PhD Studies

Who Should Apply to the PhD Program
The PhD Program at the University of Iceland School of Business, is designed to develop distinguished scholars for careers in research and teaching at leading academic institutions and research organizations throughout the world.

Eligibility
It is mandatory for applicants to have completed a Master’s degree with a good academic track-record. The student must have a research agenda that fits well with that of one or more faculty members here and of course that faculty member (or members) must be able to supervise the studies.

Timeline and Coursework
The Department’s PhD program is customized, taking into account the specific academic and professional/research background of each individual, their quantitative grounding as well as the level of familiarity with chosen field of study. As a result, each student’s doctoral program, including required course work and schedule of completion, is customized.
Students pursuing a full-time program are expected to complete their PhD work in three to four years.

How to Apply
Further information and online application form for international students

Recommendation Letters
The Recommendation Letter form should be sent to two referees who are qualified through personal experience to judge the applicant’s academic performance and potential for research work. These references should be emailed to the University directly by the referees or provided to the applicant in sealed envelopes to be attached as part of the application. Please be advised that these references shall be treated with utmost confidentiality.

Recommendation Letter

Research Proposal
The research proposal is central to your application as it is the fundamental determinant in our assessment of your research potential. Your research proposal should indicate the area in which the research will be conducted, the objectives and rationale of your research, specifying its purpose and any underlying problems or concerns. The proposal should contain an overview of main research questions and expected answers.

The purpose of a research proposal is to provide the PhD Committee and potential research supervisors with an indication of the topic you are interested in. Most potential supervisors will review research proposals as a preliminary description of the applicant's area of interest, aware though that the eventual research project may be a significant departure from the original proposal.

There are no Tuition Fees for the PhD Program. However, a nominal registration/administration fees is charged.

Doctoral students do not receive funding from the University of Iceland when they are accepted into the Ph.D. programme at the School of Business.

Further information

Map of the University Campus

Practical Infomation

What is the timeline for applications?
The deadline for international students (other than exchange students) to apply for undergraduate and graduate studies is 1st February.

Where can I find the application form?
The application form in online.

What are the tuition fees for the PhD Program?
There are no Tuition Fees for the PhD Program. However, a nominal registration/administration fees is charged.

Is there any entrance exam for this program?
No entrance exam or GRE/GMAT is required to enter the program. However, submission of completed application form and all supplemental documents is a pre-requisite for enrollment.
The School of Business Administration does not require student to pass a Toefel test if their native language is not English. However, students should be aware that a high proficiency in English language is required as most reading material would be in English.

Are there any specific coursework requirement´s?
As determined by the supervisory committee, students may be required to pass one or more courses offered either at the Master’s level at the Faculty and/or at the PhD level at cooperating institutions. Students are expected to present their work at departmental seminars.

What is the duration of the program?
Although this depends on your background and nature of your research, students usually take three years, if involved in full-time research.

Does the program offer financial aid?
The School of Business Administration does not, offer any dedicated funding for students in the PhD Program, some grants for participation in the program are available on a competitive basis.

Must I send all supporting transcripts together to the University of Iceland, or can I send them separately?
We prefer that you send all transcripts as well as other supporting documents together, but you are not disadvantaged by sending materials separately, or if they are sent directly from the institution. All applications materials must be received by the application deadline if you wish your application to receive full consideration.