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PhD programmes

• PhD Programmes - Guide to studies and admission
• The PhD process at UCPH
• About PhD studies in D...

About PhD studies in Denmark

Since 1993, the standard duration of PhD studies in Denmark has been three years. This requires you to have  graduated from a five year Masters programme in the same or a closely related discipline or that you have some other comparable qualifications.

Flexible process

There is also the option of starting on an integrated Master's and PhD process, the so-called flex process, which starts 12 months on in a Masters program (4+4 scheme), or immediately after graduating with a Bachelor's degree (3+5-scheme).

Read more about the flexible process

Requirements

You are required to take relevant courses or similar educational modules equivalent to six months of studies during the process and this predicates that during your studies, you attend active research environments, also away from the institution to which you are admitted, either by study tours to other, mainly foreign institutions, or in or some other way. Finally, students are required to gain experience in teaching or some other kind of knowledge outreach.

Special circumstances

PhD studies are normally full-time but in special circumstances, part-time studies may be possible on application with your reasons. In special cases, it may be possible for a thesis to be considered with a view to acquiring a doctorate without, or with abbreviated, preceding studies but this requires you to have gained professional commercial qualifications that are comparable to PhD studies.

Completion 

A PhD is awarded in recognition of the fact that the person to whom it is awarded has completed PhD studies and has satisfactorily defended a doctoral thesis in a public viva, has demonstrated the ability to independently run a scientific project using scientific methods appropriate to the subject and has further helped promote research at a level corresponding to the international standard for doctorates within the discipline concerned.

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PhD defences

Phd defence: mette weibel, phd defence: maria booth nielsen, phd defence: muneera essa ibrahim alzeer.

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Become a PhD student

In terms of academic level, the PhD programme corresponds to three years of full-time study and is based on a successfully completed Master's programme is based on a successfully completed Master’s programme of 120 ECTS points (corresponding to 2 years full-time master’s study) .

Within the three year enrollment  PhD students are required to complete a programme that includes: 

• An independent research project completed under academic supervision
• A course programme of an extent corresponding to six months of studies (30 ECTS points)
• Participation in active research environments other than at SDU, including stays at other, mainly foreign, research institutions or private research enterprises
• Experience with teaching and other dissemination of knowledge
• Completion of a PhD Thesis
• The opportunity to defend your PhD Thesis in public

The PhD programmes are offered at the university's five PhD schools. All PhD schools offer a three-year PhD programme, and admission to the programme requires a Master's degree or similar degree. Some PhD schools also offer a four-year PhD programme for students who have completed the first year of a Master's programme.

The PhD programme is completed in close interaction with your academic supervisor, who is a leading researcher within the chosen field of research. You will be able to arrange a great part of your PhD programme yourself and to take study trips to recognised universities abroad. You will establish contacts to several active research environments both at and outside the University of Southern Denmark, and you will be participating in study activities, courses and conferences at both national and international research institutions. You will acquire experience with teaching and disseminating research results.

The Industrial PhD programme

An Industrial PhD programme is a three-year business-oriented PhD project where you as a PhD student are employed by a private company or a public-sector organisation while at the same time being enrolled at a university. As host university for Industrial PhD students, the University of Southern Denmark offers excellent conditions for setting up research partnerships between private business, the public sector and the university.

How do I find my research project?

At the University of Southern Denmark we regularly offer predefined projects, the details of which can be found under " Vacant positions " at the SDU main webpage. At some institutes it will also be possible to participate in defining a PhD project in collaboration with an academic supervisor and possibly an external organisation. At the Faculty of Health Sciences, the most common approach is for students to contact a potential academic supervisor with a view to formulating their PhD project together with him or her.

Work and salary conditions

Information from SDU International Staff Office

Last Updated 05.10.2023

• Department of Anthropology
• PhD Programme

The PhD programme in Anthropology 

The Department of Anthropology at the University of Copenhagen takes a broad approach to social and cultural anthropology, reflected in the courses offered and in ongoing research activities. It provides diversity in terms of regional ethnographic concentration, theoretical orientations and methodologies. 

