PhD Candidate in Accounting

Handelshøyskolen BI; Oslo; On-site; NOK 573,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious business school in Norway is inviting applications for doctoral scholarships in Accounting, starting August 2026. This rigorous four-year program seeks candidates with strong quantitative skills and a Master's degree. Applicants will engage in comprehensive coursework and transition into research, focusing on a dissertation. The role includes a 25% teaching obligation with annual funding set at NOK 572,800.

Qualifications

• Solid quantitative skills essential for work in Accounting.
• Strong background in Accounting, Economics, Finance, Mathematics or Statistics.
• Strong communication and analytical skills are crucial for success.

Responsibilities

• Complete coursework covering major fields in Accounting.
• Conduct research work leading to a doctoral dissertation.
• Participate in regular research seminars and workshops.

Skills

Quantitative skills

Strong communication skills

Analytical skills

Education

Master of Science degree with thesis

Job description

Overview

The Department of Accounting and Operations Management at BI Norwegian Business School is inviting applications for doctoral scholarships, start date August 2026.

PhD specialization in Accounting

The PhD specialization in Accounting prepares candidates for careers in the world’s leading academic institutions, research-oriented international and national organizations, and the industry.

The four-year program offers rigorous training for candidates with strong analytical skills and intellectual curiosity. It follows a structure that is used in comparable programs around the world. The first three semesters are devoted to course work covering all the major fields in Accounting and core topics in Finance and Economics relevant for an Accounting PhD. These courses are mainly taught by BI faculty. The candidates can also take specialized courses and participate in doctoral workshops through different international accounting research networks.

The second year of the program sees candidates transitioning to research work. The candidates will work towards the doctoral dissertation that is typically a collection of three research articles. Research work is done in close co-operation with the supervisor and other faculty members from the department. Projects joint with faculty members often involve collaborators from other research institutions. Candidates also participate in regular research seminars with international scholars and present their research work at departmental workshops. The research environment is supportive and PhD candidates take actively part in all the social life at the department.

Organization and research environment

The Accounting group in the Department of Accounting and Operations Management is divided into two sub-groups: one group conducts quantitative (formal analytical and archival) research in the areas of financial accounting and auditing, and the other group focuses on qualitative research in management accounting and control. The group hosts The Scandinavian Accounting Research Conference and Doctoral Consortium and a regular research seminar series. These seminars and other visits by international researchers give PhD candidates an excellent opportunity to reflect and receive feedback on their own research. The department has access to many of the commonly used international databases. Some faculty members also work with unique Norwegian micro data on firms and individuals obtained from official registers.

The Accounting group members are involved in teaching at Executive, Master, and Bachelor levels, as well as tailor-made corporate courses in the respective areas.

Funding

The four-year scholarship is set according to the Norwegian State Salary Scale and currently pays NOK 572.800 annually. The position is linked to The Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (Statens Pensjonskasse). The scholarship involves 25% teaching obligation.

Application timeline and submission rules

The application and its attached documents can be submitted only electronically by using the "Send Application" button on the right hand side in this announcement. E-mail or hard copy applications will not be accepted. Kindly note that all documents need to have reached the Doctoral Administration by the deadline stated in this announcement in order to be considered. The only exception to this rule are candidates who are completing their Master’s degree in 2026 and do not have a final certificate when applying. You will not be able to revise your application once it has been submitted.

Application requirements

We encourage applications from candidates who have solid quantitative skills and a strong background in disciplines such as Accounting, Economics, Finance, Mathematics and Statistics. Strong communication and analytical skills are also crucial for successful completion of the program. If applicants are otherwise equally qualified, female applicants will be given preference. We welcome research interests, theoretical or empirical, in all areas of Accounting.

The following list details the formal application requirements:

1. A. Academic record
2. B. GRE / GMAT
3. C. TOEFL / IELTS
4. D. Materials to be uploaded in the electronic application

• A. Academic record: Eligible applicants must have completed a Master of Science degree with thesis work, a Research Masters/M.Phil degree, or a comparable degree relevant for the specialization in Accounting by the time the program starts in early autumn of 2026, with a grade point average of B or higher. An MBA degree does not fulfill the requirements for admission.
• B. GRE / GMAT: Applicants who hold a Master’s degree from an institution in an EU/EEA country are encouraged to take either the GMAT or the GRE test. Applicants whose Master’s degree is not from an institution in an EU/EEA country are required to take either the GMAT or the GRE test. Percentile scores and raw scores for the Verbal, Quantitative and Analytical Writing sections of the GRE or GMAT must be submitted together with the application. Incomplete sections or partial scores are not sufficient. A “good score” is generally considered to be 85% and higher. However, there is no minimum cutoff score for the GRE/GMAT.
• C. TOEFL / IELTS: Applicants are encouraged to take either TOEFL or IELTS. The codes for BI Norwegian Business School are as follows: GMAT 0529, TOEFL 0529, GRE 7365. For IELTS we accept copies as long as the TRF number is visible.
• D. Materials to be uploaded in the electronic application: You are required to upload the following electronically with your application: CV, recommendation letters, statement of purpose, and selected academic work. Full CV / resume including a complete list of all research work, publications (if any), thesis work, and other documented relevant research activities; Letters of recommendations (minimum two) from academics or qualified individuals; Statement of purpose describing your plans and motivation for PhD studies and your career objectives; One selected academic work showcasing your previous academic output.

Certificates, test results, and verification documents: Master and Bachelor degree certificates with transcripts, Diploma Supplement or similar, other relevant certificates and transcripts, test scores (GMAT/GRE and TOEFL/IELTS as relevant), and any doctoral-level courses completed. If you have taken any courses at PhD level please complete the specified form. Signed verification document.

Interviews and additional information

Candidates may, at a later stage, be asked to forward further information and/or be called in for an interview. Information about the doctoral program and admission requirements can be obtained from the Doctoral Administration at BI Norwegian Business School. E-mail: [e-mail]