The degree is governed by

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1 DOCTORAL DEGREE PHILOSOPHIAE DOCTOR (PhD) AT THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE AND DENTISTRY 1 Approved by the Board of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry on 9 April 2008 The degree is governed by Regulations for the doctoral degree philosophiae doctor (PhD) at the University of Bergen Approved by the University Board of Governors 12 June 2003 Entry into force 20 June 2003, with the adjustment of 21 October AIM The research programme for the PhD degree at the University of Bergen is organised within the framework of the doctoral degree programmes offered by the institution. The aim of the research programme is to qualify the candidate for research activities and other kinds of work requiring a high level of scientific insight. The programme comprises an independent research project resulting in a scientific dissertation of a high academic standard. The doctoral candidate shall, moreover, receive advanced theoretical and methodological instruction, providing depth and breadth in his/her discipline and placing this particular discipline in a wider frame of reference. The programme shall also train the candidate in disseminating academic work within his/her field and to students and the general public. The aim of the research programme at the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (the PhD degree) is to qualify the candidate for research activities and other kinds of work requiring a high level of scientific insight within the Faculty's research fields. Candidates with scholarship/grant funding from universities and external sources, and who are being supervised at the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, must apply for admission to the organized research training programme. The Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry also administers the dr.philos. degree which the University Board of Governors has decided shall be an independent degree without supervision and organized training. The two degrees are considered equal in status. 1 are written in brackets in Regulations for the doctoral degree philosophiae doctor (PhD) at the University of Bergen 1

2 2. ADMISSION 2.1. The applicant s formal qualifications To be admitted to a doctoral degree programme, the applicant must have obtained a higher degree which is approved by the Faculty and which constitutes the basis for admission. The Faculty may require that special courses be followed and/or special tests be passed prior to the applicant s admission to the programme. builds on the five-year Norwegian master's programme, cand.med. cand.odont., cand.psychol., or similar education or other competence the Faculty approves. Applicants with education from abroad must submit an evaluation of the scope and level of the education. All those who are allocated a workplace at or in connection with the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry to work on a doctoral degree with their principal supervisor at the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry must have been admitted to the Faculty's doctoral degree programme. 2.2 Plan for the research training An application for admission must include an outline of the research training including a brief description of the project, a plan for funding, a plan for the training component and for the dissemination component, a schedule, an indication of academic and physical resource requirements, plans for stays at other research institutions or activities. Documentation of the training which constitutes the basis for admission must be enclosed. The applicant s research environment shall actively participate in the formulation of the project description and the plan for the research programme. The project description must specify theme, research questions and choice of theory and methodology. The description must include tentative milestones for the progression of the various components of the research project, and include a proposal for supervisor(s), cf 4.3 below. Should the applicant choose to use a language for the dissertation other than those which have been approved in 6.3 of the Regulation, an application for this must be submitted together with the plan of study. For scholars with funding from the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, the Norwegian Research Council or another body funding candidates with scholarships/grants pursuant to a scientific assessment and competition, the project description used as the basis for the awarding of the scholarship/grant shall also be used as the basis for admission to the research programme. 2

