On the path to the PhD, each student must complete the coursework specified in the regulations for the PhD program (45 credit points). Fullfillment of the course work indicates that a student has achieved broad knowledge in the basic methods and disciplines relating to the study of economics and business administration, methodology, theory, and empirical aspects of the chosen field of study. In parallel with coursework, students are often engaged in research apprenticeship developing their skills as professional researchers. The importance of this part for rapidly getting a feel for what an academic career means cannot be overestimated, and is seen as a central ingredient of the program.
Course descriptions for PhD courses
The research leading to the dissertation is the final requirement for the PhD. This process normally begins early in the program, to become the main activity during the final years of the program. The student defends the dissertation in a public, oral examination featuring an external opponent appointed by the faculty of the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration.
Dissertations can be of two kinds: monographs or so called combined dissertations. The monograph dissertation contains a defined scientific problem treated in a structured comprehensive way and is published a s a book. The combined dissertation consists of three to five scientific essays, each treating well-defined problems commonly in one subject field.
The requirements as regard the contents of the dissertation involve three criteria: the problem must be relevant, the student must show methodological competence, and the result/s must show some degree of originality. For a licentiate dissertation, the requirements of originality and quantity are less stringent.
Forskrift for graden philosophiae doctor (PhD) ved Norges Handelshøyskole (Norwegian)
Regulations for the PhD degree (English)
Last updated: 2007-01-25. Contact: Webmaster
