phd courses in norway

Doctoral degree and PhD

The University offers research training of a high international standard, with a broad range of subject areas and strong research environments. A doctorate from the University of Oslo qualifies candidates for an academic career as well as other professions requiring a high level of competence.

Before applying

To be eligible for admission to a PhD programme, certain educational and financial requirements must be met. If you have not applied to a PhD programme before, we recommend that you read this before you proceed to the programme pages.

Facts about the PhD programmes

• Requires a completed Master’s degree.
• Stipulated length of three years’ full-time studies.
• 2.5 years of independent research work.
• Educational component worth 30 credits.
• In 2018, 468 PhD candidates successfully defended their theses at the University of Oslo.

PhD programmes

Each faculty has its own PhD programme. The programme pages give details on how to apply, the programme structure, thesis and public defence.

PhD in the Humanities

PhD at The Faculty of Law

PhD in medicine and health sciences

PhD at The Faculty of Dentistry

PhD at The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

PhD in Social Science

PhD at The Faculty of Theology

PhD at the Faculty of Educational Sciences

Courses and seminars

Find information on courses and seminars offered at PhD level.

Doctoral conferment

When your doctoral examination is approved by the faculty, you will be invited to a conferral ceremony in the University’s ceremonial hall, the Aula.

Public defences

Dr.philos. – another route to a doctoral degree.

The Dr.Philos. degree (Doctor Philosophiae) is awarded to academics who have qualified for a doctoral degree on their own, without formal supervision. They have no affiliation to the university as a doctoral candidate until their application for the doctoral examination has been approved.

Contact information

Questions about PhD and doctoral degrees?

Regulations

The research training is governed by the Act relating to universities and university colleges and local regulations.

Jobs at UiO

Browse through available doctoral research fellowships , read more about working as a researcher at UiO, and find the support site for international researchers.

PhD programmes

As a PhD candidate at OsloMet, you can expect a high-quality research education in a supportive academic environment.

At OsloMet, you will be a full-fledged member of our research community and will join a supportive and diverse community of academics. We have a large and growing number of international doctoral candidates and are committed to attracting talented aspiring researchers from around the world.

Many alumni of our PhD programmes pursue careers in academia, while others go on to high-level careers in the public and private sector—both in Norway and around the world.

PhD candidates in Norway are not students, but employees. Research fellows who are employed by a Norwegian university can expect some of the best working conditions in the world. As you work toward your doctoral degree, you will enjoy a good salary and a host of benefits, including five weeks of paid holiday.

You can also pursue a PhD at OsloMet while working for a different employer, either in Norway or elsewhere in the world.

• Pilestredet Campus, Oslo

All of our PhD positions are publicly advertised. You can view current available PhD positions in our job portal. 

• Job openings

Interested in learning more?

You can find detailed information about our PhD programmes, including application procedures and how to apply for funding, on our employee website. 

• Admission and funding (ansatt.oslomet.no)
• Getting started (ansatt.oslomet.no)
• During your PhD (ansatt.oslomet.no)
• Completion of your PhD (ansatt.oslomet.no)

Upcoming public defences

• Pilestredet Campus
• Faculty of Education and International Studies / Department of Primary and Secondary Teacher Education
• PhD defences
• Faculty of Technology, Art and Design
• Faculty of Social Sciences / Department of Social Work, Child Welfare and Social Policy
• Pilestredet Campus / Hybrid event
• Centre for the Study of Professions
• Faculty of Social Sciences / Department of Social Work, Child Welfare and Social Policy / Work Research Institute

Life in Oslo

Are you considering applying for a PhD or academic position at a Norwegian university? We asked the experts—our own international employees—for their advice on how to navigate the transition to working in Norway.

What defines quality of life in a city? Is it the availability of good restaurants, bars and entertainment options? Or is it easy access to unspoilt nature? In Oslo, you don’t have to choose between the two—we have plenty of both.

The sun doesn't set until close to midnight, and even then it never really gets dark. You can spend the evening watching the light change at an outdoor café with friends, or go for a relaxing swim in the fjord alone. Oslo in the summer is a pretty magical place.

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PhD Courses in the Social Sciences

Upcoming PhD courses

Phd courses by subject.

• Educational Science
• Methodology
• Political Science
• Research Ethics in Social Science
• Research Methodology
• Social work
• Sociological Theory
• Theory of science
• Welfare State

PhD courses by institution

• University of Agder
• University of Bergen
• NORD University
• University of Oslo
• University of Stavanger
• UiT The Arctic University of Norway
• Norwegian course catalogues
• International course catalogues
• Other institutions

About the website

This website provides an overview of PhD courses in the Social Sciences offered at Norwegian universities. Courses with an English headline are given in English and courses with a Norwegian headline are given in Norwegian.

For more detailed information about a given course or registration to a course, please contact the course organizer (university or university college) or visit the course website.

Administrative resources

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• Postgraduate studies – PhD

PhD Courses

USN has eight PhD programs, each offering a variety of courses that are open to external as well as internal candidates. Please contact the relevant PhD program directly.

Study facts

• Campus: Bø , Drammen , Kongsberg , Notodden , Porsgrunn , Rauland , Ringerike and Vestfold
• Credits: 5-10
• Duration: 1 semester
• Teaching Language: Norwegian, English

Admission requirements

Admission requires a master's degree, normally with a grade of B or better.

How to apply?

• Internal candidates apply through StudentWeb.
• External candidates must fill out and submit an application form using Nettskjema along with supporting documentation. Please contact the PhD Coordinator of the relevant program for more information.

Mandatory course for all PhD candidates

This course addresses advanced questions concerning the theory of science and research ethics. Based on a selection of topics set out in the course plan, candidates will acquire insight into key and contemporary understandings of how science is being thought of and practised in a variety of fields (Theory of Science), combined with thoughts related to scientific research (Research Ethics). The course will enable participants to focus on relevant questions in chosen academic fields and research traditions, and on research that crosses disciplinary boundaries. 

The following book will be used as a key reference during the course, and will be supplemented by a series of articles etc. 

Peter Godfrey-Smith, 2021. Theory and Reality: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Science, University of Chicago Press, Second Edition. 

In addition, all candidates must become familiar with their disciplinary ethical guidelines, which can be accessed via the following link:  https://www.forskningsetikk.no/en/guidelines/

Note: This course is only available for PhD Candidates from USN. 

Practical information:

• Date: 16. - 20. September 2024
• Place: Borge Hotel l, Nøtterøy 

Registration opens 12. August and closes 2. September

Contact information: [email protected]

Elective courses for all PhD candidates

• Thursday-Friday14-15 March
• Monday-Tuesday 18-19 March

Course description

Contact information: [email protected]

Culture Studies

2023-2024 Academic session

Updated 1 January 2024

keyboard_backspace External candidates should complete a registration form and return via Nettskjema . 

USN candidates should register using StudentWeb .

No offers at the present time.

keyboard_backspace Please contact PhD Coordinator Hanna Elsa Wistedt for information .

Spring 2024

• USN candidates should register using studentweb
• External candidates - Application Form
• If you have any questions regarding the Management courses send us an e-mail

Time schedule spring 2024

Application deadline 20. april 2024.

