Writing of essays is mandatory for all PhD candidates admitted to the programme.
Objective
The essays shall help the candidate to establish a reflective and active relationship to the issues discussed in the various modules.
Learning outcomes
The essays shall help improve the candidates’ general insight into the topics discussed in the various modules and help develop the candidates’ own projects. Moreover, they shall provide the candidates with writing practice and constructive feedback on their use of the literature.
Requirements to essays
The essay shall focus on the issues or perspectives discussed within the framework of the seminar and its accompanying literature. It can be related to the topic of the thesis or the research area of which the thesis is part.
Examples of possible essays include discussions of particular issues covered by the literature or more comprehensive overviews of theories included in the courses covered by the various modules. An essay could have the form of a journal article with footnotes and a list of references or be a wider discussion of a specific problem.
The essay must document that the candidate has a good understanding of the research issues that have been raised in the area in question.
The essay shall have a scope of 5‒10 pages, with 1.5 line spacing and a 12 pt font. To be approved, the essay must comply with requirements to at least grade B at the master’s level.
How to submit
Suggestions for the topic, submission of the essay, and grading of it are done through Canvas.
Deadlines
Proposals for topic and research question must be presented to the person responsible for the seminar before the end of the seminar. The deadline for submission of essays is three weeks after the completion of the seminar. The lecturer may request improvements before final approval. The deadline for submission of a revised essay is one week after the student has been notified of the need for improvement. If the revised essay fails to be approved, the candidate must write a new essay for a later PhD seminar.