Ledig stilling på Universitetet i Oslo

Blindern og Urbygningen (Foto: Wikimedia og Colourbox)

PhD in Comparative Education Policy

Deadline: 01.09.2019

Job description

Universitetet i Oslo

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


The Department of Education was established in 1938 and is one of three departments at the Faculty of Educational Sciences. The research is based on traditions from both the social and the human sciences, and the department thus accommodates great breadth in topics and perspectives. The department employs approximately 100 people; 49 scientific staff, 35 doctoral and post-doctoral students, and 16 administrative/technical staff. The number of students is approximately 900.

Flere stillinger fra Universitetet i Oslo

Applications are invited for a 4 year position in a Research Fellowship as PhD Candidate in the field of curriculum study at the Department of Education, University of Oslo.

The position is part of the project «Policy Knowledge and Lesson Drawing in Nordic School Reform in an Era of International Comparison» funded by the Research Council of Norway (see project webpage). This project utilizes bibliographic data and semantic analysis to examine how policy makers in five Nordic countries use evidence and expertise when setting reform agendas, developing new or modified policy options and issuing compulsory school reform.

In the project description the applicant should state the outline and intention for a PhD-project. The candidate is expected to select and analyse data from two Nordic countries and write a doctoral thesis which contributes to the overall research project. There will be opportunities for a research stay at TC Columbia University, New York, as well as participation in other Nordic project activities such as workshops and project team meetings on specific topics relevant to the overall project goals.

More about the position

The fellowship period is 4 years, with 3 years devoted to research education. The position entails a compulsory work load of 25% that consists of teaching and supervision duties and research assistance.

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

Qualification requirements

  • Applicants are required to hold a Master’s degree in Education, Social Sciences or equivalent. The master’s degree (120 ECTS) must have a minimum grade B (ECTS grading scale) or equivalent. The Master’s degree must include a thesis of at least 30 ECTS.
  • In evaluating applications, academic qualifications and the project description will be given more weight than other disciplinary and general qualifications.
  • We seek candidates who are familiar with research in the field of education policy and school reform, who can show evidence of and experience with the application of quantitative research methods (for example in the context of a master’s thesis), are interested in conducting bibliometric research and social network analysis and who are curious, cooperative and highly motivated for research.
  • Experiences from analysing data with statistical packages and programs such as UCINET and NetDraw, is an advantage.
  • Fluent oral and written communication skills in a Scandinavian language and English

Personal skills

• the applicants’ academic and personal qualifications for completing the research training program

• personal suitability and motivation for the position

• good ability to collaborate nationally and internationally

We offer

  • salary NOK 479 600 – 523 200 per annum depending on qualifications in a position as PhD Research fellow, (position code 1017)
  • attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement, in addition to Oslo’s family-friendly environment with its rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

How to apply

The application must include

  • Cover letter including statement of motivation and research interests
  • Project description (6-8 pages) (see guidelines for project descriptions)
  • Completed application form for admission to the doctoral degree program
  • CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work)
  • Certified copies of diplomas, grade transcripts and any other testimonials
  • In the event of diplomas from other countries: printouts of prospectuses or similar that describe the content and framework of the courses of study on which the application is based.
  • Evidence of experience with quantitative research methods
  • All applicants must submit their Master’s degree Diploma and transcript(s). The transcript must specify the grade achieved on the Master’s thesis.
  • A complete list of publications and academic works.
  • List of reference persons: 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number

Incomplete applications will under normal circumstances not be assessed. As a rule, interviews will be conducted as part of the appointment process.

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

When evaluating the application, emphasis will be given to the project description and the applicant’s academic and personal prerequisites to carry out the project.

Formal regulations

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Research Fellowships at the University of Oslo.

According to the Norwegian Freedom and Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

The appointment may be shortened/given a more limited scope within the framework of the applicable guidelines on account of any previous employment in academic positions.

The University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results etc.

Contact information

Apply for this job

Powered by Labrador CMS