Can I get an extension of my PhD project as a direct consequence of COVID-19?

Application deadline: 15 September 2020

Application form: English version - Danish version

PhD programme administrator:

AU has decided on a joint procedure for handling the challenges students are facing in relation to completing their PhD projects as a direct consequence of COVID-19, including the physical shutdown of AU.

This joint procedure is based on the political agreements on the phased reopening of the country, in addition to the ‘Circular on the agreement on the possibility of extending temporary employment contracts, as a consequence of delays occurring in connection with COVID-19’.

https://www.retsinformation.dk/eli/retsinfo/2020/9273

The objective of the procedure is to ensure a common point of departure for all PhD students at AU, while at the same time granting the individual graduate school the flexibility to handle the challenges in individual students’ PhD projects in the most appropriate way.

The joint procedure applies to PhD students whose progress has been directly affected by COVID-19, including the physical shutdown of AU that began on 13 March 2020:

A delay in progress towards the PhD degree must be a direct consequence of COVID-19, including the physical shutdown of AU.

All PhD projects that are or may be delayed must be considered individually and through individual dialogue with the principal supervisor and with a statement from the PhD programme directors and head of departments/employer.

The nature of the delay in the PhD project must be described, and in the evaluation of the extension, every effort must be made to adjust the individual PhD project so as to allow the student to complete their project as planned.

If the PhD project cannot be completed without an extension of the deadline, the amount of additional time to be granted must be calculated on an individual basis.

https://medarbejdere.au.dk/en/corona/for-phd-students/

An application for extension will not be relevant if you have worked from home taking online courses, written articles or thesis chapters, and been able to continue with parts of your research. If you are in the early stages of your PhD studies, re-planning may allow you to catch up later.

If you are in the final phase of your studies and have been significantly delayed due to the lockdown, discuss the possibilities for completing in due time with your supervisors.

If an extension is deemed necessary, please fill out this application form (English version - Danish version). Your supervisor, PhD programme director and the head of department must comment before forwarding the application to the relevant Graduate School PhD programme administrator (see names above).

The application deadline is 15 September 2020.

If your enrolment expires before the deadline, please forward your application as soon as possible.

All applications will be individually assessed, and we aim to give you a reply as soon as possible after the deadline.