Doctoral Degrees

Forsker

​​​​​PhD Degrees

PhD programmes

Admission requirements

In order to be admitted to a PhD programme a Masters degree or equivalent is required. The applicant is expected to have achieved a satisfactory grade in their Masters degree, have appropriate financing in place, an approved project description and a plan for carrying out the PhD.

Admission to the different PhD programmes is by individual application. Our four PhD programmes have different admission requirements based on the different disciplines. For more information about the admission requirements for the different disciplines see the information in the links below:

PhD handbook

The PhD Handbook covers the most important parts of the start-up phase, during the PhD and the closing stages. The handbook is based on the PhD regulations at Nord University. The handbook is a cooperative work of the four faculties and the research administration. The PhD Handbook aims to make information about taking a PhD accessible for potential and current candidates, supervisors and others involved in the PhD education pathway at Nord University.   
-> PhD Handbook.pdf
        

Regulations

Nord University has a PhD reg​ulations concerning all doctoral programmes​. In addition, each faculty has guidelines that regulate particular points of each individual PhD programme.​
The regulations for PhD at Nord University in Norwegian is published in Lovdata.

Quality assurance of phd programmes

Nord University has established routines for both quality assurance of ph.d. programmes and for completion.
 

Courses

PhD candidates can take courses at PhD level at Nord University, but in the cases where the university does not arrange all the relevant courses then it will arrange for the candidate to to complete equivalent parts at other institutions nationally or internationally.

During the training period candidates will be expected to improve their knowledge of scientific theory and research methods. A development of capabilities with regards to communication of scientific findings is also required as part of the training. In the link under id the program and details of study points and discipline composition.

Financing

Only candidates with sufficiently documented financing can apply for admission to researcher education.

Before submitting an application the applicant must be able to document financing for both the research project and living costs. Financing can be secured via employment at Nord University on a scholarship or at another higher education institution, with a graduate research grant (stipendiat) from the Norwegian Research Council, as an employee in the higher education system with allotted time for ph.d. work, an employee in the public or private sector with a public or private scholarship or scholarship from different national or international organizations.

Forms

Forms for applicants who can document financing:

Note: Please see the last page of the application for guidance on completing the forms

Forms for PhD candidates who already have been admitted:  


Dr. Philos.

About dr. philos degrees

The degree Dr. Philos. (doctor philosophiae) is awarded to academics who have qualified themselves for a doctoral degree without formal supervision. The degree has no normalised timeframe and candidates do not have a relationship with the institution prior to having their application the doctoral examination approved. 

Applying for dr.philos

In order to apply for Dr. Philos, the candidate must have a completed dissertation. The candidate must submit a copy of the thesis prior to the doctoral examination. When the thesis is approved, the applicant will be registered as a candidate, and an assessment committee appointed. Read more about Dr. Philos.

Requirements for award of dr. philos 

Dr. Philos is awarded on the following bases:
- an approved scientific thesis,
- two approved trial lectures. The candidate will be allocated a subject for the first lecture. They may choose their own subject for the second lecture.
- a satisfactory public defence of their thesis (disputation)

 
The Dr. Philos thesis is an independent work, and the university does not provide economic support, supervision or other assistance.