PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION FOR THE PhD PROGRAMME IN ECONOMICS
The programme description is founded on the Regulations concerning the philosophiae doctor degree (PhD) at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), passed by the Board of NTNU on 22 May 2003. The programme description for the PhD Programme in Economics for the 2007/2008 academic year, was authorized by the Faculty Board of Faculty of Social Sciences and Technology Management on 19 January 2007.

The PhD Regulations as well as internal faculty procedures and administrative guidelines that are common to the Faculty’s study Programmes are to be found on the Faculty’s web pages.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROGRAMME, (§ 2 in Regulations)
The PhD Programme in Economics is prescribed as 180 credits (3 years). The final course plan for the PhD Programme is to be shaped in joint consultation between candidate, supervisor and Department depending on the thesis area of research and the candidate’s individual requirements and wishes.

Objective of the PhD Programme in Economics
The PhD Programme in Economics aims the enable the candidate to execute various research tasks holding an advances academic level. The PhD Programme in Economics is more or less similar at all four Norwegian universities and the Norwegian School of Management in Bergen.

ADMISSION (§ 5 in Regulations)
The applicant must have a two years Master’s degree within the fields of Economics. Admission may be given if the applicant can document equivalent qualifications. The applicant must have a weighed average grade of Master’s or equivalent education with a grade of B or higher, in accordance with NTNU’s grading system. Applicants who are unable to meet these criteria may only be admitted if they can document that they are suitable candidates for education leading to a PhD degree.

In special cases, applicants with other backgrounds may be admitted to the PhD Programme. Applicants may be requested to take specified courses and/or pass specified tests prior to admission.

Application requirements
Applications for admission are to be made on the application form which is to be found on the Faculty’s web pages or by enquiry to the Faculty of Social Sciences and Technology. Application requirements are stated in Regulations concerning the philosophiae doctor degree (PhD) at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), on the Faculty’s web pages. It is preferred that the PhD plan, including the project description, is composed in consultation with the main supervisor.

Admission procedure
The Faculty considers applications for admission based on the recommendation of the Department or Doctoral Committee. Procedures for admission and the follow-up of incomplete applications are described on the Faculty’s web pages.

Decision of admission
The decision concerning admission is based on a collective evaluation of the application. Admission to a PhD Programme is formalised by a written contract, in accordance with § 6 of the Regulations concerning the philosophiae doctor degree (PhD) at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).

PhD PLAN (§ 5.2 in Regulations)
The project description is to give an account of which issues are being considered, approaches to problems, as well as the choice of theory and method. The description of the research project is normally to be between 5 and 10 pages.

FUNDING PLAN (§ 5.2 in Regulations)
For applicants who are not fully funded through scholarship schemes, it is required that 50 % of working hours during participation in the PhD Programme can be used for study, and that a minimum of 1 year can be allocated to full time studies.

SUPERVISION, (§§ 5.2 and 8 in Regulations)
Work on the PhD thesis constitutes active research under supervision. The supervisor’s total use of time supervising is stipulated to 210 worker-hours for the entire period. This is equivalent to approx. 70 worker-hours per year for 3 years. In addition to the contract period stated between candidate and supervisor, this includes preparation, reading, complementary work etc. If a supplementary supervisor is appointed, the number of worker-hours must be divided between the principal and supplementary supervisor.

Procedures for the appointment and changing of supervisor (s) are described on the Faculty’s web pages.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT, ( §§ 5.2 and 7.2 in Regulations)
A plan for the meeting of residency requirements is to be presented in the application and in the agreement on supervision. In certain instances, the Department may grant dispensation from the residency requirements.

ACADEMIC DISSEMINATION, (§§ 2, 4 and 5.2 in Regulations)
Participation in research seminars and academic dissemination.

At least three times during the PhD Programme, the PhD candidate is to present a piece of work within a topic connected to her thesis at the research seminar at the Department of Economics, other universities or national/international research conferences. At least one of the presentations is to be held at the Department of Economics.

REPORTING, (§ 9 in Regulations)
The candidate and supervisor are to deliver separate annual reports on progress, in accordance with § 9 of Regulations concerning the philosophiae doctor degree (PhD) at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). (Procedures for submission and processing of candidate and supervisor reports are to be found on the Faculty’s web pages.

ORGANIZED ACADEMIC COURSE WORK, (§ 7.3 in Regulations)

Objective of the organized course work
The aim of the organized academic course work is to provide insight into theories and methodologies that complement the work with the thesis, and contribute to the general training required for the candidate’s future research endeavours in Economics.

The organized academic course work component is to have a prescribed duration of one year's full time work, equalling 60 credits.

