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Open call (4+4/5+3)/Carlsberg Foundation (5+3), 2024-1

PhD scholarships/fellowships for the PhD degree programme – open call (4+4 and 5+3 scheme) / Carlsberg Foundation Humanities PhD fellowships (5+3)

A number of fully funded SU PhD scholarships (4+4) and PhD fellowships (5+3) are announced at the Graduate School at Arts, Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University provided the necessary funding is available. The scholarships/fellowships are available as of 1 September 2023 for a period of up to three years (5+3) and of up to four years (4+4).
   The Graduate School at Arts, in collaboration with the Carlsberg Foundation, also invites applications for a number of fully funded Humanities PhD fellowships (5+3) provided the necessary funding is available. The fellowships are available as of 1 September 2024 for a period of up to three years (5+3).
   Candidates who are awarded the scholarships/fellowships must commence their PhD degree programme on 1 September 2024.

There are two types of funding for these scholarships/fellowships:

  • Carlsberg Foundation Humanities PhD Fellowships: Applications for these scholarships can be made in all subject areas and themes in which research is done at the Faculty of Arts. Applicants for these scholarships must have a Master’s degree from a Danish university.
  • Faculty PhD Scholarships/Fellowships: Applications for these scholarships/fellowships can be made in all subject areas and themes in which research is done at the Faculty of Arts.

Applications cannot be submitted directly to the two types of funding mentioned above. The Graduate School reserves the right to nominate candidates for each type of funding.

A prerequisite for allocation of a SU PhD scholarship/PhD fellowship is that you are enrolled as a PhD student at the Graduate School at Arts.

The PhD student must complete the studies in accordance with the current regulations for the PhD degree programme, currently the Ministerial Order of 27 August 2013 on the PhD degree programme at the Universities: http://phd.arts.au.dk/applicants/thephddegreeprogramme/

Description of the Graduate School’s PhD degree programme (4+4 and 5+3): http://phd.arts.au.dk/applicants/phdstudystructure/

Rules and regulations for the PhD degree programme at the Graduate School at Arts: http://phd.arts.au.dk/applicants/thephddegreeprogramme/

As a PhD student at the Graduate School at Arts, you are affiliated with one of the school’s 8 academic PhD programmes:

  • ICT, Media, Communication and Journalism
  • Art, Literature and Cultural Studies
  • Language, Linguistics, Communication and Cognition
  • History, Archaeology and Classical Studies
  • Anthropology, Global Studies and the Study of Religion
  • Theology, History of ideas  and Philosophy
  • Didactics
  • Learning and Education

Candidates who are awarded a PhD scholarship/fellowship will be assigned a place of work in connection with the relevant research culture (Campus Aarhus or Campus Emdrup), normally in affiliation with the principal supervisor’s school. In general, the student is expected to be present at the school on an everyday basis.

The PhD degree programme is expected to include a lengthy research stay at a foreign institution, cf. Description of the graduate school’s PhD degree programme.

The faculty’s research programmes:
School of Communication and Culture: http://cc.au.dk/en/research/research-programmes/
School of Culture and Society: http://cas.au.dk/en/research/research-programmes/
Danish School of Education: http://edu.au.dk/en/research/research-programmes/

4+4 programme
When you apply for a Graduate School SU PhD scholarship (4+4), you must be able to document relevant qualifications in the academic area of the PhD project in the form of a Bachelor’s degree and one year of Master’s degree studies or equivalent qualifications. A prerequisite for allocation of SU PhD scholarships is that these qualifications are acquired no later than 31 August 2024.

Applicants who have acquired 60 ECTS credits in a Master’s degree examination and applicants who will have acquired 60 to 90 ECTS credits in a Master’s degree examination after the deadline for application can apply for a combined SU and PhD scholarship in the 4+4 scheme. Applicants who have already earned 90 ECTS credits at the time of application should apply for the 5+3 PhD fellowship as long as the Master’s degree programme is completed no later than the day before the PhD enrolment starts.

The duration of Part A of the PhD degree programme depends on the number of ECTS credits earned at the commencement of study. The duration is estimated based on the information in the application about the number of ECTS credits earned and those to be awarded upon satisfactory completion of current courses.

