Doctoral Degree Programme

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 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:

The PhD programme is to a large extent based on individual and specialized studies, and it also aims at providing the means for academic socialization. The programme is structured around four areas:

- Philosophy of science (10 ECTS)

- Methodology (10 ECTS)

- The Status of the discipline (10 ECTS)

- Thesis (150 ECTS)

The total programme consists of different parts which together allow for a hermeneutical interplay. The Candidate’s research and the resulting PhD thesis constitute the major part of the education (150ECTS). The course components support, inform, guide and inspire the individual PhD research.

1 ECTS (= European Credit Transfer System, ’studiepoeng’) requires 25-30 hours 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 specialization 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 focuse on basic questions in the study of and research in the areas of 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 the student to discern, choose and employ proper scientific / scholarly methods. Two courses are offered from each of the following fields:

A. History and exegesis

B. Systematic Theology

C. Social Sciences

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 is an open course. The aim of this course is to give a thorough understanding of the present stand and status of the discipline. In order to achieve this, the

student participates in different activities relevant to one’s own thesis topic. For instance, the course requires participation in two international conferences or an academic stay abroad. In addition, seminars or full courses from Research Schools may be part of this course.

PHD950 Thesis (150 ECTS)

The main part of the program is the writing of the thesis. The thesis may consist of a single work or several shorter works. In order to improve the quality and progress of the Candidate’s research, research seminars are offered, and the student is required to attend these regularly.

Equivalation

By application, equivalent courses may be fitted in either fully or partially.

The PhD programme has integrated and implemented the European Qualifications Framework (EQF)/the National Qualifications Framework (NKR) in the research education. i.e. third cycle/level 8.

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

Knowledge

The candidate

- is in 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 the development of 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 new relevant ethical issues and carry out research with scholarly integrity.

- can manage complex interdisciplinary assignments and projects.

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

- can participate in debates in the field in international forums.

- can assess the needs for, initiate and practice innovation.

These qualifications are to be developed in and by the individual PhD student in cooperation with supervisors and relevant research groups. It is the task of the supervisors and the research groups to specify and apply the general competencies to their own field and the corresponding area of research within the PhD education. The qualification process is a process of socialisation into research. The primary arena for learning is the actual practice of research and the work with the PhD thesis, which includes:

- the design of the project, including formulation of a research question

- providing research material (texts, interviews of informants, statistics, or other data to be chosen and collected)

- assessment and evaluation of the material

- application, testing, and development of relevant methods and relevant theory in the research project

- academic and methodological maturation and development, academic discussions, co-working, co-operation

- presentation and dissemination both in writing and orally

The totality of the qualifications acquired is assessed at the end of the PhD programme. When the coursework is completed, it is the successful defence of the PhD thesis and the trial lecture which indicates that the qualifications are achieved (passed). The PhD candidate can be regarded then as an “early stage researcher.”

All courses are taught by professors. The format consists of lectures, panels of responses and discussion, seminars, and work groups. Some seminars are offered in cooperation with other (national or international) institutions. The literature for each course should normally be read before the seminar starts.

MF’s PhD seminars are normally three continuing full days, where the student is expected to write and submit a preliminary short paper and subsequently a course paper. The initial short paper is a descriptive and critical discussion of literature and/or questions related to the course theme. Its point of departure may be a book, an article or several articles, a direction or position in research, an authorship, a concept, or questions posed by the course leaders. Preferably, it may relate connected to the student’s PhD thesis. The PhD student may also formulate at least four questions resulting from the work with the essay.

The short paper and the student’s questions must be sent by e-mail one week before the course to the responsible course convener, who circulates it to the participants for discussion in the course. In some courses, students may be asked to respond to the presentation of a fellow PhD student or to present their own paper.

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 by the supervisor(s). The courses are graded passed/failed on the basis of fulfilled course requirements.