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PhD Programme in Social Sciences

The PhD programme in Social Sciences at the University of Stavanger is divided into five research schools: Research School in Economics and Business Administration, Research School in Politics and Society, Research School in Social Work and Welfare, Research School in Archeology and Cultural Heritage studies and Research School in Service Leadership, International Business and Hospitality Management.

The Faculty of Social Sciences UiS Business School Museum of Archaeology Centre for Gender Studies

Continuously

Admission Requirements: Applicants with a academic background who have completed a five-year Master's degree (3+2) or (4+1). In order to apply for the PhD programme, you must apply for an available PhD vacancy. We do not accept self-funded PhD candidates.

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About the programme

The aim of the education is for the candidates to achieve scientific competence at the highest level and to further develop the candidates’ qualifications for research and other work in their respective fields.

The PhD education is intended to qualify for research of an international standard, and for other work in society where great demands are made to academic insight and analytical thinking. The training includes independent research in the form of an academic thesis of an international standard at a high level. Additionally, the candidate must undergo a training component, providing training in the disciplinary context, methods and theories that provide a disciplinary breadth and depth in their field. The PhD programme also includes training in the dissemination of academic work to colleagues, students and the general public.

Program structure and requirements

The PhD programme consists of an educational (coursework) component (30 ECTS credits) and a research component comprising the doctoral thesis (150 ECTS credits). The programme is intended to be completed within an effective researcher training period of three years, alternatively four years including mandatory duties (pliktarbeid).

Research School in Economics and Business Administration

The Research School in Economics and Business Administration (ECOBA) educate researchers who study how people and firms behave and interact within and between organizations and markets.

ECOBA builds on the UiS Business School’s Master Programme in Economics and Business Administration, and allow for wide set of research questions related to the broad field of Economics and Business Administration. Examples are topics related to investment decisions, corporate finance and governance, wage formation and labour markets, environmental, energy and resource economics, motivation and learning, strategic marketing, management and innovation, firm organization and network analysis. Read more at the Research School website . Leader: Professor  Mari Rege Deputy: Professor  Aslaug Mikkelsen

Research School in Politics and Society

The aim of the Research School in Politics and Society (POLSOC) is to create a high quality interdisciplinary research environment at UiS for PhD students whose projects are situated within political science, sociology, organizational-, media-, energy and gender studies.

Today’s social science research is faced with a diversity of transformations. Societies are entering the Anthropocene – where the implications of studying politics, society, media and organizations become prominent.

Climate changes, migration and leadership

Climate change poses challenges for sustainable development goals, globalization and digitalization processes alter the conditions for work, communication, health and infrastructure. Social inequality, migration and rising populism puts pressures on social and political processes, raises new questions about resource allocation, and challenges fundamental social and democratic structures. Private and public institutions and organizations face new demands in aeas of leadership and innovation. The Research School in Politics and Society provides an interdisciplinary research environment for PhD students aiming to tackle these challenges.

Varied topics

Suitable topics for  sociology PhD students  are varied, and reflective of the main areas of research among the sociology staff at the UiS, which all circle around a core of cultural sociology in a broad sense. These topics include social class, gender and inequality; culture; migration and ethnic relations; microsociology; digital sociology. Students may embark on projects of both qualitative and quantitative nature. The following  political science  disciplines are covered by the research school: comparative politics, international relations, public administration and management, public policy, political sociology, political theory, and methods.

Societal challenges

Within these broad areas, PhD students will meet an academic staff focusing on topics such as: Energy and environmental politics  and policy, climate policy, sustainability transitions and studies related the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs); public policy at local, regional, national and supranational level; multilevel governance, innovation and reform in the public sector; international organisations and negotiations; interest groups, lobbying and corporatism; public opinion, electoral behaviour and party competition; mediatisation of politics, political communication and political agenda setting. Media- and journalism concerns the role of media in society at the individual, organizational- and structural level and covers digital journalism studies, social media and technology studies, political communication, media systems and organisations, as well as documentary production. Topics for  organization-and management PhD students include process perspectives, innovation and change, leadership, institutional ethnography, organizational complexity, justifications and legitimacy. The empirical fields span across private, public and volunteer sector.

Centre for Gender Studies conducts research and offers courses on the ways that power and inequality influence society. The Centre’s principal ambition is to engage in interdisciplinary research that critically explores structural inequalities broadly defined, and how they contribute towards maintaining, challenging and stratifying various forms of lives and existences. POLSOC is a collaborative, cross-sectional initiative between The Department of Media and Social Sciences and Centre for Gender Studies. SFK is collaborating with The National Research School for Gender Studies. Together, the breadth of subject areas covered by the disciplines embedded in the POLSOC research school reflects the wide application of social science research to societal challenges. The POLSOC research school will offer an interdisciplinary home for candidates aiming to answer such challenges, fostering a research environment founded on scientific excellence, sustainability, and innovation.

In addition, a key role for POLSOC is to provide spaces and forums for collaboration, exchange and discussion. The school will continuously strive to attain a high level of psychosocial work environment for everyone as part of a resilient research environment.

Leader: Associate Professor  Raul Ferrer Conill Deputy: Professor Oluf Langhelle SFK: Professor  Lene Myong

Research School in Social Work and Welfare

The Research School in Social Work and Welfare (SWEL) is aiming to promote international research in social change, development, inclusion, social justice, empowerment and the role of the welfare state within these.

The interdisciplinery research school SWEL was launched November 1, 2019. It is a space for early stage researchers working on a doctorate to work as a community of practice with their peers, advisors and other experienced colleagues on projects addressing social problems and challenges in society, development of welfare services and professional practices.

A variety of disciplines

The research school’s candidates have a background in social work and/or other related disciplines, and through their participation in SWEL, collaborate with experienced educators, professionals and researchers from a variety of disciplines such as social work, sociology, pedagogy, psychology, philosophy, social policy, criminology, public health etc. The research school encourages its members to take an active role in addressing social concerns and injustices both locally, nationally and internationally, and contribute to building a rigorous body of knowledge that makes a different to welfare practices

Advanced research competences

SWEL activities include opportunities to develop advanced research competences through a range of courses and workshops, seminars, formal and informal knowledge exchange opportunities in a collegial and stimulating research environment. Leader: Professor  Ingunn Studsrød Deputy: Professor  Sarah Hean

Research School in Archeology and Cultural Heritage studies

The aim of The Research School in Archeology and Cultural Heritage studies (ITEM) is to facilitate research that seeks to investigate modes of existences, inequalities, and materialities in temporal perspectives.

In these times of ecological and political crises, it is urgent to scientifically scrutinize the past, present and future histories to do with human life, inter-species relations, environments, technologies, and artefacts, to name a few.

ITEM draws on assemblages of knowledges, methods, and empirical material across disciplines such as archaeology, anthropology, cultural studies, environmental history, conservation studies, geology, critical race studies, and migration studies. ITEM offers courses and supervision that are committed to interdisciplinary knowledge production and critical thinking on issues such as of life/death, sustainability, human-environment interactions, bodies, identities, the posthuman, technology, migration, kinship, (de)colonization, oppression, racism, resistance, welfare, and politics. ITEMis at once a research and training platform for PhD candidates and a structured environment for exploratory research engagements at the University of Stavanger. ITEM’s mission is to establish itself as an innovative and sustainable research school for the next generation of researchers. We aim to contribute to the frontline of research training excellence nationally and internationally, and to engage collaborative research training activities through mobility and internationalization programs for PhD candidates as well as for faculty members associated with ITEM.

Integration of PhD candidates

At the core of ITEM’sapproach to doctoral training is a commitment to offer PhD candidates a critical foundation research environment devoted to ethical reflections, bottom-up and collaborative participation. ITEM will actively pursue ways to integrate PhD researchers into faculty activities to enhance the knowledge-base and encourage cross-sectional creativity and community. By including PhD candidates in a collaborative research environment, the ITEMcollective will facilitate and create processes of intersectional knowledge production, assuring the highest quality by also cooperating with external expertise. PhD candidates are expected to actively partake in and co-organize research activities. ITEM offers robust PhD courses that address vital theoretical and methodological knowledge as well as a diversity of new developments at the international research front. In addition, a key role for ITEM is to provide spaces and forums for collaboration, exchange and discussion. The school will continuously strive to attain a high level of psychosocial work environment for everyone as part of a resilient research environment.   ITEMis collaborating with the international PhD school of archaeology, Dialogues with the past.

Leader: Associate professor Anja Mansrud

Research School in Service Leadership, International Business and Hospitality Management

The Research school in Service Leadership, International Business & Hospitality Management (SLIHM) educates researchers within all aspects central to the service industries in general, and tourism and hospitality in particular.

Our current and future PhD-students conduct research within disciplines like marketing, leadership, international business, service management & innovation, strategy, and managerial decision making, but also specialize in tourism experiences, tourism economics, the digital service economy or hospitality management. In addition, all businesses, industries and public branches within the service sectors are areas of research interest for the school.

Leader: Professor Lars Ingvar Bergkvist Deputy: Professor Gro Ellen Mathisen

Required educational part

The required educational part of the PhD-programme in Social Sciences.

