phd in english in norway

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 Education at the University of Stavanger

The University of Stavanger has five PhD programmes that cover a wide range of disciplines.

Contact the PhD administration .

What is a PhD education?

A PhD ( Doctor of Philosophy ) is the highest level of academic qualification you can achieve. The PhD program is a three-year research education.

The education includes a dissertation or artistic result based on independent work, relevant courses equivalent to six months of study, participation in national and international research environments, academic or artistical dissemination, a trial lecture and a public defence.

The most common way to enrol in a PhD programme is to be employed by the University for a PhD fellowship. It is also possible to apply for admission with other funding.

Pursue a PhD at UiS?

Want to pursue a PhD at UiS?

How to apply for a PhD with us.

For PhD candidates at UiS

Guidance and tools from start to finish.

Our PhD programmes

PhD programme in Science and Technology

PhD programme in Health and Medicine

PhD programme in Social Science

PhD programme in Educational science and Humanities

PhD programme in artistic reserach

Frequently Asked Questions about our PhD education

Our research schools, upcoming courses and events, shut up & write for phds.

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The research of our PhD candidates

Advanced methods for field-scale reservoir simulation.

Anna Kvashchuk defended her dissertation for the degree of PhD at the University of Stavanger the 30th of April.

Doctoral thesis on how students' mindsets affect learning outcomes

Elin Svensen defended her Ph.D. in sociology, social work, culture, and society at the Faculty of Social Sciences on Dec...

What influences nurses' career choices?

Leaders who support, listen to, and value their staff are extremely important for nurses' ambitions regarding further ca...

Design of autonomous underwater vehicles

Yucong Ma has researched dynamic analysis and design of subsea shuttle tanker systems.

Seismic inversion methods for reservoir characterisation

Nisar Ahmed has developed a workflow for seismic inversion methods to estimate the rock-properties in a reservoir.

Environmental risk assessment of enhanced oil recovery solutions

In his PhD work, Mehul Vora has contributed to new knowledge about the environmental risk related to shortlisted product...

Understanding the initial wettability of reservoirs

Panagiotis Aslanidis defended his thesis on wettability for core analysis. The purpose of his research was to link reser...

Maintenance of ageing structures and mechanical equipment

Fredrik Bjørheim, PhD candidate at the Faculty of Science and Technology, has investigated damage assessment and modelin...

Dissertation on policy instruments for entrepreneurs

Founder and entrepreneur Murshid M. Ali defended his dissertation for the Ph.D. degree in Management, Economics, and Tou...

Integrated solar panels in walls and roofs can be efficient power sources

“Norway’s cold climate is very suitable for building-integrated photovoltaics,” says researcher Hassan Gholami. He compl...

Synthetic polymers for enhanced oil recovery

In her doctoral work, Siv Marie Åsen has taken a closer look at what happens to different types of polymers when they ar...

Doctoral candidates and non-academic careers

Saeed Moghadam-Saman defended his PhD at the University of Stavanger 21 May 2021.

Qualification of new partitioning tracers

Mário Helder Lopes da Silva has developed a method for qualification of new partitioning tracers for use in Partitioning...

Meet ph.d student Ingrid

– You are given the opportunity to study risk analysis in one of the most internationally acknowledged research environm...

Temperature variations i chalk reservoirs

Tijana Voake defended her PhD thesis 22 January, and is now ready for new challenges.

Modelling of CO2 injection in tight shale gas reservoirs

Dhruvit Berawala's PhD project deals with numerical modelling of shale gas production and CO2 injection in shale gas res...

Defended thesis on permeability and stress in compacting rocks

The purpose of Emanuela Kallesten's project is to understand how stress state and pore pressure affect the permeability ...

Jaspreet became Doctor digitally

With around 25 participants PhD candidate Jaspreet Singh Sachdeva defended his thesis in a video conference in Teams Mon...

Study of nano-scale interfacial forces

Shaghayegh Javadi can welcome the Christmas holidays as Doctor Javadi after defending her PhD thesis November 25th, 2019...

Wettability estimation by oil adsorption

Samuel Erzuah defended his PhD thesis 24 September. Now he is moving back to Ghana as Dr. Erzuah.

