RULES on Doctoral Studies at Reykjavik University

Approved by the University Council on 31st of January 2006

1.  Introduction

Reykjavik University emphasises the strengthening and promoting of research in its academic fields.  The University's goal is to ensure an academic environment which is conducive to research meeting international academic standards.  The aim of Reykjavik University's doctoral studies is to strengthen Icelandic research in the University's academic fields, to train young scientists for the benefit of Icelandic society, and to ensure the status of Reykjavik University as an internationally recognised research university.

The preparation of these rules has taken account of the Bologna Process on co-operation in higher education in Europe as well as internationally recognised principles relating to the organisation and quality of doctoral studies.

These rules apply to doctoral studies at Reykjavik University, both as regards the organisational framework of the studies and their material quality requirements.  Within the framework of these rules, the University's schools have the freedom to organise their doctoral studies in greater detail in light of the unique features and traditions of their respective fields of study. 

2.  Administrative arrangements of doctoral studies

The Research Councils of the University's schools are responsible for the supervision of their respective schools' Ph.D. programmes.  They are charged with planning their respective Ph.D. programmes in further detail on the basis of these rules and with describing the arrangements made for Ph.D. programmes in their respective schools by means of a separate programme description to be submitted to a faculty meeting for approval. 

Furthermore, Research Councils shall submit recommendations to their faculties concerning the admission of candidates to the Ph.D. programme, as provided in Article 4, and appoint supervisors and thesis committees, as provided in Articles 5 and 6.  The Research Council and the supervisor shall observe the development of doctoral studies at the international level and monitor the quality of the studies RU accordingly.  The Councils shall ensure that the quality of doctoral studies at Reykjavík University is comparable with the quality of similar studies in other countries.

The administration of Reykjavik University is entrusted to the Rector and the University Council.  Applications from faculties to set up a Ph.D. programme shall be submitted to the Rector and the University Council for approval, together with a programme description. 

3.  Substance of doctoral studies

The core of Reykjavik University's doctoral studies is scientific research conducted by doctoral candidates constituting an independent contribution to the creation of knowledge in the field in question. 
 
The Reykjavik University Ph.D. programme comprises 90-150 credits (180 – 300 ECTS), normally to be completed in 3-4 years.  The maximum permitted period of study is determined by the respective faculties.

On the conclusion of doctoral studies, candidates should have acquired the following knowledge and skills:

• General knowledge of all the basic principles of their academic fields and expert knowledge of the specialist field or research field forming the subject of their study.
• Knowledge of the methodology of research in the field and skills in the use of scientific working methods.
• Skills in formulating, planning and carrying out independent academic research.
• Skills in making independent and original contributions to the creation of knowledge in their field.
• Skills in critical analysis and assessment of the subjects of their field.
• Skills in presenting the conclusions of their research and preparing them for publication in peer-reviewed publications.
• Skills in doing scientific work and practical work in areas requiring the use of scientific method.
• Skills in promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in their respective academic or professional areas of work.

4.  Applications and requirements for admission

Only candidates who have completed master's studies at the university level or comparable studies may enrol for doctoral studies at Reykjavik University.  Applicants must have demonstrated outstanding performance in their studies and work and be perceived as capable of showing initiative in the advancement of scientific or professional knowledge.  The University's schools may impose increased requirements with regard to the preparation of applicants, e.g. as regards expert knowledge and course attendance.

Applications shall be submitted on a special form available at the Reykjavik University office.  The application should, at the minimum, be accompanied by transcripts of diplomas, a curriculum vitae and list of publications, together with a draft research proposal.

TheResearch Councils will evaluate applicants' qualifications and submit recommendations to their respective schools on whether the applicants should be admitted to the Ph.D. programme.  The assessment of applications should take account of the education and experience of applicants and the submitted draft research proposa.  The assessment shall also take account of whether the staff and research environment of the School, as provided in Articles 5 and 7 of these rules, and its financial position will permit the admission of doctoral candidates in the field requested.  Selection of candidates for doctoral studies shall be based on objective criteria and principles of non-discrimination.

A response to an application for admission to the Ph.D. programme shall be made within two months of its submission.  If an application for admission to doctoral studies is rejected, a statement of the reasons shall accompany the response.

