Forms and related info
Department of Academic AffairsForms that are useful during the PhD programme, and when to use them. For further details, we refer to our
PhD Handbook (revised March 2012).
A PhD programme mainly comprise research work under supervision.
This Checklist for PhD supervisors and students is a usefull tool to keep track on administrative and practical tasks during the PhD period. Remember to download and save the document before you start adding information.
A PhD programme includes:
- completion of an independent piece of research (PhD project) in cooperation with the appointed supervisors and possibly other researchers
- approved organised academic training (including 3 regular seminars during the academic training period)
- participation in active national and international research groups
- research and knowledge dissemination which is closely related to the topic of the PhD project
- writing a PhD thesis based on the independent PhD project
Students can be continuously admitted to doctoral studies throughout the year. The relevant department is the admission authority. It is important to apply for admission to the PhD programme no later than 2months after start-up:
- Application for admission to the doctoral programme
- Instructions for completing the application form
Agreement
Admission to a PhD programme is formalised in a written agreement between the PhD student, the supervisor(s) and the department at which the student has been admitted. External bodies may also be parties to this agreement. If the PhD student is to be associated with another employer, an agreement must be made which regulates working conditions, including how much time is to be used for the PhD project, the use of materials and access to scientific equipment. The agreement shall ensure that the PhD student regularly participates in an active research group, and enable the completion of the doctoral programme within the contractual period.
- Agreement for completion of a PhD Programme at UMB
Academic training component
The academic training component shall include courses equivalent to 30-70 credits at the 300 level (master’s) or the 400 (PhD) level. A course in research ethics shall be included. An examination taken more than ten years previously can normally not be approved.
The academic training component must be completed and approved by the department before the thesis is submitted.
For the academic training component to be approved, no grade lower than C and an average of B is required for courses taken at UMB or at other educational institutions in Norway for which letter grades are awarded. Other courses shall not be included when calculating the grade average, but are approved if passed. Detailed information: "Guidelines for calculation of grade average"
Education Plan
An individual education plan shall be prepared, in cooperation with the supervisory team, within six months after admission.
The education plan shall include:
- a complete project description of the research assignment
- a progress plan for completion of the research component
- a progress plan for completion of the academic training,
including course descriptions
- any plans for stays at other universities, research institutions
or enterprises, in Norway or abroad
- a publication plan
The department shall approve the education plan. Should the need arise for significant changes to the education plan, a revised plan must also be approved.
- Education Plan
- Agreement for individual course work
- Non degree and exchange studies application for PhD students at Norwegian or partner universities
Seminars
As part of the quality assurance of the PhD programme, the candidates must hold (at least) three seminars during the programme period. The purpose of the seminars is to ensure that PhD candidates get off to an early start on their doctoral theses, demonstrate the progress they have made and have an opportunity to discuss scholarly and practical challenges in connection with the project with a broader audience than the supervisory team.
The initial seminar shall be held before the education plan is submitted for consideration, the midway seminar after one and a half to two years, and the final seminar when the thesis is approaching completion.
- Routines for PhD seminars
Progress Report
The PhD student and supervisor(s) are (once a year) obliged to report on the student's progress:
- Progress report
The contractual period can be extended due to leave(s) of absence and agreed part-time study that have been approved by the department. When applying for an extension, please fill in the form:
- Changes of the PhD programme`s contract period
The PhD degree is to be conferred on the basis of:
- approved completion of the organised academic training
- approved trial lecture on a prescribed subject
- approved academic thesis
- satisfactory public defence of the thesis
The PhD thesis is to be independent scientific research at an international standard. The thesis can consist of a number of smaller publications. In cases where the PhD student has co-authored articles, the PhD students contribution shall be specified upon submission of the thesis. All co-authors shall sign a declaration stating the extent of their contribution.
- Submission declaration of a PhD thesis, receipt
- Authorship declaration
- Letter template for assessment of the PhD thesis
A doctoral thesis shall have an ISBN, an ISSN and a Thesis number.
Ask Mona Bye about numbers for your thesis.
All doctoral theses, approved for public defence, shall have the official UMB layout on the cover.
Contact Berit Hopland for assistance in this matter.
For assessment of a doctoral thesis, upon proposal from the department - the University Board appoints an evaluation committee. The committee must submit a report, recommending whether or not the thesis is worthy of being publicly defended for the PhD degree.
After the defence the Evaluation Committee issue a statement:
- Statement from the Evaluation Committe
PhD Certificate
Once the academic training, thesis, trial lecture and public defence of the thesis have been approved, the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) are conferred on the PhD candidate by the University Board.
Certificates are issued on an ongoing basis. Contact Mona Bye for information. The certificate state the title of the thesis, the topic of the trial lecture, courses included in the approved academic training, the names of the supervisors and the members of the evaluation committee.
Published: 02.03.11
Updated: 31.01.13
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