Graduate School, Arts

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 Forside Applicants Open and Specific Calls

Calls for PhD scholarships (4+4) and PhD fellowships (5+3)

Announcement of calls

The calls will be announced on the web no later that one month before the application deadline. The application form will be available at the same time as the call. See the deadlines on this page.

Attention

We strongly urge you to submit your application in good time before the deadline expires.

  • We do not grant extensions due to problems with your own computer or internet.
  • Read the application guideline and the FAQ thoroughly before you fill out the application form!
  • We reserve the right to transfer your application between calls, PhD degree programmes (4+4 or 5+3) and PhD programmes if we find that your application has ended up in the wrong pile.
  • In case of significant errors in your application, you should send in a new application with the correct details before the application deadline. We will only assess the application received last.
  • You cannot apply or send additional documents to your application after the application deadline.
  • We reserve the rights to assess your application on the basis of the documents received before the application deadline.

Deadline, Reply and Enrolment start

Please see the deadlines on this page.

Meetings for potential PhD students

Information for potential PhD students about the PhD degree programme and general student life.

Attention: 5+3 fellowships (open call) only once a year

The graduate school at the Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University has previously announced open faculty financed SU PhD scholarships (4+4) and faculty financed PhD fellowships (5+3) twice a year (the “open call” where applicants can apply with their own project). The graduate school has decided to reduce the number of calls for faculty financed PhD fellowships (5+3) which means that as of 2023 it will only be possible to apply for these 5+3-fellowships once a year. The faculty will finance the same amount of 5+3-fellowships as previously, but will reduce the amount of calls/assessments from two to one per year.

The last time faculty financed 5+3-fellowships will be announced for an autumn call is for the deadline 1 October 2022 with an enrolment start on 1 February 2023. As of 2023 we will only announce faculty financed 5+3-fellowships in the spring.

Application deadlines Scholarships/fellowships (open call)
1 October 2022 4+4 and 5+3
15 March 2023 4+4 and 5+3
1 October 2023 only 4+4
15 March 2024 4+4 and 5+3
1 October 2024 only 4+4
15 March 2025 4+4 and 5+3

Please note that the graduate school will continue to announce specific calls for both 4+4-schloarships and 5+3-fellowships twice a year as well as open faculty financed 4+4-sholarships (open call):

Spring

Open call: 4+4 and 5+3
Specific calls: 4+4 and 5+3
-    Announcement of calls on the website: 15 February
-    Application deadline: 15 March
-    Enrolment start: 1 July/1 September

Autumn

Open call: only 4+4
Specific calls: 4+4 and 5+3
-    Announcement of calls on the website: 1 September
-    Application deadline: 1 October
-    Enrolment start: 1 January/1 February

Calls

Open call

PhD scholarships/fellowships where you apply with your own project

The graduate schools own open PhD scholarships (4+4)/fellowships (5+3).
When applying for the open call you apply for both enrolment and a PhD scholarships (4+4)/fellowships (5+3).
You are not allowed to apply for more than one PhD programme when you apply for the open call.
 

Open call, March 2023 (4+4 and 5+3)

  • PhD fellowships/scholarships funded by the Faculty of Arts and Humanities PhD fellowships funded by the Carlsberg Foundation
    Application deadline:  15 March 2023 at 23.59 Danish time (CET/CEST) 
    Call incl. link to the application facility:  Danish version - English version
    Application guideline and forms

Specific calls

PhD scholarships where the topic for the project is written in the call

When applying for a specific call you apply for both enrolment and PhD scholarship (4+4)/fellowship (5+3).

The application must be written in the language mentioned in the call you apply for (see the section "Application").
 

Automated Expertise? Artificial intelligence and algorithmic systems as inter-professional work practices in education (5+3)

2023-2

Young people and parents negotiating and policing gender through online bullying (5+3)

2023-3

Dynamic Neural Models for Representation Learning in Historical Texts and Images (4+4/5+3)

2023-4

Forfattere på universitetet og kunstnerisk viden (5+3)

2023-5

External calls

PhD fellowships/scholarship from a company, foundation, museum etc.

These calls are normally not funded by Aarhus University. 

Coventry University: "The role of universities in creating a democratic Europe"

Be aware that Coventry Univesity is the home institution. Please contact Coventry University if you have any questions regarding the call or application.

