Doctoral studies
Reykjavik University (RU) is a forward-thinking research institution that combines academic excellence with a vibrant, international atmosphere for students and staff alike. Recognized for its innovative research and dedicated faculty, RU has consistently ranked as one of the world’s most cited universities, according to recent Times Higher Education reports. This accolade reflects the high-impact research conducted by its accomplished scientists and researchers, many of whom are at the forefront of their fields in Iceland and beyond.
Doctoral studies at RU are designed to immerse students in cutting-edge research, encouraging independence and collaboration across disciplines. Doctoral candidates at RU work closely with faculty mentors, gaining hands-on experience in advanced methodologies and contributing to meaningful projects that address local and global challenges. Students benefit from a supportive research environment, international collaborations, and access to state-of-the-art facilities, ensuring they are well-prepared to lead and innovate in their chosen fields.
We encourage prospective students to contact the relevant department’s staff for detailed information about our doctoral programs and admission requirements
Below, we outline the main research areas available to doctoral candidates, as well as the university’s general guidelines for doctoral studies. Please note that some departments maintain additional rules specific to their disciplines, which apply alongside the university-wide framework.
Department of Law
PhD studies at the Department of Law at Reykjavik University cover the following legal fields:
- Tort Law, including Compensation Law, Insurance Law, and Maritime Law.
For more information, contact Dr Guðmundur Sigurðsson, Professor, email: gudmundur@ru.is - EEA Law
For more information, contact Dr Margrét Einarsdóttir, Professor, email: margreteinars@ru.is - European Law
For more information, contact Dr Gunnar Þór Pétursson, Professor, email: gunnarthor@ru.is - Climate Law, Environmental Law, Ocean Law, and International Law
For more information, contact Dr Snjólaug Árnadóttir, Associate Professor, email: snjolauga@ru.is - Constitutional Law, History of Constitutional Law, and Comparative Constitutional Law.
For more information, contact Dr. Ragnhildur Helgadóttir, Professor, email: ragnhildurh@ru.is. - Securities Market Law, Financial Market Law, and Corporate Law
For more information, contact Dr Andri Fannar Bergþórsson, Associate Professor, email: andrib@ru.is
Doctoral Studies Guidelines
The PhD programme at the RU Department of Law requires three years of full-time study and corresponds to 180 credits (ECTS). The programme can be extended to four years if a student is engaged in teaching or other work alongside their studies.
To fulfil the requirements for a doctoral degree from the Department of Law at Reykjavik University, the candidate must conduct scientific research that independently contributes to knowledge creation within the field of law under the guidance of a doctoral-level supervisor.
A doctoral degree is only granted to candidates who have conducted original, independent research that demonstrates sufficient novelty, scientific value, and scope to merit the degree.
Teaching and Employment Opportunities
Doctoral candidates may be offered to teach courses at the Department of Law as part-time lecturers/teaching assistants.
Courses
Reykjavík University does not offer a regular programme of PhD courses. Instead, such courses are organised on an ad hoc basis or in cooperation with other Universities or academic networks. Each student and supervisor will design the individual PhD course programme, either at Reykjavík University or other collaborative Universities or offered by international/Nordic academic networks.
For additional information on the PhD programme, please refer to the programme description.
Tuition
Doctoral candidates pay a tuition fee equivalent to one semester's tuition for the Master of Laws (ML) program. Tuition fees at RU are determined annually.
Residency Requirement
Doctoral candidates must conduct their research at RU and reside near the university for 18 months of the program. Additionally, candidates are expected to spend up to six months at an international academic institution.
Department of Psychology
The Department of Psychology at Reykjavik University offers an ambitious PhD program for individuals interested in pursuing academic research within one of the department's specialised fields.
The doctoral program is designed to support ongoing research within the department while training emerging scholars in the application of scientific methods to generate and disseminate new knowledge that can benefit Icelandic society.
The PhD program is a full-time, four-year program, totalling 240 ECTS credits, of which 30 credits are allocated to coursework. To qualify for a PhD from the Department of Psychology at Reykjavik University, candidates, under the supervision of a doctoral adviser, must conduct independent scientific research that contributes to the advancement of knowledge in the field of psychology.
The PhD degree is awarded only to candidates who complete original, independent research that consists of three scientific articles that demonstrate sufficient novelty, scientific value, and scope to justify the award of the degree.
Prospective applicants are advised to first contact a faculty member in the department to discuss potential supervision opportunities before submitting a formal application.
Please contact Hildur Droplaug Pálsdóttir, Administrative Director, for further information on the doctoral program.
Email: hildur@ru.is
Please note that all available PhD positions are advertised on the RU Careers page.
Additional information is available from the program administrator and director of doctoral studies.
Courses
The PhD program does not follow a fixed course track. Instead, courses and research activities (corresponding to a minimum of 30 ECTS units) are organised on an individualised basis, often in collaboration with other universities and research institutions. The candidate, in consultation with their supervisor, will design a personalised course plan tailored to enhance their skills and knowledge in research within their area of specialisation.
Tuition
Tuition fees at Reykjavik University are determined on an annual basis. Detailed information about tuition fees and related regulations can be found [here]. In the Department of Psychology, tuition is charged only for the first semester. For subsequent semesters, tuition fees are waived, provided that the student's academic progress aligns with an established plan.
