The training component of the PhD programme in Health and Medicine

The training component for PhD candidates in Health and Medicine consist of a coursework component of minimum 30 ECTS and a dissimination component. This supports the work with the thesis and ensures broad academic and scientific competence.

Published Updated on
Anestesisykepleier på oreasjonsstue
Foto: Elisabeth Tønnessen

You have freedom to choose what courses and dissemination activities to include in the training component of your doctoral study.

Below you find information about the stipulations for the training component.

Coursework component

The coursework must consist of minimum 30 ECTS credits. The courses should normally be on PhD level, and the plan for the course component must be approved in advance.


Minimum requirements for the coursework:

  • 10 ECTS in philosophy of science and research ethics 
  • 10 ECTS in research method
  • 10 ECTS in specialization courses

Our PhD programme offers courses in each of the three categories, allowing you to complete the coursework component. PhD courses from other faculties or national and international institutions may also be approved as part of the course component. The faculty is supportive of PhD courses being taken at other institutions.

Finn oversikt over aktuelle ph.d.-emner.

Individual reading curriculum 

If you do not find relevant courses, you can create an individual reading curriculum together with your supervisor. This will be accredited as a “small course” and can give between 1 and 5 ECTS credits. One ECTS credit corresponds to 25 to 30 hours of work. Applications for individual reading curricula should be sent to healthandmedicine@uis.no.

Dissemination component

To be eligible for the doctoral examination, PhD candidates must have experience in academic dissemination. The academic dissemination component should include:

  • Regular presentations of research progress within the academic community at UiS.
  • At least one presentation at an international academic conference during the study period.
  • At least one popular science contribution during the study period.

Dissemination activities can be related to both mandatory tasks in the training component and the thesis work. Oral presentations throughout the PhD study provide candidates with practical training in research dissemination and quality assurance of the independent thesis work.

Documentation of dissemination experience must be attached to the application for approval of the completed training component. Remember to save conference brochures/agendas and relevant information about your own contributions.

Approval and changes to the training component

The plan for the training component is approved together with the project plan for your doctoral project. If there are changes to the training component, you must apply for approval. Please contact the PhD coordinators at healthandmedicine@uis.no.

The training component must be completed and approved by the faculty before the thesis can be submitted for assessment. Applications for approval of the completed training component should be sent to healthandmedicine@uis.no.