meetings are a prerequisite for getting the educational component approved.
What are the progress meetings?
- Progress meetings focus on implementation of the project and the schedule
- They provide greater opportunities to uncover problems/challenges at an early stage
- Permanent committee consisting of Professor Hilde Galtung (IOB), Professor Jostein Grytten (IKO) and Vice-Dean of Research Janne E Reseland
How do the meetings take place?
- Each candidate must submit a form in advance of the meeting
- The meeting lasts 30 minutes - candidates present the schedule (5 min), then there are questions and discussion with the committee.
- The committee delivers a written report after each meeting.
- The supervisor is not present at the meetings and will be contacted by the faculty only if the committee has further questions, or if the candidate so wishes.