The educational component can be taken on a rolling basis, but most of it should be taken during the first year of the admission period. The training component will provide the candidate with basic knowledge and training that, together with the thesis, provides the necessary academic breadth and specialisation that is embodied in the description of the objectives and learning outcomes for the PhD programme. The training or educational component includes a total of 30 ECTS credits.

Approval of the educational component

The training component shall normally be conducted after admission or appointment to a PhD fellowship. All courses taken outside the University of Stavanger must be documented in the form of a certified copy of the course certificate. You should apply for approval of the educational component at least 6 months before you hand in your thesis for evaluation. The PhD Board undertakes the final approval of the educational/ training component.The training component must be approved before the thesis is submitted. Requirements for documentation can be found under a separate tab on this page. The application should be sent by e-mail to PhD coordinator.

The candidate and supervisor plan the educational component in line with the description of the project's learning outcomes, and the candidate's project and career plans. The training component within the given framework is individual and adapted to the thesis work and the career plans of the individual candidate. Elective courses in the educational component Within the framework of the Faculty’s programme description, the candidate may choose which courses and activities are to be included, but the educational component must be planned in consultation with the candidate’s supervisor, and the choice of courses must be clarified in advance with the research school leader at the research school the candidate is affiliated with. The structure of the organized academic training provides room for flexibility tailored to the candidate's needs and the project arrangements, but must include the following three elements: 

• 10 ECTS within Philosophy of Science and Research ethics
• 10 ECTS within Methods and/or Research design
• 10 ECTS Thematic courses

Most PhD courses arranged by the Faculty of Social Sciences and UIS Buisness school is accessible for registration via Studentweb. There is a general overview of the courses offered and other academic activities under Courses and seminars . Once a course has been completed, it will appear as approved in Studentweb. External PhD-level courses (courses arranged by other faculties or institutions) from an educational institution that give credits/ECTS can be approved as part of the educational component. Documentation must be attached to the application to the Faculty after completion of these courses. Application for approval of required coursework should be submitted when you have achieved 30 credits. At least 20 credits of the training component should be completed after admission. Elements that are to be included as part of the training component may not have been completed more than two years prior to the date of admission. All courses taken outside the University of Stavanger must be documented with a course certificate. If the activity is not weighted in the form of credits, the candidate must attach the programme and, as applicable, a reading list. The Research School will then determine how many credits the activity can be assigned. On completion of the approval round, the PhD candidate will receive a separate decision document from the PhD administration, and the courses will appear as approved in Studentweb. Thematic courses in the training component: Within the framework of the Faculty’s programme description, the candidate may choose which courses and activities are to be included, but the training component must be planned in consultation with the candidate’s supervisor, and the choice of courses must be clarified in advance with the research school leader at the department the candidate is affiliated with. The following attachments must be enclosed with your application if the courses do not have credits/ECTS:

• Confirmation that the course is a PhD-level course.
• Confirmation of course duration (i.e. number of hours course lasted). If relevant, confirmation of number of hours of preparation before the course started/course literature and confirmation of exam (i.e. number of hours an exam lasted as well as any preparations before an exam).
• If relevant, confirmation of presentation - poster or oral presentation.
• Web address to the course.

Courses cannot be approved as part of the educational component if the above mentioned documentation is not enclosed. Credit points equal the ECTS grading scale (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System). 1 credit = 1 ECTS= 25-30 hours.

As a PhD candidate, you must also contribute to disseminating your research. This can be done e.g. by publications, participating in conferences, and science dissemination to a wider audience. Academic presentations are obligatory and have to include these elements:

• Minimum one annual presentation of progress to the research environment at the University of Stavanger.
• At least one presentation at an international scientific conference during the research training period.
• At least one popular science contribution during the research training period. (e.g. feature articles, popularized articles, lectures, etc.)
• 50%- seminar according to the procedures for 50%- seminars.

Scientific publication – articles Most PhD candidates publish articles in the course of the PhD period. The world of publication, and not least learning to master the article format, can be a major challenge for new PhD candidates, and your supervisor will be an important support person in this process. Here you can find useful information about the publication process as well as the terms and guidelines for uploading. PhD on Track is a useful online resource. Here, you can find information about reference tools, citation indexes, how to submit articles, peer review etc. Conference participation Participating in conferences is a good way to make new contacts and make your research known. By presenting your own research, you can also gain useful input that you can build on later. You should look at which conferences may be relevant to you with your supervisor and participate in conferences with a paper or poster presentation. Popular science dissemination There are many forms of popular science dissemination: Interviews, writing op eds, giving talks etc. How easy it is to disseminate your research can vary depending on the research project, angle and what the media and the general public are interested in. Journalists can sometimes contact you to get a statement in a case. They often do this through their own networks or via media contacts. If you have a topic you wish to disseminate either because you have research-based knowledge on a topic debated in the media or because you have made interesting findings that you think the public may be interested in, you can contact the communication advisers in the central administration for tips and advice.

Approval of academic dissemination

Once the dissemination component is considered complete, all the activities are entered in the APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT form. Activities must be documented by means of a certificate of participation, course programme (for lectures), a copy of the book or article cover, etc. The documents must be attached to the application, which will be processed by the Doctoral committee. On completion of the approval round, the PhD candidate will receive a separate decision document from the PhD administration. Other activities Most departments expect PhD candidates to participate in other activities that do not provide credits, including PhD seminars and research seminars. In addition, the Faculty will regularly offer seminars in academic writing and careers planning.

The norm for the number of articles is at least  three(3) articles , with the candidate as the first author. Main Rule:  Two(2) of the articles  must  be submitted  for publication.

All the Research Schools have an opportunity to propose their own guiding standard with requirements for article-based dissertations. The requirements for article-based dissertations may go beyond the requirements stated in the study plan, but not lower than the mentioned ones.

The requirement for article-based dissertations applies to all PhD candidates who are admitted to the PhD program in Social Science. For research schools without their own guiding standards, the rules mentioned above, will apply. *Research School in Politics and Society  (POLSOC): The number of articles in doctoral dissertation:

• The norm for the number of articles is at least  three(3) articles , with the candidate as the first author.
• Main Rule:  Two(2) of the articles  must be  submitted for publication , of which at least  one(1)   must be published  or  accepted for publication .

*Research School in Social Work and Welfare   (SWEL): The number of articles in doctoral dissertation:

*Research School in Radical Interdisciplinarity  (ITEM): The number of articles in doctoral dissertation: At least  3 articles  should have the PhD candidate as  the first author , and at least  2 articles  should be  submitted for publication  and under review when the thesis is submitted for examination. It is recommended that at  least 1 article  is  accepted for publication .

* The Research School in Economics and Business Administration (ECOBA) : The number of articles in doctoral dissertation: If the thesis is article-based, at least 3 articles should have the candidate as the first author . This may include shared first authorship for up to 2 (two) of the articles where the authors are listed in alphabetical or random order. The third article, in that case, must be written as sole author. At least 2 (two) articles should be submitted for publication when the thesis is submitted for examination. If 2 (two) PhD candidates write 1 (one) article together with shared first authorship, both can include it in their theses . In this case, only one joint article is allowed in each thesis.

* The Research School in Service Leadership, International Business and Hospitality Management (SLIHM) : The number of articles in doctoral dissertation: If the thesis is article-based, at least 3 articles should have the candidate as the first author . This may include shared first authorship for up to 2 (two) of the articles where the authors are listed in alphabetical or random order. The third article, in that case, must be written as sole author. At least 2 (two) articles should be submitted for publication when the thesis is submitted for examination. If 2 (two) PhD candidates write 1 (one) article together with shared first authorship, both can include it in their theses . In this case, only one joint article is allowed in each thesis.

You should apply for approval of the educational component at least 6 months before you hand in your thesis for evaluation. The PhD Board undertakes the final approval of the educational/ training component. Usually, no more than 30 credits should be included in the training part, and the PHD Board will not approve more credits than necessary. Under certain conditions, it is possible to allow the training part to exceed this limit by 1-2 credits. From other educational institutions: Credits obtained from other educational institutions in Norway or abroad must be documented with a transcript/course certificate from that institution. The transcript/course certificate must be in English or Norwegian. Application form for approval of educational component : List the courses you wish to have approved in order of priority. Documentation of each component in the form of diplomas, course certificates and confirmations must be enclosed. Confirmation of courses registered in the University’s Studentweb is not necessary. Courses, conferences and seminars: To document participation on courses, conferences or seminars, you must provide documentation of participation. Candidates are responsible for obtaining approval and documentation for all credit-bearing participation and for the safekeeping of copies of all documentation throughout their PhD education. Participation in conferences can be approved by sending in:

• Name of the candidate
• The front page of the conference programme with the name and date of the conference
• The page with title of your presentation - poster or oral presentation

Lectures, articles and other popular scientific materials: Written materials should be documented in such a way that it is clear when and how they were published, for example, a page in a newspaper, an entire magazine, etc. In the case of posts on television or on the radio, the supervisor confirms that this took place. The lectures must be documented by the organizer. Candidates who had planned to attend a national or international conference with presentation, where the conference has been cancelled due to the corona pandemic can still apply for approval of the activity in his/her educational component if the following documentation is submitted:

• A zoom recording of the presentation or an image of the poster to be presented
• Documentation that the candidate was registered to attend the conference, preferably in the form of a conference programme in which the candidate's participation appears, alternatively a confirmation of registration with presentationl from the organizer.
• The candidate must also state name, place and original time of the conference, unless stated in the programme or the confirmation of participation.

