PhD in medicine and health sciences (PhD)

The PhD education is stipulated to 3 years’ full-time study, and aims to educate independent researchers of high international rank, in accordance with recognized scientific and ethical principles.

• The PhD educationThe educational component
• The doctoral thesis
• The PhD examination
• Internal and external PhD candidates
• What amendments to the PhD project do I have to report?
• Quality Assurance System for the PhD programmeExpected learning outcomes
• Mid-term evaluation
• Semester report
• Performance appraisals
• PhD Handbook
• Rules and regulations
• Forms
• Contact us

The education shall qualify candidates for research and other work requiring high levels of scientific insight and analytical thinking. The PhD degree is conferred on the basis of:

• completion of the programme's educational component
• the doctoral thesis
• the doctoral examination

The PhD examination consists of a trial lecture and a public defence of the thesis, also known as disputation.

The educational component is compulsory for all candidates on the PhD programme, and corresponds to 30 credits. It can be carried out throughout the admission period, but the bulk of it should be completed during the first year.

It consists of a compulsory part of 10 credits and an elective part of 20 credits.

The educational component must be approved before you can apply for thesis evaluation.

The thesis shall be an independent, scientific work that meets international standards with regard to ethical requirements, academic standards and methodology. More about thesis requirements can be found in the rules and regulations.

The PhD examination consists of a trial lecture and a public defence of the thesis (disputation). The trial lecture must be passed before the public defence may take place.

PhD candidates employed by the University of Oslo must sign a separate employment contract with the university. These candidates are internal PhD candidates.

PhD candidates who receive support from an external party in the form of funding, employment or other contributions must fill out an agreement with an external party. Being employed by a university hospital is not the same as being employed by UiO.

You do not need to do anything if the amendments are minor, i.e. if the main features of the original project description remain unchanged.

Examples of amendments:

• new hypotheses
• new theories
• new approaches
• new / changed employer
• new / changed funding
• new project

The system shall contribute to the quality and further development of the PhD programme.

Mid-term evaluation

All PhD candidates must carry out a mid-term evaluation 15 to 18 months after admission to the PhD programme, calculated according to full-time PhD studies. The mid-term evaluation was implemented autumn 2015, and applies to all PhD candidates who have been admitted to the PhD programme as of 1.1.2015.

Semester report

Each semester in connection with semester registration and course applications, candidates must submit a semester report in StudentWeb on the progress of their PhD studies for the preceding semester.

The semester report system was introduced December 2017.

Candidate and principal supervisor should carry out periodic appraisals and discuss the different aspects of supervision. The first appraisal should be held when starting up on the PhD project when supervision and mutual expectations are discussed and determined. The PhD education’s expected learning outcomes should be reviewed. Candidate and supervisor should together consider what training is required according to the expected learning outcomes.

The next appraisal should be carried out 6 months later, and should focus on project progress and collaboration. If relevant, the head of division may also participate in the appraisal. Annual appraisals should thereafter be held throughout the admission period.

All candidates on the PhD programme must as of 1.1.2016 carry out performance appraisals.

• The handbook provides important information regarding the degree of PhD at the Faculty of Medicine.

• The Quality Assurance System for the Faculty of Medicine (pdf in Norwegian)
• PhD education (in Norwegian)
• Educational Component (in Norwegian)
• Thesis requirements (in Norwegian)
• PhD examination (in Norwegian)