A condition for being allocated a combined SU and PhD scholarship is that the applicant passes this examination prior to the commencement of studies.

SU PhD scholarships are allocated in accordance with the Ministerial Order regarding state educational support (SU), section II: https://www.retsinformation.dk/eli/lta/2023/395 (Danish State Education Grant and Loan Scheme Authority – only in Danish. Please see this page for further information http://www.su.dk/english/).

In connection with the SU PhD scholarship, a PhD scholar can undertake paid work amounting to 280 hours distributed over part A of the studies. Employment in accordance with protocol regarding PhD scholars; agreement regarding payment of PhD students for work carried out in connection with the PhD degree programme: http://phd.arts.au.dk/applicants/thephddegreeprogramme/

SU PhD-points and hourly pay: http://phd.arts.au.dk/financing/salary-and-employment/#SU  

5+3 programme
When you apply for a 3-year Graduate School PhD fellowship (5+3), you must have completed your two year Master’s degree (120 ECTS) no later than 31 August 2024.

PhD students under the 5+3 programme and under part B of the 4+4 programme receive a regular salary. The terms of employment are in accordance with the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (see section 6.1.4), as well as with the protocol to the agreement covering staff with university degrees in the state sector (see enclosure 5). The agreement and the protocol including amendments are available online: http://phd.arts.au.dk/applicants/thephddegreeprogramme/

Salary: http://phd.arts.au.dk/financing/salary-and-employment/salary-5-3/

How to apply
The application must include:

  • Motivation/cover letter (statement of motivation and research interests, max one A4 page of 2,400 characters including spaces)
  • CV (including a complete list of education, positions, publications and other qualifying activities)
  • Project description outlining how the candidate envisages completing the work to be undertaken during the course of the term of appointment.
    The overall project description (excl. list of project literature/bibliography/reference list and timetable) must not exceed 12,000 characters including spaces, tables, diagrams, footnotes, endnotes and illustrations (5 A4 pages of 2,400 characters each)
  • Project literature/reference list
  • Timetable (mandatory form)
  • Cover sheet (form stating your degrees)
  • Copies of educational certificates (Bachelor and Master’s degrees). The diplomas or diploma supplement/transcript of records must state: name of university, education (Bachelor or Master), duration (number of years, full-time), courses, marks and (if given) ECTS credits.

Please see a detailed description of the requirements for the application in the guide for the application facility: http://phd.arts.au.dk/applicants/how-to-apply/

Application
If you require academic guidance regarding your application for a SU PhD scholarship/PhD fellowship please contact the relevant PhD programme director: http://phd.arts.au.dk/about-us/contact/

The application can be written in both Danish and English.

Child protection certificate
In accordance with Ministerial Order no. 554 of 23 May 2023, Aarhus University is obliged to obtain a statement of no previous convictions in respect of children in connection with the appointment and employment of staff whose work will involve direct contact with children under the age of 15. If you, in connection with your PhD project, will be in direct contact with children under the age of 15 who are not accompanied by a parent or guardian, childcare professional or teacher, you will be covered by the requirements of the ministerial order.
    If you are covered by these requirements and read Danish, please complete the section “Samtykkeerklæring” (declaration of consent) in the police form and upload the file under “Other information to consider” in the application form. You can download the form here: https://politi.dk/-/media/mediefiler/landsdaekkende-dokumenter/straffeattest/brneattest-p274.pdf
    If you are covered by these requirements and do not read Danish, please upload a brief statement with the headline “Child protection certificate needed” under the field “Other information to consider” in the application form.

All applicants must provide documentation of excellent communication skills in English which are considered essential, and you must therefore be able to read, write, and speak academic English fluently. English language requirement is comparable to a minimum of TOEFL 83 or IELTS 6.5. Please see this page for further information: http://phd.arts.au.dk/applicants/english-test/

Applications for the SU PhD scholarships/PhD fellowships and enrolment in the PhD degree programme can only be submitted via the application form in Aarhus University’s web-based facility.

Application deadline: 15 March 2024 at 23:59 Danish time (CET/CEST).
Reference Number: 2024-1

During the assessments, Aarhus University can conduct interviews with selected applicants.