3 2.3 Conditions for admission Decisions on admission are based on an overall assessment of the project description, the applicant's formal qualifications, access to sufficient resources for its completion and the submitted plan for the research programme, cf 2.2 above. The decision shall be reached pursuant to the recommendation of the department with which the candidate will be affiliated. The doctoral candidate shall be part of a research environment and shall contribute actively to the research there. The Faculty's research committee processes and decides applications for admission and may demand documentation of the desired academic level through, for example, admission tests adapted to previous education and training. If the candidate lacks knowledge in the specified field the Faculty may impose additional requirements beyond the compulsory research programme. Ranking of applicants in the event of limited admission is undertaken on the basis of an overall evaluation of the applicant's formal qualifications, the scientific value of the project, including consideration of priorities given to research fields that are embedded in the Faculty's strategy plan and budget priorities, and the ability of the research environment to develop the candidate. Admission to the research programme is continuous unless it has been decided to have limited admission. The Faculty will arrange for parallel runs (speciality- and research training). The Faculty can decide that regular application deadlines must be set for admission to the organized research programme. 2.4 Necessary equipment The candidate shall have access to necessary equipment for the completion of the research project. What is deemed to be necessary shall be decided by the academic staff/the Faculty. For candidates who have external funding and/or place of work, agreement will be reached with respect to the research project in question. When recommending a candidate for admission it is required that the department establishes that he or she has the necessary equipment and other infrastructure (office space, laboratory space etc.) to carry out the research project. 2.5 Admission procedure Application for admission should be addressed to the Faculty which administrates the doctoral programme the applicant is applying for and shall be sent through the department with which the applicant wishes to be affiliated. Should the number of applicants exceed the admission capacity, the Faculty is responsible for establishing the criteria with which to rank qualified applicants. If the applicant s research project is likely to depend on contact with several academic research environments, statements should be obtained from these environments prior to 3

4 admission. A tentative division of the proportional involvement of the various environments must be indicated, including any external partners. When applying for admission, the appropriate application form ( ) is to be filled in. The Faculty processes and decides admissions. The application must be sent through the department with which the applicant wishes to be affiliated. Normally this will be the principal supervisor's department. The department undertakes an initial evaluation of the application pursuant to the provisions in force and then forwards the application for admission to the Faculty. The application must be signed by the candidate, his or her principal supervisor and the chairman of the department with which the candidate wishes to be affiliated. The principal supervisor should be employed by the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. At least one supervisor must be affiliated with the department with which the applicant wishes to be affiliated..2.6 Miscellaneous In addition to the PhD Regulation, the labour legislation in force, regulations etc. also apply. When the doctoral candidate receives notification of admission, no more than one month shall elapse before the contract for the research programme has been signed. 3. CONTRACT Admission is formalised in a written contract within the framework of the standard contract for admission approved by the University Board of Governors. The written contract is entered into by the doctoral candidate, the supervisor(s), the department and the Faculty with which the candidate will be affiliated, and states the rights and duties of the parties involved. If the doctoral candidate is connected with another place of employment or research environment, a written contract shall be set up regulating the working conditions, necessary funding and necessary research equipment. The contract shall guarantee that the candidate takes regular part in an active research milieu, and ensure that the research training can be carried out within the appointed time. The contract shall indicate the point in time when the research programme shall commence. Considerable changes in the contract which affect the execution of the research project or the training component are subject to the approval of the Faculty. Agreement relating to inclusion in the organised training of researchers shall be entered into between the doctoral candidate, the department with which the candidate is affiliated, and the Faculty (standard agreement, Section A). An agreement must be made between the doctoral candidate and the supervisors on academic 4

5 supervision during the research programme (standard agreement, Section B). Doctoral candidates not employed by the University of Bergen or the Faculty's closest partners (Helse Vest, Helse Bergen and others) must enter into separate agreements with the external party and the university (standard agreement, Section C). 4. RESEARCH TRAINING 4.1 Standard duration The research training shall be organised so that it can feasibly be completed within the standard timeframe. The contract period may be extended through leaves of absence in accordance with the candidate s rights as an employee, or through rights granted through their funding bodies (Norad, NUFU, etc.). The contractual period may also be extended for candidates who, in addition to the research programme, assume other academic tasks. Such tasks shall be stipulated between the candidate and the supervisor and approved by the Faculty. The training component of the programme shall contain activities which correspond to at least 30 study credits. The training component shall be completed and approved before the dissertation is submitted. The PhD degree is normally organised as a three-year, full-time and efficient research programme, including the training component. The doctoral degree programme should be completed within eight years after admission. If additional time is needed, an application must be made to extend the supervision period The training component The training component of the research programme shall contain the necessary academic and methodological training which will benefit the doctoral candidate in his or her work on the dissertation and qualify the candidate for professions requiring in-depth scientific knowledge. The training component shall also train the candidate in disseminating academic work within his/her field and to students and the general public. The training component shall also include training in the theory of science and ethics. The Faculty is responsible for providing doctoral candidates with training at an advanced scientific level. If the Faculty does not itself organise the entire training component, the Faculty shall arrange for the candidate to participate in corresponding training at another unit/faculty or at another institution offering accredited doctoral degree training. Academic networks and research institutions may be involved. The training may consist partly of regular lectures/seminars and partly short intensive courses, or any other type of organised training approved by the Faculty. In those subjects where no organised training is available, an individual syllabus may be approved as part of the training. As part of the training component, the doctoral candidate may deliver academic papers, 5

