PhD scholarship at the Department of Economics, University of Copenhagen (UCPH)
fuldtid
PhD scholarship at the Department of Economics, University of Copenhagen (UCPH)
Applications are invited for a PhD scholarship at the Department of Economics. Enrolment will be at the Faculty of Social Sciences under Copenhagen Graduate School of Social Sciences.
The position starting date is 1 September 2026.
Introduction
The PhD programme provides PhD students with strong research training which opens up a window of opportunity to a variety of careers within the private and public sectors. The programme includes the drafting of a PhD thesis, active participation in research networks, PhD courses, teaching, and other forms of knowledge dissemination. The PhD programme can be undertaken as a three-year full-time study within the framework of the 5+3 study programme, a four-year full-time study programme within the framework of the 4+4 study programme, or a five-year full-time study programme within the framework of the 3+5 study programme.
Duties and Responsibilities
Further information about the PhD study programme is available on the website of Copenhagen Graduate School of Social Sciences: PhD School in the Social Sciences – Faculty of Social Sciences - University of Copenhagen.
Under "Legal basis" on the website you will find information about the rules and guidelines for the PhD programme and the Danish Ministerial Order on the PhD programme at the Universities.
Information about the PhD study programme is also available on the PhD website of the Department of Economics. Please see: PhD programme - Department of Economics - University of Copenhagen.
Applicants should familiarise themselves with the research strategy and the ongoing research at the department before submitting their application. Further information can be found here: https://www.economics.ku.dk/department/reportsplans/Econ_Strategy_2019-2022.pdf.
Qualification requirements
Applicants must have qualifications corresponding to master’s level related to the subject area of the project, e.g. MSc in Economics. If you have completed your education in Denmark, you must have a master’s degree covered by the collective agreement for academics in the state sector.
If you have completed your education outside of Denmark, you must either have a master’s degree equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (two years) or as minimum a bachelor’s degree equivalent to a Danish bachelor’s degree (three years) and be assessed as having professional qualifications at master's level.
If you have completed your education outside of Denmark, we will obtain an assessment of your education from the Danish Research Agency.
If you do not have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master´s degree or qualifications corresponding to Danish master’s level, you might be qualified for the integrated MSc and PhD programmes (4+4 or 3+5).
Scholarship in the 5+3, the 4+4 or the 3+5 PhD study programme
The 5+3 PhD study programme
PhD students are paid a salary in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). The PhD student has a work obligation of up to 840 hours over the 3 year period of time without additional pay. The work obligation can include teaching, for instance. The PhD student is expected to seek funding for fieldwork as this is not included in the scholarship.
The 4+4 PhD study programme
Until an MSc degree is obtained, the grant is paid partly in the form of up to 48 state education grant portions (in Danish: SU-klip). More specifically the PhD student will be paid two grant portions per month plus salary for work (teaching, presentations etc.) which totals a workload of at least 280 hours. Payment and conditions of employment are carried out in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). Upon completion of the MSc degree programme, the student is transferred to the salary-earning part of the PhD studies. The PhD student is expected to seek funding for fieldwork as this is not included in the scholarship.
The 3+5 PhD study programme
Students who have completed a BSc would enrol as PhD students simultaneously with their enrolment in the MSc degree programme. Applicants should check the study programmes for more detailed descriptions of the entry requirements. Until an MSc degree is obtained, the grant is paid partly in the form of up to 48 state education grant portions (in Danish: SU-klip). More specifically the PhD student will be paid one grant portion per month during the first two years, and two grant portions per month during the last year. The student will also receive salary for work (teaching, presentations etc.) which totals a workload of at least 280 hours. Payment and conditions of employment are carried out in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). Upon completion of the MSc degree, the student is transferred to the salary-earning part of the PhD studies. The PhD student is expected to seek funding for fieldwork as this is not included in the scholarship.
For more information on the specific requirements of the integrated PhD programmes, please visit this website: Integrated PhD – University of Copenhagen.
Please note assessment of applicants’ qualifications and eligibility for employment and enrolment will only take place after the application deadline.
How to apply
Please submit your application online. To apply, please click on the “Apply now” icon at the bottom of this page. Your application must be written in English, and include the following attachments (with descriptive titles) in either PDF or Word format:
Applicants holding a degree from a university where the working language is neither English nor a Scandinavian language must include translated versions of their diploma and transcripts, verified by the issuing university. The documents must be translated into English, Danish, Norwegian, or Swedish. In addition, an official description of the relevant grading scale (e.g. diploma supplement) must be included.
The recruitment process
Further information on the recruitment process at University of Copenhagen can be found here: Recruitment process - University of Copenhagen.
