PhD programme

The PhD programme is a three-year full-time programme which ends with a dissertation. As a PhD student, you are affiliated with a university or other institution of higher education, and the admission requirement for applying is a completed master’s degree. However, it is possible to start as a research student before finishing your master’s degree, which you then complete alongside your PhD programme (extended to four years).

The programme consists of an independent research project. In addition, PhD students must participate in relevant courses, undertake teaching activities or in some other way engage in knowledge dissemination, and attend conferences. You will also often spend time at another research institution, which could be abroad.

You will write a dissertation, based on your independent research work. This is evaluated by an assessment committee, and must be publicly defended.

PhD students are students, but also employed as paid researchers. You can apply for any vacant position that is advertised, or propose a research project together with a supervisor and apply for full or partial funding from other institutions and foundations.

The Niels Bohr Institute employs many PhD students every year in the various research areas – taking in students from UCPH as well as from other universities around the world.