Engineering

PhD at DTU

At DTU you can get a research education equal to the world’s very best in fields such as mathematics, physics, informatics, chemistry, biotechnology, chemical and biochemical engineering, electrical engineering, communications technology, space science, mechanical engineering, nanotechnology, energy, civil engineering, transport, environmental engineering, food science, veterinary science, and life science.

As a PhD student you will carry out independent scientific research including a written dissertation and a public defense of your PhD work.

You can be admitted as a PhD student at DTU at any time of the year.

About programme

DTU’s departments often have pre-defined projects. You can find these projects advertised under Vacancies at DTU. There is also the possibility of designing a PhD project together with an academic supervisor if you have an area in which you are particularly interested. Each of the departments of DTU has a homepage for their PhD students.

The PhD study is a learning process where you as a PhD student learn to conduct research by working closely with your academic supervisor. The supervisor and PhD student work together as a team in order to achieve the best results.

The PhD programme consists of:

• an independent scientific project
• a study programme corresponding to 30 ECTS
• teaching and dissemination activities corresponding to approximately 3 months
• an external research stay
• a PhD thesis
• a public defense

Admission of international students to the PhD programme

The examinations of international students are evaluated on the basis of information as to the length and content of their studies. Such examinations must at least be at a level equivalent to a Danish examination qualifying the holder for direct admission. The evaluation of the level of an applicant may take place using tests conducted by the potential PhD school and approved by the head of the PhD school.
 
The PhD school and PhD committees request that foreign grades are translated into the 7 grade scale. On the right you can find a link to an Excel sheet for calculating the weighted average. The sheet must be enclosed with the application.

An official translation of the foreign MSc diploma must be submitted together with the application.

We recommend that if possible, applicants include a statement from their home university regarding their relative ranking (e.g. what percentage of the student population of their year they belong to, e.g. top 5%, or 10th place out of 250).

Previous exam

To be admitted as a PhD student, an applicant must have satisfactory results from one of the following exams: 

• A Danish Master’s degree in engineering. (Corresponding to an M.Sc. in Engineering)

• A Master’s degree (based on two years of master’s studies) from a Danish, long-cycle higher educational programme which, in the estimation of the relevant PhD school, gives the applicant the qualifications necessary to complete the course of study in question. An individual evaluation will always be made in relation to the planned PhD study programme.

• A degree from abroad which, in the estimation of the head of the PhD school, is equivalent to one of the degrees/examinations mentioned above in 1) and 2). DTU adheres to the EU qualification framework under which students who have completed the MSc level by a minimum of 300 ECTS points. Admission may also depend upon submission to tests which are further determined by the head of the PhD school.

• Or, if the head of the PhD school concludes that the applicant in some other way has acquired the necessary academic qualifications, which may require documentation by means of special tests. 

Salary and appointment terms

The salary and appointment terms are consistent with the current rules for PhD degree students at DTU.

The grantor must pay/grant tuition to DTU covering the costs connected directly with the studies. The costs include: 
• Supervision
• Office facilities
• Laboratory facilities
• Courses
• Travelling
• Stay(s) abroad, if any
• Censorial expenses
• Publication of thesis 

The current tuition fee rates are: