1-3 PhD Research Fellowships

About the positions

The Department of Political Science is recruiting 1 – 3 PhD Research Fellows (SKO 1017).

We invite applications from excellent candidates in all sub-fields of political science, including public policy and administration, comparative politics, political theory, international relations and research methods.

The appointment is for a fixed, non-tenured term of 4 years, and has a 25% teaching component. The Department teaches in all the sub-fields mentioned above, and directs study programmes in Political Science, Peace and Conflict Studies, International Studies, and Public Administration and Leadership.

The successful candidate will be part of the Faculty’s PhD programme. The work is expected to lead to a PhD in political science.

Formal qualification requirements

• Education equivalent to five years at university level in Norway, with two years (120 credits) at Master’s level in a relevant field. The MA thesis must be equivalent to at least half a year’s workload, i.e. 30 ECTS.
• The Master’s degree must include relevant education in research methods.
• Successful candidates must document top grades and an MA thesis of very high quality.

Other qualifications:

• English language skills (written and oral)

The evaluation of applicants is based on documented, academic qualifications and the research plan. Personal suitability and motivation are also considered. The most promising candidates are invited to an interview.

We offer

• Salary according to “SKO 1017 PhD Fellow”, NOK 540 500 – 575 400 per year
• Personal research funds (currently NOK 30,000 per year)
• A stimulating and international research environment with multiple research groups and seminar series
• A friendly and inclusive workplace allowing for a good work-life balance
• Access to Norway’s excellent public services and welfare schemes, including generous parental leave provisions and affordable and accessible childcare (including the university’s kindergartens)
• Norway’s capital with its rich cultural life and easy access to beautiful nature
• Financial and practical support for international staff moving to Norway (international staff may also benefit from tax cuts in their first years)
• PhD Fellows may acquire pedagogical competency upon agreement

How to apply

The application with attachments must be submitted in our electronic recruiting system. Please follow the link “apply for this job”.

The online application must include the following items, which are to be submitted before the deadline (all documents should be in English or a Scandinavian language):

• A cover letter (maximum 2 pages), including a statement of motivation
• A research proposal (maximum 3,000 words including references). The proposal should clearly state the main research question(s) and explain how the research will contribute to existing literature. It should also be specified whether the applicant plans an article-based dissertation or a monograph, and outlines of articles/chapters should be provided. Further, the proposal must contain a detailed account of the theoretical approach and the methodology that will be applied, as well as a realistic timeline.
• A CV summarising education, positions, research and pedagogical experience, administrative experience, and other qualifying activities. Career breaks, including parental leave, that are noted in the CV will be taken into consideration when evaluating applicants’ academic record.
• Copy of Master’s thesis
• Copies of transcripts: All applicants must submit their Master’s degree diploma and transcript(s), preferably together with a class distribution of grades. The transcript must specify the grade achieved for the Master’s thesis
• Official explanation of the grading and credit system at your university (foreign applicants)
• Names and contact details for 2-3 reference persons (name, relationship to candidate, e-mail, and phone number). Reference letters are not needed

Note that the quality of the proposal will be an important part of the assessment of the shortlisted applicants in particular. The application deadline is 1 September 2024. The screening and evaluation of candidates will begin immediately. We expect the whole evaluation process, from the application date to an offer being made, to take 3 – 4 months, depending on the number of applications. The expected start date is January 2025, or a mutually-agreed upon date.

Formal regulations

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Research Fellowships at the University of Oslo.

No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo.

According to the Norwegian Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

The appointment may be shortened/given a more limited scope within the framework of the applicable guidelines on account of any previous employment in academic positions.

The University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results etc.

Inclusion and diversity are a strength. The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. Furthermore, we want employees with diverse professional expertise, life experience and perspectives.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, employment gaps or immigrant background, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these categories to an interview.

Contact information

Head of Education, Professor Robert Huseby