PhD Candidate in Economics

BI Norwegian Business School; Norway; On-site; NOK 573,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Norway seeks PhD candidates in Economics for a four-year program focused on high-quality scientific research. Candidates must have a Master's degree with a GPA of B or higher. The scholarship pays NOK 572.800 annually, involving a 25% work obligation. Applications are accepted electronically, with a deadline of January 5, 2026.

Benefits

Annual scholarship

Access to research centers

Support in international job market

Qualifications

• Applicants must have completed a Master's degree with thesis work.
• Grade point average of B or higher is required.
• An MBA does not fulfill the admission requirements.

Responsibilities

• Engage in high-quality scientific research in Economics.
• Participate actively in research seminars and workshops.
• Possibly contribute to research projects alongside faculty members.

Skills

Economic theory

Econometric methods

Research potential

Education

Master of Science degree

Research Masters/M.Phil degree

Job description

Overview

Organisation/Company BI Norwegian Business School
Research Field Economics » Econometrics Economics » Industrial economics Economics » International economics Economics » Macroeconomics Economics » Microeconomics Economics » Other
Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1)
Country Norway
Application Deadline 5 Jan 2026 - 22:59 (UTC)
Type of Contract Temporary
Job Status Full-time
Hours Per Week 38
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

PhD Candidates in Economics

BI Norwegian Business School offers a four-year Ph.D. Programme with specialization in Economics, which trains students to engage in high quality scientific research, making use of economic theory and state of the art econometric methods. The Department of Economics has a strong research-oriented faculty working within microeconomic theory, macroeconomics, econometrics, labour economics, natural resource and energy economics, political economics, industrial organization, and international and development economics. The department hosts five research centres; Centre for Monetary Economics (CME), Centre for Research in Economics and Management (CREAM), Centre for Applied Macro and Petroleum Economics (CAMP), Centre for Experimental Studies and Research (CESAR), and Centre for Applied and Theoretical Econometrics (CATE).

The doctoral programme is an important element in the department’s research excellence strategy and in BI’s vision to become one of the leading research business schools in Europe. The selected candidates will join a group of talented and ambitious PhD candidates at the department that work in close collaboration with faculty members. PhD students are expected to participate actively in research seminars and workshops. The place of work will be at BI Norwegian Business School in Oslo.

A PhD from BI can be a gateway to prestigious academic positions at universities and research institutions around the world. We encourage and support our candidates in the international job market. Recent graduates of BI's PhD specialization in economics have been hired by, among others, Sciences Po, University of Chicago, Católica Lisbon School of Business & Economics, University of Oslo, European Central Bank.

Eligibility 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 Economics by the time the programme 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. 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% work obligation. BI Norwegian Business School is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage women to apply for the positions.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted electronically by using the "Send Application" button on the right-hand side of this announcement. Paper or e-mail applications will not be accepted. You are required to submit the following electronically together with your application:

• A short personal statement describing your research interests and potential research projects. Please also include BI Department of Economics faculty members (faculty list is available here) that you may be interested in working closely with should you be admitted to the PhD program.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV).

Letters of Recommendation

• We require a minimum of two (preferably three) letters of recommendation from people that can comment on your research potential. These should be emailed directly to us by the letter writers rather than uploaded by you. However, you must include the names of your letter writers in your application. Please arrange with the people submitting recommendation letters to email their recommendations to [e-mail] by the application deadline.

Academic Transcripts

• Certificate of a Master of Science degree or equivalent, including transcript of grades.
• Certificate of a Bachelor degree or equivalent, including transcript of grades.
• ADiploma Supplement or a similar document describing in detail the study and grade system associated with the obtained degree.
• Signed transcript verification document (to be found here). (Please note that this document should be uploaded with your application and not sent to your university. We will use the document to request an official transcript if you are considered for admission to the program and check for any discrepancy with the transcript you uploaded.)

• GRE General/GMAT test score: All applicants, except those who hold a master’s degree from an institution inside the European Economic Area/the European Union or Switzerland, must submit results from GMAT or the GRE General test. Note that we need scores for the Verbal, Quantitative and Analytical Writing sections of the GRE General or GMAT to consider your application. Incomplete sections or partial scores are not sufficient to consider your application.
• TOEFL/IELTS test score: Applicants whose native language is not English must take either TOEFL or IELTS. To be considered for admission, applicants must have a minimum TOEFL score of 575 (written test)/233 (computer-based test)/90 (internet-based test) or a IELTS score of 6.5.
• In some cases, applicants can request a waiver from TOEFL/IELTS by submitting a waiver form together with the application. Exemptions are generally made for applicants who have two years or more of higher education where the language of instruction was English, or from EU/EEA or Council of Europe/UNESCO-Cepes member countries with English as the first foreign language taken over a period of at least 7 years in education.

• We accept scanned copies of test scores. TOEFL/IELTS scores must be from within the last two years. For scanned IELTS scores, the TRF number must be visible. If sending official score reports from the test center, use codes: TOEFL/GMAT: 0529; GRE: 7365.

Additional documents

• In addition, you may upload the following documents:
• A writing sample that documents relevant research activities (e.g. a Master’s thesis or academic paper).
• Certificates from previously completed courses at the doctoral level, if requesting approval of these for the PhD programme at BI Norwegian Business School. If you have taken any courses at PhD level please complete the following form (maximum 18 ECTS).

All documents, apart from the recommendation letters, must be uploaded in the electronic application and may not be submitted by e-mail or on paper. Any documents forwarded after the application deadline will not be considered. Exceptions may be made for students 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.

Candidates may, at a later stage, be asked to forward further information and/or be called in for an interview. Candidates who are admitted to the programme must provide a more detailed progress plan with milestones and courses for the four years of study.

Additional information about the doctoral programme and admission requirements can be obtained from the doctoral administration at BI Norwegian Business School. E-mail: [e-mail]