Information for new PhD candidates
This web page provides information that may be of use for new NMBU PhD candidates. Meetings and seminars for PhD candidates who have just started their education will be organised on faculty level.
A short digital introduction module for PhD Candidates in Canvas
Canvas is a web-based learning management system, used by many higher education institutions to access and manage digital courses.
We encourage all new PhD candidates to access and do the module Your PhD (Developed by the NMBU Research Support Office).
Practical information
New PhD candidates are encouraged to seek information from the Research Support Office, the Library, the Student Information Centre, the Writing Centre and the Society of Doctoral Candidates "SoDoC". The PhD coordinator at your faculty can help you or direct you to the right person regarding concerns about employment, supervision and similar. You can find a link to the list of your PhD contacts in the fact-frame on these web pages:
Step by step web page throughout the PhD education - in English
Residence permit
There are three main categories for international persons who wish to study at NMBU:
1) Right of residence in Norway for EU/EEA/EFTA nationals
If you are a citizen of an EU/EEA/EFTA country, you must register with the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI). Through the application portal, you can make a preliminary registration, book an appointment and then submit required documents to the police station situated in the district (within Norway) where you live, to complete the registration.
2) International PhD candidates financed through employment
You should apply for a skilled worker residence permit at the Norwegian embassy in your home country if you come from a country that requires a visa to travel to Norway. If you can travel to Norway without a visa, you can apply for a residence permit from within Norway. The residence permit application will require a copy of your employment contract. For more details about the application process, you can visit the UDI pages.
3) International PhD candidates financed through scholarships or non-employment sources
You should apply for a residence permit in Norway at the nearest Norwegian embassy or in some cases the Danish or Swedish embassy. To find out where you should apply, please visit the UDI pages. The residence permit application will require proof of admission to the PhD programme, housing and financing guarantee. For the academic year 2024/2025, documentation of financing must be a minimum of NOK 151.690 per year.
Residence permits and renewals are processed at the local police station:
- For candidates living in Ås:
Tinghusveien 28, 1400 Ski- For candidates living in Oslo:
Grønlandsleiret 44, OsloHow to book or change an appointment with the police (link to politiet.no).
Semester Registration Fee
PhD candidates who receive funding from Lånekassen, NORAD or other Ministry of Foreign Affairs programs, can choose to pay the semester fee.
All other PhD candidates are not defined as "STUDENTS" in this connection, and are not eligible to pay semester fee. This is regulated by an Act, "Forskrift om Studentsamskipnader". Link to the act (in Norwegian only): https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2008-07-22-828#KAPITTEL_7
The semester fee is not a fee that the students pay to the university, it is a fee paid to the foundation of Student Life in Ås (SIÅS) and aims to ensure that students who have no income receive student discounts.
As not all PhD candidates are required to pay the semester fee, an invoice for semester registration will not automatically be generated, and available from the Student web. Contact your PhD coordinator if in doubt, or send an e-mail to the Student Information Centre (SiT) sit@nmbu.no (link to SiT in the digital map, Mazemap).
Course registration
PhD candidates wishing to take courses at NMBU can register for regular courses on the StudentWeb. If web registration is not possible, please visit SiT in person for course registration.
For more information regarding visas, residence permits, semester and course registration, contact sit@nmbu.no.
Staff or Student Identity (ID) card / Library card
If you are doing your PhD degree as an employee at NMBU, you can choose between a staff and a student ID card. If you are not employed at NMBU, you will be issued a student ID card.
Some PhD candidates are allowed to pay the semester registration fee, these include candidates financed by the Quota Scheme and NORHED programme and few others, and are not employed in Norway to complete the PhD degree. The Student ID card, valid only with the semester registration card, can qualify these candidates for discounts in cafeterias on campus and on some train/bus tickets.
The student or staff ID card also works as an electronic key card to most entrance doors, printer access and as a library card. If you require special access to buildings on campus, only your faculty can approve and request this. Note that printer access can only be given to one ID card.
Cards are produced, and handed out in person, at the IT department located together with NMBU Servicetorg in Hippocampus.
How to get a student ID card (applies to PhD candidates without employment at NMBU)
STEP 1: If you haven't done this already, start by creating and activating your personal NMBU user account (FEIDE login). Follow these instructions to activate your user account on the web page brukerdata.nmbu.no.
STEP 2: Upload a photo and order the ID card by logging in to fotoboks.nmbu.no.
STEP 3: The student ID card is to be collected at the Service Centre in the Veterinary Building. You will be given notice as soon as the card is ready to be collected.
How to get an employee ID card (applies to PhD candidates employed by a NMBU faculty)
Step 1: If you haven't done this already, start by creating and activating your personal NMBU user account (FEIDE login). Follow these instructions to activate your user account on the web page brukerdata.nmbu.no.
STEP 2: The employee ID card will be produced on site, and you will receive it by hand, at the Service Centre in the Veterinary Building. If you have not already uploaded a photo through fotoboks.nmbu.no, a photo will be taken of you when you show up at the Service Centre.
The University Library
The NMBU Library offers help and services to students and employees.
You will find the library in the Veterinary Building.The library serves also as a social arena and event space. What's on at the University Library?
Access to buildings and to your office
The NMBU ID card functions as a key card to gain access to where your office is situated, and to the Faculty's premisses (buildings and eventually areas inside buildings).
Dependent on the building and the Faculty, a physical key to your office might be provided through the Faculty's Personnel Team.
Accomodation, sports and other welfare facilities
Please contact SiÅs for student accomodation rooms, or Eiendomsavdelingen for NMBU employee housing units.
SiÅs is the welfare association for students at NMBU, responsible for student accommodation, international guest accomodation, sport facilities, the bookshop, print and copy services, cafeterias / restaurant and the rental of meeting and function rooms.
Mandatory registrations with Norwegian authorities
The Student Information Centre (SiT) offers regular information meetings general guidance on obligatory registrations such as residence permits, work permits, health controls, opening bank accounts, etc. with Norwegian authorities at the beginning, during and at end of a study period at NMBU.