Information for Doctoral Candidates
On this web page you can find practical information, rules and regulations, forms and web links regarding doctoral studies at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology.
Regulations
NTNU has two doctoral degrees, the organised Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) degree and the free degree Doctor Philosphiae (dr.philos.). These two doctoral degrees have each their regulations:
- Regulations concerning the philosophiae doctor degree (PhD) at NTNU
- Regulations concerning the dr.philos. degree at NTNU
Other regultations concerning PhD candidates:
Admission to the PhD Programme
Application process
The PhD application form is filled out in cooperation with the main supervisor and sent to the department. The main supervisor and the department should give their recommendation before the application is sent to the Faculty.
Admission is decided by the Research Committee at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology. The Committee meets approximately once a month.
Agreement concerning admission
Admission is to be formalised by a written agreement. The agreement is signed by the candidate, supervisors, the Department, the Faculty and any external institutions involved:
PhD Studies
Organised training plan
The organised academic training plan is to cover min. 30 credits, equivalent to six months of fulltime study. At least 20 credits are to be taken from courses on the curriculum in the PhD Study Handbook for the Faculty's PhD-programmes. Up to 10 credits can be chosen from the master's level
The Faculty has approved a small selection of courses from the master's course catalogue which can be approved as PhD courses. These courses are listed in the PhD Study Handbook. The academic training plan must consist of natural scientific/technological courses.
PhD courses from other Faculties will not automatically be accepted as PhD courses at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, but will be considered individually.
Individual study syllabus
An individually selected syllabus can be approved as a part of the organised academic training plan. The course must correspond to 3 credits or more (aprox. 50 pages are approved as 1 credit). Please note that the individually selected syllabus cannot be included in the 20 credits of required curricular courses.
Changes in the organised training plan
Candidates must apply to the Faculty to make changes in the approved training plan. The application must be prepared together with the main supervisor and be recommended by the Department. The following form should be used:
Course information
The PhD courses offered at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology are listed in the PhD Study Handbook.
Course descriptions are available at www.ntnu.edu/studies/phd/courses
NTNU uses the e-learning system "It's Learning". More information can be found on:
www.ntnu.edu/aboutntnu/insidentnu/itslearning
Course registrations
Doctoral candidates must register every semester for examination through Student Web: www.ntnu.edu/studies/studentweb
Course registration deadlines:
- 15 February (spring semester)
- 15 September (autumn semester)
Note that you must be formally admitted to a PhD programme by the Faculty's Research Committee before you can register for courses.
Candidates are recommended to check their registrations well ahead of the day of the examination. Instructions for examination candidates can be found at www.ntnu.no/studies/examinations/instructions
Please note that an identity card is mandatory on the day of examination.
Project description
A detailed project description (5-10 pages) has to be submitted to the Faculty within six months after admission to the programme. The project description has to be signed by the student, the main supervisor and the Department and must include:
- Statement of the topic, viewed in light of international research in the field, with references to literature.
- Amplify the approach to the problem. What are the aims of the scientific examinations undertaken? Which methods will be used?
- Time schedule for the study.
Progress report
Both PhD candidates and their supervisors are required to deliver an annual report to the Faculty, comparing progress to date with the PhD plan:
