Admission to PhD courses

Admission to PhD courses

Admission requirements

To be admitted to our PhD courses, you must have completed your master’s degree or equivalent education.

If you want to attend one of the courses register here.

You also need to apply to PhD courses via NTNU Søknadsweb, and upload required documentation (diploma etc.).

NTNU students and PhD students admitted to PhD programs at NTNU apply for admission by registering for class via NTNUs studentweb.

Information about PhD courses for external candidates

NTNU Søknadsweb for external candidates

Ranking of applicants

There is a maximum of 25 students in each course. We rank the applicants in the following order*:

  1. Applicants accepted at PhD programs at NTNU
  2. Applicants who can document admission to PhD program at other institutions
  3. Applicants who can document that they are employed in a PhD position at NTNU, and in process of applying for admission to a PhD program
  4. Applicants who can document that they are employed in a PhD position at another institution, and in process of applying for admission to a PhD program
  5. Applicants who can document they are in the process of qualifying for promotion (as førstelektor)
  6. Other applicants

* six spots in each course are reserved for students at NorTED institutions.

PhD courses autumn 2023

PhD courses autumn 2023

Course description PLU8013

Course Coordinator

Libe García Zarranz - NTNU

Application deadline

September 15th

Lectures

Campus Kalvskinnet

Part one (in person): Week 43 October 23, 24 & 25

Part two (digital): Week 12 March 18 & 19

Program PLU8013 (PDF)

Course discription PLU8021

Course Coordinator

May Britt Postholm - NTNU

Application deadline

September 15th 

Lectures

  • 4–5 October 2023 0900–15.30 campus Kalvskinnet
  • 5 December 2023 10.00–17.00 campus Kalvskinnet

Course description LOS8011

National educational policies are related to general economic and political changes and are influenced by global trends and actors. Contemporary educational trends are rooted in neoliberal ideology emphasizing marketisation and competition as strategies to develop human capital for the so-called Knowledge Economy. This ideological anchoring is challenging educational traditions and framing new ways of addressing inequalities in education in the Nordic countries as well as in many other developed nations worldwide.

Critical policy research contextualizes national and local policies in a global policy context, it pays attention to both structure and agency in the policy process, as well as addressing how policies impact questions related to social justice and equality.  This course emphasizes knowledge and theoretical frameworks that can be useful in the exploration of contemporary education policy and the complex relationship between policy and practice from critical policy perspectives. The course will pay attention to how these issues are of relevance for both teacher education and compulsory education (K-12) in Norway and in other countries, including the U.S.A.

Course Coordinator

Cecilie Haugen - NTNU

Lecturer

Marilyn Cochran-Smith - NTNU

Application deadline

September 15th 

Lectures

  • 16–18 October 2023 campus Kalvskinnet
  • 13 November 2023 (digital)
  • 15 November 2023 (digital)
     

Course description LOS8032.

This course is fully online

Course Content

The Department of Teacher Education at NTNU invites to a PhD course called Assessment and Evaluation in Education: Policy, Research, and Practice in fall 2023. This course will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of key concepts, methodologies, and case studies related to assessment and evaluation in education while exploring the interplay between policy, research, and practice.

The course is open to participants qualifying for admission (relevant master degree background), also for students not part of the PhD program at NTNU. The course will be in English, but it is possible to use Norwegian or another Scandinavian language in writing the essay. 

The course will be conducted entirely online, allowing for flexibility and accessibility. Through a combination of lectures, group discussions, individual writing tasks, and innovative triangular discussions, you will engage in interactive learning activities designed to foster critical thinking, collaboration, and a deeper understanding of the field of assessment and evaluation in education.

Course coordinator

Lise Vikan Sandvik

Application deadline

September 15th

Dates

  • 2nd and 3rd October 2023 (Session 1)
  • 8th November 2023 (Session 2)

Preparation for the course: Before the course starts, participants will be asked to read selected articles on assessment and evaluation in education and prepare a brief presentation on their research interests and questions related to the course topics.

Compulsory assignment

In order to receive the ECTS credits (studiepoeng) for the PhD course, you must complete a 4000 word essay. The purpose of the essay is primarily to demonstrate understanding of research issues in the field of assessment and evaluation at the doctoral level. Therefore, we do not expect this essay to be a fully publishable article.
 
The essay should

  • Review existing research literature related to assessment and/or evaluation
  • Discuss a carefully defined problem related to assessment and/or evaluation in education
  • Discuss the implications for policy, research, and/or practice of the problem
  • Include references and a bibliography following the APA 7 format

There is no requirement to include empirical data and/or a methods section in this essay. However, if you are currently working on an article with the intent of publishing it (either as a theoretical or empirical paper), we welcome such papers as well.

