PhD Programme in Science

The PhD-program in Science consists of 180 ECTS, where 30 ECTS is the instruction component and 150 ECTS is the thesis (research project) itself. The trial lecture and public defence are counted as parts of the thesis.

The thesis is the main focus of the education.The thesis is to be an independent piece of academic research that meets international standards of ethics, scholarship and method in its field. Through the thesis, the student will contribute to the development of new knowledge, and the thesis shall be at a level meriting publication as part of the scientific literature in the field.

The thesis can be a monograph or a collection of several smaller research papers - an anthology. Such collections must have a connection between the various components, and the connection must be explained in a summary.

The instruction component for PhD students in Science must contain courses equivalent to 30 ECTS, comprising 20-27 ECTS in the field of mathematics and natural science, 3-6 ECTS in philosophy of science and ethics, and if desired, 4-7 ECTS in transferable skills. All courses must be on PhD level (8000 courses). The maximum amount of ECTS allowed for philosophy of science and ethics and transferable skills is thus 10 ECTS.

For candidates with projects relating to didactics, the instruction component must containt courses equivalent to 30 ECTS, comprising 20-27 ECTS in mathematics and natural science and/or subject didactics, 3-6 ECTS in philosophy of science and ethics, and if desired, 4-7 ECTS in transferable skills.

The following types of courses may be included in the instruction component:

• Oridnary PhD courses and special curriculums at UiT
• Ordinary PhD courses and special curriculums at other accredited higher education institutions
• National and international PhD courses arranged by or in collaboration with accredited higher education institutions
• National and international PhD courses arranged by research institutions or other actors

It is expected that all candidates present their research project and their work at conferences and/or at seminars. Presentations such as a lecture or a poster will not be credited with ECTS.

A candidate who has completed his/her qualification should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge:

The candidate ..

• is in the forefront of knowledge within his/her academic field, physics, geosciences, computer science, chemistry, mathematics, bioinformatics, molecular and structural biology, statistics, technology and the intersection between two or more of these, and masters the field’s philosophy of science, issues, methods and techniques
• can evaluate the expediency and application of different methods and processes in research and scholarly development projects within their scientific field
• can contribute to the development of new knowledge, new theories and new methods in their scientific field
• has knowledge of relevant channels and forums for research dissemination in their scientific field

Skills:

The candidate ..

• can formulate problems, plan and carry out research and scholarly development work in science
• can carry out research and scholarly development work in science of a high international standard
• can handle complex academic issues and challenge established knowledge and practice in their scientific field

General competence:

The candidate ..

• can communicate research-based knowledge orally through lectures in a way that the lecture can be followed by students with prerequisite knowledge equivalent to the level one would expect to find among advanced students in the subject
• can disseminate research-based knowledge in writing at a high international level
• can participate in debates in international forums within their scientific field
• can manage complex assignments and projects within a scientific field or in the intersection between two or more scientific fields
• can identify new relevant ethical issues and carry in their research and carry out their research with scholarly integrity can assess the potential for innovation and/or ideas that may be commercialised within their research

The courses included in the instruction component will have different exams and types of grading. This will be announced in all course descriptions. Special curriculums are always graded pass/fail.

The instruction component must be completed and approved prior to submission of the thesis.

The thesis will be evaluated by a committee of at least three members. If the thesis is found worthy of defence, the candidate is required to give a trial lecture on a given topic. When the trial lecture is approved, the candidate will publically defend his/her thesis.

All PhD courses at the Faculty are taught in English, and the thesis should preferably be written in English.

PhD students in Science hired on a 4-year contract by the University of Tromsø, or financed through sources not giving the opportunity to study abroad may apply for funds from the Faculty. The application deadline is October 1 annually.

To be considered for the grant, a plan of the research stay must be included when applying. Students in their 2nd or 3rd year are qualified for the grant.

Students that wish to attend courses at other universities, national or international, may apply for funding for their attendances. The course cannot be similar to one taught at UiT.