CO2 mobility control with foam for enhanced oil recovery

With a thesis on a very topical theme, CCUS, Mohan Sharma graduated as the sixth PhD at the Centre.

How to make seawater smarter

In her PhD work, Remya Nair has investigated how "smart" salt water can increase oil recovery. 15 March she defended her...

Modelling of EOR transport mechanisms

Oddbjørn Nødland was the fifth PhD candidate to graduate from The National IOR Centre of Norway.

Completing the «toolbox» for studying IOR/EOR effects

Auditorium E-164 was packed at the public defence of Mona Minde's doctoral degree.

Could Raman spectroscopy be applied to enhanced oil recovery?

On June 6th, Laura Borromeo defended her dissertation. Her thesis evaluates if Raman spectroscopy could be applied to en...

Study of nanomaterials for recovery of heavy crude oil

Kun Guo defended the degree philosophiae doctor 12 April. He is the second PhD student to graduate from The National IOR...

How to manage geological uncertainty with decision analysis

Aojie Hong was defending the degree philosophiae doctor Thursday, December 14th. He is the first PhD student to graduate...

How does the neighborhood affect your quality of life?

Ana Llopis Alvarez defended her thesis December 2nd. She has investigated how living conditions affect how well we are d...

14 recommendations for a successful disputation

A disputation, the public defence of a PhD candidate’s thesis, is a serious matter. How can you prepare as best as possi...

Adjudication of the thesis (PhD Programme in Social Sciences)

The evaluation committee’s mandate is to assess the thesis and issue a written reasoned recommendation to the Faculty wh...

Saving newborn lives through ventilation

Robert Moshiro defended his thesis on making births in low-income countries safer.

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• Postgraduate studies – PhD
• Our PhD programmes

PhD programmes at USN

PhD is the highest level of formal education in Norway. We have the following doctoral programmes:

PhD programme in Social Sciences

A PhD degree gives you the opportunity to further your knowledge and understanding in social science disciplines, as well as to develop skills in planning and carrying out high-quality research. It also gives you the opportunity to contribute to important discoveries and contribute to solving societal challenges. Furthermore, having a PhD may open the doors to career opportunities in academia, in business or in the public sector.

Facts about the program

About the research programme.

The programme offers PhD education within all the faculty’s disciplines and relevant research fields. The overall purpose of the programme is to give the PhD candidates a thorough theoretical and methodological background, along with the experience of completing a substantial piece of original scientific work (the PhD thesis).

The degree is awarded based on approved course component, an academic dissertation, a trial lecture and a public defence.

The PhD programme is a total of 180 ECTS, which is three years full time studies. The coursework component consists of a minimum of 30 ECTS credits. There are possibilities to have a fourth year financed through a work component, this is upon individual agreements and specialisation.

Specialisations

The faculty offers specialisation in the following fields (lenkes til gammel nettside inntil videre)

Specialisation in Global Development and Planning

Specialisation i Information Systems

Specialisation in Public Administration

Specialisation in Sociology and Social Work

Programme structure

The PhD specialisation is organised to be completed over a three-year period. The first year is devoted to coursework and the beginning of the work with the thesis.

The coursework component comprises a core course in the chosen specialisation, mandatory course in philosophy of science and research methodology and elective courses.

The PhD specialisation is organised to be completed over a three-year period. The first year is devoted to coursework and the beginning of the work with the thesis. The coursework component consists of a total of 30 ECTS. All candidates must complete a minimum of 15 ECTS in philosophy of science including a course in the chosen methodology, and core courses of 15 ects in the chosen specialisation. The detailed course plan must be set up in cooperation with the candidate’s supervisor. The coursework component is carried out in parallel with the development of the thesis throughout the entire study programme.

Career prospects

Candidates from the Ph.D. program work in academia, the public sector, organizations, and the private sector.

Where do our candidates end up?

Many of the graduated doctoral candidates work in academia, both at UiA and other educational institutions. Externally funded candidates usually return to their regular job and continue with research in their own organization.

Former candidates

See disputations at the Faculty of Social Sciences

See supplementary regulations regarding admission

Doctoral degree (PhD)

After completing the master's degree it is possible to continue with a doctoral degree (PhD degree). The doctoral education has a nominal length of three years and takes place within the framework of an organized programme.

