Midway Evaluation – Faculty of Medicine
Revised and approved by the Program Board for PhD Education on 12.06.24

Department:	Name of Candidate:	
Start Date PhD:	End Date PhD:	
Main Supervisor:	Co-Supervisor(s):

PURPOSE 
The midway evaluation is an integral part of the quality assurance of the research education and should be a comprehensive, academic review of the project, contributing to the candidate completing the project on time and with high quality. The midway evaluation is not an oral exam or an in-depth academic discussion or “mini-disputation”.
The midway evaluation should help the candidate and supervisor to reflect on the candidate’s progress in the PhD program and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the project. The supervisor can reflect on the supervisory relationship and whether there is a need for adjustments in the supervision strategy. The midway committee is encouraged to emphasize on academic dialogue to promote progress towards the completion of the doctoral degree within the stipulated time. The committee can help identify any challenges or obstacles in the project and suggest alternative solutions, possibly with necessary adjustments to the project description. The committee can also support the supervisor with feedback on the supervision situation and suggest measures for improvements.

Check and elaborate in the comment fields.
PROGRESSION (PUBLICATIONS)	
Satisfactory □	Comment:  	
Need for follow-up                               □		
SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITY - RESULTS	
Satisfactory □	Comment:	
Need for follow-up                               □		
PROGRESSION TRAINING COMPONENT (30 credits)	
Satisfactory □	Comment:	
Need for follow-up                               □		

PLAN FOR COMPLETION OF THE PHD DEGREE	
Satisfactory □	Comment: 	
Need for follow-up                               □		
ETHICAL APPROVAL	
Does the project, including all sub-projects, have the necessary ethical approvals? (Specify any REK number)

	REK number(s): 

Comments:	

Summary and assessment of the candidate’s progress:

The midway evaluation is mandatory for all PhD candidates. The midway evaluation is approved and awarded one (1) ECTS if the following two elements are completed:

1.	Submission of a preliminary report according to the department’s specifications no later than two weeks before the scheduled date for the midway evaluation.
2.	Completion of an oral midway presentation (15-minute presentation + 10-minute discussion in plenary) and a subsequent meeting with the committee.
**

The midway evaluation is approved as one (1) ECTS in the training component of the PhD. program at the Faculty of Medicine in accordance with current guidelines (check in the box below).
□	

Date	Name Committee Member	Signature	
Date	Name Committee Member	Signature	

GUIDANCE
The assessment form should be completed to provide the department leadership with information about the candidate’s progress in relation to the tentative end date.

Each checkbox in the form should be elaborated with comments on all points. “Needs follow-up” can vary greatly depending on how much help the candidate needs, ranging from finding relevant courses, needing additional supervisors, to major changes such as project adjustments. Therefore, the comment field is particularly important as it will be followed up by the PhD coordinator and/or research leader. Please find below some examples of considerations the committee could contribute.

PROGRESS (PUBLICATIONS)
•	How many articles are planned in the thesis?
•	How far has the candidate progressed in the writing process?
•	When will the articles be finished (plan) and is the plan to submit any manuscripts in the thesis or will all articles be published?
•	Is the timeline for the publications realistic considering submission at the end of         
the PhD period?
•	What changes could potentially improve progress?

SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITY – RESULTS
•	Are experiments/data collection going according to plan?
•	Is the candidate experiencing any particular challenges with the scientific work?

PROGRESS IN TRAINING COMPONENT (30 ECTS)
•	How many credits has the candidate been approved for?
•	Has the candidate completed courses that are not yet approved?
•	Does the candidate have a plan to complete the training component within 6 months before the planned submission?

PLAN FOR COMPLETION OF THE DEGREE
•	Does the candidate have a clear progress plan for the further work?
•	Is it realistic that the candidate will submit within the period?

ETHICAL APPROVAL
The candidate must present documentation for ethical approval if relevant for the project.

SUMMARY
•	What measures are necessary for the candidate to complete the dissertation on time?
•	How can the department and supervisors support the candidate to ensure the best possible progress?

After the presentation, the committee, supervisor, and candidate should review the summary and any other comments from the committee in a closed meeting. There should also be a concluding conversation between the committee and the candidate, without the supervisors present. If the committee or supervisors wish, a short conversation between the committee and the supervisor(s) can also be held. Note that significant academic changes to the project must be applied for to the faculty, while minor changes are approved internally at the department.

Note that the only reason for not approving the midway evaluation is if the candidate has not submitted material or has not prepared enough for the committee to get an overview of the candidate’s progress. Lack of progress is not a reason to refuse approval of the midway evaluation.