Teaching language is English.

Nautical Operations

Spring 2022.

keyboard_backspace External candidates should complete a registration form and return via Nettskjema .

Person-Centred Healthcare

USN candidates should register using  Studentweb

External candidates should complete a registration form via  Nettskjema

* PhD candidates have to choose one of the courses  

Please note that the above dates are subject to change. Course plans for courses without dates may be revised before the course is offered again.

Process, Energy and Automation Engineering

Spring 2023.

keyboard_backspace Please contact PhD Coordinator Mariken Kjøhl-Røsand for application .

Pedagogical resources and learning processes in kindergarten and school

Course registration via StudentWeb for PhD candidates at USN.

Others may register using this form .

Registration for courses will open 1st december. 

Please contact PhD Coordinator Liv-Anne Halderaker for more information .

Contact information

• PhD Contacts PhD-Coordinators

Links of interest

Semester start, questions and answers.

Norwegian Research School in Neuroscience

• Registration and practical matters
• Oral and poster presentations
• Previous conferences
• Summer school

PhD courses

• Seminars and conferences
• International training opportunities
• NRSN Training Grants
• FENS/IBRO-PERC Exchange Fellowships Programme

NRSN works to make the best neuroscience PhD courses at all partner universities available to all PhD candidates in Norway. Our course portfolio includes ECTS accredited courses in a wide range of topics, based on the partners' expertise. Courses are adapted to facilitate student exchange  (e.g., through intensive or module based teaching), and NRSN offers travel and accommodation grants to external participants. 

How to register for PhD courses

You have to apply to the institution that is offering the course to be accepted as an external participant. Please visit the PhD course webpage or click the link for registering as an external candidate below each course description. Note that it is your home institution which is responsible for the formal approval of the course into the educational component of your PhD degree.

Available PhD courses in 2024

February 2024.

Human Brain Anatomy Course (in person)

Comprehensive introduction to human brain anatomy. Suitable for undergraduates and postgraduates in neuroscience, psychology and medicine.

• Covers topographic, functional, and MRI neuroanatomy
• Very clear and accessible delivery, assumes minimal prior knowledge
• Includes live neuroanatomy video demonstrations
• Opportunity to get 'hands-on' with preserved human brain specimens!
• Includes instant access to 8 high-quality ONLINE preparatory modules

Price: £395 (with instant access to 8 online preparatory modules).

Register here , and read more about our international training grants here . 

March - May 2024

Visualize your Science (4 ECTS)

The course Visualize your Science is tailor-made for PhD-students and Post. docs who want to improve your skills in drawing figures, making posters, and visually convey your research more effectively to mainly your peers but also the general audience. The course is an official PhD-course at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm and SLU Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala.  The Spring course will be all  online,  the starting date is the 18th of March and ends on the 8th of May.

May-June 2024

NEVR8011 - Concepts in Data Analysis (7.5 ECTS)

Lectures in weeks 21, 22, and 23; final exam in week 25.

During this course we will introduce the most standard techniques for the analysis of neural data, starting from their principles and highlighting strengths and limitations of each of the approaches. The topics of the course can be divided into two main modules: 1) Non-parametric or exploratory data analysis and 2) Parametric data analysis or statistical learning with models. Module 1 includes dimensionality reduction techniques, such as PCA, and Information Theoretic methods. Module 2 includes the simple linear regression model (and GLMs), methods for model inference and validation, model selection and decoding, Bayesian inference. Each presented topic will be accompanied by exercises, which will be introduced and partly worked through in class. 

NRSN members from other universities must  register as an external candidate  at NTNU.

Spring 2024

PSY8005 - High-Density EEG Analysis (10 ECTS)

This is a 2-week intensive course from on the EEG methodology and its application in studies of human brain functions, with particular focus on the visual system. Participants will learn about EEG signal processing though lectures, practical exercises in the lab, statistical analyses, group discussions, and presentations.

The course is given by Prof. Audrey van der Meer and colleagues in the Developmental Neuroscience Laboratory at NTNU. At the end of the course, each student will write an individual report which forms the basis of the formal assessment (examination).

The course will only be run with a minimum of five PhD candidates and a maximum of fifteen candidates. 

September 2024

Neuroscience data integration through use of digital brain atlases (2 ects).

Dates : September 16th-17th 2024

Where : Kavli Institute of Systems Neuroscience, NTNU, Trondheim

With a new generation of three-dimensional digital reference atlases, new solutions for integrating and disseminating brain data are being developed. This course contains an introduction to currently available reference atlases for mouse and rat brain. It will demonstrate how the 3D brain templates for the reference atlases are acquired, how they are used as a basis for delineating the structures of the brain, how they can be enriched by other data modalities, and how they can be used as a basis for assigning location (coordinate based or semantic) to a wide range of structural and functional data collected from the brain. The course will also outline examples of data system employed to organize neuroscience data collections in the context of reference atlases as well as analytical workflows applied to the data, with opportunities for hands-on exploration of selected tools.

This course is offered by the University in Oslo but will in 2024 be held in Trondheim as a satellite event to the NRSN 2024 PhD conference , arranged at Jegtvolden Fjordhotell on September 18th-20th. NRSN members can apply for accomodation and travel support to attend the course.

NRSN members from other universities must register as an external candidate at UiO. More information on this is available on the course website .

Essentials of Neurophysiology: from neurons to circuits to behaviours (5 ECTS)

This course is offered by the University in Oslo and takes place in fall 2024. Dates to be announced in May 2024.

The course covers the basic principles of neuron signalling and interactions that underlie brain function.  Teaching includes lectures by top researchers in neuroscience, group discussions and practical hands-on sessions. A take-home examination will be given at the end of the course.

Past courses in 2023

March - may 2023.

The course Visualize your Science is tailor-made for PhD-students and Post. docs who want to improve your skills in drawing figures, making posters, and visually convey your research more effectively to mainly your peers but also the general audience. The course is an official PhD-course at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm and SLU Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala.  The Spring course will be all  online,  the starting date is the 28th of February and ends on the 12th of May.

PSY8005 - High-Density EEG analysis (10 ECTS)

DT8122 - Probabilistic Artificial Intelligence (7.5 ECTS)

The Nordic Probabilistic AI School, also known as ProbAI school, is an annual ‘summer’ school supported by the Norwegian Open AI Lab (NAIL) and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).

The mission of ProbAI is to create an inclusive environment serving a state-of-the-art expertise in probabilistic machine learning. The school is considered to be of an intermediate to advanced level, covering topics such as probabilistic models, deep generative models, latent variable models, inference with sampling and variational approximations, normalizing flows, neural ODEs, probabilistic programming, and some of the latest research.

The next ProbAI will be held on June 12-16 in 2023, when the program will be back where it all started at NTNU in Trondheim. Applications will be opening in February 2023.

B322/01 Principles of Neural Organization (5 ECTS)

Time and date: 5th - 13th June 2023 (including weekends) at 09:00 - 15:00

Venue: Aarhus University

Course fee: 6,000.00 DKK

The course is being offered by the Graduate School of Health, Aarhus University, 2023.

