PhD programmes

The standard study time is three years full-time. The program can be distributed over a maximum of six years by agreement. Doctoral candidates employed at VID will normally have three-year contracts.

The program comprises a total of 180 ECTS, of which the organized training component is 30 ECTS. The courses in the training component can be taken both at VID and at other institutions. VID is a member of national and regional research schools that one can apply for admission to.

There is extensive cooperation between VID's two PhD programs, especially regarding methodology courses. Course participation at other institutions can be credited at VID upon application.

As a PhD student at VID, you will be offered to participate in one of our many research groups.

VID finds it important to stimulate knowledge and foster skills that are useful for PhD work and a potential future career in research, as well as being of relevance for a career in organizations and institutions outside academia.

For admission to the PhD program in Diaconia, Values, and Professional Practices, a master's degree (120 ECTS) or equivalent in diaconia and health and social sciences and/or leadership is required.

For admission to the PhD program in Theology and Religion, a master's degree (120 ECTS) or equivalent in theology, religious studies, or related academic disciplines is required. For applicants with other academic backgrounds at the same level, the applicants' project profiles will be emphasized.

For applicants for doctoral positions, the deadline given in the advertisement applies

For applicants with external funding, the application deadlines are April 1st and October 1st, but VID will exceptionally consider applications for admission outside these deadlines. For applicants for doctoral positions, the deadline given in the advertisement applies.

Employment in a doctoral research fellow position normally entails a three-year employment relationship with VID as the employer. Application for a doctoral research fellow position is also an application for admission to the PhD program. Vacant doctoral research fellow positions are advertised on the university's list of available positions.

Applicants will be evaluated by an expert committee. When evaluating the applicants, the relevance and quality of the project description, as well as the quality of the master's or main thesis, will be considered. All project descriptions must follow VID's template for the project description.

Suitable applicants will also be interviewed for positions. When appointing, VID emphasizes personal suitability for PhD studies.

It is possible to apply for admission to the PhD program with external funding. This could be funding from other educational institutions or voluntary organizations. To apply for admission, submit the completed application form along with a project description and other relevant documentation to the relevant Centre Director
The project description should provide an account of your topic, the state of knowledge, your research question and theoretical framework, and research design/methodology, in Norwegian or English. The description should also indicate a progress plan for the different parts of the research work, including plans for studying abroad.

VID requires applicants with external funding to document that they can work at least 50% of normal working hours on their doctoral work and that this time is fully funded through either salary or a stipend. Please note that it is a requirement to have budgeted minimum 60,000NOK for associated costs during the PhD periode (normally 3 years).

You can also apply for admission through the scheme for public sector PhD and business PhD. The applicant must then apply through their own employer for support from the Norwegian Research Council for PhD studies. VID has several such fellows and is happy to assist in developing good projects and applications.

• PhD Programme in Diaconia, Values and Professional Practice: James McGuirk, Centre Director, Centre for Diakonia and Professional Practice, james.mcguirk@vid.no
• PhD programme in Health Sciences: Karen Synne Grove, Associate Dean of Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, karen.groven@vid.no
• PhD programme in Theology and Religion: Daniela Lucia Rapisarda, Centre Director, Centre for the Study of World Christianity and Religion, daniela.rapisarda@vid.no

If you are employed by a company or in the public sector, you can apply for admission as a public sector PhD or industrial PhD.

Through the scheme, the doctoral candidate, the public sector organisation/company and the degree-conferring university or university college can collaborate on a project that is relevant to the public sector organisation/company.

The applicant must establish contact with a relevant doctoral programme at VID, and apply for funding from the Research Council of Norway for PhD studies via their own employer. VID has several public sector PhDs and industrial PhDs. For more information, see the Research Council of Norway's website on public sector PhDs, or on industrial PhDs.

If you would like to discuss the possibility of such a collaboration, please contact us early in the process. Here are VID's contact persons for the programme:

• PhD Programme in Diaconia, Values and Professional Practice: James McGuirk, Centre Director, Centre for Diakonia and Professional Practice, james.mcguirk@vid.no
• PhD programme in Health Sciences: Karen Synne Grove, Associate Dean of Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, karen.groven@vid.no
• PhD programme in Theology and Religion: Daniela Lucia Rapisarda, Centre Director, Centre for the Study of World Christianity and Religion, daniela.rapisarda@vid.no

The PhD education is estimated to be three years of full-time work. The admission period can also be completed over several years, up to six years, but with at least 50% of the time dedicated to the PhD education.

If one is employed as a research fellow at VID and mandatory work is added to the position, the mandatory work tasks should provide relevant and varied competence for a future career in academia and/or business. Examples of relevant mandatory work are described in the guidelines and detailed regulations for PhD education at VID.

The mandatory training component consists of a total course workload of 30 ECTS credits. The study plans for the PhD programs in Diaconia, Values and Professionalism, and in Theology and Religion describe the various courses within the training component. See also the latest updated version of when the courses are held under "PhD programs at VID".

During the work on the dissertation, the PhD student is entitled to guidance, and it is expected that the student actively uses this offer. The PhD student and supervisor have obligations towards each other that are regulated through an admission agreement. In most cases, VID will appoint two supervisors to each project.

PhD students not employed by VID must pay tuition fees. As per 2024, the tuition fee is NOK 3200,- per semester.