6 arrange seminars or give lectures to gain experience and training in the dissemination of scientific knowledge. A popular scientific article requiring approximately the same effort as teaching may be deemed equivalent with respect to dissemination of scientific knowledge. All applicants admitted to the research programme must complete the organised training component. The candidate must document that he/she has acquired the necessary knowledge. Such documentation may be provided through obligatory practical exercises, written or oral tests, giving lectures, teaching seminars or writing scientific and/or popular scientific articles, or in any other method approved by the Faculty. The Faculty may grant exemption from participation in parts of the training programme if equivalent requirements have been fulfilled at another unit/faculty or institution providing accredited training. Full or partial exemption may be also granted in special cases in which previous documented training or research experience is deemed to give the equivalent qualification, such as research stays at other research institutions, through academic networks and participation in national or international research courses and research institutions. The candidate shall receive basic training which together with the dissertation provides the necessary academic scope and in-depth studies to satisfy the objective of the doctoral degree programme. The training component comprises a total of 30 course credits (ECTS) and includes a compulsory section and elective section. Compulsory section: a All doctoral candidates must complete and pass a course in scientific theory, research ethics and scientific methodology corresponding to eight course credits. The Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry offers, and recommends, Basic course in medical and health related research (8 course credits) arranged by the Faculty. b Dissemination: All doctoral candidates shall have acquired experience in the dissemination of academic information (at least six course credits). c For candidates working on research projects which involve the use of experimental animals, training in the use of such animals in medical research is mandatory. Elective section: The following activities may be included in the elective section: - Research courses - Relevant courses at higher level arranged by the University of Bergen - Special syllabus - Teaching that is relevant to one's own research, in the form of lectures, practical exercises, group work and participation in seminars - Periods of stay at research institutions abroad/elsewhere in Norway - Course in knowledge dissemination/education-science training, such as a development programme in university pedagogy - Speciality in medicine or dentistry that is approved in Norway, and relevant courses done in this context. The training programme must be drawn up in consultation with the principal supervisor. Exams or other parts of the planned training component that at the time of application for admission are more than five-years old, may not be included in the training component. Recognition of speciality in medicine or dentistry as a part of the training component is exempted from the 5 years-rule. This also applies to the course in laboratory animal science. 6