Criteria for participation: University degree in medicine, dentistry, nursing, or master’s degree in other fields and/or postgraduate research fellows (PhD students and research-year medical students).Aim: This course is interested in the following question: How can the brain be far smarter than a supercomputer yet consumes 100,000-fold less space and energy? Both brain and computer obey mathematical and physical laws and both deal with receiving, sending, processing, storing, and retrieving information. The course is supplemented with an introduction to the techniques that are (mainly) exclusive to neuroscience. This includes optogenetics, in vitro and in vivo electrophysiology, calcium imaging from behaving animals, and animal behavior. Students will visit the labs performing these experiments and will see these techniques in action.

NEVR8012 - Math for Biologists I: Linear Algebra (7.5 ECTS)

Many fields within the Biological Science are becoming increasingly quantitative and interdisciplinary. This poses the double challenge of having a good understanding of the biological aspects of the problem under study, as well as of the mathematics used to analyze the acquired data and to develop models for it. The goal of this course is to introduce biologists to basic concepts in Linear Algebra that they will encounter in most of the analysis techniques and models they will employ in their research. The course will smoothly introduce the language of mathematics, with the aim of easing interdisciplinary communication. Each class will be divided into a lecture and a practical session. 

The course will be held in the fall semester 2023 (mid August to end of October).

NRSN members from other universities must  register as an external candidate  at NTNU. 

September 2023

FYS488 Computational Neuroscience (10 ECTS)

Selected topics related to mathematical modelling of (i) signal processing in nerve cells, (ii) neural coding and decoding, (iii) receptive fields in the visual system, (iv) information transmission in the nervous system, (v) biophysics of nerve cells, (vi) biological neural networks, and (vii) learning and memory.

Gain a comprehensive understanding of how the properties of neurobiological systems can be modelled mathematically and be able to navigate in the academic literature on computatiional neuroscience. Be able to formulate and solve simple models from computational neuroscience. Be able to navigate in and acquire knowledge from scientific literature in the subject field in order to be able to develop more complicated models. Understand that mathematical models are necessary in order to understand complex neurobiological processes.

NRSN members from other universities must  register as an external candidate  at NMBU.

PhD course in functional neuroimaging (fMRI) (3 ECTS)

The course is intended to PhD students holding a Master degree in neuroscience, psychology, natural sciences or equivalent, as well as medical students, taking part in a research-training programme in medicine. The course will give an introduction to the field of neuroimaging. The course is divided into twoparts.

The first part is a short theoretical introduction into neuroscience and neuroimaging, covering all relevant aspects on physiology, neuroanatomy, some of the most relevant functional networks, as well as the technical aspects behind structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging and related methods, such as DTI and perfusion measurements.

In the second part, the course will introduce the most relevant experimental techniques, used in functional neuroimaging, as well as the methods, used for analysing functional as well as structural MRI data.

Course in Interdiciplinary Neuroscience (6 ECTS)

Dates: 25th September - 6th October

Registration deadline: 25th August

The course is intended to give the students a basic and integrated understanding of the interplay between neurobiological systems and cognition, affect and behaviour. They will also receive an introduction to basic central methods in neuroscience. 

During the course the students will be introduced to the most important neurobiological systems (neuroanatomical and neurophysiological). They will be introduced to neuromolecular mechanisms and neuropharmacology. Important psychiatric and neuropsychological clinical conditions as well as normal psychological functions will be described and methods for measuring these will be demonstrated.

Past courses in 2022 

September 2022.

ISGIN911 - Course in Functional Neuroimaging  (3 ECTS)

The course is intended to PhD students holding a Master degree in neuroscience, psychology, natural sciences or equivalent, as well as medical students, taking part in a research-training programme in medicine. The course will give an introduction to the field of neuroimaging. The course is divided into three parts.

NRSN members from other universities must  register as an external candidate  at the University of Bergen (UiB). 

September-October 2022

IGSIN913 - Integrated Neuroscience Course (6 ECTS)

October-November 2022

Nevr8015 - math for biologists ii: calculus and introduction to probability theory (7.5 ects).

The goal of this course is to introduce PhD students in the Life Sciences to concepts in Calculus and Probability Theory that they will encounter in most of the analysis techniques and models they will employ in their research. The course will smoothly introduce the language of mathematics, with the aim of easing interdisciplinary communication. No previous mathematical knowledge is required, as we will start from the basics. Each weekly class will be divided into a lecture and a practical session.

October-December 2022

BT8121 - Transdisciplinary Biotechnology (7.5 ECTS)

The aim is to obtain a true transdisciplinary course where PhD students from different backgrounds (biotechnology/life sciences and bioinformatics/mathematics/computer science) work together in the context of modelling and/or data analysis, and also learn about data collection in biotechnology/life sciences. Responsible research and innovation (RRI) will be an integrated part of the course. 

December 2022

MEDFL5245 – Biology of Ageing (4 ECTS)

Biology of Ageing’ covers evolutionary and mechanistic theories of ageing; comparative biology of ageing; the new model organism genetics of lifespan (eg C. elegans, Drosophila, mouse); methods in ageing research (eg functional genomic analysis); the biology of dietary restriction; cellular senescence and senotherapy, telomeres and cancer; ageing-related disease; the biology of insulin signalling, energy handling and associated diseases (eg diabetes and obesity); stem cell ageing; prospects for treatments for ageing; and social and ethical issues relating to research on ageing.

NRSN members from other universities must  register as an external candidate  at the University of Oslo (UiO). 

Past courses in 2021

August 2021.

NEVR8012 - Concepts in data analysis (7.5 ECTS) 

During this course we will introduce the most standard techniques for analysis of neural data, as well as cutting edge techniques that are becoming very prominent in the analysis of big datasets. Each presented topic will be accompanied by exercises. Lecturers will encourage all attendees to try to implement the introduced techniques to their own data. Time will be allocated for discussions and to provide some guidance.

Find more information here! 

Registration deadline: April 15th

STKD6800 Neuro-insights: Data Science Approaches in Neuroscience I   (5 ECTS)

Stkd6810 neuro-insights: data science approaches in neuroscience ii  (10 ects).

Because most young researchers in life and health sciences do not have a solid quantitative background, they face difficulties when analyzing data independently. This difficulty represents a major drawback in research. Students waste time learning analytical methods by themselves that could be more quickly learned with proper instruction and support. Additionally, the lack of convention or standards in some fields is a source of confusion that slows the learning process. As consequence, the quality of insights and research productivity suffer. This course provides a comprehensive introduction to data science and big data applied to neuroscience research.

Its content is designed to train the participants in state-of-the-art techniques in data analysis and machine learning. This will enable the students to interact independently with the data and draw insights from them. The modules are organized so the participants have the opportunity to learn how to handle the most common data types (e.g., EEG, calcium imaging). Special attention is given to field-tested data management protocols, as they are critical for a fast transition from data acquisition to knowledge generation.

This is a hands-on course where the students will learn from implementing the analysis themselves with close supervision. The course will focus on case studies using data from real experiments; advanced students may choose to use their own data. The students will develop understanding through constant presentation of their work and dialectical reflection over their choices, results, and interpretations.