Structure and implementation
The candidate is to state in her/his application, a plan for the organized academic course work component in consultation with the supervisor (s). It is recommended that the organized academic course work is completed at an early stage of the Programme. The candidate is responsible for signing up for evaluation in subjects within the given deadlines. External courses/subjects that are to be a part of the organized academic course work must be approved by the Department. For procedures concerning the signing up for courses and approving of external courses/subjects, consult the Faculty’s web pages.

The organized academic course work component includes mandatory and chosen courses.

A. Mandatory courses

a) Course in scientific theory at the Department of Sociology and Political Science, is mandatory. Candidates are referred to the Department of Sociology and Political Science for further information.

b) If the candidate hasn’t previously followed econometrics courses that are equivalent to SØK 3515 / 8515 or FIN 3003 / 8503 and FIN 3004 / 8504 the candidate must attend these or similar courses.

B. Chosen courses

The component may be assembled from the following courses:

1) A maximum of 30 credits from the following courses; SØK 8514, SØK 8516, SØK 8517, SØK 8518, SØK 8519, SØK 8520, SØK 8521, SØK 8522, SØK 8523, SØK 8524, SØK 8525, SØK 8526 and SØK 8527.

2) PhD courses/research seminars hosted by the Department of Economics. These courses are normally completed by a written or oral exam, in some cases a home exam. The offering of courses will depend on the resource situation at the Department.

3) Courses in economy offered at other teaching institutions in Norway or abroad, holding a satisfactory academic level. The candidates are referred to the Faculty’ procedures and other information regarding the approving of such courses as part of the organized academic course work component.

4) National and Nordic research seminars in Economics.

5) Self study, a maximum of 10 credits. Candidates are referred to the Faculty’s procedures and other information regarding self study.

Criteria for the awarding of credits
Criteria may be changed when assessing individual courses. If a course overlaps the admission criteria set for the PhD Programme, this will lead to the course counting for fewer, in some cases, no credits. The notion of “exam” means written, oral or home exam.

1) PhD courses

5 credits per weekly hour, if course is taught for one semester.

2) Research seminars

(Two weeks duration, approx. 14 hours of teaching, as well as preparation period

7,5 credits if no final exam

10 credits if final exam.

4) Courses offered at other institutions

In order to get courses from other institutions accepted as part of the organized academic course work component, an application which documents extent (teaching, curriculum) and passed examinations must be sent to the Department, which will make a decision based on the supervisor’s recommendation. Credits will be awarded based on the degree of difficulty, scope and perceived workload. For the course to be accepted, it must hold the same academic level as courses offered by the Department of Economics. In addition, the passing grade must be B or higher. If the course has no final examination, participation must be confirmed by the supervisor. In such cases, the Faculty may decide that the candidate sits for an individual examination. The examination will be assessed based on the above criteria.

5) Self study

Individual assessment

THESIS (§ 7.4 in Regulations)
Requirements for the thesis and rules for evaluation are given in Regulations concerning the philosophiae doctor degree (PhD) at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).

FINALIZATION
Procedures for submission, appointment of an evaluation committee, the committee’s report and assessment of the thesis, revision for new assessment, trial lecture and public defence, as well as conferment of the PhD degree are described in the Faculty’s web pages.

Overview over courses that may be part of the organized academic course work component of the PhD Programme:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester
Mandatory courses:
SØK8515	Microeconometrics and Analysis of Panel Data	15

Or

KodeCode	Title	Credits	Semester
FIN8503	Econometrics of Time Series	7,5	A 2007
and
FIN8504	Applied Financial Econometrics	7,5	A 2007
SOS8000	The Theory of Science	10	**

Chosen courses:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester
SØK8514	Applied Econometrics	15	A 2007
SØK8516	Topics in Macroeconomics	15	A 2007
SØK8517	Open Macroeconomics	15	A 2008
SØK8518	Topics in Microeconomics	15	S 2008
SØK8519	Public Economics	15	S 2009
SØK8520*	Political Economy	15	A/S
SØK8521*	Economics of Education	15	A/S
SØK8522*	Labour Economics	15	A/S
SØK8523*	Economic Growth and Development	15	A/S
SØK8524*	Environmental and Resource Economics	15	A/S
SØK8525*	International Economics	15	A/S
SØK8526*	Industrial Economics	15	A/S
SØK8527*	Fiscal Federalism - Local Public Finance	15	A/S

*

**See programme description for the PhD Programme in Sociology

Courses that are to replace the above courses must be approved by the Department.

If access to research courses is limited and males it difficult for the candidate to assemble a course Programme which complements work with the thesis within a reasonable time scale, an individual study syllabus may be approved as part of the organized academic course work component. Assessment will normally be based on written work.