7 The Faculty may in exceptional circumstances exempt from parts of the training component if other training or research experience resulting in corresponding competence can be documented. Such exemptions can only be granted for mandatory courses, but an exemption will not be granted from the requirement for 30 study credits. For planning of the training component we refer to The training component for the research training at the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, the University of Bergen. Guidelines for calculating course credits for the PhD degree Supervision Work on the doctoral dissertation must be carried out under individual supervision, and the doctoral candidate must have regular contact with his/her supervisor(s) and shall be part of an active research environment. The doctoral candidate must be given the opportunity to have his/her dissertation work discussed at a seminars. When the work on a doctoral dissertation involves several academic environments, the academic credit and any financial remuneration for the individual academic environments shall be stipulated in a separate contract. This also applies when the supervisors for a dissertation come from different academic environments. See the clause on this in the admission contract. At least one supervisor shall be from the Faculty to which the doctoral candidate was admitted. Normally, one of them is appointed as the principal supervisor. In addition, one or more co-supervisors may be appointed. The supervisor(s) must have a doctoral degree or other academic qualifications equivalent to a doctoral degree. The principal supervisor is understood to be the supervisor who has the administrative responsibility for the research programme for the candidate in question. Normally the principal supervisor will also have the principal academic responsibility for the research programme for the candidate. The principal supervisor shall come from the Faculty to which the doctoral candidate was admitted and who manages the doctoral programme in question, or from institutions approved by the Faculty. Co-supervisors are other academics who provide supervision. An external supervisor is a co-supervisor from an academic environment at a Faculty which does not administrate the doctoral programme in question or who comes from an institution outside the University of Bergen. An external supervisor may be a principal supervisor according to institutional agreements between the environment in question and the University of Bergen. Normally the principal supervisor shall have the principal academic and administrative responsibility for the research programme for the candidate in question. All candidates who receive the substantial portion of their supervision in the scientific work and carry out the scientific work at the Faculty's departments must apply for admission to the Faculty's doctoral degree programme. 7

8 4.4 Reporting During the course of the contractual period, each year the doctoral candidate and the principal supervisor shall submit separate written reports on progression in the research programme. These reports shall be sent to and approved by the Faculty or other units to which the Faculty has delegated this function. The Faculty, supervisor(s) and the doctoral candidate undertake to actively deal with matters which can lead to delays or the failure to carry out the research programme, so that the programme may be carried out within the standard timeframe, as far as this is possible. Deficient or unsatisfactory progress reporting may lead to compulsory termination of the research programme prior to the end of the contractual period. The departments are responsible for following up the doctoral candidates. Each year the candidate and the principal supervisor shall submit written reports to the department with which the candidate is affiliated within a deadline set by the Faculty. The candidate and the supervisor use separate forms for this. The departments are encouraged to arrange for progress interviews and midway evaluation. 4.5 Terminating supervision When they agree to do so, the doctoral candidate and the supervisor may request that the Faculty appoint a new supervisor for the candidate. The acting supervisor may not withdraw until a new supervisor has been appointed. If a doctoral candidate or supervisor finds that the other party is not complying with his/her obligations as stipulated in this Regulation, cf 4.5, the party claiming the breach of obligations shall discuss this with the other party. The candidate and supervisor shall then attempt to find a solution to the situation which has arisen. If, after discussions, the parties have not reached an agreement on how to resolve this situation, the candidate or the supervisor may request to be relieved from the supervision contract. A request for such a release shall be sent to the Faculty, which shall decide whether to release the doctoral candidate and the supervisor from the contract. Following such a decision, the Faculty shall ensure that the doctoral candidate signs a supervisor contract with a new supervisor. A request to terminate supervision must be addressed to the Faculty but is to be sent through the department. A copy of the request must be sent to the other party by the party making the request. 4.6 Disputes Pursuant to this Regulation, disputes concerning the rights and obligations of the supervisor and the candidate may be presented for discussion and decision by the Faculty in question. The decision reached by the Faculty may be appealed to the next highest authority. 8