10th - 16th September

Janubet primate neurobiology school.

Venue: Kyoto and Inuyama Japan

There will be a limited number of stipends covering travel and accommodation from JANUBET and students can apply for support through the NRSN International Training grant program (tentative travel and accommodation costs will be around 3000 Euro)

Integrated Neuroscience (6 ECTS)

Registration deadline: 30th August

During the course the students will be introduced to the most important neurobiological systems (neuroanatomical and neurophysiological). They will be introduced to neuromolecular mechanisms and neuropharmacology. Important psychiatric and neuropsychological clinical conditions as well as normal psychological functions will be described and methods for measuring these will be demonstrated. Thirty hours of lectures, demonstrations and/or laboratory work, concentrated over a two week period. 

Past courses in 2020 

19th february - 30th april, math for biologists - linear algebra - digital (7.5 ects).

This course is offered by the Kavli Insittue and NTNU.

Many fields within the Biological Science are becoming increasingly quantitative and interdisciplinary. This poses the double challenge of having a good understanding of the biological aspects of the problem under study, as well as of the mathematics used to analyze the acquired data and to develop models for it. The goal of this course is to introduce biologists to basic concepts in Linear Algebra that they will encounter in most of the analysis techniques and models they will employ in their research.

NRSN members from other universities must register as an external candidate at NTNU. 

19th -26th April 

This course is offered by the University in Oslo and takes place in April 2021. The course covers the basic principles of neuron signalling and interactions that underlie brain function. Teaching includes lectures by top researchers in neuroscience, group discussions and demonstrations/lab work. A take-home examination will be given at the end of the course.

NRSN members from other universities must register as an external candidate at UiO. More information on this in the course website!

2nd - 5th March

Registration deadline: February 15th

PhD course in functional neuroimaging (fMRI)

The third part is the practical part, where an experiment will be developed, performed on the scanner, analysed, and the results will be discussed.

9th - 20th March

Human psychophysiology: high-density eeg analysis (10 ects).

This is a 2-week intensive course from on the EEG methodology and its application in studies of human brain functions, with particular focus on the visual system. Participants will learn about EEG signal processing though lectures, practical exercises in the lab, statistical analyses, group discussions and presentations.

The course is given by Prof. Audrey van der Meer and colleagues in the Developmental Neuroscience Laboratory at NTNU. At the end of the course, each student will write an individual report which forms the basis of the formal assessment (examination). 

Information about how to apply as an external candidate at NTNU can be found here.

Past courses in 2019 

11th - 22nd march.

Registration deadline: February 1st

Information about how to apply as an external candidate at NTNU can be fund here.

8th-13th May 

Registration deadline: 25 March

Hands-on course in comparative neuroanatomy, Sendi Japan

This course aims to provide a concise introduction in comparative neuroanatomy. Teaching includes lectures in the morning covering the development and overall anatomical organization of the brain and the functional organization of main systems in the brain, such as motor, visual as example of sensory systems, basal ganglia and cerebellum, learning and memory and emotion, planning attention and decision making. The afternoons are dedicated to anatomical dissections ranging from fish, frogs, reptiles and mammals, including non-human primate and human primate brains. The dissections will be partially hands on and partially demonstrations.

NRSN members who wish to attend can apply for an NRSN international training grant for this purpose. Maximum number of participants for the course is 15. Accommodation and food during the stay is covered by the NFR funded project JANUBET (Japan and Norway United in Brain Education and Therapeutics).

Find the program for the course here  

Register here

6th-13th May 

This course is offered by the University in Oslo and takes place in May 2019. The course covers the basic principles of neuron signalling and interactions that underlie brain function. Teaching includes lectures by top researchers in neuroscience, group discussions and demonstrations/lab work. A take-home examination will be given at the end of the course.

17th - 18th June

Imb9345 neuroscience data integration through use of digital brain atlases .

Anatomical reference atlases of the brain are important tools for assigning location to data captured with the many methods and instruments used to study the brain. With a new generation of three-dimensional digital reference atlases, new solutions for integrating and disseminating brain data are being developed. This course will provide a theoretical background and hands on experience with tools for integrating experimental data from rodent brains in reference atlas space. The development and use of novel 3D brain templates for rodent brains for assigning location to a wide range of structural and functional data will be demonstrated. The course will outline examples of data system employed to organize neuroscience data collections in the context of reference atlases as well as analytical workflows applied to the data.

19th-30th August 

Sleep regulation: neural circuitry, pharmacology and physiology.

The aim of the course is to provide knowledge in the basis of sleep regulation, on the neuronal, physio-logical and pharmacological level. Through a series of readings, active learning exercises and class-room assessments, students will learn the biological basis for circadian regulation of sleep, phenomena and functions of sleep. 

14th - 26th October

Registration deadline: 1 September

October - November 2019

National master and phd courses in computational neuroscience at ås.

As in the three previous years the participation of students from all over Norway will be facilitated by having the teaching arranged as two intensive periods with lectures and exercises at Ås: The first teaching block will be from  Monday September 30th to Friday October 4th. The second teaching block will be from  Monday November 11th to Friday November 15th.The exam will be sometime in mid-December. The course requires a working knowledge of mathematics and basic programming.

The course will cover selected topics related to biophysics of nerve cells biophysical modeling of signal processing in nerve cells and neural networks modeling learning and memory biophysical modeling of recorded electrical signals. The course will also give practical experience in using key neuroscience simulation tools like  NEURON  NEST LFPy   Most material in the course will be taken from the book   “Principles of Computational Modelling in Neuroscience”  by Sterratt et al.

The course, which will give 10 ECTS credits (study points), will be come in two versions:  a  Masters Course FYS388 , and a  PhD course FYS488 , which in addition to the Masters Course curriculum will involve a project (to be presented at the end of the course)

NOTE: ALL external students, that is, students who are not already registered NMBU-students, MUST apply to become an “enkeltemnestudent” here: https://www.nmbu.no/studier/opptak/soke_enkeltemner  If you apply to take the Masters  course, the course code is: FYS388 If you apply to take the PhD course, the course code is: FYS488

For administrative questions about how to apply for “enkeltemne" at NMBU, contact Sigrun Vedø Lien at NMBU ([email protected]), ph. 67231509. For other questions, contact [email protected] .

Past courses 2018

26th - 29th november, igsin phd course in functional neuroimaging (fmri).

Application deadline: October 30th 

The course is intended to PhD students in neuroscience, and will give an introduction to the field of neuroimaging. The course is divided into three parts. The first part is a short theoretical introduction into neuroscience and neuroimaging, covering all relevant aspects on physiology, neuroanatomy, some of the most relevant functional networks, as well as the technical aspects behind structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging and related methods, such as DTI and perfusion measurements. In the second part, the course will introduce the most relevant experimental techniques, used in functional neuroimaging, as well as the methods, used for analysing functional as well as structural MRI data. The third part is the practical part, where an experiment will be developed, performed on the scanner, analysed, and the results will be discussed.

Take a PhD at UiB!

