Students in the nature taking sample of water from a spring.
Language skills
required
Programme length
Full time study for three academic years after a masters degree.
Study mode
Face-to-face learning
Application status
International students:
Students with Icelandic or Nordic citizenship:
Overview

MS or MA degree in Environment and Natural Resources from the University of Iceland with a minimum average grade of 7.25, or an equivalent degree from another University. All international applicants, whose native language is not English, are required to provide results of the TOEFL (85) or IELTS (6.5) tests as evidence of English proficiency.

The doctoral programme is primarily based on the doctoral candidate's independent research, culminating in the dissertation. However, the Ph.D. committee may require the candidate to take courses in addition to the research. 180 ECTS credits are required for the Ph.D. dissertation. Credits for courses are added to the credits required for the dissertation.

The following documents must accompany an application for this programme:
  • CV
  • Statement of purpose
  • Research proposal
  • 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. We recommend using a specialty search in our staff phone book.
  • Have a research project before applying.

Supporting documents - instructions

Research proposal 
Must include the following:

  1. Information regarding your academic supervisors for the PhD (doctoral committee).
  2. Financial arrangements (Applying for scholarships, sponsored by employer, or other, please specify).
  3. Research proposal (follow this setup closely)
    • Aim (approx. ½ page) 
    • Scientific background, state of the art and scientific value of the project (2-4 pages)
    • Project design (methods) (2-3 pages)
    • Timeframe and study plan (1/2-1 page)
    • Specific goals (scientific papers expected from the project) (½-1 page)
    • Financial arrangements (Applying for scholarships, sponsored by employer, or other, please specify).


Page size is A4.

Please include your name in the file name along with a descriptive title, for example: Jane_Smith_proposal.pdf 

Submit as PDF in online application.

Statement of purpose
A short description of your motivation for applying for the graduate program ( 1-2 page).

  • 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: umhverfi@hi.is 

Programme structure

Check below to see how the programme is structured.

This programme does not offer specialisations.

Year unspecified | Fall
Doctoral Dissertation in Environment and Natural Resources (UAU561L)
A mandatory (required) course for the programme
0 ECTS, credits
Course Description

Doctoral Dissertation in Environment and Natural Resources

Language of instruction: English
Part of the total project/thesis credits
Year unspecified | Fall
Research Ethics (HSP073F)
Free elective course within the programme
3 ECTS, credits
Course Description

The intensive course is intended for PhD-students only. It is adapted to the needs of students from different fields of study and is taught in English as a three day seminar (9.10-15.40) Tuesday to Thursday in late August. The course is a concise version of HSP806F Ethics of Science and Research (6 ECTS), which is taught in February-March. The objective is to train students in reasoning about ethical controversies relating to science and research in contemporary society. At the end of the course they will have the necessary tool-kit to navigate the ethical part of the troubled waters of applying for licences and references, getting published and securing funding. No prior knowledge of ethical theory and any particular science will be assumed in the course. The instruction takes the form of short lectures, discussions and group work on case studies. The idea is to create an academic community where students are actively engaged in a focused dialogue about different questions on research ethics.

Taught:
Tue 20 August 9:10 am to 3:40 pm
Wed 21 August 9:10 am to 3:40 pm
Thu 22 August 9:10 am to 3:40 pm

Attn.: This course will be taught remotely (online)

Language of instruction: English
Distance learning
Prerequisites
Year unspecified | Spring 1
Doctoral Dissertation in Environment and Natural Resources (UAU561L)
A mandatory (required) course for the programme
0 ECTS, credits
Course Description

Doctoral Dissertation in Environment and Natural Resources

Language of instruction: English
Part of the total project/thesis credits
Year unspecified
  • Fall
  • UAU561L
    Doctoral Dissertation in Environment and Natural Resources
    Mandatory (required) course
    0
    A mandatory (required) course for the programme
    0 ECTS, credits
    Course Description

    Doctoral Dissertation in Environment and Natural Resources

    Prerequisites
    Part of the total project/thesis credits
  • HSP073F
    Research Ethics
    Elective course
    3
    Free elective course within the programme
    3 ECTS, credits
    Course Description

    The intensive course is intended for PhD-students only. It is adapted to the needs of students from different fields of study and is taught in English as a three day seminar (9.10-15.40) Tuesday to Thursday in late August. The course is a concise version of HSP806F Ethics of Science and Research (6 ECTS), which is taught in February-March. The objective is to train students in reasoning about ethical controversies relating to science and research in contemporary society. At the end of the course they will have the necessary tool-kit to navigate the ethical part of the troubled waters of applying for licences and references, getting published and securing funding. No prior knowledge of ethical theory and any particular science will be assumed in the course. The instruction takes the form of short lectures, discussions and group work on case studies. The idea is to create an academic community where students are actively engaged in a focused dialogue about different questions on research ethics.

    Taught:
    Tue 20 August 9:10 am to 3:40 pm
    Wed 21 August 9:10 am to 3:40 pm
    Thu 22 August 9:10 am to 3:40 pm

    Attn.: This course will be taught remotely (online)

    Distance learning
    Prerequisites
  • Spring 2
  • UAU561L
    Doctoral Dissertation in Environment and Natural Resources
    Mandatory (required) course
    0
    A mandatory (required) course for the programme
    0 ECTS, credits
    Course Description

    Doctoral Dissertation in Environment and Natural Resources

    Prerequisites
    Part of the total project/thesis credits
Helpful content
Contact us

If you still have questions, feel free to contact us.

SENS Student Services
Weekdays 9 am - 3:30 pm
PHD Coordinator
University of Iceland, Tæknigarður (Centre for Technical Innovation)

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