Industrial PhD and Public sector PhD

Companies and public sector organisations can establish doctoral projects if they wish to strengthen their research expertise and activity. The project should be relevant to the organisation’s area of responsibility and contribute to building knowledge and competence that is useful and applicable for the organisation. The PhD candidate is employed by the external organisation while simultaneously pursuing the PhD programme at NMBU, so that responsibility is shared between the organisation and the educational institution.

Parties and the allocation of responsibilities between them:

• Private or public organisation

  The company or public organisation has overall responsibility for the project. They contact the degree-awarding institution (NMBU) early, at the latest during the application phase, to establish a binding collaboration throughout the project period. Furthermore, they ensure that sufficient personnel and other resources are allocated to their own research and development (R&D).

• PhD candidate

  The PhD candidate is employed by the company or public organisation and must be qualified for, as well as apply for, admission to the PhD programme at NMBU. The candidate divides their time between the employer and the degree-awarding institution according to agreement, with a requirement to spend at least one year at NMBU during the three-year project period (residency requirement). The candidate shall have a supervisor both from NMBU and from the company or public organisation, optionally supplemented by a mentor. Read more about admission to a PhD programme (link).

• NMBU as the degree-awarding institution

  NMBU, as the degree-awarding institution, collaborates with the company or public organisation from the application phase and throughout the entire project period. The institution admits the qualified candidate to the PhD programme within a faculty and appoints supervisors both from NMBU and from the company or public organisation, optionally supplemented by a mentor. NMBU enters into a PhD agreement with the candidate and the company or public organization, in accordance with the applicable regulations and the agreements made by the parties. The institution fulfils its obligations under the PhD agreement and awards the doctoral degree once the candidate has completed the PhD programme.

• The Research Council of Norway

  Companies and organisations in the public and private sectors can apply for support for doctoral projects through the Industrial PhD and Public Sector PhD schemes, which are funded by the The Research Council of Norway. The Research Council processes the applications, allocates funding, and monitors the parties throughout the project period. Read more about the funding schemes on The Research Council’s website (link).

• Common principles for the allocation of costs between NMBU and the External organisation

  All costs associated with a PhD project must be calculated, specified, and clearly outlined in the agreement between NMBU and the external organisation. Financing of these costs must be clarified before the candidate begins the PhD programme, and the agreement will form the basis for any invoicing to the external organisation. This establishes the framework for the principles governing the management of project costs.

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