Supervision – PhD

As a PhD candidate, you will receive individual and regular supervision during your work with the PhD thesis.

PhD candidate Sunniva Rose and professor Magne Sveen Guttormsen
Photo: Hans Fredrik Asbjørnsen

Each PhD candidate will be followed up by at least two actively functioning supervisors throughout the PhD programme. The supervisors must have a PhD and/or qualifications as a professor or associate professor. The main supervisor is usually an employee of the faculty.

The unit is responsible for ensuring that external supervisors are notified of the regulations and rules that govern the PhD programme, and the Guide to assessment of Norwegian doctorates.

The supervisors appointed cannot have close personal relations with the PhD candidate or other persons in the supervisory team.

If the PhD candidate wants to change supervisor, the change of supervisor form (.pdf) must be completed. Both the former supervisor and the new supervisor must sign the form. The form will be sent to the unit the PhD candidate has been admitted to, which will make a recommendation and send the case to the faculty for a final decision.

The supervisor's obligations

Supervisors must actively work to:

  • follow up the PhD candidate
  • secure resources for the project
  • ensure that the PhD candidate participates in an active research community
  • make sure that the candidate publishes in high-quality channels
  • remain up-to-date on the progress of the candidate's work and assess it in relation to the project description's progress plan
  • follow up academic issues that may lead to a delay in execution of the organized research training, so that it can be completed within the nominal period of time
  • provide advice on the wording and delimitation of the topic and issues
  • discuss and assess hypotheses and methods, discuss results and their interpretation, discuss plans and execution of the presentation, linguistic form and documentation
  • offer advice on the survey of academic literature and data in relation to the library, archives, etc.
  • guide the candidate on issues of research ethics associated with the thesis
  • ensure that the necessary permits are procured for use of the research data and that the obligations associated with use of data are met

Supervisor e-Learning Modules

The Faculty offers an online course for supervisors including a number of important aspects in supervision. These concern topics like expectations expectations alignment, ethics, conflict handling, candidates' mental health, the hiring process etc..    

Problematic supervisory relationship

You should talk to your supervisor about how the supervision should be and how it will work. It is important that you do not let a poor supervisory relationship continue. If any problems arise, you should address them as soon as possible.

This is occasionally difficult. Contact the PhD study adviser at your unit, who will follow up the matter and look for the best solution to the problem.

Published Apr. 11, 2016 3:33 PM - Last modified Nov. 14, 2023 2:30 PM