9 5. TERMINATION OF THE ORGANISED RESEARCH PROGRAMME PRIOR TO THE CONTRACTED TIME 5.1 Voluntary termination The candidate, supervisor or the Faculty may take the initiative to terminate the organised research programme prior to the contracted time. In the event of such a voluntary termination of the organised research programme, the parties shall draw up a contract to address matters pertaining to terms of appointment, funding, rights to results etc. Upon voluntary termination due to the candidate s desire to change his/her project or transfer to another project, the candidate shall apply for new admission based on the new project. A dissertation which has been completed under organised supervision in a doctoral degree programme cannot be submitted for evaluation for an independent doctoral degree. 5.2 Compulsory termination The Faculty may decide to impose compulsory termination prior to the end of the contracted time of the organised research programme to which the candidate has been admitted. Compulsory termination may be effected when one or more of the following conditions is present: - Repeated and fundamental breaches by the candidate of his or her obligation to inform, follow-up or report. - Fundamental delay in the progression of the research project of such a nature that it creates reasonable doubt as to whether the candidate will be able to complete the project within the contracted time. To constitute the basis for compulsory termination, the fundamental delay must be due to factors over which the candidate has control. - Fundamental delay in the completion of the training component due to matters over which the candidate has control. - Breach of the research-ethics guidelines which apply to the academic field. - Behaviour exhibited by the candidate which violates the trust which must be present between the university and the candidate during the programme, including criminal offences related to the execution of the research programme. The decision to implement compulsory termination is made by the Faculty administrating the doctoral programme, cf 2.8, following a recommendation from the academic unit. The decision may be appealed to the next highest authority. If the doctoral candidate is employed at the University, the contract may only be terminated if the terms and conditions stipulated in the Norwegian Civil Service Act are met. 6. THE DISSERTATION 6.1 Level and form The dissertation must be an independent, scientific piece of work of international standard and high academic standard with respect to the research questions, examination of concepts, methodological, theoretical and empirical basis, documentation and form of presentation. The dissertation must contribute to the development of new academic knowledge and be of an 9

10 academic standard appropriate for publication as part of the scientific literature in the field in question. The dissertation may be a self-contained piece of work or a continuation of previous academic work in the candidate s studies. Work which has been approved as the basis for previously completed examinations cannot be submitted for evaluation unless it constitutes a minor part of a dissertation consisting of several conjoined pieces of work. Several minor pieces of work may be accepted as part of a doctoral dissertation, provided that the content of these works forms a whole. In such cases, the individual parts must be accompanied by a summary, giving a detailed account of their interrelationship. A work or piece of work which was previously accepted for a doctoral degree at a Norwegian or foreign university or college cannot be submitted for evaluation even if the work is submitted in a revised form. A doctoral dissertation may consist of a monograph or scientific articles in referee-based international periodicals, and with a total presentation of the scientific findings with an in-depth and updated comparative discussion. A doctoral dissertation should be on international PhD-level, and the scope of the thesis should correspond to 2.5 man-years. Normally, a doctoral dissertation should consist of three scientific articles prepared for international journals with a peer review system. As a general rule, the doctoral candidate should be the principal author of at least two articles. Where the candidate is not the principal author, he / she should have contributed considerably in the collection of data, interpreting of results and writing of the article. The main supervisor should account for the candidate s contribution. The number of articles will depend upon the extent and quality of each article, and on the candidate s contribution. If the candidate has put an unusually large amount of work into one article, and that article is of a very high standard, the number of articles may be reduced. Guideline norms for the dissertation can be obtained from Guidance on requirements relating to doctoral dissertations for the PhD degree at the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, the University of Bergen. 6.2 Joint publications Joint publications may be approved for evaluation (also one of several works, cf 6.1) provided that the doctoral candidate s contribution represents an independent contribution which can be identified to the extent necessary for the evaluation. In such cases the coauthors and other persons who have been following the work will be asked to submit a declaration identifying the specific contribution of the doctoral candidate. 10