The doctoral education consists of a dissertation and an educational component. The educational component comprises at least 30 credits of the programme. Within the programme there are opportunities for study abroad periods, interdisciplinary collaboration and participation in research schools.

By the end of the doctoral education, the PhD degree is awarded based on the following:

1. Satisfactory completion of the educational component. 2. An approved scientific dissertation. 3. Satisfactory performance on the PhD examination.

The PhD examination consists of a trial lecture and public defence of the dissertation.

Go to Doctoral degree and career opportunities

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• PhD programme in Humanities and Social Sciences

Duration : 3 years

Duration: 3 År

• Study catalogue

Do you hold a master's degree with a good score and wish to embark on a research programme within humanities, social sciences or education, that qualifies you for a future academic career? Do you want to be certified for professions with a high demand for qualifications and skills? The PhD program in the humanities and social sciences offers a research programme that qualifies candidates for work in academia or other areas in which there is a strong demand for scientific insight and analytical thinking. The research programme is offered in a range of subjects and has different areas of specialisation. Areas of specialisation within the humanities: Linguistics, literature and culture, archaeology, history, philosophy, religion, theology, documentation science and art history, and more. Areas of specialisation within the social sciences: Political science, sociology, anthropology, regional planning and cultural understanding, education, tourism, welfare and social work, gender research, indigenous studies, peace studies, and more.

Mayvi B. Johansen

Senior Adviser

• Telephone: +4777623139
• Campus: Tromsø
• [email protected]

The PhD program in the humanities and social sciences is standardised at 180 credits and is divided between the educational component (30 credits) and the dissertation (150 credits) .

The education component of 30 credits will consist of compulsory and optional PhD courses (8000 level) and include these elements:

• Theory of science and research ethics. Total of 10 credits.
• Research dissemination. Total of 3-5 credits.
• Subject-specific theory and method/academic approaches and positions. Total of 15 credits.

The dissertation must be an independent scientific work that meets international standards for ethics, academic level and method within the subject area. Through the dissertation, the student must be involved in developing new academic knowledge, and the dissertation must be at a level that indicates that it can be published as part of the scientific literature on the subject.

The dissertation can be a monograph or a compilation of several smaller works and an introductory chapter, ie a collection of articles.

Upon completion the student will present a trial lecture on a given topic and a public defence of the dissertation.

Completion of the program requires integration and participation in an active research environment, collaboration with other researchers, and connecting with relevant national and international networks.

PhD students are given close supervision and academic guidance, but must assume responsibility for the planning and implementation of their dissertations.

After graduating, the PhD student will receive the following learning outcomes:

The candidates...

• are in the forefront of knowledge within the theory and methods of their field of study and are able to contribute to its development;
• can discuss theoretical issues within their field of study at an advanced level;
• can connect their own projects to broader scientific discussions and consider the use of different methods and approaches in their research.

The candidates can...

• tackle complex scientific challenges by carrying out cutting-edge research projects within their field of study;
• write different types of academic texts within their field of study and reflect on the writing process;
• participate in academic discussions and provide constructive feedback on scientific work.

General competence

• identify, reflect upon and deal with issues connected to research ethics and conduct research with academic integrity;
• disseminate research and development work orally and in writing through scientific channels and channels targeting the general public;
• contribute independently to complex and innovative projects.

A doctorate degree is Norway's highest education and qualifies for research activities of international standard and for other work in society where high standards of scientific insight and analytical thinking are required, in accordance with good scientific practice and research ethical standards. For example, the education provides qualifications for a further career as a researcher at universities, colleges, research foundations or business and other sectors where research and development is conducted and high demands are placed on knowledge and competence. With a doctorate you can also get positions with work / responsibilities in leadership t and management in knowledge companies; undertake investigative tasks in government and municipal administration; drive knowledge dissemination and teaching; participate in product development and international cooperation; and you have attractive skills in an international labor market.

To be admitted to a PhD program at UiT, applicants must have a master's degree with a good result, either an integrated master's degree of 300 credits or a 120-credit master's degree based on a bachelor's degree of 180 credits..

It is required that applicants should have a grade-point average of B (or equivalent) on their Master’s degree in order to be admitted to the PhD programme. The grade-point average also applies to 300 ECTS points integrated five-year Master’s degrees, in which all courses are to be included in the grade-point average.

