Admission requirements, funding and application processes
Main elements of the PhD programme
Doing a PhD at the University of Copenhagen means enrolling in one of the six PhD schools in accordance with the Ministerial PhD Order. The PhD programme is prescribed to 180 ECTS credits.
Most PhD students are admitted through the standard 5+3 PhD programme, which provides three years full-time doctoral study. In addition, there are opportunities to pursue a flexible combined Master’s and PhD programme, join an industrial PhD programme, or undertake a double or joint degree in collaboration with a university abroad.
Regardless of the chosen study path, all PhD students follow the same core programme elements:
A specific research project constitutes the main part of an individual PhD programme and serves as the basis for the final PhD thesis. It may be an independent project or an integrated part of a larger, collective research project. The research is carried out under continuous supervision by a tenured faculty member.
During the PhD programme, students will complete coursework or other learning activities adding up to approx. 30 ECTS credits, which corresponds to six months of study. Some courses are mandatory, while other courses may be elected from the PhD Schools' course catalogues or from other institutions, nationally or internationally, offering courses at PhD level.
PhD students are formally required to change research environment during their PhD programme, preferably by visiting other international research institutions for a substantial amount of time. A stay between 3 to 6 months is encouraged. Shorter stays may also be approved.
As part of their PhD programme, PhD students must either teach or acquire other experience with knowledge dissemination. This requirement can be fulfilled by taking on teaching obligations or by other types of knowledge exchange such as popular dissemination or engagement with policy makers or civil society actors.
The PhD programme ends by the submission of a PhD thesis and a public defence. The thesis is an original piece of scientific work that complies with international academic standards and significantly contributes to the research field. The thesis is assessed by an international committee of appointed experts and must be successfully defended publicly.
The different stages of a PhD
Below, you can read more about the different stages of the PhD requirements.
