Faculty of Social Sciences and Technology Management

THE PhD PROGRAMME IN SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY

PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION FOR THE PhD PROGRAMME

The programme description is founded on the Regulations concerning the philosophiae doctor degree (PhD) at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), passed by the Board of NTNU on 23 January 2012. The programme description for the PhD Programme in Social Anthropology was authorized by the Faculty Board of Faculty of Social Sciences and Technology Management on 1 March 2012.

The PhD Regulations as well as internal faculty procedures and administrative guidelines that are common to the Faculty's study Programmes are to be found on the Faculty's web pages.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROGRAMME, (§ 2 in Regulations)
The PhD Programme in Social Anthropology is prescribed as 180 credits (3 years). The final course plan for the PhD Programme is to be shaped in joint consultation between candidate, supervisor and Department depending on the thesis area of research and the candidate's individual requirements and wishes.

OBJECTIVE OF THE PhD PROGRAMME IN SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY
The PhD Programme in Social Anthropology aims to develop the candidate's qualifications in work that requires an advanced degree of scientific expertise. The most important element of the Programme is an independent piece of research achieving an advanced scientific standard. In addition, the candidate is to participate in training which is to complement the work with the thesis, as well as contributing to the necessary academic depth and breath. The Programme aims to provide a basis for an independent, creative and critical relationship to one's own and others' research, as well as providing practice in communicating research results in academic and other forums.

After completing the PhD Programme the candidate will have acquired certain knowledge, skills and general qualifications such as:

Knowledge:

The candidate

  • is in the forefront of knowledge within social anthropology and is proficient in science and methods of the discipline.
  • can assess the appropriateness and application of various methods and processes in research and scientific development.
  • can contribute to the development of new knowledge, new theories and methods.

Skills:

The candidate

  • can formulate questions, plan and implement research and scientific development.
  • can deal with complex questions and challenge established knowledge and practice.
  • can reach decisions on a scientific basis from a complex basis.
  • can active participate in networking both national and international.

General qualifications:

The candidate

  • can identify and relate to the relevant and ethical issues within their field of research and exercise their research with integrity.
  • can guide specific research projects and participate in complex interdisciplinary research
  • can convey research and development work through recognized national and international channels.
  • can participate actively in international and national debates.

ADMISSION (§ 5 in Regulations)
The primary requirement for admission is that the applicant holds a cand.polit./Master's degree in Social Anthropology. Admission may be given if the applicant can document equivalent qualifications. The applicant must have a weighted average grade of Master's degree or equivalent education with a grade of B or higher.

In special cases, applicants with other backgrounds may be admitted to the PhD Programme. Applicants may be requested to take specified courses and/or pass specified tests prior to admission.

Application requirements
Applications for admission are to be made on the application form. Application requirements are stated in Regulations concerning the philosophiae doctor degree (PhD) at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), on the Faculty's web pages. It is preferred that the PhD plan, including the project description, is composed in consultation with the main supervisor. The application is to be sent to the Department where the candidate and supervisor are connected.

Admission procedure
The Faculty considers applications for admission based on the recommendation of the Department. Procedures for admission and the follow-up of incomplete applications are described on the Faculty's web pages.

Decision of admission
The decision concerning admission is based on a collective evaluation of the application. Admission to a PhD Programme is formalised by a written contract, in accordance with § 6 of the Regulations concerning the philosophiae doctor degree (PhD) at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).

PhD PLAN (§ 5.2 in Regulations)
The project description is to give an account of which issues are being considered, approaches to problems, as well as the choice of theory and method. The description of the research project is normally to be between 5 and 10 pages.

FUNDING PLAN (§ 5.2 in Regulations)
For applicants who are not fully funded through scholarship schemes, it is required that 50 % of working hours during participation in the PhD Programme can be used for study, and that a minimum of 1 year can be allocated to full time studies.

SUPERVISION, (§§ 5.2 and 7 in Regulations)
Work on the PhD thesis constitutes active research under supervision. The supervisor's total use of time supervising is stipulated to 210 worker-hours for the entire period. This is equivalent to approx. 70 worker-hours per year for 3 years. In addition to the contract period stated between candidate and supervisor, this includes preparation, reading, complementary work etc. If a supplementary supervisor is appointed, the number of worker-hours must be divided between the principal and supplementary supervisor.

Procedures for the appointment and changing of supervisor (s) are described on the Faculty's web pages.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT, ( §§ 5.3 and in Regulations)
A plan for the meeting of residency requirements is to be presented in the application and in the agreement on supervision. In certain instances, the Department may grant dispensation from the residency requirements.

ACADEMIC DISSEMINATION, (§ 2 in Regulations)
Training in dissemination (no credits awarded) is preferably carried out by the candidate presenting a scientific "paper" at a national or international conference that is relevant to Social Anthropology. The written version of the presentation serves as documentation

ACCEPTANCE OF EXTERNAL EDUCATION
The methodical and theoretical postgraduate studies are chosen in cooperation with the supervisor. The candidate is also encouraged to take part in other relevant courses at other Departments at NTNU, or at other universities, nationally and internationally. These courses may replace equivalent courses offered at the Department, on recommendation by the course leader at the Department in consultation with the supervisor. Courses at PhD level that are offered at other Departments or institutions are weighed equivalent to the number of credits certified by the organiser.

REPORTING, (§ 9 in Regulations)
The candidate and supervisor are to deliver separate annual reports on progress, in accordance with § 9 of Regulations concerning the philosophiae doctor degree (PhD) at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). (Procedures for submission and processing of candidate and supervisor reports are to be found on the Faculty's web pages.

ORGANIZED ACADEMIC COURSE WORK, (§ 8 in Regulations)
Objective of the organized academic course work
The main objective of the organized academic course work component is to provide insight into theories and methods that are necessary when working with the thesis, but also to contribute to the general academic course work that is required for the candidate's future endeavours. It is recommended that the candidate completes the organized academic course work component at an early stage of the Programme.

Structure and implementation
The candidate is to state in her/his application, a plan for the organized academic course work component in consultation with the supervisor (s). It is recommended that the organized academic course work is completed at an early stage of the Programme. The candidate is responsible for signing up for evaluation in subjects within the given deadlines. External courses/subjects that are to be a part of the organized academic course work must be approved be the Department. For procedures concerning the signing up for courses and approving of external courses/subjects, consult the Faculty's web pages

The organized academic course work component consists of three elements:

* The Theory of Science, 10 credits

* Methodological courses, 10 credits

* Theoretical/substantial courses, 10 credits

The organized academic course work has a prescribed duration of 1 semester's full time work, i.e. 30 credits, and must be completed when the thesis is handed in for assessment. However, it is expected that the 30 credits are completed during the two first semesters.

FINALIZATION
Procedures for submission, appointment of an evaluation committee, the committee's report and assessment of the thesis, revision for new assessment, trial lecture and public defence, as well as conferment of the PhD degree are described on http://www.ntnu.edu/svt/phd-programme/thesis