Criteria for evaluation of NOVA PhD course applications
- decided at the KUF meeting March 11, 2008.

NOVA will continue to offer PhD courses of a high standard, and new courses are expected to maintain a high scientific level. Applications for course funding will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

Course content:
The planned course must provide an appropriate scientific level to suite PhD standards. The subject should be relevant, and areas where there is a need for new competence will be favoured. Any new subject shall be ancored in the local NOVA team, before sending the application.

Competence:
The competence of course teachers will be evaluated. Teachers are expected to represent a high scientific and pedagogical competence, and should have an appropriate scientific background that demonstrates experience and recent activity within the subject. Leading teachers and their qualifications/excellence should be listed, with CV, in the database. All other teachers should be listed in the course plan. If international teacher(s), maximum two, would significantly increase the level of competence, this would be appreciated (motivation).

Pedagogical approach:
The planned methods of teaching will be evaluated. Interactive teaching where students are engaged and activated is generally encouraged.

Course time plan:
The course time plan should be detailed and realistic. It should be balanced appropriately and should include time for student independent work. Teachers' contribution should be clearly visible.

Nordic dimension:
The course should have a Nordic dimension. This could mean that teachers from several Nordic countries contribute by teaching in the course, that the course content has some relevance to a Nordic situation or to Nordic conditions, or that Nordic cooperation is a real benefit or even necessary for the course (small academic milieus or small student bodies). The applicants should also state why they choose to arrange the course through NOVA. If no or very few Nordic teachers are engaged in the course, this requires a good motivation.