Aarhus University PHD Fellowships

Aarhus University invites highly qualified graduates from all over the world to apply for admission to one of the university’s PhD programmes. Below you will find a general description of PhD scholarships/fellowships at Aarhus University. On the individual graduate school websites, you can find detailed information about specific scholarships as well as calls for applications, procedures and deadlines.

PhD projects:

Individual projects: You can apply for admission to a graduate school based on your academic record and a project proposal prepared by you and possibly a supervisor at Aarhus University.

Predefined projects: You can apply for a number of specific PhD positions with predefined project descriptions. Predefined projects are announced on the individual graduate school websites.

Documented funding for the entire PhD programme is a prerequisite for admission. You can either apply as a self-financed student or you can apply for scholarships/fellowships in connection with your application. Aarhus University offers several types of PhD scholarships/fellowships.

3-year PhD fellowships

To be considered for a 3-year PhD fellowship, you must have passed a qualifying exam that corresponds to 300 ECTS credits (e.g., a Bachelor’s degree corresponding to 180 ECTS credits and a Master’s degree corresponding to 120 ECTS credits). The holder of the fellowship is then employed as a PhD research fellow for three years.

4-year PhD scholarships

To be considered for a 4-year PhD scholarship, you must have passed a qualifying exam that corresponds to 240 ECTS credits (e.g., a Bachelor’s degree corresponding to 180 ECTS credits as well as Master’s degree exams corresponding to 60 ECTS credits, or a Master’s degree corresponding to 240 ECTS credits).

A 4-year PhD scholarship consists of two parts: part A (the first two years) and part B (the final two years). The recipient receives a monthly stipend as a scholar during part A. When he or she transitions to part B, the recipient is employed as a PhD fellow and receives a monthly salary. On the transition from part A to part B, the recipient is awarded a Danish Master’s degree . The transition from part A to part B also requires satisfactory completion of part A.

5-year PhD scholarships

To be considered for a 5-year PhD scholarship, you must have completed the Bachelor’s programme (the so-called 3+5 or Bologna Danese track that corresponds to 180 ECTS credits). On completion of a Bachelor’s degree, talented students are admitted directly to a programme which combines a Master's degree programme with a PhD programme.

The Industrial PhD Programme

The Industrial PhD Programme is a joint study programme between a university and a company or institution in the public or private sector. The Industrial PhD Programme supports innovation in the private and public sectors and trains researchers in collaboration with organisations such s as small businesses, corporations, non-profit organisations, etc.