The provision of the workshop program itself is not considered sufficient documentation. Before submitting the thesis for assessment, candidates must complete the documentation form listing all documented courses, seminars, etc. with details of the title, type of participation, credits etc. All elements in the training component must be documented and approved in accordance with the applicable guidelines. The entire training component must be approved at least six months before the candidate can apply for submission of the dissertation. The training component is considered complete when formal approval of the overall training component is given.

Forms - PhD education

Forms that are necessary for admission and during the PhD education.

For students admitted prior to 2022

For students admitted from 2022 onwards

Regulations, guidelines and instructions for the PhD education

Relevant regulations, guidelines and instructions for the PhD Programme in Social Sciences

PhD courses and seminars

The courses are inter- and multidisciplinary, and candidates enrolled in PhD training outside social science research, for instance, in fields such as humanities and educational sciences, medicine and health sciences are encouraged to apply

Candidates admitted to the PhD Programmes at the University of Stavanger should apply through  Studentweb If there are more applicants than the 15 admission places available, a selection will be made based on an assessment of the relevance of the course for the candidate’s research plan and qualifications in the relation to the objectives of the course. The course leaders carry out the selection process. PhD candidates do not pay the semester fee.

Not a PhD candidate at UIS but want to take one of our PhD Courses?

External PhD candidates or other with required prerequisite knowledge may apply for PhD courses. If you are a PhD candidate who is not attending a PhD programme at UIS you can apply for admission to PHD courses through the  webform

External applicants should apply for a right to study for a minimum of 4 weeks before the course start date.

PhD program in Social Sciences offers the following PhD courses

PhD Skills Development Courses

Resources and tools

Phd 1-2-3 midway assessment adjudication of the thesis digital disputation phd guide for the university of stavanger, library resources ph.d. on track (literature, references, publishing) research ethical guidelines (nesh) privacy uis doctoral community, remember to activate your student account it support studentweb canvas og inspera research data and data management plans faq.

You can read more about the different elements in the programme description for the PhD programme in Social Sciences

Welcome to new PhD candidates!

The University of Stavanger aim to make your move to Norway as smooth as possible.

PROFRES Research School NORSI Research School NoRS-EH Research School

Guide for phd education.

The Start-up Phase

Implementation Phase

Final Phase

Regulations and Forms

External phds.

Industrial and Public sector PhD

The Doctoral Committee acts by the authority of and gives advice to the Dean of Faculty. The Dean of Faculty has the administrative and academic responsibility for the Faculty's PhD programme. Chairman : Vice dean of research:  Kristiane Marie Fjær Lindland , Faculty of Social Sciences Deputy chair : Vice dean of research:  Ragnar Tveterås , UiS Business School Research School in Politics and Society (POLSOC)  Chair of research school: Associate professor Raul Ferrer Conill Vice-member: Professor Oluf Langhelle Research School in Economics and Business Administration (ECOBA)  Chair of research school: Professor Mari Rege Vice-member: Professor Aslaug Mikkelsen Research School in Radical Interdisciplinarity (ITEM) Chair of research school: Associate professor Anja Mansrud Research School in Service leadership, international business & hospitality management  Chair of research school: Professor Lars Ingvar Bergkvist Vice-member: Professor Gro Ellen Mathisen Research School in Social Work and Welfare (SWEL)  Chair of research school: Professor Ingunn Studsrød Vice-member: Professor Sarah Hean Ph.d.-candidate appointed by the the Faculty of Social Sciences: Cecilie Larsen, SV-IMS (observer) Secretary: Nadya Sands mark

Meeting dates in autumn 2024: Tuesday 03 September Tuesday 29 October Tuesday 10 December

Meeting dates in spring 2025: Tuesday 28 January Tuesday 25 March Tuesday 20 May Tuesday 24 June

Your PhD project plan must be approved by the head of the research school before it is sent to the PhD coordinator . You must therefore clarify with the head of your research school when you must submit your PhD project plan. The PhD project plan must be finally approved by the Doctoral Committee and will afterwards form the basis for the implementation of the PhD project. The time limit for submissions to the Doctoral Committee is 14 days before the meeting date .

Doctoral degree and PhD

The University offers research training of a high international standard, with a broad range of subject areas and strong research environments. A doctorate from the University of Oslo qualifies candidates for an academic career as well as other professions requiring a high level of competence.

Before applying

To be eligible for admission to a PhD programme, certain educational and financial requirements must be met. If you have not applied to a PhD programme before, we recommend that you read this before you proceed to the programme pages.

Facts about the PhD programmes

• Requires a completed Master’s degree.
• Stipulated length of three years’ full-time studies.
• 2.5 years of independent research work.
• Educational component worth 30 credits.
• In 2018, 468 PhD candidates successfully defended their theses at the University of Oslo.

PhD programmes

Each faculty has its own PhD programme. The programme pages give details on how to apply, the programme structure, thesis and public defence.

PhD in the Humanities

PhD at The Faculty of Law

PhD in medicine and health sciences

PhD at The Faculty of Dentistry

PhD at The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

PhD in Social Science

PhD at The Faculty of Theology

PhD at the Faculty of Educational Sciences

Courses and seminars

Find information on courses and seminars offered at PhD level.

Doctoral conferment

When your doctoral examination is approved by the faculty, you will be invited to a conferral ceremony in the University’s ceremonial hall, the Aula.

Public defences

Dr.philos. – another route to a doctoral degree.

The Dr.Philos. degree (Doctor Philosophiae) is awarded to academics who have qualified for a doctoral degree on their own, without formal supervision. They have no affiliation to the university as a doctoral candidate until their application for the doctoral examination has been approved.

Contact information

Questions about PhD and doctoral degrees?

Regulations

The research training is governed by the Act relating to universities and university colleges and local regulations.

Jobs at UiO

Browse through available doctoral research fellowships , read more about working as a researcher at UiO, and find the support site for international researchers.

PhD programme in Social Sciences

A PhD degree gives you the opportunity to further your knowledge and understanding in social science disciplines, as well as to develop skills in planning and carrying out high-quality research. It also gives you the opportunity to contribute to important discoveries and contribute to solving societal challenges. Furthermore, having a PhD may open the doors to career opportunities in academia, in business or in the public sector.

Facts about the program

About the research programme.

The programme offers PhD education within all the faculty’s disciplines and relevant research fields. The overall purpose of the programme is to give the PhD candidates a thorough theoretical and methodological background, along with the experience of completing a substantial piece of original scientific work (the PhD thesis).

The degree is awarded based on approved course component, an academic dissertation, a trial lecture and a public defence.

The PhD programme is a total of 180 ECTS, which is three years full time studies. The coursework component consists of a minimum of 30 ECTS credits. There are possibilities to have a fourth year financed through a work component, this is upon individual agreements and specialisation.

Specialisations

The faculty offers specialisation in the following fields (lenkes til gammel nettside inntil videre)

Specialisation in Global Development and Planning

Specialisation i Information Systems

Specialisation in Public Administration

Specialisation in Sociology and Social Work

Programme structure

The PhD specialisation is organised to be completed over a three-year period. The first year is devoted to coursework and the beginning of the work with the thesis.

The coursework component comprises a core course in the chosen specialisation, mandatory course in philosophy of science and research methodology and elective courses.

The PhD specialisation is organised to be completed over a three-year period. The first year is devoted to coursework and the beginning of the work with the thesis. The coursework component consists of a total of 30 ECTS. All candidates must complete a minimum of 15 ECTS in philosophy of science including a course in the chosen methodology, and core courses of 15 ects in the chosen specialisation. The detailed course plan must be set up in cooperation with the candidate’s supervisor. The coursework component is carried out in parallel with the development of the thesis throughout the entire study programme.

Career prospects

Candidates from the Ph.D. program work in academia, the public sector, organizations, and the private sector.

Where do our candidates end up?

Many of the graduated doctoral candidates work in academia, both at UiA and other educational institutions. Externally funded candidates usually return to their regular job and continue with research in their own organization.

Former candidates

See disputations at the Faculty of Social Sciences

See supplementary regulations regarding admission

Admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Social Sciences

Here you can find the rules and additional guidelines for admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Main content

Regulations .

The formal requirements and procedures on admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Social Sciences are based on the regulations for the PhD-degree at the University of Bergen and in the Programme description for the PhD programme . 

Two paths to admission

• Applicants who are appointed a research fellowship at the Faculty of Social Sciences will consequently be admitted to the PhD programme, if a complete project description was included in the application.
• Applications for admission from applicants with other sources of funding are processed as they are received. Please note that adequate financing must be secured before applying for admission. 

Admission requirements

Here are the requirements for admission:

Educational background

PhD candidates must normally have an educational background corresponding to a master’s degree with a scope of 120 ECTS credits, which builds on a bachelor’s degree with a scope of 180 ECTS credits (normally 2 + 3 years), or an integrated master’s degree with a scope of 300 ECTS credits (5 years). Master’s degrees must normally include an independent work of a minimum of 30 ECTS credits. 

