The studies at the Faculty of Science lead to the following three degrees: (i) a Bachelor's degree, BSc (Bachelor of Science), based on a full-time three-year curriculum, (ii) a candidate or Master's degree, cand.scient. (corresponding to an MSc, Master of Science), which requires another two years of full-time studies, and (iii) a PhD degree (Doctor of Philosophy), based on aother three or four years of studies.
At the Faculty of Science, the curriculae leading to the Bachelor of Science, Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy are integrated into one common "tree structure". The students need not choose the degree they want to obtain immediately after admission. They can make up their minds at the appropriate moment according to their own wishes, skills and interests.During the first two years of study (Part One) the student is introduced to the basic parts of the subject(s) he/she has chosen via the entry (see below). In addition, he must acquaint himself with the auxiliary subjects, e.g. mathematics, which are neccesary for the understanding of the more advanced parts of the subject.
If the student chooses to leave University with a Bachelor's degree he/she must add one year's programme to the basic two-years programme. The final year also consists of a small Bachelor's project during which the student can demonstrate his/her particular skills. The Bachelor's degree is a proof of basic all-round proficiency within the chosen subject.
Students who want to obtain a Master's degree should apply for admission to enter the two years Master's programme. During the concluding year a major subject is studied in some detail. In addition a medium sized research project, most often a part of the research programme of the department, is carried out under the supervision of a teacher. By the end of the year a thesis is prepared and submitted for evaluation at the department. The Master's degree is a proof of an all-round proficiency combined with a higher level of understanding of the basic relationships within the chosen subject(s); it also proves that the candidate is capable of carrying out scientific investigations at an advanced level.
Qualified students are invited to apply for admission to the PhD Programme. Admission to the PhD Programme is granted by the Board of PhD Studies and the student must fulfil a number of conditions (described elsewhere) in order to be accepted as a PhD student. Within the Faculty's course structure it is possible to proceed directly to the PhD Programme upon completion of the first year of the Master's programme.
The PhD programme is a four-year programme divided into two two-year programmes, Part A and Part B. Part A combines an advanced course programme with introductory research, while Part B consists of an independent and individually planned scientific research project. A one- or two-semester stay at a research institution abroad is a strongly recommended part of the programme. At the end of Part B the student prepares a PhD thesis which is submitted to the Faculty for approval. This process ultimately leads to the PhD degree which is the minimum qualification required for a career in scientific research. The PhD degree is a proof that the holder has a state-of-the-art knowledge of his major subject, and that he/she is able to carry out original and independent research within this field of specialization.
Students who have been admitted to Part A of the PhD programme may obtain a Master's degree if for some reason they do not want to proceed with the research training course. They will automatically obtain the Master's degree after passing the Part A exam.