Recommended course of study
Required courses (13 credits)
| Required faculty courses | 10 credits over two semesters (spring/fall) |
PhD Research Seminar PSY9500 A - PSY9500 C (over 3 semesters)
Midway assessment PSY9050 | 3 credits
The obligatory portion of the PhD research seminar runs over 3 semesters and amounts to 3 study points:
PSY9500A= first semester (1 sp.) PSY9500B= second semester (1 sp.) PSY9500C= third semester (1 sp.)
The training will take place in smaller groups that will have different academic approaches. When registering for the course in Studentweb, the candidate chooses the group that is most relevant to them. *We reserve the right to merge groups with low numbers of participants.
Candidates must complete the common lecture, "Research ethics, privacy and project approvals" in the course of either PSY9500A or PSY9500B. The common lecture, "Introductory section of the thesis/kappa writing course" is voluntary, but highly recommended.
Midway assessment: all candidates admitted to the program must undertake a midway assessment. The midway assessment has its own course code PSY9050 (0 credits) and is conducted as a mandatory component of the education plan for PhD. To create a good framework for the mid-term evaluation, it will be carried out in connection with a PhD research seminar if possible.
The candidate is required to consult the following document for more information about the midway assessment: Department guidelines for midway assessment (Spring/fall) |
Elective courses (17 credits)
Examples of courses candidates can take: PSY9165 PSY9250 PSY9140 PSY9185 PSY9500 (D and/or E) | 14 (or 17 credits)
Elective credits are predominantly in theory or methods, but candidates can also chose to follow their PhD research seminar for a fourth semester (PSY9500D, 1sp) and fifth semester (PSY9500E, 1sp.) for elective credits. Candidates can take both internal courses and external courses on the PhD level.
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Presentations/posters (elective) | 3 credits |
Course of study for those who were admitted before 2026
Structure for those who were admitted from 2018 - 2025
Structure for those who were admitted before 2018
Form for approved educational component starting 2009 or later (pdf))
Form for approved educational component up until fall 2008 (pdf)
Overview of former structure and offered courses 2003-2009 (pdf)
Program structure
Required faculty courses
10 credits
All doctoral candidates must attend an introduction seminar and pass mandatory courses in philosophy of science, research ethics and researcher skills. Read more about the required faculty courses.
Mandatory research seminar
3 mandatory credits, with another 2 elective credits possible.
3 semesters of PhD research seminar are mandatory: PSY9500A is the first semester of PhD research seminar, PSY9500B the second semester and PSY9500C the third semester. Candidates can choose to take the fourth semester, PSY9500D, and the fifth semester, PSY9500E, for elective credit.
PSY9050 - Midway assessment
0 credits
All candidates admitted to the program must undertake a midway assessment. The midway assessment has its own course code PSY9050 and is conducted as a mandatory component of the research seminars.
Elective courses
17 credits
Elective credits in theory, methods and/or 2 additional credits for the fourth and fifth semesters of the PhD research seminar (PSY9500D and PSY9500E). Candidates can take both internal courses and external courses on the PhD level (study points for courses external to the Department of Psychology are subject to approval by the Department).
Examples of courses candidates can take at the Department of Psychology: PSY9165, PSY9250, PSY9140, PSY9185.
Maximum 3 of these credits can be obtained with presentation/poster at academic conferences.
Approval of educational program
The course instructor approves and attests participation in individual courses held by the Department of Psychology. Elective courses can be taken either at the Department of Psychology or other Departments or universities in Norway or abroad. Participation at conferences and seminars may also be counted as electives. The Department, represented by the Head of Research approves external courses within the scope of current guidelines. By application, exemption from one or more of the Department's required courses on the basis of similar courses taken elsewhere may be granted.
Read more about approval of external courses/activities
Overview over PhD courses offered at the Department of Psychology (in Norwegian)
Do you have questions?