The artistic research PhD education is normally three years’ full-time studies and consists of:
- A training component equalling 30 credits’ scope
- An artistic research project conducted under individual supervision, equivalent to 150 credits
Mid-term evaluation and annual progress reports help ensure progress in the artistic PhD project.
Training component
The Norwegian Film School is responsible for ensuring that the training component and the artistic PhD project provide a high-level education in accordance with international standards.
In addition to completing the artistic PhD project, the training component will introduce students to the methods, theories, and ethics of artistic research, as well as provide experience in presenting the outcomes of artistic research.
The PhD programme is designed to be completed within the standard time frame, but the course offerings may vary from semester to semester. Information on courses is regularly updated on the website for all PhD courses at INN University.
The training component consists of three mandatory courses. Theory, Methods, and Ethics of Artistic Research (20 credits) is offered through the Norwegian Artistic Research School in collaboration with all Norwegian higher educational institutions with doctoral programmes in artistic research.
Artistic Research in Film and Related Audio-Visual Arts (5 credits) provides an introduction to artistic research which specifically addresses film and related audio-visual arts, with an emphasis on theories, methods and practices specific to artistic research in this particular field.
The Project-Specific Training Component (5 credits) covers the specific learning requirements linked to the candidate’s artistic doctoral work. This will enable the candidate to conduct their artistic doctoral work and communicate research and subject-related matter to peers.
Additionally, PhD candidates are expected to present part of their work at national and international conferences, and to complete project work or study visits abroad during their doctoral studies.
The Norwegian Artistic Research School
The course Theory, methods and ethics in artistic research (20 credits) is offered through the Norwegian Artistic Research School in collaboration with all higher educational institutions in Norway with PhD programmes in artistic research.
The Norwegian Artistic Research School provides an introduction to the methods, theories and ethics associated with artistic research, and also training in the dissemination of results from artistic research. The interdisciplinary training is intended to support the artistic doctoral project and will contribute specialist depth and breadth.
The research school promotes the further development of the "Norwegian model" of artistic development. This model is based on research in the arts, with an emphasis on artistic practice and results, as essential to the research, and is characterised by reflection and interdisciplinary communication and collaboration. You will be enrolled in the Research school at the start of the PhD study, working with your main PhD supervisor to develop a plan for participation. This includes attending five seminars and five national conferences (Artistic Research Forums).
The Artistic Research Forums are organised on a regular basis twice a year, in the spring and fall. You are expected to present your own artistic research project at three of the conferences: early on, midway, and towards the final phase of the project period. The research school is administered by the Norwegian Artistic Research Programme (NARP) at the Directorate for Higher Education and Quality (HK-dir). More information about the research school and an overview of upcoming events can be found on their website.
Courses at other institutions
PhD candidates can take courses at other degree-awarding institutions. However, courses at other institutions must be recommended by your supervisor and approved by the PhD programme. PhD candidates can obtain pre-approval of external courses, when possible, based on available documentation (course description and syllabus). For this purpose, please fill out the form below:
After the course is completed, an application should be made for approval of the course, and the transcript of records or course certificate should be attached to the application. For this purpose, the following form must be sent to the coordinator at the PhD programme:
The same form can be used if the PhD candidate has not applied for pre-approval of a course, but then the course description and syllabus, or equivalent, must be attached to the form as well.
The training component must be completed and approved before the artistic doctoral result is assessed. Only external courses that are part of the training component will be included on the PhD diploma. The application should be sent to the PhD coordinator of the PhD programme.
In addition to courses, the PhD programmes host seminars and arrange other activities.
Supervision
The PhD degree is supervised research education, and the work on the artistic doctoral outcome must take place under individual supervision.
As a general rule, the PhD candidate shall have two academic supervisors, one of whom must be designated as the main supervisor. The main academic supervisor ought to have been appointed at the time of admission. The main academic supervisor is responsible for following up on the candidate's academic development and execution of the doctoral project in accordance with the progress plan. The main academic supervisor should normally be an employee of INN University. If the PhD committee appoints an external main academic supervisor, a co-supervisor from INN University must be appointed.
Co-supervisors are experts in the field who provide guidance and share the academic responsibility for the candidate with the main academic supervisor.
All academic supervisors must hold a doctoral degree or equivalent qualification in the relevant research field and be active practitioners in their field. The main academic supervisor must have doctoral level artistic competence in the relevant subject area. At least one of the appointed academic supervisors must have previous experience or training in serving as an academic supervisor for PhD candidates.