The following criteria are used when shortlisting candidates for assessment:
1. Research qualifications as reflected in the project proposal.
2. Quality and feasibility of the project.
3. Qualifications and knowledge in relevant Economics disciplines within macroeconomics, microeconomics and econometrics. Applicants should check the Economics PhD study programme for a more detailed description of this requirement.
4. Performance (grades obtained) in graduate and post-graduate studies.
5. The Department of Economics can offer adequate supervision for the research topic in question.
Selected applicants are notified of the composition of the assessment committee, and each applicant can comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself.
Please note that normally there is strong competition for these scholarships, and only a few can be awarded each term.
As an applicant to the University of Copenhagen, you should be prepared to undergo a security screening related to international research collaboration as part of the recruitment process. The security screening will be conducted in cases where the University deems it appropriate based on an overall assessment.
Enrolment
In order to be awarded a PhD scholarship, the applicant has to enroll as a PhD student at the Faculty of Social Sciences, cf. the rules of the Danish Ministerial order No 1039 of 27 August 2013.
An equal opportunity workplace
The University of Copenhagen is committed in its pursuit of academic excellence to equality of opportunity and to creating an inclusive working environment and therefore encourages all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of personal background, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, ethnicity etc. For more on the diverse working place environment at the University and the University’s participation in the HRS4R HR Excellence in Research, please see: HR Excellence in Research – University of Copenhagen.
International applicant?
The University of Copenhagen offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including support before and during your relocation and career counselling to expat partners. Please find more information about these services as well as information on entering and working in Denmark here: For international researchers at the University of Copenhagen – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk).
Contact information
We kindly encourage you to consult our website, where most questions regarding the recruitment process as well as the academic content and structure of the PhD programme are answered:
Structure of the PhD programme – University of Copenhagen
How to obtain a PhD scholarship – University of Copenhagen
Additional information about the position can be obtained from Head of PhD Programme, Professor Jeanet Sinding Bentzen, e-mail: jeanet.bentzen@econ.ku.dk.
Information about the recruitment process is available from HR South, e-mail: hr-soendre@adm.ku.dk. Please refer to ID number: 211-2320/25-2H #2.
The closing date for applications is 1 February 2026 at 23:59 CET.
Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
The position starting date is 1 September 2026.
Introduction
The PhD programme provides PhD students with strong research training which opens up a window of opportunity to a variety of careers within the private and public sectors. The programme includes the drafting of a PhD thesis, active participation in research networks, PhD courses, teaching, and other forms of knowledge dissemination. The PhD programme can be undertaken as a three-year full-time study within the framework of the 5+3 study programme, a four-year full-time study programme within the framework of the 4+4 study programme, or a five-year full-time study programme within the framework of the 3+5 study programme.
Duties and Responsibilities
Further information about the PhD study programme is available on the website of Copenhagen Graduate School of Social Sciences: PhD School in the Social Sciences – Faculty of Social Sciences - University of Copenhagen.
Under "Legal basis" on the website you will find information about the rules and guidelines for the PhD programme and the Danish Ministerial Order on the PhD programme at the Universities.
Information about the PhD study programme is also available on the PhD website of the Department of Economics. Please see: PhD programme - Department of Economics - University of Copenhagen.
Applicants should familiarise themselves with the research strategy and the ongoing research at the department before submitting their application. Further information can be found here: https://www.economics.ku.dk/department/reportsplans/Econ_Strategy_2019-2022.pdf.
Qualification requirements
Applicants must have qualifications corresponding to master’s level related to the subject area of the project, e.g. MSc in Economics. If you have completed your education in Denmark, you must have a master’s degree covered by the collective agreement for academics in the state sector.
If you have completed your education outside of Denmark, you must either have a master’s degree equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (two years) or as minimum a bachelor’s degree equivalent to a Danish bachelor’s degree (three years) and be assessed as having professional qualifications at master's level.
If you have completed your education outside of Denmark, we will obtain an assessment of your education from the Danish Research Agency.
If you do not have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master´s degree or qualifications corresponding to Danish master’s level, you might be qualified for the integrated MSc and PhD programmes (4+4 or 3+5).
Scholarship in the 5+3, the 4+4 or the 3+5 PhD study programme
The 5+3 PhD study programme
PhD students are paid a salary in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). The PhD student has a work obligation of up to 840 hours over the 3 year period of time without additional pay. The work obligation can include teaching, for instance. The PhD student is expected to seek funding for fieldwork as this is not included in the scholarship.
