Language skills
Programme length
Full time study for three academic years after an MS degree.
Study mode
Face-to-face learning
Application status
International students:
Students with Icelandic or Nordic citizenship:
MS-degree or equivalent in engineering, natural sciences, environmental studies, planning studies or architecture.
Required to find a departmental coordinator/supervisor and are advised to contact the teachers in the field they are interested in to find a supervisor. Required to have an idea for a research project before applying.
The doctoral programme is primarily based on the doctoral candidate's independent research, culminating in the Ph.D. dissertation. 180 credits are required for the Ph.D. dissertation. The Ph.D. committee may require the candidate to take courses in addition to the research. Credits for courses are then added to the credits required for the dissertation.
The following documents must accompany an application for this programme:
- CV
- Statement of purpose
- Research proposal
- Study plan
- Research project
- Reference 1, Name and email
- Reference 2, Name and email
- Supervisor/supervising teacher at the University of Iceland
- Certified copies of diplomas and transcripts
- Copy of grant or scholarship application and/or confirmation, if applicable
- Proof of English proficiency
Further information on supporting documents can be found here.
Applicants are required to:
- Find a departmental coordinator/supervisor and are advised to contact the teachers in the field they are interested in to find a supervisor.
- Have an idea for a research project before applying.
Supporting document - instructions
Statement of purpose
A short description of your motivation for applying for the graduate program ( ½- 1 page A4).
- state the reasons why you want to pursue graduate work in the field of your study programme
- state issues and problems you want to address
- state your professional goals
- briefly describe why you chose the University of Iceland
- please specify the name of your supervisor
Your statement of purpose, written in English, should be uploaded and submitted as a PDF file with your online application.
Project plan
Students need to hand in a project plan before the end of the first semester, in collaboration with their supervisor.
Approved Project plan should be sent by email to project managers of graduate studies for documentation.
PhD Committee
Before the end of the first semester, the administrative supervisor shall propose doctoral committee members to the respective faculty's postgraduate study committee for approval.
PhD students are required to hand in information about the PhD committee by email to the project manager of PhD studies.
Email: phdsens@hi.is
Programme structure
Check below to see how the programme is structured.
This programme does not offer specialisations.
- Year unspecified
- Fall
- Final project
- Spring 1
- Final project
Year unspecified | Fall
Final project (UMV562L)
A mandatory (required) course for the programme
0 ECTS, credits
Course Description
Description missingLanguage of instruction: English
Self-study
Part of the total project/thesis credits
Year unspecified | Spring 1
Final project (UMV562L)
A mandatory (required) course for the programme
0 ECTS, credits
Course Description
Description missingLanguage of instruction: English
Self-study
Part of the total project/thesis credits
Year unspecified
- Fall
- UMV562LFinal projectMandatory (required) course0A mandatory (required) course for the programme0 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionDescription missingSelf-studyPrerequisitesPart of the total project/thesis credits
- Spring 2
UMV562LFinal projectMandatory (required) course0A mandatory (required) course for the programme0 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionDescription missingSelf-studyPrerequisitesPart of the total project/thesis credits
If you still have questions, feel free to contact us.
