Mastering your PhD 1: Ownership and Journey
Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences at University of Copenhagen
This is a generic course. This means that the course is reserved for PhD students at the Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences at UCPH.
Anyone can apply for the course, but if you are not a PhD student at the Graduate School, you will be placed on the waiting list until enrollment deadline. After the enrollment deadline, available seats will be allocated to the waiting list.
The course is free of charge for PhD students at Danish universities (except Copenhagen Business School), and for PhD students at NorDoc member faculties. All other participants must pay the course fee.
”Special rules apply for this course”
The course is mandatory for PhD students in the MoMeD Graduate Programme; therefore, these PhD students have priority. All applicants will be put on the waiting list upon registration, and after the deadline, participants will be notified whether they have been given a seat.
Learning objectives
A student who has met the objectives of the course will be able to:
1. Strengthen ownership and self-leadership throughout the PhD journey.
2. Gain a clearer understanding of the PhD student’s role, including its responsibilities and opportunities.
3. Apply practical and theoretical tools to navigate research projects effectively.
4. Develop skills for effective teamwork, supervision, and managing cultural or interpersonal dynamics in research settings.
Content
The course is designed to support PhD students in fully embracing and navigating their unique role—one that demands both self-reliance and self-awareness, as well as the ability to engage in close, iterative collaboration with others. It aims to foster a greater sense of ownership over their doctoral journey and research project, equipping them with the theoretical frameworks and practical tools necessary to structure a coherent and well-coordinated process from the early stages.
In addition to focusing on the progression of the PhD journey itself, the course emphasizes the interpersonal dimensions of doctoral work. Participants will develop strategies to build effective relationships with their supervisors, colleagues, and broader professional network, with particular attention to cultural norms and differences, and approaches to navigating these dynamics constructively.
Participants
The course aims at PhD students within their first 3-10 months of enrollment. The course is mandatory for studens enrolled in the graduate programme MoMeD, but all PhD students are welcome to apply and join if there are available seats.
Relevance to graduate programmes
The course is relevant to PhD students from the following graduate programmes at the Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences, UCPH:
Molecular Mechanisms of Disease
All graduate programmes
Language
English
Form
It is an interactive course where participants will work hands-on on their own PhD projects and collaborations as a point of departure. The day will consist of a mix of lectures, individual reflections and group work, panel discussions, and exercises. In addition, as part of the afternoon program, there will be a panel discussion with senior PhD’s from the MoMeD Programme to spark peer-to-peer reflection and knowledge exchange. The PhD students will receive preparatory questions before the course starts.
Teachers
Ole Winthereik Mathorne, PhD
Chief Consultant, LEAD
External lecturer at the University of Southern Denmark, the Health Faculty, Department of Sport and Clinical Biomechanics.
Date
20 April 2026, 9:00-16:00
Course location
Mærsk Tower, Room 7.15.152 Blegdamsvej 3B
Registration
Please register before 20 March 2026.
Expected frequency
2 times per year
Seats to PhD students from other Danish universities will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and according to the applicable rules. Applications from other participants will be considered after the last day of enrolment.
Note: All applicants are asked to submit invoice details in case of no-show, late cancellation or obligation to pay the course fee (typically non-PhD students). If you are a PhD student, your participation in the course must be in agreement with your principal supervisor.