 

How to apply

Application form

It is important that you read the actual call, the guideline and the FAQ before you fill out the application form.

You can find the link for the application form in each call (both Open call and Specific calls). See the section in the call named "Application". You can find the calls on this page under "Calls" or in the left column of this page.

Guideline for the application form

In the guideline and the FAQ  you will find the answers to 99% of your questions. Please read both before you contact the PhD administration.

For further information please see this page: https://phd.arts.au.dk/applicants/how-to-apply 

Mandatory attachments

 
If your application is missing one or more of the mandatory attachments your application will be rejected without assessment.
 

Please see this page for the full list of the mandatory attachments.  
 

The documents below are some of the attachments applicants often forget:

  • BA and MA diploma
    The diploma, diploma supplement or transcript of records must contain: name of education, duration, courses, marks and ECTS credits (if ECTS credits are given). If any of the information is missing from the documents we cannot assess your academic level.
    • 4+4-application
      Bachelor's degree diploma and diploma supplement
      + Master's degree diploma and diploma supplement (1-year degree)
      or transcript of records of one year of Master’s studies (ongoing 2-year degree)
    • 5+3-application
      Bachelor's degree diploma and diploma supplement
      + Master's degree diploma and diploma supplement (2-year degree)
      or transcript of records of your 2-year Master’s degree that will be passed before the PhD enrolment starts (see the start date in the call)

      Please see the guideline for further information.
       
  • English language requirements
    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.
     
  • Timetable (schedule/time plan)
    The form for the timetable is a mandatory part of the project description.

    Your must fill out a separate form and upload the form in the same PDF file as the project description with the project description first then timetable and list of project literature.

    You can find the form for the timetable and other forms on this page.

Applying with non-Danish qualifications

Assessment of non-Danish qualifications

If you want to apply for a PhD scholarship (4+4) or a PhD fellowship (5+3) you can get your non-Danish qualifications assessed by the Danish Agency for Science and Higher Education.

Please see this page for further information: https://ufm.dk/en/education/recognition-and-transparency/get-assessment

  • General assessments of degrees from specific countries, see this page.
  • Get your qualifications assessed, see this page.
    The assessment itself free of charge. This excludes any other expenses such as for translation of documents.

 
Examples

Below you can see the general assessment of qualifications from "England, Wales and Northern Ireland" and "India".

England, Wales and Northern Ireland

  • Bachelor’s degree in English Literature (3 years): 120 British credits per year = 360 British credits in total.
  • Master’s degree in English Literature (1 year): 180 British credits.


Although the total sum is 540 British credits you cannot apply for the 3-year PhD fellowship (5+3 scheme) event though we write the following about the 5+3 scheme:
To begin a 3-year fellowship you must have passed a qualifying examination that corresponds to 300 ECTS credits (e.g. a Bachelor’s degree allocated 180 ECTS credits and a Master’s degree allocated 120 ECTS credits). 


The British credits are not equivalent to ECTS credits. This means that you cannot compare the two types of credits.


Here you can see the Danish Agency for Higher Education's standards for assessing higher education qualifications from England, Wales and Northern Ireland:


A 1-year Master’s degree from England is only equivalent to one year of studies at Master’s level in Denmark which corresponds to 60-90 ECTS credits depending on the courses. This means that you may apply for the 4-year PhD scholarship (4+4 scheme) but not the 3-year PhD fellowship (5+3 scheme).

If you have not yet submitted your Master’s thesis for assessment you must upload a list of the courses you have passed and any examinations you are signed up. Your Master’s degree programme must be completed no later than the day before the PhD enrolment starts.

India

  • Bachelor’of Arts (3 year)
  • Master of Arts (2 years)

Here you can see the Danish Agency for Higher Education's standards for assessing higher education qualifications from India:

The above degrees from India are assessed to be equivalent to a Danish Bachelor's degree plus one year of Master's studies. This means that you may apply for the 4-year PhD scholarship (4+4 scheme) but not the 3-year PhD fellowship (5+3 scheme).  

Difference: Having a Master's degree or still enrolled?

What is the difference between having a Master's degree and still being enrolled as a Master's student when applying for a PhD scholarship/fellowship?

