FAQ: PhD Fellowship at the Department of Economics

Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions about applying for a PhD Research Fellowship at the Department of Economics. Please read the vacancy announcement and the information below carefully before submitting your application.

Before you apply

Before submitting your application, please make sure that:

  • you hold, or will complete by 1 August of the application year, a qualifying two-year Master's degree in economics (120 ECTS);
  • you have included all required academic documentation, including ECTS conversion, course descriptions and translations where applicable;
  • you have included detailed course descriptions and syllabuses where required;
  • you have included a project proposal of 5–10 pages;
  • you have provided the required GRE documentation, if applicable;
  • you have provided the required documentation of English-language proficiency, if applicable.

Application process

When is the application deadline?

  • The application deadline is 15 January each year.

How do I submit my application?

  • Applications must be submitted through Jobbnorge by clicking "Apply for the position" in the vacancy announcement. Applications submitted by email will not be considered.

Can I submit my application after the deadline?

  • No. Applications submitted after the application deadline will not be accepted.

    The Department of Economics normally advertises PhD Research Fellow positions once a year. Information about new vacancies is published on the Department's vacancies webpage.

When will I receive an answer about my application?

  • Applications will be assessed after the application deadline. Candidates will be notified shortly after the Department Board meeting in March.

Are recommendation letters required, and how can they be submitted?

  • No. Recommendation letters are not required. You may provide the names and contact details of relevant references instead.

    If you choose to include recommendation letters, they may be uploaded as part of your application in Jobbnorge or sent separately by email to the contact person specified in the vacancy announcement.

    Recommendation letters may be submitted in English or a Scandinavian language.

Academic qualifications

What kind of Master's degree do I need to apply?

  • Applicants must hold a two-year Master's degree (120 ECTS), including a Master's dissertation, or an equivalent qualification in economics.

    Degrees in accounting, auditing, business, marketing or management do not count as degrees in economics for the purpose of the call.

Can I apply if I have not yet completed my Master's degree?

  • Yes. Candidates completing their Master's degree in the spring semester of the application year may apply, provided that the degree is completed before 1 August of the application year.

Can I apply if I have already completed a PhD in Economics?

  • No. Candidates who have already completed a PhD programme in Economics will not be accepted.

What if I have already been accepted to another PhD programme in Economics?

  • Candidates who have already been accepted to a PhD programme in Economics must disclose this in their application.

Do I need to have taken postgraduate courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics or econometrics?

  • It is not an absolute requirement.

    Candidates who have already completed postgraduate-level economics courses in econometrics, microeconomics and/or macroeconomics will have an advantage in the assessment.

    Strong candidates without this background may nevertheless be accepted. If admitted, they may be required to complete such courses as part of the PhD programme.

Project proposal and supervision

What should the project proposal contain?

  • Your application must include a project proposal of 5–10 pages.

    The proposal should describe the overall research theme and research agenda, while also providing sufficient detail about how you intend to approach the research questions. You may describe individual proposed projects within a broader research agenda.

    The project proposal is an important part of the assessment. Emphasis is placed on the quality of the proposal and on how well the proposed project fits the Department's research strategy and supervision capacity.

    You can find more information regarding project proposal on the Faculty's webpage. 

Do I need to find or contact a potential supervisor before applying?

  • No. You do not need to have an agreement with a potential supervisor or contact individual professors before submitting your application.

    Applications and project proposals are assessed through the formal recruitment process, including whether the Department has suitable supervision capacity for the proposed project.

Can I have a co-supervisor from another department or research centre?

  • Yes. It is possible to have a co-supervisor from outside the Department of Economics where this is academically appropriate.

    Supervision arrangements are normally considered after admission.

Documentation and ECTS

Which transcripts and diplomas must I submit?

  • Your application must include copies of your relevant Bachelor's and Master's degree transcripts and diplomas, including the documentation necessary to assess your academic qualifications.

    Important documents must be in English or a Scandinavian language. If the original documents are in another language, they must be officially translated into English or a Scandinavian language.

    Applications without sufficient documentation will not be considered.

What should I do if my institution does not use ECTS grades?

  • If your institution does not use the ECTS grading system, you must provide an official conversion of your grades to ECTS grades.

    The conversion must be included with your application. A translation or description of the institution's original grading system alone does not replace the required ECTS conversion.

    Applications without the required documentation will not be considered.

Do I need to submit course descriptions and syllabuses?

  • If your degree is from an institution other than the University of Oslo, you must provide sufficient documentation for the Department to assess your academic qualifications. This includes detailed course descriptions and syllabuses.

    In particular, documentation of courses relevant to your economics background and the qualification requirements should be provided.

GRE and English proficiency

Who is required to submit a GRE General Test?

  • A GRE General Test is required for candidates with education from an institution outside the European Economic Area (EEA)/European Union (EU), the UK or Switzerland.

    The GRE result must be no more than five years old at the application deadline. Where the GRE requirement applies, it is mandatory.

How do I submit my GRE results?

You must do both of the following:

  1. Add the University of Oslo as a recipient of your GRE results using institutional code 0756.
  2. Scan and upload a copy of your GRE test result to your application in Jobbnorge.

Can I submit a GMAT result instead of a GRE General Test?

  • No. The Department of Economics does not accept GMAT as a substitute for the GRE General Test.

Do I need to document my English proficiency?

  • All applicants must have a good command of English. Unless exempt, you must document your English proficiency with a TOEFL or IELTS test.

You are exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement if:

  • you are a native English speaker;
  • you have a qualifying Master's degree from a Nordic institution; or
  • you have a qualifying Master's degree where the language of tuition was English.