In cases where the old Norwegian grade system has been used, the admission requirement is a grade-point average of 2,5.

The academic character of the PhD project (methodology, perspectives and theories) determines the project’s disciplinary affiliation. Therefore, the applicant should apply for admission to the department under which the doctoral project belongs academically, regardless of whether the applicant holds a Master’s degree in a discipline at this department. Language requirements: Applicants must document proficiency in English that satisfies the Norwegian Higher Education Entrance Qualification. Funding Requirements : Admission is contingent on the availability of adequate funding, which as a general rule covers personnel and running costs, and overhead for a doctoral fellow position. For part-time students, it is required that a minimum of 50 % of the student’s working time may be spent on the doctoral degree programme.

Candidates who apply for a doctoral fellow position at the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education are simultaneously considered for admission to the doctoral programme.

If the applicant wishes to write a thesis in a language other than those approved in the Faculty's supplementary rules for the PhD Regulations (point 19), an application for this should be submitted together with the application for admission.

Teaching methods for the courses in the training will consist of either lectures, seminars and / or guidance on written or oral presentation.

Lectures are given by academic staff at the departments and centers at the faculty, or by staff at other faculties, and by external lecturers from other institutions. The teaching methods and scope are described in more detail in the individual subject descriptions. Expected workload for the training component should be a total of 30 credits is one semester (estimated at 750 - 900 working hours). For the dissertation, the teaching method consists mainly of supervision with the appointed Principal and Co-supervisor (s). The supervision include the preparation of a plan for the dissertation and the training component (student's individual education plan), academic dialogue, assistance to the student in establishing professional networks, written and oral feedback on the dissertation text, etc. The PhD student can receive a total of 240 hours of supervision during the course of the research training, including the time needed for preparation and after-school work. This equals 40 hours per semester. In the middle of the course, the student's progression will be evaluated. The mid-term evaluation is organized by the institutes / centers and is usually held as a seminar of half a day's duration.

The teaching language of PhD subjects in the traning componet is Norwegian / Nordic and / or English.

The doctoral thesis should be written in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, English or Sami. The examination language for the trial lecture and the dissertation shall be the language of the dissertation or Norwegian unless the Faculty approves otherwise.

The study program makes use of the following internationalization arrangements:

• English-language teaching and curriculum literature
• Organization for participation in international research schools
• Recognition of International Conference Participation with credits in the training componet
• International PhD student environment (ToDoS)
• Foreign grant for stays at foreign university / institution
• International exchange agreements and cooperation agreements

A stay abroad is recommended for the second or third year of the study years and for a duration of 3-10 months. Staying at a foreign learning institution will be relevant to the student's PhD project and as well gives academic benefit in the dissertation. The Faculty annually announces foreign grants that PhD students can apply to cover additional costs with the implementation of a foreign stay. UiT has exchange agreements with several foreign universities for PhD students. These are usually linked to specific subject areas. For further information, contact the international coordinator at the HSL-faculty.

Doctoral degree: PhD at the Faculty of Law

The Faculty of Law in Oslo is the oldest and largest educational and research institution within the field of law in Norway. Here you can work with some of Europe’s best researchers within the fields of law and participate in exciting research projects.

• Why choose this PhD programme?
• Application and admission
• Programme structure
• Study and research abroad
• Courses and seminars
• Supervision and the mentoring scheme
• Thesis, evaluation and public defence

Resources and tools

For all phd candidates.

• Welcome letter new PhD candidates
• Progress reports
• Midway assessment
• Library resources
• Ph.d. on track
• Research ethics
• Rules and regulations

For doctoral research fellows employed at the University of Oslo and the Faculty of Law

Information on pay, leave, illness and extension of the study period can be found on the University of Oslo’s For employees web pages . The faculty also has its own pages for research fellows (in Norwegian).  

For PhD candidates with external funding

• Extension, doctor’s certificate and leave of absence

About the PhD programme

• 3 years full-time studies and research
• educational component worth 30 credits and doctoral thesis
• public trial lecture and defence
• approximately 15 doctoral candidates undertake a public defence each year at the Faculty

Do you have questions concerning the organized research training at the Faculty of Law?