11 6.3 Language The dissertation shall be written in English, Norwegian, or another relevant research language (German or French). Any candidate wishing to use another language than those mentioned in the first sentence, must apply for special permission for this upon admission, cf Public access The dissertation must be made available to the public no later than two weeks prior to its public defence. No restrictions can be placed on making public and publishing a doctoral dissertation, with the exception of a prior agreed extension of the date for making public/publication. Such a delay may occur when the research programme is partially or entirely funded by an external party, and the external party needs to consider patenting/commercialisation, cf admissions contract part C. An external party cannot make it a condition that all or parts of a doctoral dissertation may not be made public or published Submission for a new evaluation A doctoral dissertation that has previously been rejected after an evaluation may be submitted in a revised form for a new evaluation, either as a single piece of work or as one of several conjoined works. A new evaluation may only take place once. 6.6 Abstract of dissertation, press release An abstract of the dissertation shall be prepared in English (1-3 pages), so that research environments in Norway and abroad may familiarize themselves with the results. The abstract shall accompany the dissertation. Well in advance of the public defence, the candidate shall prepare a press release which must be sent to the Faculty for approval. The press release shall use the template that has been approved for this purpose. The Faculty is responsible for ensuring that the press release is sent to the Information Department no later than two weeks prior to the public defence of the dissertation. The Faculty is responsible for providing information to the doctoral candidates on procedures in connection with the publication of the dissertation. Guidelines, examples of press releases, etc, shall be sent to the candidate when the dissertation has been approved. 7. EVALUATION The doctoral degree is awarded on the basis of: a) a recognised scientific dissertation and a satisfactory public defence thereof, b) approved completion of the training programme, or any other approved academic training or qualification, and c) an approved trial lecture on a prescribed theme. 11

12 8. SUBMISSION, WITHDRAWAL The application for evaluation of a dissertation is to be made to the Faculty where the doctoral candidate is enrolled. The specified number of copies of the dissertation must accompany the application, as well as proof that the training programme has been completed and approved, cf 4.2. If the dissertation is accepted for public defence, additional copies must be submitted as stated by the Faculty. The application is to be submitted to the department in question together with four copies of the dissertation. The department then sends the application to the Faculty, together with a proposal for an evaluation committee and a declaration identifying the doctoral candidate s contribution to each article. The declaration must be written in the same language as the dissertation. A special form is used to apply for an evaluation of the dissertation. The dissertation is to be submitted in a standard format and in the form (paper-based or electronic) stipulated by the Faculty. A submitted dissertation cannot be withdrawn until a final decision has been reached as to whether it may be approved for public defence for the doctoral degree. Unless otherwise permitted by the doctoral programme, after submission the doctoral candidate may only make corrections of a formal nature, and an errata sheet detailing all such corrections must be submitted no later than one month prior to the public defence. 9. APPOINTMENT OF AN EVALUATION COMMITTEE To evaluate the dissertation and the public defence thereof, the Faculty appoints an expert evaluation committee consisting of at least three members, based on the proposal from the relevant academic staff. The reason given for the composition of the committee should indicate how the committee together covers the academic field of the dissertation. The Faculty appoints one of its representatives as chairperson of the committee. Should unusual circumstances so indicate, the Faculty may appoint an administrative leader who will not participate in the academic evaluation of the dissertation. Insofar as this is possible, two of the committee members shall not be connected to the University of Bergen. At least one member should be from a foreign educational institution. The members of the evaluation committee must hold a doctoral degree, or other academic qualifications equivalent to a doctoral degree. The gender of the doctoral candidate should be represented in the committee. The provisions pertaining to legal competence in the Norwegian Public Administration Act, 6 ff., apply to the members of the committee, cf 10 of the same Act. The appointed supervisor cannot be a member of the committee, but may be requested to attend meetings of the committee to provide an account of the supervision and the work on the dissertation. Nor can the appointed supervisor administer the work of the committee or chair the public defence. 12

