PhD education is the highest level of education at universities and university colleges in Norway. PhD education aims to qualify PhD candidates for research of international standard and for other work in society where high demands are placed on scientific insight and analytical thinking.
Financing and duration
Before starting the PhD education, you must secure funding for the duration of your education. This can be as a PhD fellow at UiB, for instance. After acquiring a fellowship you can apply for admittance to one of UiBs seven PhD programmes.
The PhD education is nominally three years. Many receive an additional year with career-promoting work at the department where they are employed.
Supervision
The work on the PhD degree must be supervised by at least two supervisors. These can be supervisors from UiB or other workplaces. It can be a supervisor you know from before or one assigned by the department.
Research school
Many candidates are members of a PhD research school, in addition to their department and faculty. Research schools are designated units for PhD activity within a research discipline or thematic subject. At the research school you can take part in seminars, courses, lectures and social gatherings. Much of the activity in an academic environment takes place in research groups or research projects. Here you will find professors, associate professors, postdoctoral fellows, and even master's students.
See list of research schools at UiB
Thesis and artistic result
During the education, PhD candidates must write a thesis. Some of these theses are composed of several articles, while others are monographs, which are comprehensive books with chapters. At the Faculty of Fine Art, Music, and Design, you can pursue a PhD in artistic research, where the PhD project culminates in a concert, exhibition, or other performance.
During the education, you must also take PhD courses equivalent to one semester's work, in the so-called training component. You must take courses in the philosophy of science and ethics, as well as in methodology and subject theory. The faculties offer courses in communication and other more practical training.
Towards the end
The final phase of the PhD education begins with the submission of your thesis. If your thesis is approved, you must give a trial lecture as part of the PhD examination. Finally, you must defend your thesis in a public defence.
Bear in mind that the rules, norms, and structure of the PhD education vary between faculties.