PhD programmes in Fine Arts

The PhD program usually accepts candidates in each of the specializations every other year.

Available positions are published on the university's website.

The doctoral degree programme is nominally 180 credits, which corresponds to a three-year programme of study. It comprises a training component totaling 30 credits, as well as a thesis component of 150 credits. The training component comprises one obligatory and one elective part.

The candidates can choose between two different thesis formats:

• a combined artistic-scholarly thesis which contains both a written and a performance-based/creative part
• or a scholarly thesis. The latter can be either a monograph or a compilation of several smaller pieces (an article-based thesis).

The PhD degree is awarded on the basis of:  

• Completed and approved training component
• Approved scholarly or combined artistic-scholarly thesis
• Approved doctoral degree examination (trial lecture and public disputation)

Under the PhD programme at the Faculty of Fine Arts, the following specialisations are offered:

• Specialisation in Popular Music Performance
• Specialisation in Arts in Context (KiK)

(Please see the program decription in the right-hand information box).

The training component of the doctoral degree programme at the Faculty of Fine Arts comprises one obligatory and one elective part. The obligatory part of the specialisation in popular music performance comprises 15 credits, whilst the obligatory part of Arts in Context comprises 25 credits. In total, the training component makes up 30 credits.

The obligatory part covers the following courses:

• KF-616 Philosophy of science (5 credits) 

Further to this, the following courses are obligatory for the individual specialisation in question:  

• The specialisation in popular music performance:
  • KF-601 Analytical theory and method in popular music research (10 credits)
• Specialisation in Arts in Context:
  • KF-602 Arts in context: methods, Theory, methods and aesthetics (10 credits)
  • KF-615 Research methods in the art (5 credits)
  • A subject-specific course of 5 credits:
    • KF-612 Visual subjects in context (5 credits) (KiK)
    • KF-613 Music in context (5 credits) (KiK)
    • KF-614 Theatre in context (5 credits) (KiK)

It is possible to take a 5 credit-course at UiA or another national or international institution.

It is possible to choose the following courses with the specialisation in popular music performance for the elective part of the training:

• KF-604 Music technology and production (10 credits)
• KF-606 Ethnomusicology and world-music research (10 credits)
• An elective 5-credit course at UiA or another national or international institution.  

The training component shall include specialist and methodological schooling at a high scholarly level in order to qualify the candidate for work with their thesis and to ensure depth and breadth in the candidate’s academic competence. It shall contribute to assisting the candidate in further developing an independent and reflective relationship to his/her own research, as well as that of others, in addition to the role of the research in a wider context.

Candidates can, subject to an application, have alternative, relative courses approved at research schools and on other doctoral degree education programmes. In agreement with the supervisor, the candidate can freely choose amongst possible subjects offered by the University of Agder or at other institutions in Norway or abroad. The Faculty and the university collaborate with a number of researcher schools and other national and international partners. This provides the candidate with access to a range of courses from which to choose for the training component. This component shall normally comprise at least 15 credits from the Faculty’s own doctoral degree programme for the individual candidate in order to ensure continuity and integration. This can be deviated from in the case of longer periods of study abroad or if other pressing reasons exist. For further conditions see the Supplementary regulations for the PhD programme at the Faculty of Fine Arts.

All candidates are encouraged to apply for guest residencies at a foreign university as part of their thesis work.

The applicant must have completed a master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field from a Norwegian or foreign university or university college. The degree shall comprise at least 90 credits in the subject area that the candidate has been admitted on the basis of. Alternatively, prior learning and work experience can be assessed as of equal import. The relevance of the master’s degree (or equivalent) will be assessed by the Faculty in relation to the concrete PhD project applied for.

Admission to the programme is either through one of the two doctoral degree specialisations which are offered at the Faculty, or directly in the programme, and must be in accordance with the Regulations concerning the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at the University of Agder  and the Supplementary regulations for the PhD programme at the Faculty of Fine Arts. Admissions must either be funded through a three or four-year PhD position (with 25% required duties), or through a financial guarantee from an employer/organisation. Such a guarantee normally covers three years’ salary, operational costs and office premises. The University of Agder (UiA) does not accept private financial support (own savings, funding from a spouse/family etc) as a suitable basis for admission to the PhD programme.