13 Normally, no more than a month should pass from the submission of the dissertation to when the doctoral candidate is informed of the composition of the committee. If a dissertation is submitted in revised form for a new evaluation, at least one member from the original evaluation committee should participate in the work of the new committee. The committee s recommendation shall normally be ready at the latest three months after the dissertation has been sent to the members of the committee. 10. THE COMMITTEE S RECOMMENDATION AND PROCEDURE FOR THE RECOMMENDATION 10.1 The committee s recommendation and the doctoral candidate's comments Within a time limit established by the Faculty, the committee must submit a detailed recommendation, with any individual statements enclosed, as to whether or not the dissertation is worthy of being defended for the doctoral degree. Details must be given of any dissent among the members of the committee. The committee may require that the doctoral candidate submit source material as well as supplementary and clarifying information. The evaluation committee's recommendation, complete with any individual statements and/or statements of dissent, must be submitted to the Faculty and forwarded to the doctoral candidate as soon as possible. The candidate may submit written comments no later than fourteen days after receipt of the recommendation. Should the comments from the doctoral candidate be of significance as to whether the dissertation can be approved, these comments must be considered by the evaluation committee before the Faculty reaches a formal decision in the matter. The evaluation committee's recommendation, together with any additional comments, shall be dealt with by the Board of Governors, or the body the board has delegated this authority to. A notification that rejection of the dissertation is recommended must be received by the Faculty at least one month prior to the point in time of the planned defence. The Faculty must immediately inform the candidate. The committee's final recommendation must be received by the Faculty at least three weeks prior to the date of the defence The Faculty s procedural handling of an unanimous recommendation The Dean of the Faculty may with full authority approve the committee's recommendation if the unanimous conclusion of the evaluation committee is that the dissertation is worthy of public defence for the doctoral degree. Should the Dean for various reasons wish to present the recommendation to the Faculty's Board of Governors, and should at least two-thirds of the members of the Faculty's Board of Governors that are present find that there is reasonable doubt as to whether a dissertation 13

14 should be approved, the Faculty's Board of Governors shall ask for a more detailed explanation from the evaluation committee. If this contact does not provide the necessary clarification, the Faculty's Board of Governors shall appoint two new experts who shall make individual statements on the dissertation. The doctoral candidate shall be informed of these appointments. Should two-thirds of the members of the Faculty's Board of Governors that are present vote against the original recommendation, the Faculty's Board of Governors may reach the decision to reject the original recommendation, even if the original recommendation has the support of one or both of the two newly appointed experts The Faculty s procedure in the event of a split recommendation Should there be dissent in the committee, the Faculty's Board of Governors may without further evaluation decide the matter by a vote of a two-thirds majority. Should a two-thirds majority not be attained, the Faculty's Board of Governors shall request a more detailed clarification from the evaluation committee, or, if such contact has not provided, or it is assumed will not provide, the necessary clarification, the Faculty's Board of Governors shall appoint two new experts who shall provide individual statements on the dissertation. The doctoral candidate shall be informed of these appointments. Should both of the newly appointed experts agree with the conclusions of the majority in the original committee, this recommendation shall be followed. Should the minority conclusion receive support from one or both of the two newly appointed experts, the Faculty's Board of Governors may decide the matter with a two-thirds majority Revision for new evaluation A dissertation which is not approved for public defence may nevertheless be recommended for re-submission in a revised form for a new evaluation, cf 6.5 If the thesis is rejected, the candidate may submit a revised version no later than one year after the committee s recommendation has been given to the candidate. If the thesis is rejected again, this rejection is final The result of the proceedings The doctoral candidate shall be informed as to the outcome of the proceedings. 11. TRIAL LECTURE AND PUBLIC DEFENCE The doctoral degree programme is concluded with: a) An approved trial lecture on a prescribed topic, and b) Public defence. 14

