PhD Thesis in Law
About the course
Students must be admitted to the PhD programme in Law.
The PhD thesis is the main work that forms the basis of assessment for the PhD degree in Law.
The thesis shall deal with a topic in the field of law and build on knowledge acquired through the required coursework in the PhD programme. The thesis must be an independent scientific work that meets international standards in terms of ethical requirements, academic level and methodology used in the research field. The thesis must contribute to the development of new knowledge and be of a level that merits publication as part of research-based literature in the field.
Objectives of the course
Through their thesis, the PhD students must demonstrate that they can produce an independent work that meets a high level in terms of formulation of research topic, conceptual clarification and methodological and theoretical basis, and high standards must be set for documentation, objectivity, transparency and completeness.
However, the level of the required standards shall be set such that it shall normally be practically possible for the PhD students to complete the work on their doctoral thesis within the nominal length of study.
Teaching methods
Language of instruction and examination
The PhD thesis may be written in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English, or another language approved by the faculty on an individual basis.Schedule
The schedules are normally finalized and published well in advance of the start of the semester, often a few weeks beforehand. This gives students the opportunity to organize their studies and prepare for upcoming activities.
It is recommended to check the schedule regularly, as changes may occur.
More info about the assignment
The grade for this course is expressed as pass/fail.
Before submitting their PhD thesis for assessment, the PhD student must pass the required coursework comprising a minimum of 30 credits. Moreover, the PhD student must submit and gain approval for a statement in which they reflect on the learning outcomes for the courses they have completed and the significance of these for the work on their doctoral thesis.
The PhD degree in Law is conferred on the basis of:
- Approved completion of the required coursework, and any other approved educational qualifications or expertise
- An approved trial lecture on an assigned topic
- An approved PhD thesis
- An approved public defence of the PhD thesis