Coursework component

The coursework component shall include courses at PhD or master's degree level equivalent to 30 ECTS. At least 20 ECTS should be completed after admission into the PhD programme. No courses should not be older than two years upon start-up​. PhD candidates who have completed a student research programme (Forskerlinja) may only include courses completed after admission into Forskerlinja.

Together with the work on the thesis, the required coursework must provide the essential academic breadth and specialisation. Practical training that develop general skills can be awarded a maximum of 5 ECTS.

PhD candidates are required to submit NMBU 1.3 Education plan along with the PhD contract and Data management plan within four months after admission into the PhD program. The Education plan will be evaluated by the PhD Programme Council (VET).

• PhD courses

  The following mandatory courses must be included in the required coursework component:

  • A course in research ethics and the philosophy of science (5 ECTS)
  • VET420 Writing the PhD thesis (2 ECTS)
  • VET421 Midterm evaluation (3 ECTS)

  A course in research ethics and the philosophy of science (minimum 5 ECTS) shall be included in the required coursework. This requirement can be met by completing VET400 Introduction to ethical and philosophical perspectives in biomedical research, PHI401 Research Ethics and Philosophy of Science I or MINA400 Research Education Across Disciplines. If you have completed another research ethics and philosophy of science course, you may present the course description and the course certificate to phd.radgiver.vet@nmbu.no, and apply for approval of this course. The PhD advisors will consult the NMBU Ethical Board if the course content has to be evaluated.

  The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine offers a number of courses at the PhD level, and you are encouraged to explore courses offered by other faculties at NMBU. In addition, it is possible to take courses through NOVA University Network.

  Here is an overview of courses come current and former PhD candidates have taken as part of their coursework component.

  List of courses for PhD candidates (VET)Download

• Posters and presentations

  Candidates admitted to the PhD programme after 1 April 2018

  • You may obtain 1 ECTS for every unique presentation (oral presentation or poster presentation) at a national or international conference.
  • You must be the main/first author of the presentation/poster.
  • You may obtain a maximum of 4 ECTS for posters and presentations.

  Candidates admitted to the PhD programme before 1 April 2018

  • You may obtain 1,5 ECTS for every unique poster presentation at a national or international conference.
  • You may obtain 1,5 ECTS for every unique oral presentation at a national conference.
  • You may obtain 3 ECTS for every unique oral presentation at an international conference.
  • You must be the main/first author of the presentation/poster.
  • You may obtain a maximum of 9 ECTS for 2 posters and 2 presentations.

  VET organizes an annual PhD Day (usually in early May) and your are encouraged to present your research project in the form of poster, oral presentation or seminar.

• Research stay overseas

  We recommend that you undertake a research stay abroad during your PhD period. An overseas stay gives you the opportunity to build and establish international networks and research collaboration early in your career, and you will receive exciting impulses both professionally and personally. To increase the likelihood that the stay will be academically useful and relevant, you must carefully choose a relevant research environment in cooperation with your supervisor, preferably at an institution where NMBU already has established cooperation. You must secure funding for the stay yourself.

  You may obtain 1,5 ECTS for every two weeks of research stay with an institution overseas, maximum 3 ECTS for a research stay lasting 4 or more weeks.

  Practical information about stays abroad can be found on the researcher mobility portal EURAXESS

  NMBU's funding scheme for research stays abroad

  The Research Council's scholarship database for mobility provides you with information about mobility scholarship from the Research Council and other actors.

• Spesial syllabus

  Within academic fields where there are no formal/regular courses, it is possible apply for a "Special Syllabus" at PhD level as part of the coursework component. You are required to complete the form Avtale om spesialpensum (word-dokument) and submit it to phd.radgiver.vet@nmbu.no for approval before taking the special syllabus.