15 The chairman of the evaluation committee shall, in consultation with the other committee members, the doctoral candidate and the Faculty, set a time for the trial lecture and the defence no later than one month after the dissertation has been submitted for evaluation. The Faculty is responsible for announcing the trial lecture and the defence and appoints the chairman for the defence Trial lecture The trial lecture shall be on a prescribed topic. The topic for the trial lecture is determined by the Faculty and the candidate must receive notification of the topic ten working days prior to the lecture. The trial lecture shall normally be held after the submission of the dissertation, but prior to the public defence, and shall be approved by an evaluation committee appointed by the Faculty. The trial lecture must be deemed satisfactory prior to awarding the diploma. After the trial lecture, the evaluation committee shall send a report to the Faculty where it explains its evaluation of the trial lecture. The report shall conclude by indicating whether the trial lecture is approved/not approved Public defence The public defence shall normally be held by a set deadline, cf 9 last paragraph, after the dissertation has been submitted for evaluation. Normally, the public defence shall take place in Norwegian, English, Danish or Swedish. The public defence shall be open to the public. Normally, there shall be two opponents. The two opponents shall be members of the evaluation committee appointed by the Faculty. In special cases, opponents may be appointed who have not been members of the evaluation committee. The public defence is chaired by the Dean of the Faculty, or by a person appointed by the Dean. The chairperson of the public defence gives an account of the submitted dissertation, the trial lecture and the evaluation of this. Thereafter, the doctoral candidate explains the objective and the results of the scientific research. The discussion is opened by the first opponent, and concluded by the second opponent. However, each faculty may determine another sequence and delegation of tasks between the doctoral candidate and the opponents. Other persons present who wish to participate in the discussion must give notice of this to the chair of the proceedings within the time determined by the chair. After the public defence, the evaluation committee shall send a report to the Faculty, in which it accounts for the evaluation of the defence of the dissertation. The report shall conclude by indicating whether the public defence is approved/not approved. If the public defence is not approved, a new public defence may be held. As far as this is possible, the new public defence shall be evaluated by the original evaluation committee. The public defence must be found satisfactory prior to awarding a diploma. 15

16 12. CONFERMENT AND DIPLOMA On the basis of the report from the evaluation committee that states that the trial lecture and the public defence have been deemed satisfactory, the University's Board of Governors confers the doctoral degree on the candidate. A doctoral degree diploma is issued by the institution. The diploma must state the title of the dissertation together with details of the academic training programme in which the doctoral candidate has participated. The doctoral diploma shall also include a diploma enclosure which must provide the following information: - Personal data - Faculty - Department name (and research group) - Date of defence - Dissertation title - Topic of the trial lecture - Information about the academic training programme 13. APPEAL 13.1 Appeal of admission decision/application proceedings Rejection of an application for admission in accordance with 2 of this Regulation may be appealed pursuant to 28 etc. of the Norwegian Public Administration Act. In such cases, a detailed appeal must be lodged with the Faculty. Should the rejection be upheld, the appeal must be forwarded without undue delay to the Central Board of Appeals Appeal relating to approval of the organised training programme For an appeal concerning approval of courses or other components of the organised training programme (cf 4.2), 12.1 of the Norwegian Public Administration Act applies. However, if the appeal applies to examination or test results, the Act on Universities and Colleges applies Appeal of a rejection of the application for evaluation, or rejection of the dissertation, trial lecture or public defence Rejection of the dissertation, trial lecture or public defence may be appealed pursuant to the provisions in 28 etc. of the Norwegian Public Administration Act. In such cases, a detailed appeal must be lodged with the Faculty. If the decision subject to appeal was made by the evaluation committee, the Faculty may set aside or alter the decision should the appeal be found reasonable. If not, the appeal is forwarded to the University's Board of Governors. The Board of Governors may try all aspects of the appealed decision. Should the subordinate body or the board dealing with the appeal see fit, a committee or individuals may be appointed to undertake an assessment of the evaluation and the criteria it is based upon, or to undertake a new or supplementary expert evaluation. 16

17 14. RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE RESEARCH PROGRAMME The Board of Governors at the University of Bergen has the overarching responsibility for the research programme at the institution. The responsibility for the academic and administrative execution of the research programme is delegated to the faculties within their respective academic fields. The responsibility for coordinating interdisciplinary and interfaculty doctoral degree programmes shall be connected to the host faculty. 15. DELEGATION According to this Regulation, the Faculty s authority cannot be delegated to the departmental level, unless explicitly stipulated in this Regulation. 17