The faculty adheres to NOKUT’s guidelines in the GSU list for the approval of foreign education. 

The Faculty of Social Sciences also approves one-year master’s degrees as a basis for admission to the PhD programme if the conditions below are met.

For master’s degrees that are basis for admission to the PhD programme, the following requirements apply:

The master’s  degree...

• is part of an overall higher education that is equivalent to a total of at least four years of university education in Norway,  
• has a level equivalent to the requirements for Norwegian master’s degrees , 
• qualifies to apply for admission to a PhD programme at the relevant (master degree) educational institution,
• includes adequate and relevant training in methods, and 
• includes an independent work that has a scope of at least 30 credits.

If the applicant can document relevant supplementary courses at the master’s level and/or other clearly research-relevant activities (scientific work or output), this may be included in the assessment of items 2, 4 and 5 above. 

Adequate and relevant training in methods means that the applicant must document training in method at master's level that is relevant to the planned PhD project. If the master's program does not contain specific method courses, the applicant must document what kind of method training he or she had (integrated into other courses) by including syllabus lists, method assignments or equivalent documentation in the admission application. Applicants who wish to be affiliated with the Department of Comparative Politics must document methodological training at master's level in both qualitative and quantitative methods.

The master’s degree should normally be in the subject area to which admission is being applied for. If the academic group finds that the applicant lacks the necessary knowledge in the field of study, the Faculty can, on the recommendation of the academic group, impose additional requirements in addition to the compulsory training component in the PhD programme.

Grade requirements

The minimum requirement for applicants is usually a B, both for the independent work and the master’s degree as a whole. Particular importance is attached to the grade for the independent work.

Applicants not employed in a PhD fellowship position must provide documentation of satisfactory financing, for both their living expenses and the costs relating to research for the entire agreement period. The normal agreement period corresponds to three years set aside for work on the thesis and training component. The programme does not admit applicants who want to finance their own PhD education.

If the applicant has funding from a foreign institution, documentation must be provided of the financial arrangements in the event of illness.

The applicant must document satisfactory  research funds  for execution of the PhD project.

Vacant research fellow positions at the university are regularly announced and advertised in the daily press and under Vacant positions on the University of Bergen’s web-pages. The faculty does not otherwise have the resources to finance doctoral education.

Project description

Applicants must submit a project description of 5–8 pages. Some job advertisements request none, or a shorter project description for the application. In such cases, a complete project description must be developed in consultation with the supervisor and approved before the candidate can be admitted to the PhD programme. The approved project description must be sent to the faculty within 3 months after the position start date. The project description must describe the topic, set of issues being addressed and the choice of theory and method, as well as any ethical issues. The project description must indicate the schedule for the various parts of the research project. It must also include a budget for the costs of carrying out the PhD project. When assessing applications, decisive weight will be given to the quality of the project and the feasibility of the project being executed within the nominal length of study for a PhD of three years.

The Faculty has prepared 10 important points to consider when writing a project description:

• Applicants must document their familiarity with the research field, both nationally and internationally.
• The problem examined must be clearly presented and appropriately delimited. It must be demonstrated that the project will extend existing knowledge and/or will be a basis for further research within the field.
• It must be demonstrated that the methods and theories proposed are well suited to answering the problem or that there are good opportunities to develop the method and theory necessary. Analytical methods must be described.
• Research ethics should be assessed. The application must state whether the project depends on permission from research ethics committees or other authorities or from private persons (such as informants, patients or parents). If possible, such permissions should be obtained and attached to the application.
• Applicants must assess whether the research project involves processing of personal data .
• The description must specify a progress plan for the various parts of the research project, including any possible stays abroad.
• A plan for the training component and academic dissemination.
• Establish a budget with respect to the expenses for conducting the project: software, books, courses, data collection, fieldwork and the like.
• Details of any intellectual property agreements that have been entered into with a third party.
• It should be demonstrated that the project can be completed within the standard length of time and the financial framework available.

English language requirements

Good proficiency in English is required for participants in the PhD programme. Applicants may be asked to document their proficiency in English using the following tests with the results stipulated or better:

• TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language with a minimum score of 575 on the Paper-Based Test (PBT), or 90 on the Internet-Based Test (IBT). Minimum 4.5 in the written test
• IELTS-International English Language Testing Service with an overall score of at least 6.5 and a minimum score of 5.5 in all four components

Language of the thesis

If the applicant wishes to write the thesis in a language other than English, Norwegian, Swedish or Danish, an application to do so must be submitted along with the study plan.

Admission agreement

Agreement on admission to the phd programme.

Admission to the PhD education at the faculty applies for three or four years, depending on wheter compulsory work is a part of the plan for funding. All admitted candidates must sign a written agreement. The agreement is sent to the candidate with the letter of admission and must be returned to the faculty completed and signed within a month.

How to fill out the Agreement

The agreement consists of three parts

Part A. General part

Part A shall be signed by the candidate, head of department and the faculty (Dean).

Part B. Agreement concerning supervision

Part B will be signed by the candidate, the supervisor or supervisors, the head of department and the faculty (Dean).

Part C. Agreement between an external institution and the university

Part C is used only for candidates who either have external financing or whose place of work is not the University of Bergen. The agreement may also be used for candidates whose place of work is at another department/faculty/centre at the University of Bergen than that assigned in part A. Part C must be signed by the candidate, the external party and the faculty (Dean).

The candidate must ensure the relevant parts of the agreement are signed by the supervisor/supervisors, the head of department and any external party if necessary before it is sent to the faculty. The Dean signs for the University of Bergen. The original version of the agreement is registered electronically at the faculty and is returned to the candidate. The other parties to the agreement keep a copy of the signed agreement.

PhD candidates employed at the University of Bergen shall also sign a contract with the University of Bergen concerning financial rights to use the research results obtained while working at the University of Bergen. Entering into this agreement takes place on employment as a research fellow.  

Did you know?

Admission to the PhD programme conditions that you...

• either are awarded a PhD research fellowship at the faculty
• or have have secured sufficient external funding  (We do not accept self-funding)

PhD research fellowships

The research fellowship vacancies are announced on a continuous basis.

Apply for admission

Applicants with an employer other than the Faculty of Social Sciences must apply for admission . 

All admitted candidates must sign a written agreement . The candidate complete the agreement and get signatures from all, except from the Dean. The agreement must be returned to the faculty coordinator within a month.

Please contact [email protected]

How to apply for admission

Application for admission to the PhD programme are written on a special form.

Research fellowships at the University of Bergen

Research fellow positions vacant at the university are announced regularly and advertised in the daily press and on the University of Bergen’s web-pages.

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Five PhD positions in social work and social policy - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

This advert is not available!

Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Social Work, Child Welfare and Social Policy

Oslo Metropolitan University is Norway's third largest university with almost 22,000 students and over 2,500 employees. We have campuses in central Oslo and at Romerike. OsloMet educates students and conducts research that contributes to the sustainability of the Norwegian welfare state and the metropolitan region.

Faculty of Social Sciences offers study programmes within archivistics, library and information science, journalism and media studies, social work, social policy and child welfare, public management and business. The faculty has about 4200 students and nearly 280 members of staff.

The department has approximately 1250 students and 90 employees, and offers study programmes on bachelor’s, master’s and PhD level.

At the Department of Social Work, Child Welfare and Social Policy , there are five three-year PhD positions in social work and social policy. Applicants with a relevant background for teaching may also be eligible for an extension of up to four years. We require an applicant with a law background for one position. For the other positions, we prefer applicants with degrees in social work or child welfare, however, relevant social sciences backgrounds will also be considered. Admission to the position presupposes admission to the doctoral program in social work and social policy.

To qualify for positions, applicants must have a master's degree with good grades. Relevant thematic areas you can search within are:

• Legal issues within social sciences
• Work Inclusion
• Ethnic minorities
• Social problems in urban areas

Applications in other thematic areas can also be considered. Projects that use quantitative methods are especially desired.

At our department, there are several relevant research projects that you can link the application to. A list of these with a short description of each project can be found at this website . Experience has shown that it is useful for PhD students to link to existing data and research projects. However, it is not an absolute requirement.

Qualifications and conditions

Applicants require:

• master's degree level (120 credits) or equivalent in social work, child welfare, social sciences, health sciences or law
• qualifications in research methods
• good written and oral presentation skills in English
• good analytical skills
• capacity to work independently, systematically and purposefully
• good collaborative skills
• professional commitment

It is an advantage to have the following:

• relevant experience from research and development work
• relevant practice experience from one or more welfare services
• Admission to the doctoral program in social work and social policy is a condition for joining a position as a research fellow.
• The final plan for research must be approved and agreed upon no later than three months after commencement. 

The applicant must submit a complete project description with the application. The project must be within the research areass and relate to the academic structure for the doctoral program in social work and social policy.

