Project description/protocol

Ph.d-studenter Foto: Paul-Erik Lillholm

The project description, which must be no more than 10 pages long, must clarify the research topic, hypotheses or objective and choice of theory and methods. The description must indicate a time schedule for the different activities in the project. The evaluation of the application will be based on the quality of the project, the feasibility of completing the project within the standard timeframe of three years and, in addition, the PhD candidate's role and ability to complete his/her part. Applicants, who have received a scholarship or other financing on the basis of an evaluation of the project description carried out by an expert evaluation committee, must attach a copy of the project description and the evaluation. The following important factors must be considered when preparing the project description:

• Documentation of good knowledge of the research area in question, both nationally and internationally.

• Project hypotheses or objectives must be clearly presented. A description of how the project entails an expansion of current knowledge must be included, and/or whether the acquired knowledge will form the basis for further research in the field.

• A well founded statement describing how the theories and methods it is planned to apply in the project are well suited for testing the the project's hypothesis, or setting out good possibilities of developing the necessary method and theory through the research project. A description of the methods of analysis must also be presented.

• A presentation of ethical considerations relating to the research project.

• It must be substantiated that it is feasible to complete the project within the given timeframe and financial framework. The project should be completed within a timeframe of three years for PhD candidates with other funding than university fellowships, three years for PhD candidates with university fellowships (four years for candidates with duty work) and six years for part-time PhD candidates.

• Affiliation to a research environment must be documented.