Doctoral Degree Programme

Applications may be submitted twice a year.

The application portal (Søknadsweb) opens on 1 February/ 1 September.

- The application deadline is 1 March/1 October.

- The start of studies is 1 September/1 January.

If you are an international applicant without BankID, please see Application and admission for instructions on how to apply.

MF's programme is open to applicants from other universities and colleges in Norway and abroad. Students in the PhD programme must attend mandatory teaching for the coursework, 50% and 90% seminars, and public defense at MF (Oslo, Norway). Exceptions may be granted for digital attendance.

In order to be admitted to the PhD programme, you must

- have completed at least five years of higher education, and received a master’s/cand.theol. degree or equivalent in a relevant subject area. The master’s degree should include a written thesis of minimum 30 ECTS credits and be graded B (or equivalent) or better.

- submit a project description in line with MF's template for project descriptions.

- submit documentation of finances/external funding for the PhD period and project.

In cases where the applicant does not meet the grade requirement or does not have a master's degree, but is clearly qualified, the Research Committee can consider the application on an individual basis.

Required documents

- Application form

Applicants must fill out the application form and upload it as a pdf-file in Søknadsweb.

- Educational background

Relevant degrees from institutions of higher education must be documented by uploading copies of the original diploma, transcript of records, and diploma supplement. If any of these documents are not originally in English or a Nordic language, an official translation must accompany the copies of the original documents.

- Finances/Funding

Applicants who have external funding for their PhD, for example through their current employer, grants, or scholarships, must provide documentation of this.

Applicants who plan to finance their PhD with private funds, must provide a statement addressing how they plan to finance thei PhD period and project.

- Project description

Applicants must upload a fully developed project proposal in line with MF's template for project descriptions.

- CV (curriculum vitae)

The CV should include references.

- List of publications (if any)

There are three different programme structures offered depending on the method used in the PhD project. Please see your supervisor and/or the PhD coordinator for help in setting up your plan.

Programme structure with historical and exegetical methods:

Programme structure with methods in systematic theology:

Programme structure with qualitative and quantitative methods:

Method of instruction

Whereas the PhD program aims at individual and specialised studies, the quality of such studies also depends on participating in a research community where topics and problems are discussed in courses where other students participate. These courses are structured around four areas:

- Philosophy of science (10 ECTS)

- Methodology (10 ECTS)

- The Status of the discipline (10 ECTS)

- Thesis (150 ECTS)

Specialists in their field teach all courses. The format consists of lectures, panels of responses and discussions, seminars, and work groups. Some seminars are offered in cooperation with other (national or international) institutions. The literature for each course should generally be read before the seminar starts.

The different parts of the coursework provide the opportunity for a hermeneutical interplay, by which the Candidate becomes skilled in understanding the context of their research. The work on the PhD thesis nevertheless constitutes the major part of the program work. (150ECTS). The course components support, inform, guide, and inspire the individual research project of the candidate, but some of the coursework contents also provide a broader context of knowledge than what is required for the thesis. Hence, the program educates for research in general, as well.

1 ECTS (= European Credit Transfer System, ’studiepoeng’) requires 25-30 hours of work from the candidate.

Philosophy of science (10 ECTS)

Two courses are required on this topic. The fundamental perspectives in these courses place the PhD specialisation and the PhD thesis within the context of scholarly work, and the students can develop their understanding and be enabled to document the larger horizon within which the research takes part.

PHD901 (5 ECTS) and PHD902 are mandatory for all students. These courses focus on fundamental questions in the study of and research on Religion and Values.

Methodology (10 ECTS)

Two courses are required on this topic: MET910 (5 ECTS) and MET920 (5 ECTS). The courses focus on methodological issues and train students to discern, choose and employ proper scientific/scholarly methods. Two courses are offered in each of the following fields:

A. History and exegesis

B. Systematic Theology

C. Social sciences and empirical research

The student normally takes both courses from either A, B or C, but combinations may be granted by application.

PHD930 The Status of the Discipline (10 ECTS)

This course aims to give a thorough understanding of the present stand and status of the discipline. To achieve this, the student participates in activities relevant to the thesis topic. The course requires participation in two international conferences or an academic stay abroad. In addition, involvement in Research groups, seminars, or complete courses from Research Schools may be considered fulfilling part of the course requirements.

PHD950 Thesis (150 ECTS)

The central part of the program is the writing of the thesis. The thesis may consist of a single work or several shorter works with an extensive introduction. Research seminars are offered regularly, and students must attend and present their work in these.

Equivalation

By application, equivalent courses may be accepted to fulfil the program.

Learning outcome

The aims of the PhD program can be described as follows:

Knowledge

The candidate

- is at the forefront of knowledge within their academic field and masters the field’s philosophy of science and relevant methods.

- can evaluate the expediency and application of different methods and processes in research and scholarly development projects.

- can contribute to developing new knowledge, new theories, methods, interpretations, and forms of documentation in the field.

Skills

The candidate

- can formulate problems, plan and carry out research and scholarly development work.

- can carry out research and scholarly research work of a high international standard.

- can handle complex academic issues and challenge established knowledge and practice in the field.

General competence

The candidate

- can identify relevant ethical issues and carry out research with scholarly integrity.

- can communicate research and development work through recognised Norwegian and international channels.

- can participate in international scholarly discussions.

The totality of the qualifications acquired is assessed at the end of the PhD programme. When the coursework is completed, the successful defense of the PhD thesis and the trial lecture indicates that the qualifications are achieved).

After reworking, the final version of the course paper should be sent to the responsible course convener for final approval, usually within three weeks after the course. It will be subject to the exam that term.

Papers are approved by the course convener(s) or the supervisor(s). The courses are graded passed/failed based on fulfilled course requirements