The Graduate School at Arts, Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University, in collaboration with the Independent Research Fund Denmark, invites applications for a fully funded PhD fellowship in The Development of Democratic Trust Culture in the Grundtvigian Movement provided the necessary funding is available. This PhD fellowship is available as of 1 September 2026 for a period of up to three years (5+3).
It is expected that candidate awarded the PhD fellowship will be able to commence the PhD degree programme on 1 September 2026.
The PhD position is part of the DFF-funded project “The Modern Eve: The Development of Democratic Trust Culture in the Danish Popular Movements,” which investigates the cultural-historical development of Danish trust culture in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, with particular attention to the influence of the Grundtvigian movement and the women’s movement.
The PhD project will focus specifically on the Grundtvigian movement, analysing periodicals such as Højskolebladet (1876–) and Brugsforenings-Bladet/Samvirke (1928–). As key cultural organs of the folk high school and cooperative movements, these magazines played a central role in shaping new social imaginaries surrounding concepts such as community, citizenship, and authority.
Applicants should hold a master’s degree in history, the history of ideas, theology, religious studies, or a related field, and must have proficiency in Danish.
For further information about the project, please contact Sasja Emilie Mathiasen Stopa (stopa@cas.au.dk).
Enrolment and place of work
The PhD student must complete the studies in accordance with the valid 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: 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/
The PhD fellow will be enrolled as a PhD student at the Graduate School at Arts, Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University, with the aim of completing a PhD degree at the School of Culture and Society, Aarhus University.
The PhD student will be affiliated with the PhD programme Theology, History of Ideas and Philosophy.
The PhD student’s place of work will be the School of Culture and Society, Aarhus University. 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.
School of Culture and Society’s research programme: http://cas.au.dk/en/research/research-programmes/
5+3 programme
When you apply for a 3-year PhD fellowship (5+3), you must have completed your two year Master’s degree (120 ECTS) no later than 31 August 2026.
The PhD fellow will be employed as a PhD student at the Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University. The terms of employment are in accordance with the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations, 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: https://phd.arts.au.dk/4-4-part-b-and-5-3/salary-and-employment
How to apply
The application must include:
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 professional guidance regarding your application for the PhD fellowship please contact the PhD programme director at Theology, History of Ideas and Philosophy: http://phd.arts.au.dk/about-us/contact/
For further information, please contact Sasja Emilie Mathiasen Stopa, School of Culture and Society, stopa@cas.au.dk, phone + 45 26 25 76 74.
The application can be written in both Danish and English.
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/
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.
Applications for the PhD fellowship and enrolment in the PhD degree programme can only be submitted via the application form in Aarhus University’s web-based facility.
Deadline for applications: 1 April 2026 at 23.59 Danish time (CET/CEST).
Reference number: 2026-7
During the assessments, Aarhus University can conduct interviews with selected applicants.
