The Graduate School upholds the quality of graduate programs at the University of Iceland, with the goal of promoting a dynamic scholarly environment for graduate students and robust, internationally competitive graduate research.
The Graduate School aims to uphold and enhance the quality of graduate studies at the University of Iceland and contribute to their development in accordance with the decisions of the University Council.
QUALITY ENHANCEMENT AND QUALITY ASSURANCE
a. define shared standards and requirements for the quality of graduate studies at the University and ensure they are implemented
b. closely monitor international developments in graduate studies and focus on ensuring that graduate studies at the University meet internationally recognised standards at all times,
c. regularly discuss and review standards and requirements for the quality of graduate studies at the University of Iceland and, as appropriate, propose rules and/or standards that improve the quality of said studies,
d. handle complaints from doctoral students who believe that their school, faculty or programme has failed to meet established standards and requirements for the quality of doctoral studies at the University,
e. review and provide evaluations of proposed changes to school and faculty rules on graduate studies before they are submitted to the University Council for approval,
f. provide evaluations on proposals from schools for new graduate programmes (see the Rules of procedure on the preparation and organisation of new programmes at the University of Iceland) before the request to organise a new programme is submitted to the University Council for approval,
g. ensure, by regularly requesting data from schools and Student Registration, that active research-based graduate programmes meet current standards and requirements,
h. review and approve or reject faculty proposals regarding opponents for doctoral defences,
i. review and manage ad hoc partnership agreements for graduate studies and joint degrees in consultation with the Division of Academic Affairs.
SUPPORT FOR SUPERVISORS AND STUDENTS
j. regularly organise courses and discussion forums for supervisors in collaboration with the Centre for Teaching and Learning and schools,
k. organise the induction of new doctoral students at the University,
l. regularly organise courses and discussion forums for doctoral students on general skills and research competences,
m. encourage as much teaching experience as possible for doctoral students,
n. support professional development for doctoral students in collaboration with the Student Counselling and Career Centre,
o. develop, maintain and oversee the online management system for doctoral studies (the PhD Portal).
COMMUNICATION
p. manage a website and other appropriate online resources for the Graduate School featuring annual statistics on doctoral studies and information about funding opportunities, exchange studies and available graduate courses,
q. act as a forum for consultation and cooperation in matters concerning graduate studies within the University, including requirements for graduate students and supervisors.
Registered PhD students can access the PhD portal in Ugla under:
The portal contains your profile, information on doctoral studies at the relevant school and ten tabs that give access to either information or actions.
You might also want to take a look at the PhD alumni database website.
The University Council appoints five individuals to the board of the Graduate School. The board comprises representatives from the University’s schools. They assist the director, who chairs the board. One representative from the Agricultural University of Iceland and a PhD student also sit on the board.
Ingibjörg Gunnarsdóttir, chair of the board, professor of food science and pro-rector for research at the University of Iceland.
Þorgerður J. Einarsdóttir professor at the Faculty of Political Science, appointed by the School of Social Sciences.
Lárus S. Guðmundsson, senior lecturer at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, appointed by the School of Health Sciences.
Eiríkur Smári Sigurðarson, research expert and director of research, appointed by the School of Humanities.
Annadís Greta Rúdólfsdóttir, senior lecturer at the Faculty of Education and Diversity, appointed by the School of Education.
Ólafur Pétur Pálsson, professor at the Faculty of Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science, appointed by the School of Engineering and Natural Sciences.
Hlynur Óskarsson, professor, representative of the Agricultural University of Iceland.
N.N., student representative, appointed by the doctoral students.
Guðjón Ingi Guðjónsson, doctoral studies coordinator, alternate for the School of Health Sciences.
Helga Rut Guðmundsdóttir, professor, alternate for the School of Education.
