The goal of a PhD education is to enable the candidate to conduct research at a high international level. The research will be made with sound scientific practice and established standards for research ethics. The PhD candidate will be able to solve complex research problems using creative solutions that will have a social and economic impact on society.

The objective of the PhD programme in Chemistry is to prepare the PhD candidates for work that requires advanced scientific expertise and analytical skills and for a career in academia. The PhD programme in chemistry aims to educate independent researchers on an international level, in collaboration with national and international research institutions. The programme has a broad profile, including several disciplines in chemistry. The activity is organised in three research groups. They include organic chemistry (synthesis and studies of organic molecules and materials), applied theoretical chemistry (calculations and studies of complex chemical molecules at equilibrium and non-equilibrium conditions) as well as studies in environmental and analytical chemistry. This basic research is related to solve and to be in agreement to UN Sustainable Development Goals within health, energy and environment.

The research activity may be applied to addressed problems in medical technology, energy conversion, nano-technology, marine and environmental chemistry. The methods and techniques used in the program are relevant for applications in the industry and the society at large. The research groups, which include world renowned investigators, have extended international collaborations.  The purpose of the PhD programme is to contribute to national needs for competence in research, this being in the industrial sector, in public and private research institutions as well as in the public sector, as teacher in the higher education system, musea or governmental research institutions. 

The Department of Chemistry carries out both basic (or curiosity-driven) research and applied research within the following disciplines: organic chemistry, theoretical chemistry as well as studies in environmental and analytical chemistry. Project within medical technology, energy conversion, nano-technology, marine chemistry and polar chemistry represents some examples of our multidisciplinary research topics.

Learning outcomes

Read more about the research areas at the Department of Chemistry

The PhD education is a structured degree with a nominal duration of three-year full-time study. Some PhD positions may include a fourth year of required duties, usually in the form of teaching, this will be detailed in your employee contract if applicable.

The PhD programme consists of

• at least 30 ECTS of courses (0,5 year), and 
• an independent academic work in the form of a doctoral thesis (estimated to 2,5 years)

Read more about the PhD education at the Faculty of Natural Sciences

• Choosing courses
• Doing the doctoral thesis
• Learning activities and internationalization
• Assessment
• Evaluation of PhD programmes

Read more about PhD education

• NTNU PhD education
• NTNU PhD 1-2-3 

A PhD degree is the highest level of formalised education in Norway.

A doctoral degree from NTNU qualifies you to a range of positions both in the private and public sector. Academia has traditionally been the main career path for doctors, but now an increasing number of doctors are going into leading positions in the private sector.

To be accepted to a PhD programme at NTNU, you must have

• a funding plan
• completed at least five years of higher education that includes a master's degree or other equivalent degree within a relevant area. The Faculty may approve other, comparable qualifications as the basis for admission.
• a strong academic record and a weighted average for the last two years of your master's degree equivalent to a B or higher in NTNU's grading scale.

Applications for admission to the PhD programme must to be submitted through the Department of your subject area.

Read more about how to apply and admission

Administrative contact

Lise Skorstad
Senior Executive Officer

Academic contact

Øyvind Mikkelsen
Professor and Deputy of Research at the Department of Chemistry