PhD Study Plan, School of Engineering, Science, Medicine, Arts and humanities
Instructions for PhD Study Plan:
The PhD study plan is to be sent directly to the Head of Programme for approval. Therefore please send the study plan via email to the Head of Doctoral Programme as well as to the Doctoral School. Please click here for further information.
Template (must be filled out and handed in along with the study plan)
The study plan (max 5000 words) must include the following elements:
Section 1. Project summary/abstract
A short (max 400 words) summary in layman’s terms describing key motivation, significance, methodology, and expected outcome of the PhD study. A reader of the local newspaper should be able to understand the summary.
Section 2. The scientific content of the PhD project
a. The background for the project problem should be described (corresponding to maximum 300 words).
b. An introduction stating the state-of-the-art for the PhD project (include key references listed under section 9). Explain the relevance of the present PhD project so the scientific contribution will be evident.
c. Statement of the project’s objectives. This could be formulated as a hypothesis if applicable.
d. Key methods. Coverage of the methodological needs, identification of means of meeting these needs, and the methodological design. The coverage should include techniques for evaluating or assessing the outcomes of the project (e.g., empirical studies, theoretical studies).
e. Potential significance and application(s) of the project’s expected outcome, possibly including methodological contributions.
f. Time schedule where it is recommended to include milestones (project milestones and deadlines for expected publications for each 6-month period (or finer)).
g. Outline of the content of the thesis, including an indication on whether the thesis is expected to take the form of a collection of papers.
h. If considered possible, tentative titles on papers, including preliminary author lists ( indicate who has the primary responsibility for the publication).
Section 3. Collaboration agreements
Agreement on the relationship between supervisor and student (meeting frequency, communication forms, mutual expectations, etc.). See note on the homepage of the doctoral school for inspiration.
Section 4. Plan for PhD courses (both general and project-related courses)
General courses should cover minimum 10 ECTS. Indicate topics to be covered if specific course names are not yet available. In general, no single course should exceed 6 ECTS credit points. Please use this table!
If conference and workshop participation is part of the course program, each such participation must be accompanied by a written report by the PhD student that relates the specific activity to the PhD project. This report must be of general value for the project. Course activities that relate to workshop and conference participation and the participation in study groups must not exceed 6 ECTS credits.
Only courses at PhD level will be approved. If a course at master-level is deemed to be highly relevant for the PhD project, the supervisor can establish a study group on the topic which include the master-course and additional reading/discussion to bring it up to a PhD level. The written report mentioned above on participation in a study group must be completed to get course credit. To ensure the scientific level the study group must be headed by a member of the scientific staff who is Professor/Associate Professor.
Section 5. Plan for fulfillment of knowledge dissemination
Plan for dissemination of knowledge and findings from the project (newspaper articles, seminars, conference presentations, teaching etc.).
Section 6. Agreements on immaterial rights to patents
Outline relevant agreements on immaterial rights to patents, etc. produced during the PhD project.
Section 7. External collaboration
Plans for external collaboration (e.g., stay at a foreign research institution).
Section 8. Financing budget
Financing budget for the PhD project i.e. expenses needed to complete the project (not salary). The funding source or sources should be identified.
Section 9. List of references
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