Applying for a PhD > About the PhD study > PhD study structure
PhD study structure
There are three ways to enter the PhD School of Science. The options are:
The 5+3 entry
Regular PhD students that enter through the standard 5+3 entry have 3 years of full time PhD studies (180 ECTS).
In order to be awarded the PhD degree, you must complete the PhD studies, write a PhD thesis based on a research project and defend the thesis successfully. PhD studies must contain the following:
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An independent research project carried out by yourself under proper supervision (this is the PhD project).
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A PhD thesis (guidelines). Submission of the thesis concludes the PhD studies.
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Courses at an adequate scientific level (approved by the PhD School of Science) corresponding to a total course load of 6 months (~30 ECTS).
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Change of scientific environment. You must plan an extended visit for a period of 3-6 months at a foreign research institution as part of this requirement.
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Participation in science communication, teaching and/or other outreach programmes, primarily aimed to communicate the outlines and main findings of your PhD project to scientific and non-scientific communities.
If you have completed postgraduate courses or hold equivalent experience, you may apply for a credit transfer in order to reduce the PhD study period.
The Industrial PhD programme
An Industrial PhD is a three-year PhD project, where the student is employed by a private enterprise and has a contract with the university at the same time. The PhD student is admitted to a PhD programme at the PhD School of Science like all other PhD students, but shares his/her working time equally between the private enterprise and the university. About 50% of the enterprise’s expenses are reimbursed by the Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation. The enterprise receives a monthly wage subsidy of DKK 14.500. The university has its expenses for supervising, grading etc. covered by approx. DKK 10.000 per month.
Industrial PhD students are subject to the same requirements as all other university PhD students, but are not obliged to teach courses - it is not included in the contract. It is also the evident difference between the Industrial PhD and the regular PhD . There are three application deadlines annually. The Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation offers guidelines and updated application forms here. More information is also available at the Danish website www.erhvervsphd.dk and at the English website.
In 2011, DKK 134 mil. has been allocated for new Industrial PhD projects.
The 4+4 entry
The 4+4 entry allows 4 years of full-time studies, divided into two years of M.Sc.-level studies (Part A) and two years of PhD-level studies (Part B). Part A students must be enrolled both as M.Sc. students at the Faculty of Science and as PhD students at the PhD School of Science, while Part B students continue being enrolled at the PhD School of Science.
The PhD student must at part A fulfill the requirements for obtaining the M.Sc. degree. PhD courses corresponding to 6 months of full-time studies (approx. 30 ECTS) must be passed as well. Such courses can be followed during both parts of the studies. The PhD studies must adhere to the general PhD study structure.
Like regular PhD studies, the four years mainly involve working on a supervised, independent scientific research project.
A qualification exam concludes Part A, and if the exam is passed, a M.Sc. degree is awarded at this time. The exam must be passed for students to continue to Part B.
In order to pass the qualification exam, the Part A student must write a progress report (an assessment of the scientific work so far and it's future perspectives) under the supervision of supervisor(s) and give an oral presentation on a subject related to the field of the progress report.
The qualification exam is concluded by an oral examination based on the progress report and the literature quoted in the reference list of the report. The supervisor will lead the examination along with an external examiner. The exam is evaluated by awarding a single mark (7-point ECTS-convertible marking scale) covering the entire exam. A short written statement regarding the exam results will also be prepared by the supervisor and the examiner.
If the exam is passed, the student is admitted entry to the PhD studies (Part B).
If the exam is failed, the student’s enrolment will terminate by the end of the month in which the exam was held. However, the student may apply for one re-examination within 3 months of the first exam. Under these circumstances, the enrolment is maintained until the exam results are available.
Part B is concluded by successful defence of a PhD thesis, adhering to the regular thesis guidelines.
PhD student salaries during part A are regulated but not covered by the Danish Education Support Agency (SU Styrelsen) and is equal to two grant portions (SU-klip) a month. During Part B the PhD student receives ordinary PhD student salary.
Students from outside EU/EEA will have to pay tuition fees for one year of the MSc programme. It is a condition that the student has passed 60 ECTS at the MSc level besides holding a bachelor’s degree. Click for more information on the current tuition fees (rates) concerning the MSc programme at the Faculty of Science.
Please notice that you must still have a scholarship, a large grant or other financial sources that will cover your salary during the four years and overhead to the university during the PhD part of your studies.