Program

(Changes may occur)

The following experts will contribute to the course through their presentations, workshops, and interactive discussions:

  • Professor Rolf Vegar Olsen, University of Oslo
  • Professor Guri Skedsmo, Pädagogische Hochschule Scwyz
  • Professor Anders Jönsson, Högskolan i Kristianstad
  • Professor Annemette Kjærgaard, Copenhagen Business School
  • Professor Emerita Kari Smith, NTNU
  • Professor Henning Fjørtoft, NTNU
  • Professor Lise Vikan Sandvik, NTNU (course coordinator)

Session 1 October 2nd

Introduction to key concepts and issues in assessment and evaluation research

1000–1015 Lise Vikan Sandvik: Welcome session and checking equipment

1015–1045 Henning Fjørtoft: Concepts and issues in assessment and evaluation

1045–1100 Short break

1100–1200 Group activity. Student presentations on their research interests and questions related to the course content

1215–1230 Joint discussion

1230–1330 Lunch

1330–1400 Rolf Vegar Olsen: Measuring Student Achievement. Introduction part 1

1400–1415 Short break

1415–1445 Rolf Vegar Olsen: Measuring Student Achievement. Introduction part 2 and plenary discussion

1445–1500 Short break

1500–1530 Lise Vikan Sandvik: Practical information on course evaluation, participation, and required work 

Session 1 October 3rd

Assessment and evaluation in context. Writing and publishing A&E research

0900–0915 Lise Vikan Sandvik: Virtual coffee. Impressions from yesterday and plan for the day

0915–1000 Anders Jönsson: Analytic and holistic assessment: the use of rubrics (with discussion)

1000–1015 Short break

1015–1115 Kari Smith: Functions of Assessment in Teacher Education (with interactive learning activities)

1115–1215 Lunch

1215–1330 Henning Fjørtoft: Getting to know professional bodies in A&E (NCME, AERA Sigs, AERA Div H, OECD, AEA/EAEA, various standards orgs, WestEd...) Special guest: Guri Skedsmo: Meet the editor of Journal of Educational Assessment, Evaluation and Accountability

1330–1400 Longer break

1400–1500 Group activity. Discussing ideas for course assignment

1500–1515 Lise Vikan Sandvik: Practical information about the program in November: peer feedback on course assignments and presentations

Session 2 November 8th

The interplay between policy, research, and practice

1000–1010 Lise Vikan Sandvik: Virtual coffee: Welcome back and plan for the day

1010–1030 Henning Fjørtoft: Grading practices in schools

1030–1040 Short break

1040–1100 Annemette Kjærgaard: Grading practices in higher education

1100–1110 Short break

1110–1130 Lise Vikan Sandvik: Grading practices from a policy perspective

1130–1200 Discussion between lecturers and students about grading in the interplay between policy, research, and practice

1200–1300 Lunch

1300–1500 Group activity. Peer review of presentations: Students will be asked to give presentations on their course assignments and will get feedback and critique from their peers

Course description LOS8035

Course Coordinator

Fredrik Mørk Røkenes - NTNU

Application deadline

September 15th 

Lectures

  • 5–6 October 2023 campus Kalvskinnet
  • 9 October campus Kalvskinnet

PhD courses spring 2024

PhD courses spring 2024

Course description LOS8033.

The course is carried out in-real time on the platform of zoom. Teaching is interactive and presence is required to pass the compulsory work requirements.  

Examination happens in the format of an exposition on the digital platform of researchcatalogue.

Course language

English.

Course Coordinator

Professor Tone Pernille Østern

Course teachers

Professor Tone Pernille Østern

Associate Professor Polina Golovátina-Mora

Associate Professor Sunniva Hovde

Lectures

  • Monday 22 January at 09–16
  • Tuesday 23 January at 09–16
  • Friday 26 January at 09–15
  • Thursday 25 April at 09–16

Compulsory work requirement with course teacher supervision and peer-student collaborations will take place between gatherings.

The semester fee is NOK 600 per semester. 

Course description PLU8022.

Admission Deadline

1 February 2024

Course language

English.

This course is taught fully in English and all work assignments must be delivered in English.

Course Coordinator

Professor Tone Pernille Østern

Course teachers

Lectures

  • Tuesday 27 February (onsite in Trondheim)
  • Wednesday 28 February (onsite in Trondheim)
  • Tuesday 21 May (digital)

Preparations for and presentations of compulsory course assignments take place during seminars, and attendance is required.

Compulsory course assignments will require work individually and with student peers outside of the scheduled seminars.

Contact

Contact