When you apply for a PhD scholarship/fellowship via an open or specific call you apply for both enrolment and employment. The PhD grants are the same regardless of nationality.
The PhD student's place of work will be one of the three schools at the Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University. In general, the student is expected to be present at the school on an everyday basis unless otherwise stated in the call. Co-funded PhD students might be expected to work an average of 50 percent at each place during the overall period of study.
Full-time employment equals 37 hours a week on average.
The Circular on the collective agreement for state-employed academics states: "It is normally a condition for employment that the person in question does not already have a PhD degree". This means that you cannot be employed as a PhD fellow if you already have a PhD degree corresponding to a Danish PhD degree.
Non-Danish PhD scholars/fellows must however apply for a residence and work permit. Employment cannot happen until the permit has been granted. Please see the section "Moving to Denmark".
The 4+4 scheme consists of a part A (1½-2 years) and a part B (2 years). During part A of the PhD degree programme you must complete your Master' degree programme simultaneously with the first part of your PhD degree programme.
This means that during part A of the PhD degree programme you are also enrolled as a Master’s degree student at the faculty. On your enrolment for part A of the PhD degree programme you will be enrolled automatically for the Master’s thesis, which means that your Master’s degree programme (qualifying examination) can be concluded no later than the end of enrolment for part A.
To be enrolled as a PhD student you are required to complete the PhD degree programme in accordance with your PhD plan. This includes participating in academically relevant courses, carrying out scheduled study trips/study stays abroad, and submitting a PhD dissertation at the end of the enrolment period.
PhD degree programme
Part A
The PhD scholarships offered via open call and specific calls are fully funded and consists of a PhD scholarship (corresponding to the amount of 2 SU vouchers per month) as well as a salary for the student's work at the department (210 hours if the enrolment on part A is 1½ years and 280 hours if the enrolment is 2 years).
The 2024 value of 1 PhD SU voucher is DKK 6,820.00.
2 SU vouchers = DKK 13,640.00 per month before tax.
The hourly pay is DKK 230.95 (October 2023 level). The salary is paid monthly in arrears at a rate of 2.68 hours per week throughout the 1½-2 year employment period.
Part B
On part B you will be employed as a PhD fellow and receive a PhD fellowship in accordance with the collective agreement. You are required to work the equivalent of 560 hours during the employment period.
The salary starts at the AC-salary level 4.1. For further information about the salary please see this page.
Please see this page for further information about the paid work at the department.
From part A to part B
Please be aware that the PhD scholarship on part A of the 4+4 scheme is paid monthly in advance while the monthly salary on part B will be at your disposal on the last weekday of the month. This means that there be a “gap” between your payments.
Example:
Part A ends on 31 August 2023 and part B starts on 1 September 2023.
The last SU payment on part A (payment for August) will be at your disposal at the beginning of August 2023 while your first salary on part B (payment for September) will be at your disposal on the last weekday of September 2023.
Master's degree programme
You might be eligible to receive a State Educational Grant (SU) during your Master's enrolment too besides the above PhD scholarship on part A.
For information please see these pages:
The PhD administration cannot answer any questions about the SU grant for the Master's degree programme.
As a PhD fellow you must complete the PhD degree programme in accordance with the PhD plan. This includes participating in academically relevant courses, carrying out scheduled study trips/study stays abroad, and submitting a PhD dissertation at the end of the enrolment period.
During the employment period you are required to work the equivalent of 840 hours. Please see this page for further information about the paid work at the department.
The salary depends on your seniority (previous employment after the Master’s degree). If you do not have any seniority you will be placed on the lowest pay grade (4.1).
For further information about the salary please see this page.
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 for PhD fellows. Because the position is regulated by a collective agreement you will not have to negotiating general terms of employment such as working hours, minimum salary and terms of notice directly.