The project description must be a maximum of 10 pages and be written in Scandinavian language or English, and must have the following

• research question (s), theoretical grounding and methodological approach
• description of knowledge requirements and contribution to research in the field
• plan for completion of the doctoral study, including schedule and planned publication of articles
• any planned stay at a relevant foreign university
• reference list

In the assessment of applicants, special emphasis will be placed on basic qualifications (grades, professional qualifications and previous experience) and the project description. The description must be at an academic level that makes it probable that the project will lead to a doctorate within a three-year period.

Expert committee

As an applicant, you will be assessed by an expert Committee. 

We use an electronic recruitment system. Before the application deadline, you must upload the following documents with the application:

• CV, certificates and diplomas
• project description written in Scandinavian language or English (max. 10 pages incl. reference list)
• master's thesis
• any other scientific work
• list of publications and presentations at international seminars / conferences (if you have any)

Applications submitted without the attachments mentioned above will not be considered.

Certificates, certificates and publications must be in English or a Scandinavian language. Translations must be authorized. You must present originals at a possible interview. OsloMet conducts control of documents to test for falsifying.

If we get more than 20 qualified applicants for the position, a new committee will be established to screen for the best qualified applicants before an expert committee assesses the applicants.

We offer you

• opportunities for professional development in a large and inspiring professional and research environment
• participation in one or more of the department's research groups.
• a pleasant research environment
• loan and pension conditions in the Government Pension Fund
• good welfare schemes

Further information

• Head of Department Anne Britt Djuve, tel: 67237339
• Head of Ph.D. the program in social work and social policy, Amy Østertun Geirdal, tel: 67238150/481 96 620

The position is paid in accordance with the Government's salary regulations, position code 1017, PhD candidate. Annual salary: 479 600 (salary step 54).

If you have documents that cannot be uploaded electronically, contact [email protected] 

It is important for OsloMet to reflect the population in our region and we welcome all qualified applicants. We work actively to develop further as an inclusive workplace and to facilitate the workplace if you need it. If you have periods in your life where you have not been to work, education or training, you are also welcome to apply with us.

OsloMet is a Charter & Code certified institution by the EU Commission holding the right to use the logo HR Excellence in Research (HRS4R). OsloMet is a member of the EURAXESS network supporting a positive work environment for researchers in motion.

OsloMet has signed The Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) . DORA recognizes the need to improve the ways in which the outputs of scholarly research are evaluated.

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who are seen to be in conflict with the criteria in the latter law will not be considered for the position.

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Application and admission - PhD

There are two routes of admission to the faculty PhD programme:

1) You may be appointed to a PhD fellowship. This automatically entitles you to enrollment in the faculty PhD programme.

2) You may apply and be enrolled in the programme with external funding.

PhD position at the Faculty of Social Sciences

To apply for a PhD fellowship at the Faculty of Social Sciences, a vacant position must have been advertised. PhD fellowships are linked to an academic subject/subject area, project, or unit and are advertised by the department or centre concerned.

A supervisor is given to you after admission.

If you are appointed to a PhD fellowship, you become employed at the University of Oslo for the duration of the programme and are given the same rights and duties as other employees.

Apply for admission to the PhD programme with external funding

You may apply  for admission to the programme with external funding if your PhD education is being funded by another institution. You are required to be affiliated with an active research community

10 Best universities for Social Work in Norway

Updated: February 29, 2024

• Art & Design
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
• Mathematics

Below is a list of best universities in Norway ranked based on their research performance in Social Work. A graph of 2.4K citations received by 291 academic papers made by 10 universities in Norway was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Norwegian University of Science and Technology

For Social Work

2. University of Stavanger

3. University of Oslo

4. University of Bergen

5. UiT The Arctic University of Norway

6. Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

7. Volda University College

8. Nord University

9. University College of Southeast Norway

10. University of Agder

The best cities to study Social Work in Norway based on the number of universities and their ranks are Trondheim , Stavanger , Oslo , and Bergen .

Psychology subfields in Norway

• PhD programme in Humanities and Social Sciences

Duration : 3 years

Duration: 3 År

• Study catalogue

Do you hold a master's degree with a good score and wish to embark on a research programme within humanities, social sciences or education, that qualifies you for a future academic career? Do you want to be certified for professions with a high demand for qualifications and skills? The PhD program in the humanities and social sciences offers a research programme that qualifies candidates for work in academia or other areas in which there is a strong demand for scientific insight and analytical thinking. The research programme is offered in a range of subjects and has different areas of specialisation. Areas of specialisation within the humanities: Linguistics, literature and culture, archaeology, history, philosophy, religion, theology, documentation science and art history, and more. Areas of specialisation within the social sciences: Political science, sociology, anthropology, regional planning and cultural understanding, education, tourism, welfare and social work, gender research, indigenous studies, peace studies, and more.

Mayvi B. Johansen

Senior Adviser

• Telephone: +4777623139
• Campus: Tromsø
• [email protected]

The PhD program in the humanities and social sciences is standardised at 180 credits and is divided between the educational component (30 credits) and the dissertation (150 credits) .

The education component of 30 credits will consist of compulsory and optional PhD courses (8000 level) and include these elements:

• Theory of science and research ethics. Total of 10 credits.
• Research dissemination. Total of 3-5 credits.
• Subject-specific theory and method/academic approaches and positions. Total of 15 credits.

The dissertation must be an independent scientific work that meets international standards for ethics, academic level and method within the subject area. Through the dissertation, the student must be involved in developing new academic knowledge, and the dissertation must be at a level that indicates that it can be published as part of the scientific literature on the subject.

The dissertation can be a monograph or a compilation of several smaller works and an introductory chapter, ie a collection of articles.

Upon completion the student will present a trial lecture on a given topic and a public defence of the dissertation.

Completion of the program requires integration and participation in an active research environment, collaboration with other researchers, and connecting with relevant national and international networks.

PhD students are given close supervision and academic guidance, but must assume responsibility for the planning and implementation of their dissertations.

After graduating, the PhD student will receive the following learning outcomes:

The candidates...

• are in the forefront of knowledge within the theory and methods of their field of study and are able to contribute to its development;
• can discuss theoretical issues within their field of study at an advanced level;
• can connect their own projects to broader scientific discussions and consider the use of different methods and approaches in their research.

The candidates can...

• tackle complex scientific challenges by carrying out cutting-edge research projects within their field of study;
• write different types of academic texts within their field of study and reflect on the writing process;
• participate in academic discussions and provide constructive feedback on scientific work.

General competence

• identify, reflect upon and deal with issues connected to research ethics and conduct research with academic integrity;
• disseminate research and development work orally and in writing through scientific channels and channels targeting the general public;
• contribute independently to complex and innovative projects.

A doctorate degree is Norway's highest education and qualifies for research activities of international standard and for other work in society where high standards of scientific insight and analytical thinking are required, in accordance with good scientific practice and research ethical standards. For example, the education provides qualifications for a further career as a researcher at universities, colleges, research foundations or business and other sectors where research and development is conducted and high demands are placed on knowledge and competence. With a doctorate you can also get positions with work / responsibilities in leadership t and management in knowledge companies; undertake investigative tasks in government and municipal administration; drive knowledge dissemination and teaching; participate in product development and international cooperation; and you have attractive skills in an international labor market.

To be admitted to a PhD program at UiT, applicants must have a master's degree with a good result, either an integrated master's degree of 300 credits or a 120-credit master's degree based on a bachelor's degree of 180 credits..

It is required that applicants should have a grade-point average of B (or equivalent) on their Master’s degree in order to be admitted to the PhD programme. The grade-point average also applies to 300 ECTS points integrated five-year Master’s degrees, in which all courses are to be included in the grade-point average.

In cases where the old Norwegian grade system has been used, the admission requirement is a grade-point average of 2,5.

The academic character of the PhD project (methodology, perspectives and theories) determines the project’s disciplinary affiliation. Therefore, the applicant should apply for admission to the department under which the doctoral project belongs academically, regardless of whether the applicant holds a Master’s degree in a discipline at this department. Language requirements: Applicants must document proficiency in English that satisfies the Norwegian Higher Education Entrance Qualification. Funding Requirements : Admission is contingent on the availability of adequate funding, which as a general rule covers personnel and running costs, and overhead for a doctoral fellow position. For part-time students, it is required that a minimum of 50 % of the student’s working time may be spent on the doctoral degree programme.

Candidates who apply for a doctoral fellow position at the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education are simultaneously considered for admission to the doctoral programme.

If the applicant wishes to write a thesis in a language other than those approved in the Faculty's supplementary rules for the PhD Regulations (point 19), an application for this should be submitted together with the application for admission.

Teaching methods for the courses in the training will consist of either lectures, seminars and / or guidance on written or oral presentation.

Lectures are given by academic staff at the departments and centers at the faculty, or by staff at other faculties, and by external lecturers from other institutions. The teaching methods and scope are described in more detail in the individual subject descriptions. Expected workload for the training component should be a total of 30 credits is one semester (estimated at 750 - 900 working hours). For the dissertation, the teaching method consists mainly of supervision with the appointed Principal and Co-supervisor (s). The supervision include the preparation of a plan for the dissertation and the training component (student's individual education plan), academic dialogue, assistance to the student in establishing professional networks, written and oral feedback on the dissertation text, etc. The PhD student can receive a total of 240 hours of supervision during the course of the research training, including the time needed for preparation and after-school work. This equals 40 hours per semester. In the middle of the course, the student's progression will be evaluated. The mid-term evaluation is organized by the institutes / centers and is usually held as a seminar of half a day's duration.

