These guidelines were set by the dean 28 June 2022.
The faculty's guidelines are based on and follow UiO's guidelines for doctoral theses consisting of several smaller works (article-based dissertations):
In addition, the following applies to article-based dissertations submitted to the Faculty of Theology:
Scope of the articles
The thesis, apart from the introductory part, should normally correspond to three journal articles of normal length with the candidate as sole author of all the articles. If there are co-authors of one or more of the articles, the number of articles should normally be expanded to four. Of these four, at least one must be with the candidate as sole author and at least one with the candidate as the first author. It is important that the candidate's independent contribution and comprehensive efforts are evident. It is a prerequisite for the assessment of a doctoral thesis at the Faculty of Theology that the candidate has extensive academic responsibility for a majority of the articles included in the thesis.
Co-authorship
In the case of co-authorship, the candidate's independent efforts are identified and documented through declaration(s) from co-authors clarifying the extent of the co-authorship in the individual works.
In the case of co-authorship, the Vancouver Rules are applied, with emphasis on the following:
Authorship shall be based solely on:
a) Significant contributions to the idea and design, or development and analysis of the theoretical model, or data collection, or analysis and interpretation of data
b) Preparation of the manuscript itself or critical revision of the intellectual content of the article
c) Approval of the article version to be published
All criteria (a, b and c) must be met to justify co-authorship.
If co-authorship with a supervisor is considered, this should be clarified as early as possible with the candidate, and for each article separately.
The candidate submits completed and signed co-author declarations together with the thesis when submitted for evaluation.
Form for co-authorship (link to come)
Co-authorship in the humanities, social sciences, law and theology (article in research ethics library).
Synopsis
An article-based thesis must contain an account of the connection between the parts with an introductory chapter, or possibly an introduction and a conclusion (synopsis). Although there may be varying guidelines and traditions in the different disciplines at the faculty, the summary/synopsis/introductory chapter should contain the following components:
Introduction
Theoretical-analytical framework
Research questions in the project
Research status and the contribution of the thesis to the field of research
Method, including research ethical reflections
Detection and discussion of the connections between the articles
Discussion and conclusion
The synopsis should normally be about 70 -100 pages long and the candidate must be the sole author.
Publication of articles
The level of a thesis must be the same whether it is a monograph or consists of several smaller works (articles). The articles must be on the level required for publication in reputable peer-reviewed journals.
If the thesis contains previously published articles, which is not uncommon, the introductory part must also contain academic updates, so that the thesis as a whole appears to be professionally updated. Otherwise, such updates must be made in each article.