PhD education gives you the possibility of working in academia and doing in-depth research on the field of your interest. A need for challenging research in climate change combined with the prospects of a good work-life balance brought Ina Nagler from Austria and the Netherlands to a PhD programme in Bergen. 

Main content

Originally from Austria, Ina considered several options before she ended up on the west coast of Norway. She has always had a fascination for the country, but the research environment was more decisive.  - I also knew that the salary was good, and that work-life balance was valued. I believe that you should enjoy what you’re doing, without working yourself to death, says Ina. 

Super-nice work environment

In Austria PhDs are paid little and used as cheap labour, Ina explains. In Norway, PhDs are paid an ordinary salary.  Her work is on climate change, which is a big, cross-disciplinary topic at the University of Bergen.  - I am working on how climate change will affect our ocean currents. And I am specifically looking at the North Atlantic subpolar gyre.  This gyre is a cold, circulating ocean current south of Iceland, Greenland and the coast of Canada.  - I am looking for changes in the ocean circulation in models, and then I will look for similar processes in paleo reconstructions.  She will specifically look at how the subpolar gyre interacts with the rest of the system during changes. There will be signs of these processes in paleo archives found in sediments on the sea bottom. This can confirm both if the climate models are working well, and if the interpretation of paleo-data is correct. 

People are all very friendly and welcoming. When I accepted the job offer, I felt like it could provide me with this challenge that I need to thrive, but also a general feeling of belonging and contentment, in a way

- A direct comparison of the physical processes within models and paleo data has not been done yet and may lead to surprises. 

Ina has only positive things to say about her colleagues: - It’s a super-nice work environment. I’m part of the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, so I came quickly in contact with different scientist working on the big issues of climate change. People know each other, and you can just go and talk with them. People are all very friendly and welcoming.  When I got the job, the deciding factor was the feeling that I got during the interview. It was a committee of five people, and I felt like they could provide me with this challenge that I need to thrive, but also a general feeling of belonging and contentment, in a way. Happiness!

Would you like to read more about Ina's experience? Click here to continue

- And I love being by the sea and in the craziest nature at the same time! Bergen is still big enough that you don’t feel that there is nothing to do. I was a bit scared about the night life and a lack of cultural experiences, but I have found that there are nice places to go to, and the cultural life is surprisingly good. 

Although working hard on her project she doesn’t work excessively long hours.  - I am surprised how much you are encouraged to take time off. I normally start at 8 am every day, and go home at 4 pm, she says.  There are many other PhDs at the university, and Ina normally has lunch with the others on her floor.  - We’re like 8 people, and we go on weekend trips and hikes together, and we drink together. There’s a huge international culture here. So even if you’re an international student here you don’t have to be afraid to be alone. Some people say it’s difficult to get in touch with Norwegians, but personally, I haven’t experienced this.

Ina recommends a PhD in Bergen for other students:  - Given that you’re confident about working independently, and that you feel at ease with your supervisor: Sure! And the most important thing is that you like to dive into a topic and enjoy finding out new things so much that you will endure setbacks that might come.  The mix of staff was a positive experience for her:  - I am surprised by how many female staff there are here in Bergen. There is still room for improvement, but the university is clear on wanting to improve the still existing gender imbalance.

She has meetings with her supervisor once a week.  - I was afraid of not knowing how to do a PhD. But my supervisor told me from the beginning that we’re together on this, and he helps me. 

Ina also tries to communicate with as many of her colleagues as possible, both PhDs and post-docs, and she gets tips from them on what they would have done differently in their PhDs.  - But I haven’t started teaching yet. But there is a PhD forum where you meet once a month and learn skills. We had one seminar on mental well-being, but also one on how to write a CV. Last month they went to a mountain and made a fire, so it’s diverse! If you want, you can go to a seminar every day. 

Now, she has a good feeling about her whole PhD.  - I feel confident about the work on my project. To be a PhD you need to be sure that you can work independently. And if you have a good supervisor by your side, there is nothing that can go wrong!

Why become a doctoral candidate at UiB?

Do you have a master’s degree, and want to pursue your research interest even further? Do you like varied work with the chance of doing research, dissemination and teaching?

PhD education gives you the possibility of working in academia and doing in-depth research on the field of your interest. You will be paid during the three or four years of your doctoral education.

How is the workday?

As a PhD candidate, you will work in an environment of committed research colleagues. You will be able to decide on your work schedule, as long as you are not engaged in PhD courses, teaching, conferences or deadlines in the project.

You will be trained to become a highly skilled analytic. At the same time, you will meet students through teaching duties and solve research questions with others in your research group – answers to questions that will provide an impact on society.  

You will be able to travel abroad for research stays, join national and international conferences where you meet passionate researchers within your own field.

At UiB you will work in an egalitarian structure, where you will be given responsibility and shown confidence from the head of research.

Motivated? Skills to make you prosper

In order to succeed as a PhD candidate, you need to be structured and take initiatives. You need to see the value of teamwork. It is definitely an asset if you enjoy teaching and dissemination. In return, PhD education gives you a lot of opportunities!  

Your rights as an employee

As a PhD research fellow, you receive a salary and obtain temporary staff employee rights. If you become a parent or become ill, you have the right to take paid leave from your research. Thus, the end-date of your fellowship will become extended.

How to apply for admission to the PhD programme?

Admission requires that you have completed a Master’s education, normally of at least five years. Full funding is also required, in addition to a PhD project description. The remaining requirements differ between faculties, academic fields and the specific PhD research fellow vacancy. For more information on faculty-specific requirements, please see faculty-list out to the right on this page.

Broadly speaking there are two ways to fund your PhD education. Firstly, you can apply for and receive a PhD research fellowship at UiB. The research fellowships are announced at Vacant positions at UiB . If you have obtained a PhD position at UiB, some faculties will admit you to the PhD programme in the same process. At other faculties the fellowship recruitment and admission to the PhD programme will be somewhat separated. The faculty relevant for your academic field can inform you on the applicable arrangement.

A second way to obtain funding, is through a research fellowship or other kinds of funding through a private firm or public institution outside of UiB.

If you have funding and employer external to UiB you will in all instances need to apply for admission to the PhD programme in a separate process. If this applies to you, please contact relevant faculty.

If you have both funding and employer from outside of Norway, here is information on some practical and formal matters:  International PhD students with external financing

Paid PhD education with diverse tasks and research findings for the public good.

How to obtain funding?

Have a look at Vacant positions at UiB

Central criteria

A completed master’s degree. You must be dedicated and independent, but also willing to share and disseminate.

The PhD programmes

Faculty of Humanities

Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Faculty of Medicine

Faculty of Social Sciences

Faculty of Law

Faculty of Psychology

Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design

Life as a PhD candidate at UiB

• English Norsk

PhD in Educational Sciences and Humanities

The PhD programme in Educational Sciences and Humanities encompasses two research disciplines that overlap in some areas, but which also each have their own distinctive characteristics.

The Faculty of Arts and Education

Master's degree

Three years

Overview of start-ups and milstones in the PhD programme (pdf) .

The PhD programme in educational sciences and humanities encompasses two research disciplines that overlap in some areas, but which also each have their own distinctive characteristics.  