The teaching language of PhD subjects in the traning componet is Norwegian / Nordic and / or English.

The doctoral thesis should be written in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, English or Sami. The examination language for the trial lecture and the dissertation shall be the language of the dissertation or Norwegian unless the Faculty approves otherwise.

The study program makes use of the following internationalization arrangements:

• English-language teaching and curriculum literature
• Organization for participation in international research schools
• Recognition of International Conference Participation with credits in the training componet
• International PhD student environment (ToDoS)
• Foreign grant for stays at foreign university / institution
• International exchange agreements and cooperation agreements

A stay abroad is recommended for the second or third year of the study years and for a duration of 3-10 months. Staying at a foreign learning institution will be relevant to the student's PhD project and as well gives academic benefit in the dissertation. The Faculty annually announces foreign grants that PhD students can apply to cover additional costs with the implementation of a foreign stay. UiT has exchange agreements with several foreign universities for PhD students. These are usually linked to specific subject areas. For further information, contact the international coordinator at the HSL-faculty.

• Norwegian Bokmål
• Find employee
• Find study plan

PhD in Sociology

The PhD programme will make you achieve the highest academic qualification relevant for a future career in research, management or business.

Programme description

Career opportunities.

The admission is based on individual application.

The applicant must hold a Master's degree in social science (e.g. Master in Sociology, Master in Social Work, Master in Politics and Social Change etc.) with an average mark of B or better in the European marking system (ECTS), or corresponding to a B average if other marking system is used. The applicant must hold a satisfactory theoretical and research prerequisite for completion of a doctoral degree in sociology. Applicants must document broad knowledge in social science theory and methodology. Applicants from outside EU/EEA must document a Norwegian recognition of their master’s degree.

To become eligible for admission adequate funding is required beforehand. The funding must cover both living costs and the costs relating to the research project for the entire doctoral training period. This could be a university fellowship, a three-year scholarship from the Research Council of Norway or another external funding source. Announced positions as PhD fellowship at Nord university can be found under vacancies. Please note that it is only possible to enrol as a PhD candidate after you have been appointed to a PhD fellowship or have documented other sufficient funding.

The following are the total knowledge, skill and general competency learning outcomes for fully qualified PhD Candidates in Sociology at the Nord university

The candidate should

• have extensive knowledge in the subject Sociology and deep insight into the subject's basic perspectives, theories of science and current debates
• be in the forefront of research within their specialty
• be able to critically evaluate the appropriateness and application of various research strategies, methods and research design
• have the ability to contribute to the theory and methodology and the development of new knowledge and new perspectives in sociology
• be able to take individual responsibility for the development, planning and implementation of research projects
• be able to carry out research and development work at a high academic level
• be able to handle complex theoretical issues and to challenge established knowledge and practices within the discipline

General competence

• in the conduct of research be able to identify and deal with ethical challenges and to maintain high academic integrity
• be able to manage complex multidisciplinary tasks and projects
• be able to disseminate research through reputable national and international journals
• be able to contribute to national and international debates in the discipline

The doctoral degree in sociology is a research education that leads to the degree Philosophiae Doctor (Ph.D.). Sociology is considered the broadest of the social sciences and the variant you find at Nord University has a wide approach to the discipline. The education is standardized at 3 years and consists of courses and a doctoral dissertation. The courses intend to provide the candidates with training in social science theory and methods that provide academic depth and scope in their own subject. At the same time, the subject is put into a larger framework both scientifically and societally.

A doctorate in sociology from the Faculty of Social Sciences, Nord University qualifies for varied assignments that require high competence and good analytical skills. Many of those who receive a Ph.D. in sociology continues within academia with teaching and research assignments, but more and more of our candidates choose positions in public or private business.

As a doctoral student at the Faculty of Social Sciences, you work closely with leading professors and associate professors in interesting and dynamic research environments. In addition, our students are encouraged to take part of their studies abroad both by participating in international conferences and research stays.​​​

Faculty of Social Sciences admits highly qualified PhD students every year.   The admission is based on individual application. The applicant must hold a Master's degree in social science (e.g. Master in Sociology, Master in Social Work, Master in Politics and Social Change) with an average mark of B or better in the European marking system (ECTS), or corresponding to a B average if other marking system is used. 

Applicants with other Master’s degrees might be admitted provided that the student can document sufficient theoretical and methodological training in sociology and the social sciences. To become eligible for admission adequate funding is required beforehand. 

The funding must cover both living costs and the costs relating to the research project for the entire doctoral training period. 

This could be a university fellowship of three or four years, a three-year scholarship from the Research Council of Norway or another external funding source. 

Announced positions as PhD fellowship at Nord University can be found under vacancies. 

Please note that it is only possible to enrol as a PhD candidate after you have been appointed to a PhD fellowship or have documented other sufficient funding.

Application form: >> Application for admission to organized research programme (PhD degree) at Nord University (pdf)

Rules and regulations: >> University rules and regulations >>  Supplementary regulations and guidelines at the Faculty of Social Sciences (pdf)

Please send the completed application form along with relevant documentation to the following address: Nord University Faculty of Social Sciences PhD administrative coordinator NO-8049 Bodø Norway

The following are the total knowledge, skill and general competency learning outcomes for fully qualified PhD Candidates in Sociology at Nord University:   Knowledge         The candidate should: • have extensive knowledge in the subject Sociology and deep insight into the subject's basic perspectives, theories of science and current debates • be in the forefront of research within their specialty • be able to critically evaluate the appropriateness and application of various research strategies, methods and research design • have the ability to contribute to the theory and methodology and the development of new knowledge and new perspectives in sociology   Skills      The candidate should: • be able to take individual responsibility for the development, planning and implementation of research projects • be able to carry out research and development work at a high academic level • be able to handle complex theoretical issues and to challenge established knowledge and practices within the discipline   General competence

The candidate should: • in the conduct of research be able to identify and deal with ethical challenges and to maintain high academic integrity • be able to manage complex multidisciplinary tasks and projects • be able to disseminate research through reputable national and international journals • be able to contribute to national and international debates in the discipline

PhD courses are regularly offered every autumn term and irregularly in the spring term. In addition to these courses, our candidates can choose from a wide range of courses at other national institutions and abroad.

Next courses: 

>>  Mapping the welfare state from below - Institutional ethnography and ethnographic approaches - SOS9010

Previous courses:

>>  Sociological analysis; How to use theory in the analysis of empirical data - SOS9004

>>  Qualitative researching and critical inquiry – On generating, analysing and critically assessing qualitative data – SOS9002

The final stage of doctoral training is the public defence (disputation).

After the Evaluation Committee, appointed by the faculty, unanimously has accepted the dissertation for a public defence the doctoral candidate must give a one hour trial lecture on a given topic. The trial lecture must be held and passed before the defence of the dissertation can be held the same day. 

The public defence of the dissertation usually last for 2,5 hours. All the members of the Evaluation Committee and the audience can question the candidate.  

When the trial lecture and disputation is approved and the Evaluation Committee concludes unanimously that the candidate fulfilled the requirements for awarding the degree Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) in Sociology the University Board will confer the PhD degree.

In order to become eligible for admission and enrol as a PhD candidate, you must document satisfactory funding that covers both living costs and the costs relating to the research project for the entire doctoral training period. 

This could be a university fellowship of three or four years, a three-year scholarship from the Research Council of Norway or another external funding source.   With a PhD fellowship at Nord University you are employed as an early stage researcher for a period of 3 or 4 years in order to complete doctoral education and achieve a PhD degree. 

Fellowships at the faculty may be advertised very openly in which case applicants are invited to present their own ideas for a research project. However in most announcements lately, the fellowship is related to a specific research project. 

The announcement of the PhD fellowships will describe the guiding requirements for the fellowship.

Please note that it is only possible to enrol as a PhD candidate after you have been appointed to a PhD fellowship or have documented sufficient funding to cover the costs relating to the doctoral training period otherwise.

For information about vacant PhD fellowship positions at Nord University please check our web site.

For other opportunities regarding PhD and funding please look at  The Research Council of Norway's web site .

>> Project description (pdf) >> Content of the training component (pdf) >> Roles in relation to the PhD programme in Sociology (pdf)

No special costs except semester registration fee and syllabus literature.

In order to become eligible for admission and enrol as a PhD candidate, you must document satisfactory funding that covers both living costs and the costs relating to the research project for the entire doctoral training period. This could be a university fellowship of three or four years, a three-year scholarship from the Research Council of Norway or another external funding source.

With a PhD fellowship at Nord university you are employed as an early stage researcher for a period of 3 or 4 years in order to complete doctoral education and achieve a PhD degree. Fellowships at the faculty may be advertised very openly in which case applicants are invited to present their own ideas for a research project. However in most announcements lately, the fellowship is related to a specific research project. The announcement of the PhD fellowships will describe the guiding requirements for the fellowship.

Anneli Maria Watterud

Johans Tveit Sandvin

Berit Irene Vannebo

PhD Social Work programs in Norway

Migration and intercultural relations.

