The Graduate School offers PhD students a wide range of support including an online learning management system, courses on academic and professional development, other career development resources and a yearly orientation.
Upcoming orientation:
1.9.2025 | 9:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. | online
The orientation is held in English and is intended for all new PhD students.
- Schedule
- Slide deck from orientation
- Recording
Practical minicourses, workshops and presentations which support the academic and professional development of PhD students and postdoctoral researchers.
- All events take place in English unless otherwise indicated.
- All events are either virtual or hybrid, unless otherwise indicated.
- Shorter events are normally recorded, but not the longer workshops.
- Participants receive a certificate of professional development each term.
In cooperation with the Schools, the Centre for Teaching and Learning, the Center for Writing, Student Counselling, the International Division and the National and University Library.
Schedule for spring semester 2025 has been sent out by email.
PhD Portal online learning management system is open to registered PhD students.
Which careers do PhD students at the University of Iceland pursue after graduation, and where in the world do they work? The UI PhD Alumni Database allows users to get answers to these important questions.
Containing public information about the research and career paths of doctoral students who have graduated since 2010. The database will be of interest to current PhD students and alumni seeking to network and explore diverse career options, doctoral supervisors, graduate school administrators, career counsellors, labour market experts and government officials promoting innovation. Last but not least, the database will interest companies and institutions aiming to hire outstanding talent for opportunities within a growing Icelandic and international knowledge economy.
The database is divided by School and searchable by name, research subject, faculty and graduation year.
The database utilizes publicly available information and meets the university´s requirements for data privacy and every individual has given consent to this publication.
Those who want to join the UI Alumni database please send in your information on the form on the bottom of the page of your school of studies or send an email that is situated in the footer of the page.
PhD students who are graduating this year will be able to give their concent through the Doctoral portal in Ugla and will then be included in the database.
All Fields
Recording of the event "PhDs at Work: Academic Careers" (8 September 2020)
Recording of the event "PhDs at Work: Careers Outside Academia" (14 September 2020)
STEMM
Humanities and Social Sciences
The main association for PhD students and postdoctoral researchers at the University is FeDoN. FeDoN on Facebook.
There is also an active student association at each school:
- Arkímedes - The Society for PhD students and Postdoctoral researchers at the School of Engineering and Natural Sciences. Arkímedes on Facebook
- The Doctoral Student Association at the School of Health Sciences
- FdMHI - The Doctoral Student Association of the School of Education
- Hugdok - Association of Doctoral Candidates and ECRs at the School of Humanities
- Seigla - PhD Student Association in the School of Social Sciences
Doctoral studies can be challenging. Taking good care of your health is important.
You can book a consultation at the Student Counselling Centre
Telephone: +354 525 4315
Email: radgjof@hi.is.
Psychological Services offers students therapy and other psychological services.
The Student Psychology Clinic offers students and their children psychological services such as individual and group therapy. Run by the Department of Psychology, the service is provided by postgraduate psychology students under the supervision of licensed psychologists.
The Ombudsman is an impartial, independent counsel for PhD students who helps them resolve problems that come up in their studies. The Ombudsman informs PhD students of their rights and duties, facilitates their communication with supervisors and doctoral committees, and helps them navigate the rules and procedures of PhD studies.
All issues brought to the Ombudsman are confidential and the PhD student decides whether the issue will be brought to the attention of other parties at the university.
If a PhD student requests a meeting with Ombudsman a neutral meeting place will be found in concert with the student.
Sveinn Guðmundsson serves as Ombudsman. He received a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Iceland in 2017 and works as an Equality Officer and sessional teacher at the School of Social Sciences.
The Ombudsman can be contacted through the email umbodsmadur@hi.is and by the direct phone line +354 525 4193. All issues will be confidential.
Procedures for making complaints about academic and other matters are explained in Ugla.
Practical courses and workshops for PhD supervisors organized by the Graduate School in cooperation with other universities and Rannis - Icelandic Centre for Research.
Major subjects include best practices, rights and responsibilities.
For more information contact:
Toby Erik Wikström
Email: tew@hi.is
Iceland
Hvað á leiðbeinandi að gera fyrir nemanda sem vinnur að doktorsritgerð?
UK
The Research Supervision Recognition Programme (UK Council on Graduate Education)
USA
Toolkit: Cultivating A Culture of Mentoring (Duke University)
Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (UW-Madison)
The Science of Effective Mentoring in STEMM (National Academies)
The Science of Effective Mentoring in STEMM Online Guide (National Academies)
Nordic countries
Literature for Supervisors (Karolinska institutet)
To Lead the Way (University of Copenhagen)