Benefits of doing a PhD at AAU

PhD fellow Maria Maigaard Paulsen from AAU Energy

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Admission to a PhD program

All PhD positions at Aalborg University require that candidates have acquired a Danish five-year Master’s degree or have completed another similar programme.

Apply for a PhD position at AAU

All PhD positions at Aalborg University are advertised on AAU's website for vacant positions, under PhD vacancies. You will find all current scholarships for all Doctoral Schools here. Each job advertisement will contain all relevant information about the position, including information on salary, period of employment etc.

In order to apply for a PhD position at Aalborg University, you must fill in the online form on AAU’s website for vacant positions. Only online applications sent through this portal will be accepted.

See vacant PhD positions at AAU

Other PhD opportunities at AAU

At Aalborg University (AAU), you can apply to become a PhD student without being employed at the University. Before applying, you must make sure that your application meets the requirements specified on the websites of the AAU Doctoral Schools.

The following other opportunities for PhD studies are available at AAU:

Self-financed PhD studies

You can apply for enrolment as a self-financed PhD student, which means that you will pay all costs connected to your studies. These costs will depend on the individual Doctoral School and PhD programme.

Industrial PhD studies

You can apply for enrolment as an industrial PhD student in cooperation with the company where you are employed and the relevant doctoral school. Your company will be responsible for applying to the Ministry of Higher Education and Science for financial support for the project. It is a requirement that you are employed in a Danish company or a Danish department of an international company.

Co-financed PhD studies

If your employer or another party is willing to finance all or part of your PhD studies, it is possible to collaborate with AAU on a PhD project, provided that the project is strategically and academically relevant for the doctoral school.

PhD assessment without programme enrolment

You can also submit material for assessment in order to obtain a PhD degree without having been enrolled in a PhD programme. This particular approach requires that your material was prepared under supervision of a qualified supervisor, and that you meet the current requirements for PhD students and additional requirements. Further information on this particular option can be required by contacting AAU PhD

Further information about PhD studies at AAU

For further information on PhD studies at AAU, please contact AAU PhD .

Career developement for PhD Students

All PhD students at AAU have access to a variety of services that can develope themselves and their future career

Area manager

Specialists, phd administration.

AAU PhD handles the PhD administration at Aalborg University for the 4 PhD schools.

This includes the following tasks:

• Daily operations related to PhD students
• Advertising scholarships and processing applications
• Enrollment of PhD students
• Administration of course activities
• Awarding PhD degrees
• Managing doctoral dissertations
• Statistical reports to Statistics Denmark
• Resource management
• Secretariat for the PhD committees at the 5 PhD schools

E-mail: [email protected]    Tel.: (+45) 9940 9638 Kroghstræde 1 9220 Aalborg East

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What is a Master's degree programme?

A Master's programme in Denmark is an advanced, research-based course that take two years. It consist of compulsory courses, elective courses and thematic courses. You can often choose between a general track, or a specialisation within your programme.

It includes a final dissertation (normally 30-60 ECTS credits) or, in certain subjects, a more practical project.

What does the programme consist of?

A broad range of interdisciplinary programmes have been developed to meet the needs of a globalised, knowledge-based society. Upon completion of the programme, you will be able to enter the labour market or undertake further studies (e.g. a PhD).

The main pedagogic model in Denmark is problem-based learning. Teaching is done through lectures, seminars, practical and theoretical exercises, study visits and project work.

Your Master's studies will end after the production of a thesis, based on a large project corresponding to six or nine months of work. Some universities allow you to work on your thesis either independently or as a part of a group.

Universities often have good links with the private and public sector as well as other institutions, so there will be good opportunities to opt for placements and study abroad.

Candidatus is the name for a Master's in Denmark. The title of Master's is then made up of the degree (Cand., short for Candidatus) and the discipline in which it was studied.

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