As a PhD student you might be dealing with questions related to your PhD-programme. We have gathered and answered some of the most common questions below.
The PhD degree is conferred on a candidate who has completed a PhD programme, which is comprised of the following elements:
Please see under your graduate school for more information about requirements and different PhD degree programmes.
During your PhD study, you need to take approximately 30 ECTS points. Information on the PhD course, deadlines etc. can be found on the graduate school websites or in the course description.
The PhD students are required to participate in active research environments and are encouraged to gain new insight by going abroad for a longer research exchange stay at a foreign university or research institution. You can find information for going on a research stay abroad here.
You can also find information on your graduate school's going abroad portal below.
To finance a research stay abroad please look at travel funding for PhD students.
Sideline employment is possible if it is compatible with your PhD study. PhD studies are full time studies. Therefore, additional paid work must not interfere with the PhD student’s PhD plan and cannot later be basis for an extension of the PhD study.
For more information regarding sideline employment please look at sideline employment for employed staff at AU. If you are in doubt please reach out to your Graduate School.
The PhD programme is equivalent to 180 ECTS and normally takes the form of full-time study, which is three years of full-time study. The Graduate School can have individual rules providing for part-time study. For more information, please see under your graduate school for more information about part-time enrolment as a PhD student.
Arts - (cf. 2) You can download the part-time applicationform here.
Aarhus BSS - (cf. 6,2)
Natural Sciences - (cf. 7,4)
Technical Sciences - (cf. 7,4)
The PhD degree programme is designed as a 3-, 4- or 5-year scheme. Leave (including part-time leave) that is not due to pregnancy, childbirth or illness can be applied for. All application will be assessed individually. For more information on leave, including leave due to pregnancy, childbirth or inless, please see under your graduate school for more information about leave as a PhD student.
Specific rules apply to PhD students who are employed at AU. For information regarding holidays please look at Staff Services at AU.
If you are enrolled in the 4+4 or 3+5 programme and have not yet passed your qualification exam (part A) you are not required to register your holiday and absence. Remember to notify your supervisor/group.
Your union representative is there to support and advise members on workplace issues. Find your union representative here by using the search field on the bottom of the page.
If you are struggling with personal or academic challenges, it’s a really good idea to talk about it – especially with your supervisors and/or colleagues. The next step might be to involve your PhD programme chair/director and perhaps other sources of support, for example, psychological counselling, depending on your situation. You can either contact AU’s psychological counselling service anonymously or by referral after dialogue with your manager.
If you are enrolled in part A of a flexible PhD programme, you can find information under 'Student counselling service'.
Below you can find information from the graduate schools about dealing with stress.
If you continuously experience problems or issues in your working relationship with your PhD supervisor, you have the option of discussing it with your PhD programme chair/director or the head of your department/school. If it’s not possible to resolve the problem in this way, chaning supervisor is also an option.
Below you can find information from the graduate schools about dealing with problems regarding your PhD supervisor(s) and how to change supervisor.
Arts - Download the application form for changing supervisors here
Natural Sciences - (cf. 5,3)
Technical Sciences - (cf. 5,3)
If someone behaves in an offensive, discriminating, or inappropriate way towards you, you can contact your PhD supervisor, programme chair/director or manager for help and support.
AU has guidelines to help staff members deal with situations involving inappropriate or offensive behaviour. If you are a PhD student employed by the university, find out more about the guidelines here.
If you are enrolled in part A of a flexible PhD programme, you can find more information here.
We encourage you to look at the relevant graduate school’s website as well. Below you can also find information from the graduate schools about dealing with inappropriate behaviour.
There is a broad range of initiatives and associations for PhD students. Below you will find some of the initiatives and associations relevant for PhD students. We also encourage you to look into local associations at your graduate school.
AUPA - Aarhus University PhD Association
PhD and Postdoc activity group
AU offers career guidance services for enrolled PhD students. You can book an individual session with a career guidance counsellor, or you can participate in events with other PhD students.
AU’s career guidance counsellors can help you clarify what career opportunities are available to you, what career path will suit you best, and how to apply and communicate the competencies and expertise you gain from your PhD studies in careers outside academia.
Aarhus University offers courses where you can upgrade your project management skills, learn to write successful grant applications or get a broader view of the international funding landscape. Read more about how to stay in academia here.
You can find information about recruitment and employment at the AU HR staff service website. You can also read about the different types of junior researcher positions here, and learn more about funding opportunities here.
Starting as an international PhD student can be an overwhelming and exciting experience. Below you can find information from the graduate schools specifically for international PhD students. We also advise you to look at the International Staff website where you can find information and relevant events for internationals.