The faculty, the PhD programme and the academic supervisors must work together to ensure that the PhD candidate participates in an active research environment.
A written agreement signed by the PhD candidate, the academic supervisor(s) and the faculty to which the candidate has been admitted regulates the rights and obligations of the parties during the period of admission. This is intended to ensure that the candidate participates on a regular basis in an active research group and that she/he can complete the education within the agreed time period.
The distribution of supervision hours between the main supervisor, co-supervisor, and any external co-supervisor will be clearly defined. The candidate and their supervisor should maintain regular contact
The supervisors and the candidate hold the duty to familiarize themselves with the ethical guidelines for supervisors at INN University.
Start-up meeting between the PhD candidate and supervisor(s)
The following should be discussed in a start-up meeting between the PhD candidate and the supervisors:
- Distribution of supervision time over the PhD period
- Expectations related to the role and function of the supervisor
- Expectations related to the PhD candidate's role
- How to prepare for and follow up after supervisions?
- How to get started early with artistic experimentation, mapping of relevant research contexts, documentation, and reflection?
- How often should the candidate present artistic practice and drafts of reflection to the supervisor?
- Expectations regarding the number of times the supervisor will review the candidate's material leading up to the final artistic doctoral result.
- Regular evaluation of the supervisory relationship
The content of the supervision
The supervision's content is governed by the regulations for the PhD in artistic research at INN University sec. 8 and by the agreement for admission to the PhD programme in artistic research (Doctoral Degree Agreement), Part B. (See collection of forms for PhD candidates).
The PhD candidate and the supervisor are obligated to keep each other informed on all matters relevant to the course of the doctoral education and supervision. Both must actively monitor conditions that may result in a risk to the supervision not being carried out adequately.
The supervisors are required to follow up on academic circumstances that may lead to late completion of the research education, to then ensure that it can be concluded within the prescribed period.
The academic supervisor is to:
- give advice on formulating and delimiting topics and research questions.
- discuss and assess research questions, methods, and processes for execution of the artistic doctoral work.
- provide help acquainting the candidate with relevant artistic practices, discourse and contexts, literature and relevant data (library, archive, etc.).
- discuss how the artistic doctoral outcome can be presented (content, forms of presentation, reflection, artistic and linguistic models, documentation, etc.).
- stay informed as regards the candidate’s progress and evaluate that progress relative to the plan for completion.
- help ensure that the candidate participates in relevant professional environments within the arts and artistic research.
- discuss results in the artistic doctoral outcome and reflections related to these.
- give advice on dissemination.
- provide the candidate with guidance in ethical matters relating to the artistic PhD-project.
The main academic supervisor must additionally:
- have the main responsibility for following up the candidate’s artistic/academic development in accordance with the progress plan and the regulations in sec. 8-1.
- work with the department to plan for practicalities regarding the finalisation and assessment of the doctoral result in due time.
- notify the institution that an application for assessment is imminent, so the necessary preparations can begin, cf. regulations sec. 13-1.
- make the institution aware that registration is imminent, so that the necessary preparations can be made, in accordance with the regulations sec. 13-1.
- recommend the application for assessment of the artistic PhD-project, cf regulations sec. 13-1.
- propose members of the evaluation committee with relevant qualifications in accordance with the regulations sec. 14. The proposal should be made in consultation with other supervisors and department. The proposal must be addressed to the PhD committee.
The candidate is to:
- keep tutors regularly briefed about the progress of the artistic PhD project.
- share artistic practice, documentation and reflections with the supervisor as agreed and in accordance with the project description.
- submit a yearly report on the progress of the PhD-project and doctoral training.
- complete required coursework in accordance with the progress plan.
- uphold the ethical principles that pertain to his or her area of artistic research.
Replacement of supervisor
Changing a supervisor may become a possibility during the doctoral education where special circumstances dictate the need. If the PhD candidate or the supervisor wish to be released from the supervision agreement, this must be addressed with the head of the relevant PhD Programme. The relevant PhD committee will process the application requesting a change of supervisors. Disputes regarding the academic rights and duties of the supervisor and candidate, can be brought by the parties for consideration and decision by the PhD committee. The supervisor cannot resign until a new supervisor has been appointed, in accordance with the Regulations, sec. 8-1.
