Knowledge: On completion of the PhD programme in International Environment and Development Studies, the new doctor is expected to:

• Be at the forefront of knowledge in international environment and development studies and has a systematic understanding of scholarly theories and methods in the field.
• Have interdisciplinary understanding of environment-development relations and a critical knowledge of development theories, policies and practices with due regard to diversity and complexity.
• Contribute to the development of new knowledge, new theories and methods in the field.

Skills: On completion of the PhD programme in International Environment and Development Studies, the new doctor is expected to:

• Formulate critical questions and design and implement research at an internationally high level in environment and development studies.
• Contribute through original research to new knowledge that merits publication in national or international refereed journals.
• Handle interdisciplinarity and complexity, create an overview and synthesize scientific and scholarly information.
• Capable of critical analysis and offering constructive criticism of scientific, interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary work, in environment and development studies.

General Competence: On completion of the PhD programme in International Environment and Development Studie, the new doctor is expected to:

• Identify new relevant ethical issues and carry out his/her research with scholarly integrity.
• Manage an interdisciplinary and critical approach to issues related to global processes, environmental problems and/or development policies, linking these to meso- and micro-level processes as well as focusing on issues of equity, democratisation and global power relations.
• Disseminate research and development work through recognised national and international channels and take part in scientific debates in international arenas.
• Place his/her own research within larger scientific and societal contexts.
• Draw on knowledge from social and natural sciences and present approaches that integrate the political economic, cultural and ecological aspects of change at macro, meso and micro levels, given the programme's multi- and inter- disciplinary nature.

Development Studies relate to problem-oriented research directed at processes of change, aiming at providing knowledge and increased understanding of the complexities of development processes. Based on critical analysis, Development Studies may be committed to identifying best practices or proposing alternative ways of conceiving the issues and problems studied. Environment and Development Studies can be defined as the study of the interface of society and nature with the intention of contributing to the improvement of sustainability. The programme has a clear interdisciplinary profile and focusses on the linkages between social and political processes and the challenges of global and local environmental problems, focusing on issues of sustainable resource management and global justice.

• Academic training component

The PhD programme in International Environment and Development Studies at Noragric follows the general criteria and requirements defined by the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) and is undertaken in collaboration with the other NMBU departments. According to the University requirements, each PhD education plan should include between 30 and 60 ECTS of coursework, which corresponds to half a year to one year. Noragric has defined a minimum of 30 ECTS of coursework. These ECTS should cover courses in:

• International Environment and Development Studies for and by PhD students: EDS430, 15 ECTS obligatory course
• Qualitiative Methods in the Scocial Sciences - EDS415, 5 ECTS obligatory course
• Research Ethics and Philosophy of Science - PHI401, 5 ECTS obligatory course
• Problem-oriented courses of relevance to the topic of each dissertation within Environment and Development Studies
• Independent research component

All candidates are admitted to the programme based on a research proposal, which is developed by the candidate him/herself.

In addition to the required course work, a PhD candidate at Noragric will give three major seminars associated with the research project. At each point, Noragric will provide academic advice and feedback on the research project and progress. These presentations represent three milestones for the PhD candidate before the dissertation and they all have important pedagogical functions. The first - the start seminar - plays a significant administrative role as it prepares for the final admission to the PhD programme. The formal initiation of PhD studies at Noragric is contingent on a student's satisfactory and timely completion and approval of a study plan, including project proposal, education plan, budget and PhD agreement. The second milestone - a midterm seminar - provides an important intermediate evaluation and check of progress. The third milestone - an end seminar - is meant to provide the student with a simulated thesis defence experience.

• Research community linked to the programme

Environment and Development Studies need to address new contexts, relations and challenges such as global governance, accountability, rights, transformation of the world economy, social movements, conflicts and peace-keeping, citizenship, the role of consumers, genetic engineering of food sovereignty, etc. Considering globalisation issues, Noragric focuses on these overlapping areas of concentration and expertise, organised in the following research clusters:

• Environmental Governance
• Conflict, Human Security and Development
• Climate Change, Agriculture and Development
• Rights and Power in Development

Upon admission, PhD candidates will be offered affiliation to a research cluster. The cluster, represented by the potential main supervisor, will also participate actively in outlining the final research project proposal and serve as a reference group throughout the study period.

Many of the candidates that do field work abroad have a co-supervisor at an institution (university, or research centre) where the field research is conducted.

The degree of philosophiae doctor (PhD) is awarded on the basis of:

• Approved completion of the required coursework
• An approved doctoral thesis
• An approved trial lecture on a specified topic of 45 minutes
• An approved public defence of the doctoral thesis (disputation)

During the programme the candidate will be evaluated through course work and through 3 major presentations associated with his/her research project. At each point, Noragric will provide academic advice and feedback on the research project and project progress. The three milestones (start, mid-term and end seminar) exist for the PhD candidate on his/her route to defending a dissertation at Noragric. All have important pedagogical functions, while the start seminar also plays a significant administrative role: continuation of PhD studies at Noragric is contingent upon a candidate¿s satisfactory and timely completion of a Project Proposal and Education Plan. The candidate is expected to give the start seminar before 1 April, the year after the start up.

The second milestone provides an important intermediate evaluation and check of progress. This seminar should take place at the latest one year before your study period ends. The third milestone ¿ an End Seminar ¿ is meant to provide the candidate with a simulated thesis defense experience.

Admission as a PhD candidate is contingent on the applicant having an academically relevant education corresponding to a five-year Norwegian programme of study, where 120 credits are at the master's degree level with a GPA of B or above. The applicant must have achieved learning outcomes corresponding to the descriptions given in the Norwegian qualifications framework's second cycle. The applicant must have a strong academic background from previous studies.

Language requirements: English: 7.0 ELTS or equivalent.

The study is conducted at NMBU and affiliated institutions. Most PhD candidates conduct research in collaboration with other research institutions, often from the Global South.

PhD candidates are recruited internationally and most PhD candidates conduct research in collaboration with research institutions in the Global South. Candidates are encouraged to present their work in international conferences.