Educational sciences has a particular focus on research into childhood and adolescence, learning, teaching, general education and formal education from kindergarten through to higher education, and encompasses disciplines such as pedagogy, didactics, special education, sociology, psychology and history.

The humanities focuses on research into expressions of the human mind and human society and culture in the broadest sense, both past and present, and includes disciplines such as history, religious studies, literature and languages.

The PhD programme thus allows for both in-depth, specialised research within one of these areas and interdisciplinary investigations that traverse traditional boundaries.

Admission requirements

The general conditions for admission are set out in section 2-1 of the University of Stavanger’s PhD Regulations.

In addition, the following requirements apply to admission to the PhD programme in educational sciences and humanities:

• An average weighted grade of B or higher from the (last) two years of the master’s degree
• A grade of B or higher on the master’s thesis

In addition to the formal qualifications, importance will be attached to the quality of the proposed PhD project and relevant academic work.

Applicants who do not meet these formal criteria may exceptionally be admitted on special assessment. Importance will be attached to the academic supervisor’s documented ability to ensure the PhD candidates finish their PhD work.  It must be specified how the department/center intends to follow up the PhD candidate and ensure completion.

Read more about admission to PhD programmes .

Courses spring 2024

Below you will find an overview of relevant PhD-courses planned for the spring term 2024.

If you are already a PhD candidate at UiS you can either register in Studentweb or use the application form below in order to apply for these courses.

All external candidates must use the application form and send their paperwork to: [email protected]

Read more about DUH240 Qualitative research Dates: Week 3-19. Wednesdays from the 17th of January, 12.15-14.15. Application deadline: 3rd of January

Course coordinator: Kenan Dikilitas

Read more about DUH102 Philosophy of Science

Dates: January 22nd - 26th

Application deadline: January 8th

Course coordinator: Ståle Gundersen

Read more about DUH602 Philosophy of Science

Read more about DUH165 Applied Statistics

Dates: 18th - 22nd of March

Application deadline: 4th of March

Course coordinator: Ulrich Dettweiler

Read more about DUH270 Hermeneutics: An introduction

Dates: May 2.-3, 8

Application deadline: April 18.

Course coordinator: Tyson Retz

Read more about DUH200 Introduction to Meta-Analysis Date: May 13.-15.

Application deadline: April 29

Course coordinator: Serap Keles

Read more about DUH650 Social and emotional learning Date: May 21st-22nd and June 3rd-4th

Application deadline: May 7

Course coordinator: Ingunn Størksen

Read more about DUH120 Introduksjonsemne for ph.d.-kandidater (Norwegian) Date: TBA

No application deadline Contact: Ulrich Dettweiler og Jeanette Rollheim

Read more about DUH125 Avslutningsseminar (Norwegian) Date:

Courses autumn 2024

Below you will find an overview of relevant PhD-courses planned for the autumn term 2024.

All external candidates must use the application form and send their paperwork to [email protected] .

See full all PhD-courses at the University of Stavanger .

Read more about DUH157 Contemporary perspectives on Diversity Dates: 10th-11th of September, 15th-16th of October and 19th of November 2024 Application deadline: 26th of August 2024 Course coordinators: Geir Skeie and Hildegunn Fandrem

Read more about DUH225 Research Design Dates: 16th-19th of September 2024 Application deadline: 2nd of September Course coordinator: Arne Olav Nygard

Read more about DUH221 Educational Sciences Dates: 9th-10th of October, 24th-25th of October 2024 Application deadline: 25th of September Course coordinator: Ketil Knutsen

Read more abo ut DUH100 Systematic review Dates: 28th-30th of October Application deadline: 14th of October Course coordinator: May Irene F. Klippen

Read more about DUH205 Research ethics Dates: 4th-8th of November Application deadline: 21st of October

Read more about DUH605 Research ethics Dates: 4th-8th of November Application deadline: 21st of October

Read more abo ut DUH280 Themes in environmental humanities Dates: Application deadline: Course coordinator: Dolly Jørgensen

Information regarding this years topic can be found here .

Read more about NoRS-EH

Read more about DUH120 Introduksjonsemne for ph.d.-kandidater (Norwegian) Date: Contact: Hein Berdinesen og Jeanette Rollheim

Read more about DUH125 Avslutningsseminar (Norwegian) Date: Contact: Hein Berdinesen og Jeanette Rollheim

Forms and guidelines

Below you will find useful forms which you can download.

Find more forms and guidelines .

Guide for PhD Education

Start-up Phase

Implementation Phase

Final Phase

Regulations and Forms

Questions get in touch.

Are you curious, ambitious, and analytical? With a PhD from BI you will be well prepared for a career at top universities and research institutions. Develop as a researcher under the supervision of internationally renowned BI faculty.

BI's PhD programme features six areas of secialisation

Start date:  August 2024

This PhD specialisation provides candidates with rigorous training at the research frontier in Accounting.

This PhD specialisation provides candidates with an in-depth and intensive training programme at the cutting edge of both theoretical and empirical research in Finance.

Start date:  August 2025

This PhD specialisation is designed to produce graduates who are able to contribute to the advancement of marketing theory and practice.

The PhD programme in Economics trains candidates to engage in high quality scientific research, making use of economic theory and state of the art econometric methods.

Leadership and Organisation

Start date:  August 2025 

This PhD specialisation is an international programme designed to provide candidates with the knowledge and skills necessary to the advancement of research and practice within the field of leadership and organisation.

Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Innovation

This PhD specialisation is developed to provides candidates with the knowledge and skills to produce relevant and original research within strategic management, entrepreneurship, innovation and related fields.

PhD programme at BI

Are you qualified?

To gain admission to the PhD Programme, an applicant must formally apply to be accepted into the PhD Programme at BI Norwegian Business School.

How to apply

All applications must be submitted electronically through an online application form.

A PhD from BI can be a gateway to prestigious placements at universities around the world.

Follow your passion for research

Fully funded scholarships with a monthly salary.

Candidates are temporarily employed by BI and receive financial support for four years.

Your life as a PhD student at BI

Join our international environment and network, what are we researching right now, and why is it important, curious about phd.

Watch the videos below and see why you should pursue a PhD at BI.

Why pursue a PhD at BI?

Our international environment and network, mentoring in the phd programme, triple accreditation: one of the world's best business schools.

BI Norwegian Business School is the first Norwegian business school to receive the three most prestigious international accreditations.

Meet the faculty for the PhD specialisations

Oslo phd initiative in economics with the university of oslo.

The Initiative is a cooperation between the Economics Departments at BI Norwegian Business School (BI) and the University of Oslo (UiO).

PhD dissertations

Previous defences, courses for external candidates.

PhD candidates admitted to PhD programmes at other institutions are welcome to take PhD courses at BI.

Get to know us better!

Register here for the latest news, invitations, and relevant content on the programmes and people at BI.

PhD Programme

Are you considering a career in research? The PhD program is an opportunity if you want to further your studies after completing a master’s degree.

Jan-Olav Henriksen

The PhD program at MF includes projects in theology, religion and social studies.