Midway evaluation and reporting
Midway evaluation
An evaluation of the artistic doctoral project will take place when the candidate is halfway through the PhD period, normally in the third or fourth semester. The candidate will present their project and discuss it with the opponent and other colleagues in the field. The midterm assessment is designed to help the candidate summarise their ongoing work, develop forms of presentation and discussion, reflect, and disseminate the project in a research context. The midterm assessment is also intended to help the candidate, and their academic supervisors, to draw up concrete plans for further work on the PhD towards final assessment. All supervisors are normally present at the midterm assessment.
If significant shortcomings are identified in the artistic doctoral project, measures must be taken to remedy the situation. These may include measures that the candidate and academic supervisor need to attend to but may also include adaptations to the PhD programme and/or the institution. The mid-term evaluation is intended to contribute to on schedule completion, and to support the quality of the artistic doctoral project. The report from the mid-term evaluation is processed by the PhD committee.
The faculty is responsible for midway evaluation of the candidates associated with the programme; this applies to candidates with external employers as well.
Supplementary guidelines for mid-term evaluation can be read here.
Report form for mid-term evaluation
Progress report
Each year, the PhD candidate and main supervisor must report to the PhD committee on progress and any changes to the progress plan. The candidate and the main supervisor have equal responsibility for submitting the required reports. Failure to submit a progress report or inadequate progress reporting from the candidate may result in involuntary termination of the candidate's participation in the doctoral programme, prior to the expiry of the agreement period, cf. sec. 7-4 and 10-1. Supervisors who fail to comply with the reporting requirements may be relieved of their supervisory responsibilities.
Progress reporting takes place in the spring semester and the deadline for submission is June 10th of each year.
Progress reports are completed using the designated forms the PhD programme sends to the PhD candidates and main supervisors in advance of reporting. The reports are treated confidentially where the information warrants it.
Stay abroad for PhD candidates
All PhD candidates are encouraged to take a period of study abroad during their doctoral studies, to further research the artistic PhD project, to seek out relevant academic and artistic contexts, or to receive residency, supervision, and guidance at other institutions.
INN University encourages you as a PhD candidate to orientate yourself internationally. International experience and networking are crucial for career development, future opportunities regarding appointment in an academic position and for opportunities for external project funding. A research stay abroad can also provide new motivations for work which can influence the artistic doctoral result. The institution and relevant research environment should be chosen carefully, and in collaboration with the supervisor, so that the stay is professionally advantageous and relevant.
The most common types of stays abroad for PhD candidates are:
- Stay as a visiting researcher
- Participation in conferences
- Participation in courses, seminars, festivals, etc.
- Project work
You should discuss with your supervisor when to plan for overseas stays. The Euraxess website provides useful information on the planning phase (requires connection to the university network / use of a university-owned PC).
Financial support for research stays abroad
It is desirable that funding for stays abroad are clarified at the time of admission (usually operating funds). However, the development of the project may change the need for new and longer stays abroad that were not included in the funding plan. There are several support schemes for stays abroad, and it is expected that the PhD candidate adopts a proactive attitude towards financing stays abroad.
- Research Council of Norway's scholarship schemes for mobility.
- UNIFOR - Funds and scholarships
- EURAXESS - practical information for mobile researchers (requires connection to the university network / use of the university's PCs).
- Fulbright Program - USA
You should also contact the R&D advisor at your faculty to find out if there are any local mobility schemes at INN University.
ERASMUS+
PhD candidates can make use of Erasmus+, the EU's scholarship program for mobility in education. The arrangement covers all EU countries and in addition: the UK (until May 2023), Iceland, North Macedonia, Turkey, and Liechtenstein. Erasmus+ participants may receive an additional scholarship.
Staff mobility for training
PhD candidates can apply for Erasmus+ grants towards staff mobility for training. This type of exchange does not require an institutional agreement between INN University and the partner institution abroad.
The training can be at a higher education institution or at a company or organization in an Erasmus+ program country. The scheme covers the following activities: job shadowing / observation, workshop / course / seminars, staff training weeks.
The stay can last from 2 days to 2 months. One additional day can be added before and after the stay for travel, if needed.
Please note that conference participation does not qualify for an Erasmus+ grant.
Student mobility
As a PhD candidate, you can also make use of grants towards student mobility for a study trip to an Erasmus+ partner institution or a practical training trip to a company or organization for a shorter or longer mobility period:
- Long-term mobility: from 2 to 12 months
- Short-term mobility: from 5 to 30 days
Rates: The scholarship is approximately 550 EUR per month (last updated in the fall of 2021).
For a study or practical training period through Erasmus+, there must be an institutional agreement between INN university and the partner institution abroad. The university has over 100 Erasmus+ agreements with European partner institutions.