Ph.D. at the Faculty of Law

The research training at the faculty

The central element of the programme consists of critical and individual research into a special field, to be concluded in a doctoral dissertation. The programme also contains a compulsory training component corresponding to at least one semester (30 ECTS). The instructions are normally given in Norwegian.

The doctoral programme is concluded with a public lecture on a prescribed topic, and a disputation defending the doctoral dissertation.

Admission

Admission to the PhD program is automatically if the candidate is employed in a PhD position announced at Vacant positions at the University of Oslo. A candidate might also apply for admission to the study program this admission takes place twice a year. The closing dates are October 1st  and March 1st . 

All applicants must fulfil the following 4 conditions to be admitted:

Education

To qualify to apply to the programme, the applicant must have successfully completed a higher (post-graduate) degree in law, or other education or competence considered equivalent by the Faculty. (Previous education is evaluated in relation to the standard period of study, and how the applicant’s background within his/her specific area of study corresponds to our Master’s of law.) A Master’s degree will not always be sufficient background.

"Cand. Jur./master i rettsvitenskap" is a five year graduate programme that qualifies as basic legal training to enter into the legal profession. It gives proficiency in all major fields of law: private law, commercial law, constitutional law, administrative law, criminal law, procedural law and international law. Of the 300 ECTS credits it entails, 10 are in philosophy, 10 in philosophy of law and 10 in either sociology of law, legal history or law and economics. The rest are all in legal subjects, but up to 30 ECTS credits may be substituted for by other relevant subjects. As the position is announced for applicants with “cand.jur, master degree in law or equivalent”, the qualifications required are those that are required for university training at a higher level as a member of the legal profession. A bachelor degree in law or a one or two year master degree in legal subjects is not sufficient. 

To be considered for admission, the applicant must have an excellent academic record.

Project proposal

Applicants for the programme must have produced a well-prepared project proposal for the dissertation.

Funding

The applicant must submit a realistic time schedule and financial plan for the accomplishment of the doctoral study. Documentation for full funding for three years is a presupposition for admission.

Application for funding from Norwegian sources is limited and highly competitive.

• For full funding of the project, application may be made for an individual doctoral degree fellowship from the relevant department. These few fellowships are advertised on the University website.
• The duration of the fellowship is 4 years, with teaching constituting 25% of the workload. Alternatively, 3 years without teaching duties.
• Graduate assistant positions other than fellowships are not regarded as good enough funding for admission to the doctoral programme.
• The Norwegian Research Council is an alternative funding source for a doctoral degree fellowship, where the researcher aims to establish or strengthen Norwegian research milieus. An institution (for instance a research institute) must be contacted as responsible for the project. Closing date is usually around 15 June each year.
• Equivalent doctoral degree fellowships from other countries could also be accepted.
• Applicants who are affiliated to major projects or who already are in employment at academic institutions may apply to the Faculty. This also applies to applicants that are guaranteed three years set aside for research by their employer.

“Private funding”, for instance by spouse, legacy or National Insurance, is rarely accepted as sufficient funding.

Only applicants who have a realistic funding plan will be sent an application form.

 

Capacity and availability of appropriate adviser

In addition to the three criteria above, admission to doctoral studies is dependent on the capacity of the departments and the availability of an appropriate supervisor for the candidate’s research project.

Further screening and application procedure

 

As mentioned above, funding from Norwegian sources is limited. Neither the faculty nor the departments have the capacity to give financial assistance to applicants. In order to carry out a first screening, the following information must be sent to the faculty:

• Why you want to be attached to our faculty/department/research milieu
• A brief project plan, describing the theme of research. (You have to specify the theme of the research in order for the faculty to ascertain if an appropriate supervisor is available).
• A time schedule for the project, and a financial plan for the project period. (Remember that admission does not entail funding, but funding is a presupposition for admission).
• A Curriculum Vitae and a copy of diploma supplement (Master’s degree level particularly).

In light of this information, the faculty will decide whether it is of interest to receive a formal application from you. If the faculty finds the information promising, they will send you an application form (not before), which should be returned before the closing dates.

Address

Please send the information to: 

Programrådet for forskerutdanning

Det juridiske fakultet
Postboks 6706 St. Olavs plass
0130 Oslo
Norway