Department of Sports Science
The Department of Sport Science at Reykjavik University offers a rigorous PhD program for those interested in conducting academic research in sports science.
The doctoral program supports research within the department while training young scientists in scientific methods for acquiring and sharing new knowledge, benefiting Icelandic society and industry.
The PhD program is a full-time, three-year course totalling 180 ECTS credits, of which 30 credits are coursework. To fulfil the requirements for a PhD from the Department of Sport Science at Reykjavik University, the candidate, under the guidance of a PhD-qualified supervisor, must conduct scientific research that contributes independently to knowledge creation in the field of Sport Science.
The PhD degree is awarded only if the candidate has conducted original, independent research consisting of three scientific articles demonstrating sufficient novelty, scientific value, and scope to merit the degree.
PAPESH is the research centre of the Department of Sport Science.
Applications
Before submitting a formal application, interested individuals should contact a faculty member in the department regarding potential supervision for the PhD degree.
For the formal application, applicants must apply through Reykjavik University’s application portal and submit the following documents in English:
- Copies of diplomas
- Detailed curriculum vitae (CV)
- Names of three referees
- A brief overview of the proposed research
- Proposed supervisor
- Information about funding
Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the academic staff of the department to discuss potential research for a PhD.
All available PhD positions are advertised on the RU Careers page.
Further information is available from the department’s program manager.
Applicants must have completed a master’s degree in sports science, demonstrated outstanding academic or professional performance, and be likely to take initiative in knowledge creation within the fields of science or industry.
Department of Business and Economics
The Department of Business and Economics at Reykjavik University offers a rigorous PhD programme for those interested in conducting academic research in one of the department's areas of specialisation. The doctoral programme educates students in applying scientific methods for acquiring and disseminating new knowledge.
The aim of the PhD programme is to develop young scientists for the benefit of Icelandic and global society and industry, to support departmental research, and to reinforce Reykjavik University’s position as an internationally recognised university.
The Department’s Research Council (DBERC) is responsible for the supervision of the Department’s PhD programme. The administrative arrangements are supported by the Department’s PhD Programme Administrator.
Requirements to complete the PhD programme:
The programme requirements are defined in the Reykjavik University Rules for PhD studies as well as the Department of Business and Economics Rules for PhD Studies.
To complete the PhD programme, students must, as a minimum:
- Possess a range of general and specialised knowledge within the scientific field(s) of their studies (knowledge).
- Apply advanced scientific research methods and procedures to substantive research questions within their field(s) of study (skills).
- Apply knowledge and skills acquired during their studies to advance the relevant profession and/or in the context of teaching or further studies (competencies).
- Make an original and substantial contribution to knowledge creation in their specific field(s) of study.
Rules of the PhD programme:
Contact information
Please contact the Director or Administrator of the PhD programme for further information.
Applications for admission to PhD studies require the agreement of a proposed supervisor who must be a full-time faculty member within the department and hold a PhD. The role of the supervisor is to guide the PhD students in their research work, monitor the progress of the studies, and oversee the quality of the research.
Application
When submitting a formal application, candidates must apply through Reykjavik University’s application portal and provide the following documents in English:
- Curriculum vitae (CV)
- Copies of diplomas
- Description of the proposed research topic
- Names of three referees
- Proposed supervisor
- Information on funding for the studies
Applications for admission to the PhD studies require the agreement from a proposed supervisor.
Applications can be submitted before April 30th for the autumn semester and before November 5th for the spring semester.
Tuition
The RU tuition fees are set annually, and information about tuition and related regulations can be found here.
Department of Computer Science
The PhD program in computer science is based on research-focused projects for students who aim to develop and lead research-related work in various fields of computer science.
The program integrates with teaching and research or the high-tech industries of the future. Its goal is to provide students with the training and knowledge needed to lead in research and development, whether in academia or the tech industry. High standards are set for those pursuing this program.
The PhD program is organised in collaboration with international universities and research institutions. This requires students to spend part of their study period abroad.
- Further information about the PhD program in the Department of Computer Science.
- Please note that all available PhD positions are advertised on the RU Careers page.
Department of Engineering
The Department of Engineering offers a PhD in Engineering or a PhD in Applied Sciences.
Dedicated to bringing together scientific rigour, curiosity, and technological creativity to push the frontiers of research and innovation.
Program directors
- Eyjólfur Ingi Ásgeirsson, programme director of financial engineering and engineering management
- Ingunn Gunnarsdóttir, programme director of applied sciences
- Karl Ægir Karlsson, programme director of mechatronics, biomedical and electric power engineering
- María Sigríður Guðjónsdóttir, programme director of energy and mechanical engineering
To Apply
Prospective applicants for admission to our PhD studies require the agreement of a supervisor who must be a full-time faculty member within the Department of Engineering and hold a PhD. The role of the supervisor is to guide the PhD students in their research work, monitor the progress of the studies, and oversee the quality of the research.
Please note that most available PhD positions are advertised on the RU Careers page. The following documents are required for admission.
- Transcripts of MSc degree
- Transcripts of BSc degree
- CV
- 2 recommendation letters
- 1 letter of support from your intended supervisor
- Student's statement of purpose For non-native English speakers, TOEFL scores or comparable certifications
Further information about the Department of Engineering can be found by visiting our webpage.
Further information about the PhD programme in the Department of Engineering is available from the department office at vfd@ru.is.
PhD programme coordination is managed by the department office.