Get help when there are conflicts or challenges
It's important to know where you can turn to when there are conflicts or when you meet challenges with progression, the supervisor-candidate relationship, required duties or other aspects of the PhD education. There are several channels and resources you can use when you need help. See below for an overview, and also check out the liked pages at the bottom.
Main content
Channels with the graduate school/department
The first step when there are challenges or conflicts is usually to talk to the involved parties:
- Supervisor
- Head of department
- Head of administration
- Head of graduate school
- Employer (external candidates)
In instances where you do not wish to take up the matter directly (or one-on-one) with the parties involved, you may use the following channels:
- Progress report
- Midway evaluation
- Follow-up conversation with the head of the graduate school (external candidates)
- Appraisal interview with the head of the department (internal candidates)
Channels with the faculty/university
If the matter is more serious, or if you feel uncomfortable to take it up with the graduate school or the department, there are several other channels you can turn to.
- PsykSTIP: PsykSTIP is a specialised political and social committee that works to promote the interests and standpoints of PhD-candidates. You can contact the committee via e-mail, or by directly contacting one of the members. Note that the committee is an important supporting party, but when there are more serious matters you should involve the safety delegates or the occupational health service as well. Check out their blog here for more information.
- Safety delegates: The safety delegates may be contacted for matters concerning the working environment. You can find a list of the safety areas and the safety delegates here. They also have a (norwegian) blog with important information, which can be found here.
- The Occupational Health Service: The Occupational Health Service might be contacted when you are in need of assistance relating to different health issues. You may find more specific information on their services here.
- Speak up! (Si fra!): Speak up! is a portal where you can report if something is not working or if you are experiencing unwelcome incidets like for example bullying or harassment. The Speak up! page has many useful resources for different situations, and also has an option to send in positive feedback on things that you would like to see more of. Check out the Speak up! page here.
Overview: Which channel can you use?
| Progression | Supervision | Required duties | Work environment | Health issues | |
| Progress report | X | X | X | * | * |
| Midway evaluation | X | to some degree | |||
| Follow-up conversation | X | X | X | ||
| Appraisal interview | X | X | X | X | |
| PsykSTIP | X | X | X | ||
| Safety delegates | ** | ** | X | ** | |
| The Occupational Health Service | X | X | |||
| Speak up! | X | X | ** |
*matters relating these should mainly be taken up with the employer (or the right channels)
**when related to the work environment