University of Stavanger

Deadline information, best universities with social work in norway.

Bachelor Social Work programs in Norway

Master Social Work programs in Norway

Most Popular Social Work programs in Norway

PhD Social Work programs in Norway

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Social work (MSARB)

• Master's programmes in English
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Språkvelger

Master of science in social work – 2 years – trondheim.

• About the programme

Social Work

Social work is about problems related to social and human interaction. How do we deal with social change, and how can problems of social and human interaction be solved? Attention will be directed toward those groups which are particularly prone to social problems and the social politics directed toward these groups.

Social and human interaction

Social work can be a professional activity focused on individuals or groups, trying to improve their ability to function in the society. It can also be directed toward solving more general societal problems. Understanding the relationship between individuals and society is central in this process, so that this understanding can be applied when intervening in social problems. As an academic discipline, social work has generally been practically oriented, but at the same time it is involved in the general social science debate.

The research in social work has been of a cross-disciplinary character and within the discipline knowledge has often been extended by incorporating information from disciplines such as sociology, education studies, psychology, and political science.

Examples of research in social work:

• Analyses of work and cooperation at public social service offices or child protection authorities.
• The life situations of groups particularly prone to social problems.
• How clients react to social work institutions and personnel.

The exploration of social problems will be central, and so will research related to the discrepancy between the intentions and reality of social work. The emphasis will be on understanding and explaining individual and social problems, and how one can contribute to solving these problems by participating in policy formation as well as in more practically oriented social work.

Students will be provided with a comprehensive introduction to the basic approaches, theories and topics within the discipline of social work. The students will also be trained to conduct scientific analyses and research, and the individual master's thesis will be a central part of the degree. The courses offered in social work are organized as weekly seminars, so that it is possible for students not residing in Trondheim to attend the program.

For information about the courses, please consult the course descriptions .

studyprogramme-facts-portlet

• Programcode: MSARB
• Degree type: Master of Social work
• Duration: Full-time
• Credits: 120
• Unit: Department of Social Work
• Apply before: 15. April
• Language of instruction: Norwegian
• Location: Trondheim

Contact us at: 

For more general inquiries regarding admissions, you can contact the admissions office at NTNU .

Exchange student?

You are welcome as an exchange student to study one of our many courses.

Faculty of Social Sciences (SAM)

We offer research and education within social sciences, with direct relevance to society and working life.

• Courses for exchange students
• Research and development

The faculty offers study programmes within social work, social policy and child welfare, business and public management, journalism and media studies, and archivistics, library and information science. The education we give is research-based. Our faculty members conduct research with direct relevance to society and working life. 

Departments and centres

• Department of Archivistics, Library and Information Science
• Research Centre for Digitalisation of Public Services and Citizenship (CEDIC)
• Department of Journalism and Media Studies
• Department of Social Work, Child Welfare and Social Policy
• Oslo Business School
• School of Management
• Centre for Work Inclusion (KAI)

Study programmes

Bachelor's programmes.

Our bachelor's programmes are in Norwegian, but we offer several courses in English for exchange students. 

• Administration and Leadership on the Public Sector
• Archival Science
• Business Administration and Economics
• Child Care and Welfare
• Library and Information Science
• Media and Communication
• Photojournalism
• Social Work

Master's programmes

Most of our master's programmes are in Norwegian, but we offer courses in English for exchange students.

• Study Option Child Care
• Study Option Family Therapy
• Study Option International Social Welfare and Health Policy  (English)
• Study Option Social Work
• Business Administration
• Entrepreneurship
• Public Administration and Management
• Public Management

PhD programme

• Pilestredet Campus, Oslo

Faculty management

Dean and vice-deans, heads of departments, administration, faculty director, section for academic affairs and internationalisation, section for research and development, section for finance, section for human resources, faculty board.

The Faculty Board at the Faculty of Social Sciences

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The Faculty of Social Sciences is located in Pilestredet 35, Pilestredet 48 and Stenbergsgata 26 in the centre of Oslo.

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A close look at the principles governing the management of Norway’s oil fund shows that it may run out in two generations or less.

Norway and many other European countries have robust social safety nets. Yet they continue to fail their poorest citizens.

The Child Welfare Services has faced intense criticism over the past decade. While the agency has made mistakes, it continues to improve in its mission to protect children and support parents.

Journalism and Media International Center (JMIC) at Department of Journalism and Media Studies at OsloMet is searching for a consultant/consultancy team.

Researchers and experts in the field of interviewing children are using artificial intelligence to develop new training methods for the police and the Child Welfare Services.

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International Federation of Social Workers

Global Online conference

The Norwegian Union of Social Educators and Social Workers (FO) || Fellesorganisasjonen

Norway, europe.

Mariboesgate 13 Pb 4693 Sofienberg 0506 OSLO

Norwegian Union of Social Educators and Social Workers

• Name of the President: Ms Mimmi Kvisvik
• Number of social workers registered: 31.000
• Year when the Association was established in 1992
• The association joined IFSW in
• Code of Ethics of the Norwegian Union of Social Educators and Social Workers (FO)
• Constitution of  the Norwegian Union of Social Educators and Social Workers (FO)

About The Norwegian Union of Social Educators and Social Workers (FO)

The Association recruits Social Workers (sosionomer), Child Care Workers (barnevernspedagoger), Social Educators (vernepleiere) and Welfare Officers (velferdsarbeidere). Members of these professions have at least post-graduate education at Bachelor level. We are also accepting students to the professions as members. FO was formed in November 1992 as a fusion of separate associations/unions.

Most of the members of FO work in the public sector. Of these, the majority are employed by the municipalities; in Social Services, Child Care, Rehabilitation and Home-based Care. Also, a significant number of members are state employees, working in Hospitals, Psychiatric institutions, Child Care Institutions etc. FO also has a growing number of members in private institutions and NGOs.

Being both a Professional Association and a Trade Union, our activities vary from wage negotiations and work-place activities, via lobbying on matters concerning Social policy, to activities to promote professional Social Work and Social Education. The Association has branches with offices and full-time employees in all 19 counties of Norway. In addition, we have several full-time and part-time shop stewards in the bigger municipalities and institutions.

The highest body of FO is the Congress, held every fourth year and comprising delegates from the 19 branches, student delegates and the outgoing National leadership. The last Congress was in March 2015.

News Social Work in Norway

• 2020. https://www.fo.no/nyhetsarkiv/our-message-to-the-citizens-of-beirut-article7952-28.html

Social Work Education in Norway

• Is Social Work a University degree? Yes
• How many years do you have to study? 3,60 stp. (bch.-degree)
• Do you have to register to practice social work? No
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Blog Home Office in the media

https://homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk/2024/05/23/reducing-net-migration-factsheet-december-2023/

Reducing Net Migration Factsheet – May 2024

The UK has experienced high levels of immigration in recent years.

Last year resulted in over 95,000 people immigrating to the UK through our various schemes for those seeking sanctuary. Recent rises are also the result of more students and care workers, including their dependants, coming to the UK.

The government  made a commitment to bring numbers down and, this year,  brought into a force a series of measures which would mean approximately 300,000 people who came to the UK last year would now not be able to - the largest ever reduction in legal migration.

The latest official estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicate that net migration in the year ending December 2023 stood at 685,000, compared with an updated estimate of 764,000 for the year ending December 2022. This latest estimate does not take into account any of the government’s policy reforms, which have since come into force throughout early 2024.

The latest show:

• Visa applications across key routes affected by the policy changes (Skilled Worker, Health & Care, and Study visas) fell by 25% in the first four months of 2024, compared with the same period last year.
• Student dependant visa applications are down 79% in the first four months of 2024, compared with the same period las year, following the restriction on most postgraduate students bringing dependants with them.
• Health and Care dependant applications are down 58% in the first full month since restrictions were placed on care workers to bring dependants with them, from 15,100 in April 2023 to 6,400 in April 2024.

Reforms to Reduce Legal Migration

Policy reforms that the government has brought into force from the start of this year include:

• 1 January – Restricted most overseas students from bringing family members to the UK.
• 11 March – Restricted care workers and senior care workers from bringing dependants with them and require all care providers sponsoring migrants to register with the Care Quality Commission.
• 4 April – Increased the general salary threshold for those arriving on Skilled Worker visas by 48% from £26,200 to £38,700.
• 4 April – Replaced the Shortage Occupation List with a new Immigration Salary List and abolished the 20% going rate discount so that employers can no longer pay migrants less than UK workers in shortage occupations.
• 11 April – Increased the minimum income requirement to sponsor someone for a family visa by 55% from £18,600 to £29,000. By early 2025, this will have increased two more times, rising to £38,700.
• 23 May – Responded to the MAC’s rapid review of the Graduate route, unveiling action to regulate the recruitment of international students.

Student Visas and Graduate route

From courses starting on the 1 January, international students have been restricted from bringing family members, aside from those taking postgraduate research courses and those with government-funded scholarships.

The UK’s world-leading universities attract some of the best students from around the world to the UK, but we have seen a surge in the number of dependants accompanying students. The government has introduced policy reforms in an attempt to limit the number of student arrivals.. In the first four months of this year, dependant applications have fallen by 79% with more than 30,000 fewer applications compared to the same period last year.