A PhD qualifies you for teaching at the college/university level, for research activities, and for other work where there are high standards of scholarly insight, skill, and well developed analytical thinking. MF's programme is open to applicants from other universities and colleges in Norway and abroad.

PhD Student at MF

All doctoral students must sign the Agreement on Admission to the PhD Programme. The agreement consists of three parts (A, B and C) and seeks to describe and regulate the most crucial aspects of the PhD programme at MF. Typically, only part A and B require signatures.

Part C: Agreement between an external institution and MF. This part of the PhD agreement is currently under revision.

The PhD programme consists of several courses (30 ECTS in total). You are expected to attend the courses while also writing your thesis. Some courses are offered every semester, others every year or more rarely.

Please confer your educational plan on Studentweb to see what courses you need to attend.

• Mid-term evaluation is for all PhD candidates admitted to MF. The evaluation is normally led by the prorector. Mid-term evaluation is also referred to as a "50 percent seminar".
• The purpose of the 90-percent seminar is to assess the project in a final phase and evaluate an almost finished manuscript. The seminar gives the candidate the opportunity to present and discuss the project’s results and findings. The 90-percent seminar should normally take place for all PhD candidates admitted to MF’s PhD programme.

See the guidelines for more information about 50- and 90-percent seminars.

Research seminars, where faculty and doctoral students meet to discuss ongoing doctoral projects, are offered each semester. This is an opportunity to share research ideas and progress, to get constructive help and to give feedback to others.

You submit a paper (about 15 pages) on Canvas at least two weeks before the seminar. The paper is typically (part of) a thesis chapter or an article. The papers will not be read in the seminar; all participants are expected to have read them beforehand. Please add a “cover letter” explaining the context of your paper. If your work is part of a monograph, please add a tentative table of contents.

The seminar

Every doctoral student is given 45 mins-1 hour to present, get feedback and to join an open floor debate.

The session starts with a short presentation of the paper by the author (max five minutes). This is a chance to point out challenges, questions or paragraphs that call for special attention.

A fellow doctoral student is assigned the task to give a feedback and raise some questions related to the paper (max ten minutes).

A member of faculty, usually not your supervisor of the doctora, gives their feedback (max 20 minutes).

You are given time to respond, either during the feedback or after, according to what is convenient.

This leaves sufficient time for open floor discussion where the other participants, doctoral students and supervisors, contribute.

The aim of this procedure is not to be formal, but to make sure that every paper is given a qualified feedback which draws on the competence gathered.

Research projects and academic work at MF are to be in accordance with current legislation and recognized norms for research ethics.

The thesis, the introduction excluded, will normally extend to three normal-size articles in academic journals. It is required for assessment of a PhD-thesis that the candidate is the main author and has an extended academic responsibility for a majority of the articles that are included in the PhD thesis.

If you choose to write your dissertation as a monograph, there are no specific rules for how to do it. In general, this option provides a more flexible design for your dissertation. 

The requirements in terms of what it should contain, are the usual:

• definition of and motivation for research questions
• delineation of material
• theory and method
• outline of structure and identification of the main aims for the work.

As a general rule, the size of the work should be around  +/ - 100 000 words, 200-250 pages, but this depends on the topic and the material you research.

One good advice is to look at the work of someone who has done this before you, and has had a favourable reception of their dissertation and a successful defence.

The formal requirements regarding submission of the PhD dissertation are described in Regulations for the degree of PhD at MF ( Forskrift for graden ph.d. ved MF ).

Article-based dissertations must follow the  Rules for article-based PhD-dissertations , and Declaration of independent Research.

You will receive a copy of the letter of appointment to your examination committee. MF appoints the examination committee based on advice from faculty and according to the regulations. The supervisor(s) and the candidate are not involved in this.

Within a month after submission we will set a tentative date for your public defence. This is not an indication of a positive examination result.

The examination committee will give their examination report within 3 months from appointment. You will receive the report immediately.

For more detalis about the time between submission and defense, see the general timetable for PhD Trials at MF.

If you wish to correct typographical/language errors in the submitted thesis before it is printed, you have the opportunity to submit an errata list.

What is an errata list? An errata list is a list of specific corrections of formal errors (layout, correction of printing errors and/or pure language errors) that you wish to make in the thesis before it is printed. In practice, correcting formal errors means making the text meaningful or linguistically correct, not clarifying/changing the meaning of the text.

Even if you are notified before the defence that a submitted article has been approved or published by a publisher, but in a revised form, you are not allowed to replace the accepted article with the one included in your thesis. It is the submitted article manuscript that will be used as the basis for the defence. In the preface to the thesis that is printed for the defence, you can refer to the final journal article.

Who should have the errata list, and when must it be submitted? As soon as you discover errors in your thesis, you should prepare an errata list and submit it according to the timetable. If you have listed changes that MF or the assessment committee consider to be substantive, the changes will not be approved. The errata list should be sent to [email protected]

The trial lecture is a test of how you give an academic lecture. It is not a purely pedagogical test. It is to be related to / based on research, with a presentation of the issue, an independent discussion of the material (not just of the current research discussion) and a conclusion of one's own. The topic for the trial lecture will be given ten days before the day of the public defence.

The public defence is an open event where you present and defend your doctoral thesis in public to two critical opponents from the expert committee. The public defence is chaired by the Rector or pro-rector. You have to pass the trial lecture and public defence to be awarded the PhD degree.

Feel free to invite friends and family to the public defence.

For more detailed information about the trial lecture and public defence, please see the timetable for PhD trials, which can be found under "Between PhD Submission and Defence".

Fields of Research

MF’s research is centred around the fields of Theology, Religion and Society, including disciplines such as:

• The Old Testament/Hebrew Bible (OT/HB)
• The New Testament (NT)
• Church History and Cultural History
• Systematic Theology
• Practical Theology
• Religious Education
• Religious Studies
• Sociology of Religion
• Psychology of Religion
• Social Sciences

Useful links

Research news.

Ways of belonging

Humans - like many animals - are social beings. Social belonging can offer us a lot: security, support, and the joy of community. But we differ in how much and…

Positive Reception for Book on Islamic Economics

From analysis of Islamic economic philosophy to love as a common human concept; Sami al-Daghistani is an academic with a broad field of interests. His book The…

Research to gain knowledge about the situation of Roma LGBTQI people

Associate professor at MF, Solvor M. Lauritzen, will together with Arman Heljic at Södertörn University, lead a research project on antigypsyist homophobia and the rights of Roma and Traveller LGBTQI people in the Nordic countries.

ERC Starting Grant to Moumita Sen

Associate Professor Moumita Sen received a starting grant for her project POLDEI.

• PhD Programme in Health Sciences

Duration : 3 years

Duration: 3 År

• Study catalogue

The PhD programme in Health Sciences is a structured research education and consist of independent research work with a doctoral thesis (150 credits) and a training component (30 credits).

Anine T. Andersen

Senior adviser

• Telephone: +4777645363
• Campus: Tromsø

Monica Karlsen

Senior Advisor at the Faculty of Heath Sciences

• Telephone: +4777623279

Stian Løkken Myrvold

Rådgiver

• Telephone: +4777645741

Kenneth Webb Berg Vollan

Seniorrådgiver

• Telephone: +4777623164

The programme is standardized to a three year duration, extended to four year for mandatory duties. Part-time study is possible, with a requirement that at least 50 % of the working hours will be dedicated to the PhD programme.