 
This section contains information about:

  • Danish Master's degree or equivalent non-Danish Master's degree (still enrolled)
    • 60-90 ECTS credits after application deadline
    • 90 ECTS credits at the time of application
  • Master's degree (passed og will be passed before PhD enrolment)
    • Danish Master's degree
    • Non-Danish Master's degree (equivalent to a Danish Master's degree)
    • Non-Danish Master's degree (NOT equivalent to a Danish Master's degree)

Danish Master's degree or equivalent non-Danish Master's degree (still enrolled)

  • 60-90 ECTS credits after application deadline:
    You can apply for a 4+4 scholarship if you have already acquired 60 ECTS credits or will have acquired 60 to 90 ECTS credits in a Master’s degree examination after the deadline for application.
     
  • 90 ECTS credits at the time of application:
    If you have already earned 90 ECTS credits at the time of application you cannot apply for a 4+4 scholarship. You can apply for a 5+3 fellowship as long as the Master’s degree programme is completed no later than the day before the PhD enrolment starts.

 

Master's degree (passed)

  • Danish Master's degree
    If you have a Danish Master's degree (120 ECTS credits) you can apply for the 5+3 fellowship (NOT the 4+4 scholarship).
     
  • Non-Danish Master's degree - equivalent to a Danish Master's degree:
    If you have a Master's degree and it is equivalent to a Danish Master's degree you can apply for the 5+3 fellowship (NOT the 4+4 scholarship).
     
  • Non-Danish Master's degree - NOT equivalent to a Danish Master's degree:
    If you have a Master's degree and it is only equivalent one year at Master's level in Denmark you can apply for the 4+4 scholarship (NOT the 5+3 fellowship).

    Because your Master's degree is not equivalent to a Danish Master's degree you will be contacted by the Study Centre Arts (if you get one of the PhD scholarships). They will find a new Master's degree programme at Arts for you and make a credit transfer for the courses previously completed as part of your degree programme at Master’s level. On this page you can see all the Master's degree programmes at Aarhus University (choose "Faculty" - "Arts" to see the programmes at Arts): https://kandidat.au.dk/en/ 

    This means that you will be both a Master’s degree student and a PhD student during part A of the PhD degree programme (4+4).

 


Not yet passed but will be passed before PhD enrolment

If you have not yet submitted your Master’s thesis for assessment you must upload a list of the courses you have passed and any examinations you are signed up (inkl. the deadline for your Master's thesis). Your Master’s degree programme must be completed no later than the day before the PhD enrolment starts.

Further information:

For further information about the PhD degree structure at Arts please see this page.

 

Erasmus+ grants for PhD students affected by the war in Ukraine

Staff members, including PhD students, employed in a Ukrainian Higher Education Institution (HEI) who have fled Ukraine due to the Russian aggression are eligible to apply for an Erasmus+ grant of up to 60 days’ duration at Aarhus University.

For further information please see this page.

Assessment

Your application will go through an academic assessment. Please find information on the assessment process and the assessment criteria here:

Do you need help?

Please see this page: How to apply (guidelines and forms)

Questions about the application facility

Please read the Guidelines for electronic application and the FAQ page before contacting the graduate school.

If you do not find the answers to your questions/problems with the application facility in the guideline or FAQ please contact Bettina H. Acthon (acthon@au.dk) in good time before the application deadline.  

How to fill out the PhD application form

How to write a PhD application

The film does not replace our guidelines or FAQ. Please see these for further information on how to fill out the application form.

You can open the video (wmv file) with Windows Media Player.

Timeout when applying

If you are uploading large PDF files you may encounter a timeout after 2 minutes because it takes too long to upload the application incl. the PDF files. Try reducing the files and upload again. It could also be your internet connection that is not fast enough and therefore times out after 2 minutes.

If you still have problems sending your application please see this page for help.

Errors when sending application

What to do?

Please see the page "How to apply (guidelines and forms)" for further information on what to do if you cannot send your application. See the section "Errors when sending your application".

Receipt

Please notice that you will get a message on your screen when you have sent your application.

If you do not get the receipt on the screen your application has NOT been sent.

You will also receive an e-mail with a return receipt. Please contact us before the application deadline if you do not get a return receipt. After the deadline we cannot help you. See the page mentioned above.

Revised 03.02.2023
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Bettina Holmbo Acthon