The changes, first announced last May, have also stopped people from using the student visa as a route to work in the UK by removing the right for students to switch into work visa routes before they complete their studies.

In March, the government commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to conduct a rapid review of the Graduate route. The government has accepted the MAC’s recommendations and has announced a series of measures to tackle abuse and crack down on any misuse of student visas. These include:

• Mandating all higher education institutions who recruit international students to work within a framework for best practice, regularising the work of International Education Agents. The government will stamp out the business model of rogue agents who repeatedly encourage non-genuine students to apply for UK universities.
• Tougher compliance standards for institutions recruiting students from overseas. Those who accept international students who then fail to pass our visa checks, enrol or complete their courses, could face losing their sponsor licence.
• Raising financial maintenance requirements in line with domestic maintenance loans, so international students can prove their financial self-sufficiency.
• Review English language assessments with the objective of standardising independent assessment. Students cannot learn if they do not understand their course materials.
• Ensuring all overseas students are doing predominantly face-to-face courses with restrictions on remote delivery.

Is the government committed to its International Education Strategy and international students?

• The government is not stopping international students from studying here but has taken action to address the rise in the number of dependants accompanying international students.
• These measures are being taken to curb fraudulent activities, ensure only genuine students enter the visa system and hold institutions accountable for their recruitment process.
• The UK Government’s International Education Strategy commits to hosting at least 600,000 international students in the UK per year by 2030 and the government has already met this ambition.

How is the government supporting universities?

• The government continues to provide financial support of £6 billion per year to the higher education sector, plus more than £10 billion per year in tuition fee loans.
• Universities are independent from government, and it is for them to decide on how best to manage their finances. Along with the Office for Students, the government will continue to monitor financial sustainability in the sector closely.

Why haven’t you closed the Graduate route?

• The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) found no substantive evidence of abuse within the Graduate route. It did warn about the potential for International Education Agents (IEAs) to generate compliance risks in the system. The government will keep the Graduate route in its current form, subject to further review.

When will new measures announced in May take effect?

•   The government will implement these changes in due course. . The new sponsorship standards will be in place for the start of the new academic year in September, and the new financial requirements for international students will be announced this summer.

  Will these new measures affect universities in the devolved nations?

• Home office sponsorship and compliance requirements apply to all universities who sponsor international students in the UK.

Care Worker Visas

From 11 March, care workers can no longer bring dependants with them.. In the first full month that this measure had been in force, applications for Health & Care dependant visas fell by 58%, from 15,100 in April 2023 to 6,400 in April 2024.

Care providers sponsoring migrant workers in England are also now required to register with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) – the industry regulator for Health and Social Care – in order to address concerns about non-compliance, worker exploitation and abuse within the sector of overseas workers.

Care Worker Dependants

Do these measures limit care workers?

• The government is not stopping care workers coming here, just restricting their ability to bring dependants.

What is the government doing to recruit more domestic based care workers?

• In January, the government introduced a series of measures including:
• The launch of the Care Workforce Pathway: For the first time, there will be a national career structure for the adult social care workforce, covering the breadth and complexity of care.
• Over £50 million of funding for a new level 2 Care Certificate qualification: This will support up to 37,000 individuals in direct adult social care roles to enrol on the new qualification between June 2024 and March 2025.
• An investment of over £20 million for apprenticeships: Local authorities and adult social care providers will be able to use the money towards training and supervising hundreds of new social work and nurse apprentices.
• Subsidised training places: An uplift to the Workforce Development Fund that will expand access to learning and development.
• A new digital leadership qualification: This will help equip social care leaders and managers with the confidence and capability to lead the implementation and use of technology in the delivery of care.

Care Quality Commission Registration 

Have any care workers already here lost their jobs because their sponsor is not currently CQC registered?

• Care providers who were sponsoring workers in exclusively non-regulated activities (and therefore not required to be registered with the CQC) before the rules changed will be able to continue to sponsor these workers, including for extensions to their visa on those terms.
• Care providers will not be able to hire new workers for non-regulated activities.
• Care workers who wish to work for another provider will therefore need to be offered a job with a provider which is regulated by the CQC.

How will this requirement address concerns of abuse and exploitation?

• This will end the exploitation and abuse identified by the Migration Advisory Committee and National Care Association and ensure that those who come to the UK on this route genuinely provide care for those who need it.
• Restricting route access to regulated employers contributes to ensuring non-care entities and agencies will not be able to access the route.
• The government does not tolerate illegal activity in the labour market and any accusations of illegal employment practices are thoroughly looked into. Those found operating unlawfully may face prosecution and/or removal from the sponsorship register.
• All sponsors must have an operating or trading presence in the UK and any organisation applying for a licence that has no operating or trading presence will be refused a licence. Similarly, any licence holder which ceases to operate or trade will have their licence revoked.
• In March, in collaboration with Skills for Care, the government published the international recruitment toolkit for adult social care providers. This toolkit is a best practice guide to support providers to ethically recruit care workers and senior care workers from overseas.

Skilled Worker Visas and Immigration Salary List

From 4 April, the salary threshold for a Skilled Worker visa has risen by 48% to £38,700, ensuring businesses pay significantly more if they recruit from overseas.

The Shortage Occupation List has been replaced with a new Immigration Salary List and the 20% going-rate discount has been abolished. These measures will ensure employers can no longer pay migrants less than UK workers in shortage occupations.

Roles on the list are only included where they are skilled and in shortage., and if it is sensible to include them considering the efforts being made by sectors to invest in the resident workforce. Inclusion on the list must not serve to reduce pay and undermine the recruitment of British workers.

This follows the government introducing the £2.5 billion Back to Work Plan with the intention to support a further 1.1 million people who are long-term unemployed, long-term sick or disabled break down barriers to work.

  What specifically is the government doing to support British workers into work?

• The government has introduced the £2.5 billion Back to Work Plan with the intention to support a further 1.1 million people who are long-term unemployed, long-term sick or disabled break down barriers to work.
• In May, the government launched a nationwide campaign to increase the British workforce in conjunction with the Jobcentre Plus. The recruitment campaign encourages employers struggling with staffing shortages to use the services and solutions that local Jobcentres offer.
• Led by the Department for Work and Pensions, a cross-government ministerial taskforce has been launched to develop new recruitment schemes in industries experiencing staffing shortages.

  Why was the salary threshold increased to 48%?

• The increase is based on median UK salaries across eligible occupations.  Employers who are offering competitive pay will already be meeting the new threshold.
• The government is not stopping businesses recruiting from overseas which is why salary discounts have been retained for PhD holders and new entrants to the labour market.

How is the new Immigration Salary List different to the Shortage Occupation List?

• The new Immigration Salary List follows a Migration Advisory Committee recommendation to reform its predecessor which the government has accepted.
• The 20% going-rate discount has been abolished so that employers can no longer pay migrants less than UK workers in shortage occupations.
• The Migration Advisory Committee have reviewed which occupations should be included on the new list based on where there are shortages which cannot be filled through British workers in the short term, and which will retain a 20% general salary threshold discount.
• Roles should only be included on the new list where they are skilled, where there is a shortage of suitable domestic workers available, and where it is sensible for immigration to be a part of the solution, at least in the short term, considering the efforts being made by sectors to invest in the resident workforce.

Family Visas

On 11 April, the minimum income required to sponsor someone coming to the UK on a family visa increased from £18,600 to £29,000 – an increase of more than 55%. By early 2025, this will have increased 2 more times, rising to £38,700 – to meet the new salary threshold for a Skilled Worker visa.

The government’s longstanding principle is that anyone bringing dependants to live in the UK must be able to financially support them. The minimum income requirement ensures that families are self-sufficient instead of relying on public funds, with the ability to integrate if they are to play a full part in British life.

How will it apply to those already here?

• Those who already have a family visa within the five-year partner route, or who applied before the minimum income requirement was raised, will continue to have their applications assessed against the income requirement in place at the time of their initial application and will not be required to meet the increased threshold. This will also be the case for children seeking to join or accompany parents.
• Anyone granted a fiancé visa before the minimum income threshold was raised will also be assessed against the income requirement in place at the time of their initial  application for a family visa within the five-year partner route.
• Anyone applying for the first time after the new rules have taken effect will be required to meet the new requirement (or demonstrate exceptional circumstances).

Why did you pick £38,700?

• The level is based on the median income for people in high skilled jobs and reflects the current salary threshold on the Skilled Worker visa route.

How can the applicant’s income be taken into account?

• The sponsoring partner (i.e. the British person or UK settled person) and/or the applicant, only if the applicant is in the UK with permission to work, must have an income of £29,000 earned in the UK.
• That means if a partner was already in the UK and working – for example because they were renewing their family visa or because they were already on a different kind of working visa – their income would be counted.

Will families be split up?

• The family Immigration Rules contain a provision for exceptional circumstances where there would be unjustifiably harsh consequences for the applicant, their partner, a relevant child, or another family member if their application were to be refused. This would result in leave being granted on a ten year instead of a five-year route to settlement.
• Further information can be found here - Family life and exceptional circumstances: caseworker guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Tags: legal migration , net migration , visas

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