The PhD programme follows this structure:

• HEL-8900 Doctoral thesis in Health Sciences (150 credits)
• Training component (30 credits)

Training component:

Courses within the training component should be at a doctoral level and cover topics including scientific theory, ethics, and communication. The training component is worth 30 credits, with a minimum of 20 credits completed after admission.

Mandatory courses:

• HEL-8040 Theory of Science, Research Ethics and Research Design (7 credits)
• HEL-8045 Innovation and Public Research Communication (3 credits)
• Courses in Laboratory Animal Science are mandatory for candidates with research projects involving the use of laboratory animals.
• For candidates conducting laboratory research, it is mandatory to complete relevant Health, Safety and Environment courses at UiT.

Optional courses (20 credits):

• PhD courses from UiT or other accredited institution in Norway or abroad
• Specialized curriculum may be approved based on a satisfactory course description in line with UiT’s education quality system
• Courses taken at a Norwegian or foreign research school
• Scientific communication
• Popular science representation

Upon successful completion of the PhD programme, the candidate will have achieved the following learning outcomes:

The candidate can:

• Critically assess scientific methods and research design suitable for addressing various issues within the field of health science
• Evaluate and analyze scientific-theoretical questions in their own and others’ research.
• Critically analyze the methodological and acandemic quality of existing knowledge within their specific field of study
• Assess the need for research and innovation within their own field of study
• Recognize and analyze ethical issues in research
• Evaluate the utility and appropianess of different communation channels and methods
• Critically reflect upon and justify the choice of research methods in a health science research project.
• Select, justify, and discuss new issues within their own research area.
• Develop projects in accordance with research ethics requirements and guidelines (including Health Research Act).
• Design, execute, and lead a research project at a high international level.
• Evaluate and utilize various communication channels for their own research project and field of study.

General Competence:

The candidate:

• Is innovative and pioneering within their own field of study.
• Actively contributes to networks within their field of study nationally and internationally.
• Is an active contributor to societal discussions within their field of study nationally and internationally.
• Communicates and discusses thoughtfully the issues within health sciences.
• Please note that this is a translation of the learning outcomes provided, and some nuance in the original language may not be fully captured.

A PhD degree in Health Sciences qualifies individuals for a wide range of position both within and outside academia, where candidates are needed to:

• Be at the forefront of knowledge within their field of expertise.
• Possess a strong grasp of scientific theory and methods.
• Contribute to the development of new knowledge, theories, methods, interpretations, or documentation forms.
• Gain an overview of and analyze complex problem areas.
• Formulate research questions, plan, and execute research or developmental work.
• Tackle intricate academic questions, challenge established knowledge and practices.
• Communicate knowledge from their field to society and engage in academic discussions.
• Evaluate the need for, initiate, and drive innovation

For admission to the PhD programme in Health Sciences, the following requirements are stipulated:

• The candidate must have completed a five-year Norwegian master’s degree, Norwegian higher-level professional education, or an education deemed equivalent by the faculty. Candidates with foreign higher education will be evaluated in accordance with the Universities and University College Act (§3-5, third paragraph)
• The candidate must have achieved a grade of C or better on the master’s thesis and as an average for the master’s degree.
• Foreign candidates must provide evidence of English proficiency that meets the requirement for Norwegian general study competence.
• The candidate must have satisfactory funding for the study, typically a salary equivalent to that of a research fellow position, including salary, operational funds, infrastructure and indirect costs. Requirement for funding can be waived exceptionally and in special cases for candidates who have passed student research programme. The condition for such an exception is that the candidate is nearing completion of their doctoral work.

For more information about admission to the PhD programme, go to uit.no/phd

Teaching methods for courses within the training compoentn may include lectures, seminars and/or guidance through written or oral presentation. The specific teaching methods and extent are further detailed in the individual course description.

For the doctoral thesis, the primary teaching method consist of guidance provided by appointed main- and co-supervisor(s).

At the midpoint of the study period, the candidate’s progress will be evaluated. This mid-way assessment take form of a seminar where the candidate and the supervisor meet with an evaluation committee consisting of two faculty members with a doctoral degree or equivalent. Successfully completing the mid-way assessment is a mandatory requirement to be eligible for submitting the PhD thesis for evaluation, unless the candidate is admitted to an abbreviated PhD programme.

Learning amd assessment methods are described in more details in the course outline for HEL-8900 Doctoral Thesis in Health Sciences

The teaching language for PhD courses in the training component is Norwegian/ Nordic and/or English.

The thesis, including the abstract, should have a consistent language. As a general rule this should be English. Norwegian or another Nordic language may be accepted. The choice of language should be specified in the admission application and approved by the admission committee.

The study program utilizes the following measures for internationalization:

• English-language teaching and course literature
• Incorporation of international conference participation with credit in the training component
• International PhD student enviroment (ToDoS)
• International exchange agreement and collaboration agreements.

• Norwegian Bokmål
• Find employee
• Find study plan

PhD in Biosciences

As a PhD candidate, you conduct scientific research in aquatic and terrestrial fields, participating in a dynamic, industry-oriented research environment.

Programme description

Career opportunities.

1. Qualification The Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture (FBA) welcomes applicants who have successfully completed their master's degree (120 ECTS) in biosciences or biosciences-related disciplines, which is relevant to the theme of the proposed research project, with a minimum average grade B (or its international accepted equivalence) or better.

Industry and public funded candidates can apply for admission, provided they have the necessary qualifications. International self-financed students are normally not accepted, but applicants with documented funding from governmental or non-governmental bodies will be considered for admission. Such candidates should contact the faculty’s PhD administration for further information regarding their eligibility for admission.

2. Financial Capacity In order to be admitted to the PhD programme applicants must be able to source financing for the entire period of the doctoral studies (3 years). Possible funding sources may be a PhD fellow position financed by the Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, if available, and other external sources, e.g. from the home country. Private funding (e.g. ​own or family's financial resources)​​ does not normally​ qualify for admission to the PhD programme. Documented funding from research fellowship positions, scholarships or governmental/business bodies is required.

Particularly about PhD fellowship positions: PhD research fellow positions at our faculty are generally fully funded for three years. These PhD positions are linked to a specific research project​. Successful applicants for this position will be offered employment to enter the PhD programme in Biosciences. ​Available research fellow positions funded by the Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture will be announced on the university's website: https://www.nord.no/en/about/vacancies

Please check the Regulations for the doctor of philosophy degree at Nord University, including the Supplementary guidelines for the PhD in Biosciencesfor more detailed information on admission requirements for the PhD programme.

Doctoral education at the Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture is internationally oriented. Candidates are expected to contribute to international conferences and publish in international peer-reviewed journals.

Based on the nature of the research project, you will complete part of your studies abroad, either in the form of prolonged research stays/visits at international institutions or by completing some of your courses abroad.

Contact us on [email protected]

Jeanett Stegen

Steinar Daae Johansen