Notifications

All relevant notifications will be sent to you by the Faculty via e-mail.

Dr. Philos. degree

Another route to a doctoral degree.

PhD programme at the Faculty of Social Sciences

Information for PhD candidates and supervisors at the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Main content

The PhD education is intended to qualify for research of an international standard, and for other work in society where great demands are made to academic insight and analytical thinking. The training includes independent research in the form of an academic thesis of an international standard at a high level. Additionally, the candidate must undergo a training component, providing training in the disciplinary context, methods and theories that provide a disciplinary breadth and depth in their field. The PhD programme also includes training in the dissemination of academic work to colleagues, students and the general public.

The PhD programme at the Faculty of Social Sciences is internationally oriented, and we recruit PhD candidates from all over the world to our exciting research environments in the discipline’s sociology, political science, economics, information sciences, media sciences, social anthropology, system dynamics and geography. 

Web page for prospective PhD candidates

Regulations

The PhD programme is mainly regulated by the Regulation for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor at the UiB level, and the Programme description at the faculty level. 

PhD on Track

PhD on Track is a resource for PhD students who want to learn more about information- and literature for research purposes, and about how to publish research.

Stip-SV is an interest organisation for all PhD Candidates at the Faculty of Social Sciences in both academic and social matters.

Prospective PhD candidate at the Faculty of Social Sciences?

On these pages you will find the information you need if you want to become a PhD candidate.

Thesis / PhD project

Working on a thesis is the main part of the doctoral education, normally 2.5 years of the standard period of study of three years. The thesis will be assessed by an evaluation committee and will be defended at a public defence.

Rules and forms

Here you will find information about current rules, guidelines, forms in the researcher education and rights and duties as a Research Fellow, and information about research ethics.

Supervision

Work on the PhD thesis is to take place under individual supervision. Here is information on rights and obligations for supervisors and PhD candidates.

Training component

The training component at the Faculty of Social Sciences must involve activities equivalent to at least 30 ects credits, i.e. the training component will be equivalent to at least six months’ work. The training component for candidates at the Department of Economics consists of 60 ects credits. The...

Internationalisation

Links to various resources that can contribute to research stays abroad and increased international cooperation.

When you as a PhD candidate need someone to talk to

The years as a PhD candidate are exciting and professionally developing, but can also be a strenuous time with a lot of work pressure and setbacks. The uncertainty and delayed activity during the corona pandemic can lead to more challenges than you normally experience. In such a situation, many...

Progress in the PhD education. Progress reporting, PhD registration, Midway evaluation and extencion of agreement period.

Submission, assessment and public defence

This document provides an overview of the routines and procedures from the point when the doctoral thesis is submitted and until the University’s doctoral award ceremony.

Public defences

An overview of public defences at the faculty from 2004 onwards

Career after PhD

After completing the PhD degree, the graduates of the Faculty of Social Sciences find many different and interesting career paths.

UiB Ferd Career Center for Early Stage Researchers

Phd committee (stip-sv).

STIP-SV is an interest organisation for all PhD Candidates at the Faculty of Social Sciences in both academic and social matters.

The opportunity exists to defend a Dr.Philos. (Doctor Philosophiae) at the faculty.

Contact information

Queries about the doctoral education

Safety, preparedness and reporting for PhD candidates

UiB shall be a safe place for PhD candidates. Below you will find links relating to safety, preparedness or reporting.

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

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Phd programme in civil and environmental engineering.

Text Phd main page

Phd program in civil and environmental engineering.

A PhD degree is the highest level of formalized education in Norway. Our goal is to make you an expert in your field.

Our PhDs provides the public sector and industry with the knowledge and competence to ensure the development of a sustainable and competitive construction industry.

At our department you work in established research teams, and in a strong social and scientific environment of approximately 80 PhD candidates.

In addition to a Master's degree or equivalent and a strong academic record, financing is an absolute requirement for admission to a PhD-program .

Funding can be both through NTNU and other sources.

Available PhD-positions at NTNU are continuously posted online.

Please see the doctoral programmes offered by the Faculty of engineering.

PhD Coursework

PhD courses

Search all NTNUs PhD courses

person-portlet

General phd enquiries.

PhD Funding enquiries