As a PhD student you get to be an active part of a research environment at the highest level.

Your peers will be many and you will have the opportunity to expand your personal network to include internationally acclaimed experts within your field of research.

You will also get to work with the research areas that are of interest to YOU.

You will have great influence on which research areas are of relevance to your own research and which areas you wish to pursue further. This atmosphere is very motivating, helping to create momentum and to keep your interest in your research area at its peak.

As a PhD student you have the possibility to be involved in such activities as:

• Conducting research and disseminating research results by writing articles and books
• Actively participating in one or more research environments
• Participating in and possibly even arranging conferences, seminar and workshops in Denmark and abroad
• Teaching and supervising students

During the PhD study it is required that you undertake the following elements:

• External reseach collaboration - preferbly in the form of a stay abroad
• Knowledge dessimination - conferences and the like
• PhD courses - approximately 30 ECTS 
  Submit a dissertation for assessment - followed by a public defense.

The PhD study is a research based 3 year education which is completed with a PhD thesis followed by an oral defense.

Throughout the PhD study there is a great demand for independent work and discipline in relation to the tasks at hand. You will be affiliated with at least one supervisor and your collaboration founds the basis for a sucessfull PhD study.

Usually a Danish master degree or equivalent is required in order to apply for enrolment as a PhD student. In some cases, upgrading of qualification may be needed.

The Doctoral School offers a qualification year which can be relevant for nurses and alike who wishes to obtain the equivilant of a master degree. 

There are different ways to be enrolled in the doctoral school as a PhD student:

• Apply for a vacant stipend and thereby be granted employment as a PhD stipend. Find vacant positions on the AAU website.
• Industrial PhD (erhvervsPhD). A close collaboration between an organization and the Doctoral School. The PhD student is employed in an organization and enrolled at the Doctoral School simultaneous. For more information check the website of Innovationsfonden.
• Externally financed. You are financed through a third party (this can be a department, foundation or other institutions/persons). This is typically the enrolment form applied by PhD students affiliated with Aalborg University Hospital.
• For more information regarding enrolment as a PhD student while beeing employed at Aalborg University Hospital please contact Mette Bjerring

It is possible to submit a thesis for assessment without beeing enrolled as a PhD student - there are requirements that must be met and the requirements for a regular PhD study must be completed.

The fee for submitting a PhD thesis without enrolment is DKK 40,000. The fee covers administration, fee for the assessment committee and travel expenses. The fee must be paid within one month after approval of your application

MERIT - CREDIT TRANSFER
An application for merit - credti  transfer must be submitted prior to enrollment. Below you can download a document explaning the contingencies related to merit/credit transfer.

FAQ merit/credit transfer