Job description

Applications are invited for a 3-year position as a PhD candidate as part of the research project: “The Nordic Education Model: Historical emergence, comparative perspectives, and current renegotiations” (NordEd). The candidate will be part of the HumStud research group at Department of Education (IPED), UiO, as well as an international network, and will be given the opportunity to work with researchers across the world. PhD candidates appointed to the NordEd project will be co-located and will have the opportunity to apply for research stays at other Nordic universities. NordEd is a multidisciplinary research group at the University of Oslo, and part of UiO:Nordic, an interfaculty priority area at the University based on a broad range of expertise and strong research interests at UiO.

The four pillars of the NordEd project are: 1) Conflicting traditions, ideals, and concepts of knowledgein the Nordic countries’ educational policies, pedagogies, and practices; 2) Curricular struggles and developments in Nordic schooling; 3) The emergence of Nordic teacher cultures and teacher education; And 4) Nordic schooling and beyond: Transnational policy agendas and the renegotiation of the Nordic model of education.

The research fellowship is connected to Pillar 1 of the project: Conflicting traditions, ideals, and concepts of knowledge in the Nordic countries’ educational policies, pedagogies, and practices. For more information, please also see the description of the NordEd project.

Pillar 1 of NordEd deals with the Nordic countries’ history of ideas of education and draws on philosophical and epistemological approaches cross-fertilized with social and political perspectives. This part of the project seeks to inquire how different conceptions and arguments related to knowledge, equality and equal rights have changed over time in the Nordic countries. The application should describe a project proposal related to the development of a unified school system in one or more selected Nordic countries with the purpose of inquiring how different conceptions and arguments related to knowledge, equality and equal rights have changed over time in the Nordic countries.

More about the position

The fellowship period is 3 years.

The research fellow must take part in the Faculty’s approved PhD program and is expected to complete the project within the set fellowship period. The main purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree. For more information, please see our web site.

Qualification requirements

• Documented successful completion of a Master's degree program (normally equivalent to a Norwegian two years' MA degree/ECTS 120 credits), or a similar higher education program in both cases with thesis, and within relevant and accepted subject areas
• Documented result of the masters' degree required: Minimum grade B or equivalent (ECTS grading scale) including the grade on the thesis
• Good knowledge of Norwegian or other Scandinavian languages is a requirement, due to the literature and data collection and analyses

• Good English language skills are also required

In the assessment of applications, emphasis will be put on:

• The applicant’s academic aptitude for completing the research training programme
• The project description, which must be submitted with the application
• The applicant’s personal suitability and motivation for the post, including his/her ability to collaborate and to form part of a cross-disciplinary academic community

• Other qualifications that meet the objectives which form the basis of this type of post

We offer

• Salary NOK 449 400 - 497 000 per annum depending on qualifications in a position as Research fellow, (position code 1017)
• A positive and stimulating working environment
• Pension arrangements in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement, in addition to Oslo’s family-friendly environment with its rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

How to apply

The application must be submitted electronically and must include the following:

• Application letter describing the applicant’s qualifications and motivation for the position
• The project proposal must be from 8-10 pages and have a clear connection to pillar 1 of NorEd, and to the fields of education/philosophy/history of ideas/gender theory/sociology of education (cf. Guidance UiO website)
• Completed application form for admission to the doctoral degree programme (see this website)
• Certified copies of diplomas, grade transcripts and any other testimonials
• In the event of diplomas from other countries: printouts of prospectuses or similar that describe the content and framework of the courses of study on which the application is based
• Master’s thesis and any other academic works that may be of relevance to the application
• CV that also includes an overview of any previously published academic/scientific works and relevant experience

• Applicants from countries outside the Nordic countries where English is not the official language must attach a TOEFL test with a minimum score of 550 unless they have a diploma from a university in an English-speaking country. Knowledge of the Norwegian language must be documented

The application can be written in a Scandinavian language or in English.

Incomplete applications will in normal circumstances not be assessed.

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, please follow the link “apply for this job”. Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please note that all documents should be in English (or a Scandinavian language).

When evaluating the application, emphasis will be given to the eventuelt “project description” and the applicant’s academic and personal prerequisites to carry out the project. As a rule, interviews will be conducted as part of the appointment process. At the interview the applicant will be asked to present original diplomas and grade transcripts from previous courses of study.

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 and 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.

Contact information

Head of Department Ola Erstad, phone number: +4722855216

Professor Inga Bostad, phone number: +4793085191

Coordinator, Post-Doctoral Fellow Jesper Eckhardt Larsen, phone number +4745396101

About the University of Oslo 

The University of Oslo is Norway’s oldest and highest ranked educational and research institution, with 28 000 students and 7000 employees. With its broad range of academic disciplines and internationally recognised research communities, UiO is an important contributor to society.

The Faculty of Educational Sciences is composed of three departments and two research centre with a total of nearly 350 employees and 3500 students. We offer three different bachelor degrees and ten masters programmes, as well as Norway's most prestigious teacher-training program and several joint interdisiplinary programmes.