Applicants are required to use the electronic application form available through electronic communication portal. The application may be submitted in English and/or Icelandic with English translation.
All application documents must be submitted electronically in PDF format via the application portal.
Open Application Portal
Information required in the application
The electronic application must contain the following details:
- Applicant's personal information
- Legal residence and current address
- Programme applied for
- Details of previous education
- Referees
- Supervisors.
The application must be completed and supporting documents prepared in collaboration with the proposed main supervisor. The applicant and the proposed main supervisor must both confirm the application by signing it.
The Centre for Doctoral Studies offers guidance during the preparation of the application, as applicable.
Applications are generally processed within six weeks of receipt, excluding summer holiday periods.
Required supporting documents
The following supporting documents must be submitted via the Uglu portal along with the application:
- Applicant’s curriculum vitae (CV).
- Statement of purpose, outlining the applicant’s objectives and expectations for the doctoral studies.
- Research project proposal, which should address the following components:
- Abstract of the research project
- Background and current state of knowledge
- Research aims and objectives
- Methods of data collection and analysis
- Project implementation and location
- Description of intended work facilities
- Division of responsibilities among researchers
- Ethical considerations
- Anticipated publications
- Risk factors and mitigation strategies
- Reference list
- Study plan and timeline for the doctoral programme, which must include:
- The link between the applicant’s master’s studies and the proposed doctoral project
- Planned doctoral-level courses (0–60 ECTS), including course titles/topics, ECTS credits, and a brief justification (max. 60 words) for their relevance to the proposed PhD programme at the University of Akureyri
- Overall timeline for the PhD, including milestones (max. 100 words).
- A Gantt chart may be used to present the timeline.
- Budget plan: Applicants must complete a budget form indicating projected financial support for the project (e.g., grants), estimated salary costs, and other project-related expenses. The plan should also explain how any anticipated funding shortfalls will be addressed.
- Certified copies of degree certificates for a master's degree or equivalent. These must indicate the scope of the master's thesis (in ECTS credits) and confirm that the degree was awarded with a first-class mark or equivalent.
- If certificates are issued in languages other than English or Icelandic, a certified English translation must be provided.
- Additional supporting documents:
- CVs of the main supervisor and any co-supervisors (who will form the applicant’s doctoral committee). CVs must include:
- Academic position and qualifications relevant to the doctoral project
- Supervision experience (number and type of theses supervised)
- Publication activity in the research field
- Participation in national and international research groups
- International engagement in the relevant academic field
- Proof of English language proficiency
- The applicant must submit confirmation of English language proficiency in the form of one of the following:
- TOEFL (minimum score: 90)
- IELTS (minimum score: 7)
- Other equivalent documentation accepted by the Doctoral Studies Board
- Equivalent documentation may include:
- A completed master’s degree conducted in English at a recognised university, with a thesis written in English
- An official confirmation from a recognised university in an English-speaking country that the applicant met the institution’s English language requirements for study
- For example, an English C2 Certificate
- Description of planned research stay abroad, including location, timeframe, contact person, and purpose of the stay (maximum 60 words).
Important: Please read carefully the Regulations on doctoral studies and doctoral examinations at the University of Akureyri no. 822/2022
This is a translation from the original Icelandic text. In the event of any discrepancy between the English translation and the original Icelandic version, the Icelandic text shall prevail.