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.

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

Knowledge

Upon the completing of the PhD degree in chemistry, it is expected that the candidate  

• is in the research front of the specialty field of chemistry, and can evaluate limitations of current knowledge in the field  
• masters the relevant theory, problem formulations and methodologies at a broad and advanced level to allow for future flexibility in the field  
• can evaluate suitability and application of various methods and processes in chemistry for research and development purposes 
• can contribute to development of new knowledge, new theories or methods, and interpretations or methods of documentation in chemistry

Knowledge will be achieved through

The passing of courses amounting to 30 credit points

• continuous reading of the field’s scientific literature
• the thesis work, where the candidate independently has written an introduction to the work, that gives the background for the research, sets it in an international perspective and gives the rational for the methods used

Skills

At the time of the thesis defence, it is expected that the candidate

• can formulate problems necessary to plan and carry out research at advanced levels in chemistry and to create new knowledge, new theories and methods 
• can perform research on a high international level  
• can handle complex scientific questions and challenge established knowledge within the specialty field of chemistry 
• can combine insights from different fields

Skills will be achieved through

• supervision and own research
• work with the publication(s) of the thesis and the international publication process, handling of reviews etc.
• presentation of results in internal, national and international meetings/conferences

General competence

At the time of the thesis defence, it is expected that the candidate can

• perform original research at a high international level  
• carry out responsible research and innovation with scientific integrity in accordance to international and national legal and ethical statutes and guidelines 
• assess risks of own activity for health, environment and safety of self and others 
• direct complex inter-/multidisciplinary project work and assignments  
• disseminate research and development-results through well reputed national and international channels, in oral and written ways 
• participate in discussions within the field in international fora 
• evaluate and initiate actions of innovative character and acquire new knowledge 
• transfer and use knowledge in a way that meets the need of the society 
• establish and work with peers in networks 
• relate research in the field to the UN sustainability concepts and objectives and contribute to their successful implementation within relevant areas 

General competence is achieved through

• supervision and own research
• work on publications and thesis
• the trial lecture: documenting the ability to learn a new topic in an allotted, short time and present the results