Department Of Geology And Mineral Resources Engineering

PhD in Geology and Mineral Resources Engineering

The research activity at the Department of Geoscience and Petroleum is soundly grounded in the research fellowships and doctoral study positions with the department. The research focus areas, to name a few, include

Geology
Engineering geology and rock mechanics
Mineral production and HES

For a few details, see a brief summary of recently concluded PhD projects with the department.

The primary responsibility for the doctoral programme lies with the department (IGB). Should you have questions or require more information please contact us. A description of the general programme structure, in addition to applicable rules and forms, can be found on the Doctoral programme pages for the Faculty of Engineering(IV).

Admissions

Application process and forms
The application for admission is to be completed in cooperation with one’s potential primary supervisor. The application form and other forms relating to admission can be downloaded in either Norwegian or English.

Supervisor
The primary supervisor should hold a research position at NTNU; that is a professor, associate professor or adjunct professor. The primary supervisor must have a doctoral degree, or equivalent qualifications, within the relevant field of study.
Application Submission
The application should be submitted to the relevant department. The primary supervisor and the department should give their assessment of the application before it is sent on to the faculty for further evaluation.
Committee
The faculty committee meets about once every month. (Doktorgradsutvalget )
Admission requirements
An admission requirement is that one hold a Master’s degree (similar or equivalent educations also considered). In addition, one must have obtained a B or better during one’s last 2 years of study (corresponding to 120 credits/ECTS).
Nominal study period
The nominal length of study for the PhD programme at IV is 3 years. The maximum time of study is 6 years.
Faculty Regulations
The Faculty of Engineering has its own regulations regarding project content. [English ], [Norwegian]
Course Information
Course descriptions and information about PhD courses can found via the Studies tab for the NTNU website, under the menu item All Courses.

Program requirements and structure

Research training program

The nominal length of the PhD programme is 3 years of full-time study.
The PhD training programme combines academic and methodological schooling, amounting to 30 credits in total.
IFEL8000 Introduction to Research Methodology, Theory of Science and Ethics – 4 credits, is a mandatory course for PhD candidates at the Faculty of Engineering, beyond the minimum requirement of 30 credits.
A minimum of 20 credits must be devoted to PhD programme courses.
The remaining 10 credits can be used for individual study syllabus or advanced-level Master’s courses.
Courses such as information searching or scientific publishing are not approved by the faculty as components of the 30 credit minimum requirement.
For master courses there is a grade requirement of B or better, according to the NTNU grading scale.
Changes to the approved training plan should be made in agreement with one’s primary supervisor and submitted to the faculty for approval.

Examinations
Each doctoral candidate is responsible for registering for examinations in accordance with the approved education plan. The registration deadline is the 15th of Septemberfor the autumn semester, and the 15th of February for the spring semester. The deadline for withdrawal from examinations is 15 November for exams in the Autumn semester and 30 April for exams in the Spring semester. Exam registration and withdrawal can be completed via Studentweb. More information on exams and exam regulations.
Grades and re-sitting examinations
PhD students who receive the grade B, C, D or E for a course in their PhD plan, may retake the examination only once in an effort to improve their grade. If the student is registered for the exam, and does not withdraw his/her exam registration in time, this is regarded as an attempt. If, after re-taking a master course exam, the student does not succeed in improving his/her grade to meet the minimum requirement of a B, the master course has to be replaced. An exception will be made in cases of approved absence, or cases in which the student receives the grade F; in such cases multiple (unlimited) examination attempts will be granted.
As a rule, arrangements to re-sit examinations will not be approved for PhD students who receive the grade B, C, D or E. However, there is a procedural difference for master’s courses and PhD courses.

PhD courses: Course coordinators may arrange exams outside exam periods if they so choose (normally, during the semester after the ordinary exam).
Master’s courses: PhD students may re-sit exams (in August), but only if there are other students with an approved absence or who have not passed the initial exam. Otherwise, these PhD students in this situation must wait until the next ordinarily scheduled exam.

Progress reports
PhD candidates and main supervisors should submit a progress report by the end of the spring semester every year. The report is based on the previous school year. The report is filled out in an electronical form, the Faculty sends out information and link to the form by email.
Postponing the completion of the programme of study
Should one need to postpone the completion of one’s doctoral programme, a formal application should be completed in cooperation with one’s primary supervisor and submitted to the faculty. The application should include a timeline which demonstrates that it is possible to complete the thesis within the period of postponement.
Leave of absence
A leave of absence may be granted upon the completion and submission of a formal application. PhD candidates must apply for a leave of absence from both the program of study and any department position they may hold.