The 4+4 PhD study programme
Until an MSc degree is obtained, the grant is paid partly in the form of up to 48 state education grant portions (in Danish: SU-klip). More specifically the PhD student will be paid two grant portions per month plus salary for work (teaching, presentations etc.) which totals a workload of at least 280 hours. Payment and conditions of employment are carried out in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). Upon completion of the MSc degree programme, the student is transferred to the salary-earning part of the PhD studies. The PhD student is expected to seek funding for fieldwork as this is not included in the scholarship.
The 3+5 PhD study programme
Students who have completed a BSc would enrol as PhD students simultaneously with their enrolment in the MSc degree programme. Applicants should check the study programmes for more detailed descriptions of the entry requirements. Until an MSc degree is obtained, the grant is paid partly in the form of up to 48 state education grant portions (in Danish: SU-klip). More specifically the PhD student will be paid one grant portion per month during the first two years, and two grant portions per month during the last year. The student will also receive salary for work (teaching, presentations etc.) which totals a workload of at least 280 hours. Payment and conditions of employment are carried out in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). Upon completion of the MSc degree, the student is transferred to the salary-earning part of the PhD studies. The PhD student is expected to seek funding for fieldwork as this is not included in the scholarship.
For more information on the specific requirements of the integrated PhD programmes, please visit this website: Integrated PhD – University of Copenhagen.
Please note assessment of applicants’ qualifications and eligibility for employment and enrolment will only take place after the application deadline.
How to apply
Please submit your application online. To apply, please click on the “Apply now” icon at the bottom of this page. Your application must be written in English, and include the following attachments (with descriptive titles) in either PDF or Word format:
- Cover letter (max. 1 page detailing your motivation and background for applying with the specific PhD project)
- CV
- Project description (max. 12,000 characters incl. spaces not incl. bibliography)
- Project abstract (max 1,200 characters incl. spaces)
- Diploma and transcripts of records (BSc and MSc). Please include the following documents: bachelor’s and master's degree - diplomas and transcripts, description of grading scale. Please note: If your degree diploma is not available by the application deadline, please include your latest transcript of grades.
- Time schedule
- Other information for consideration, e.g., list of publications, documentation of English language qualifications (if any).
Applicants holding a degree from a university where the working language is neither English nor a Scandinavian language must include translated versions of their diploma and transcripts, verified by the issuing university. The documents must be translated into English, Danish, Norwegian, or Swedish. In addition, an official description of the relevant grading scale (e.g. diploma supplement) must be included.
The recruitment process
Further information on the recruitment process at University of Copenhagen can be found here: Recruitment process - University of Copenhagen.
The following criteria are used when shortlisting candidates for assessment:
1. Research qualifications as reflected in the project proposal.
2. Quality and feasibility of the project.
3. Qualifications and knowledge in relevant Economics disciplines within macroeconomics, microeconomics and econometrics. Applicants should check the Economics PhD study programme for a more detailed description of this requirement.
4. Performance (grades obtained) in graduate and post-graduate studies.
5. The Department of Economics can offer adequate supervision for the research topic in question.
Selected applicants are notified of the composition of the assessment committee, and each applicant can comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself.
Please note that normally there is strong competition for these scholarships, and only a few can be awarded each term.
As an applicant to the University of Copenhagen, you should be prepared to undergo a security screening related to international research collaboration as part of the recruitment process. The security screening will be conducted in cases where the University deems it appropriate based on an overall assessment.
Enrolment
In order to be awarded a PhD scholarship, the applicant has to enroll as a PhD student at the Faculty of Social Sciences, cf. the rules of the Danish Ministerial order No 1039 of 27 August 2013.
An equal opportunity workplace
The University of Copenhagen is committed in its pursuit of academic excellence to equality of opportunity and to creating an inclusive working environment and therefore encourages all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of personal background, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, ethnicity etc. For more on the diverse working place environment at the University and the University’s participation in the HRS4R HR Excellence in Research, please see: HR Excellence in Research – University of Copenhagen.
International applicant?
The University of Copenhagen offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including support before and during your relocation and career counselling to expat partners. Please find more information about these services as well as information on entering and working in Denmark here: For international researchers at the University of Copenhagen – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk).
Contact information
We kindly encourage you to consult our website, where most questions regarding the recruitment process as well as the academic content and structure of the PhD programme are answered:
Structure of the PhD programme – University of Copenhagen
How to obtain a PhD scholarship – University of Copenhagen
Additional information about the position can be obtained from Head of PhD Programme, Professor Jeanet Sinding Bentzen, e-mail: jeanet.bentzen@econ.ku.dk.
Information about the recruitment process is available from HR South, e-mail: hr-soendre@adm.ku.dk. Please refer to ID number: 211-2320/25-2H #2.
The closing date for applications is 1 February 2026 at 23:59 CET.
Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.