Structure and accomplishment

The training component in Economics is 45 ECTS, and includes the following components:

• Obligatory courses in Philosophy of Science and ethics (6 ECTS)
• Obligatory courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics (up to 30 ECTS)
• Optional PhD courses 
• Mid-term evaluation (ph.d. workshop) in the third semester
• Presentation

Normally, admitted candidates will have only one obligatory course left to take.  For such candidates, that obligatory course will constitute 10 ECTS, while optional courses will amount to 29 ECTS, for a total of 45 ECTS. Candidates who have more than one obligatory course left when admitted, will have correspondingly fewer ECTS left for optional courses.

Recommended plan of education

Obligatory courses in Philosophy of Science and Ethics

6 ECTS

All doctoral candidates must pass compulsory courses in scientific theory and ethics. Candidates at the Department of Economics can choose whether to sit ECON9010 Theory of Science for Economists or if they will sit for SV9101 The Philosophy and Methodology of the Social Sciences. All candidates must sit for SV9102 Ethics.

Obligatory courses

Up to 30 ECTS

All doctoral candidates must pass three obligatory courses in microeconomics (ECON9200), macroeconomics (ECON9300) and econometrics (ECON9106). Candidates who have passed one or more of these obligatory courses before admission, should replace the credits with optional PhD-courses.

Optional courses

All doctoral candidates must pass optional courses that may be of particular interest for the dissertation. These credits can be achieved through PhD courses at the Department of Economics or at other educational institutions in Norway or abroad. All external courses must be approved by the supervisor and the doctoral committee at the department.

Mid-term evaluation/PhD-workshop

To facilitate an early start on the dissertation, each candidate must present a paper at a mid-term evaluation (PhD-workshop), usually held in the third semester of the admission period. A written draft must be made available. The supervisors are expected to be present, and external opponents are invited.  The presentations must be approved by the doctoral committee.

Presentation

At least six months before expected submission, all candidates must present a paper within a topic related to his/her dissertation at one of the research seminars at the Department of Economics.

Communication of research

All candidates are required to submit a contribution on research communication. Examples of activities that may count as communication are:

• Teaching at bachelor or master level
• Lectures
• Feature articles
• Popular science works
• Presentation of papers at conferences, research seminars etc.