If admission to the Ph.D. programme is granted, the school in question shall appoint a supervisor pursuant to the nomination of the Research Council. A contract shall be made between doctoral candidates and their supervisors providing for the progress of studies and the rights and obligations of the candidate on the one hand, and the supervisor and university on the other hand.  Steps shall be taken to ensure that doctoral candidates have regular access to their supervisors. 

5.  Supervisors

Schools shall assign a supervisor to each doctoral candidate pursuant to the nomination of the Research Council. The supervisor's role is to advise doctoral candidates in their research work, track the progress of their studies, and monitor the quality of their research work.   Supervisors may sit on the thesis committee.  Doctoral candidates may be assigned more than one supervisor.

Supervisors are required to meet the following academic requirements.

• A supervisor shall have a Ph.D. degree.
• A supervisor shall have a permanent position as an assistant professor, associate professor or full professor at Reykjavik University.
• It should be ensured that the respective candidate's research pertains to the field of specialisation of the supervisor and that the supervisor has published work in the field in recognised academic publications. 
• Supervisors shall be active participants in the research community and recognised experts in their respective fields.  Assessment of this qualification shall take account of academic publications and the supervisor's experience of international research co-operation and funding of research projects.

6.  Thesis committees

Schools shall appoint a thesis committee pursuant to the nomination of their respective Research Councils.  The role of the thesis committee is to evaluate the research proposal, provide a reasoned opinion on whether a Ph.D. thesis is acceptable for defence, and make a final decision on the award of a Ph.D. degree, as provided in Article 8.  The thesis committee may be assigned other tasks in consultation with the supervisor and the Research Council.

The thesis committee shall consist of 3-5 scholars who are active participants in the research community and recognised experts in the relevant field of study.  In this respect, account shall be taken of the academic requirements for supervisors, see Article 5.  At least one member of the thesis committee shall work outside the school. 

7.  Research environment

Steps shall be taken to ensure that doctoral studies at Reykjavik University are conducted in an active research environment.  Doctoral studies shall be conducted in co-operation and connection with domestic and foreign groups of recognised scientists or research institutions.  Doctoral studies may be planned in co-operation with other academic institutions.

Doctoral candidates shall be provided with adequate working conditions.  Doctoral candidates shall be given the opportunity to monitor trends and innovations in their respective fields of study in community with other doctoral candidates and/or scholars, e.g. by attending meetings and conferences or studying at a foreign research or academic institution during part of the period of study.  

8.  Progress of study, doctoral theses and doctoral defence

At the end of the first year of study a doctoral candidate shall submit to the thesis committee a final research proposal.  The research proposal shall include a summary of the state of the art in the field in question as well as a proposed research topic (one or more) which will serve as basis for the Ph.D. thesis.  The proposal shall also include a schedule of the progress of the studies.  The thesis committee shall evaluate the research proposal, basing the evaluation on whether the proposal reflects the candidate's possession of adequate expertise, whether the candidate's proposed research is feasible, and whether the project adequately extends the frontier of knowledge and is of sufficient academic importance.  In exceptional cases candidates may be granted an extension of their deadline for submitting a research proposal.

Supervisors shall monitor the progress of the studies and the quality of the research work during the period of study.  In order to ensure the quality of their Ph.D. studies, faculties may set requirements in their programme descriptions for course attendance, presentations of research projects and/or the publication of works in peer-reviewed publications.

Doctoral candidates will complete their research with a doctoral thesis which is an independent piece of writing constituting a contribution to the creation of knowledge in the field.  The thesis committee will evaluate the thesis and return a reasoned opinion to the Research Council as to whether the candidate should be invited to submit his or her thesis for defence.  This should be permitted only if the thesis is considered likely to satisfy the School's requirements. 

If the thesis committee considers a thesis acceptable for defence, a public Ph.D. thesis defence is held before the thesis committee.  One or more examiners may be appointed to participate with the thesis committee in the Ph.D. thesis defence.  In the course of the defence the thesis committee shall evaluate both the substance of the thesis and the candidate's defence.  

Following the defence, the thesis committee shall decide on the award of a Ph.D. degree.  A Ph.D. degree may only be awarded if the candidate has carried out independent original research which sufficiently extends the frontier of knowledge and is of sufficient scientific value and scope to merit the degree.