Original text in Norwegian, as published by the employer.
ARENA Centre for European Studies at the University of Oslo invites applications for a position as PhD Research Fellow (SKO 1017) in political science or another relevant social science discipline. The position is for a period of three years, with no teaching or other required duties.
The place of work is ARENA Centre for European Studies, University of Oslo.
ARENA is an interdisciplinary research centre at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Oslo. Since 1994, the centre has studied political, security, economic, legal and social integration, transformation and cooperation in Europe. ARENA has extensive experience in coordinating international research projects and networks funded by European and Norwegian institutions.
The centre has around 30 academic and four administrative staff. More information about ARENA is available here.
Europe is being reshaped by war, geopolitical rivalry and a renewed enlargement agenda. As the EU's rules and decisions reach further beyond its borders, Norway faces key questions about alignment, influence and democratic control. Norway is one of the most closely integrated non-member states. That makes it an important case for understanding what it means to be part of European integration without being a member of the Union.
ARENA is looking for a PhD Research Fellow who wants to write a dissertation on Norway's relationship with the EU. The successful candidate will develop and carry out their own doctoral project in a research environment with long experience of studying European integration and its consequences for countries both inside and outside the Union.
We expect theoretically informed empirical studies and particularly welcome projects that take a comparative approach, but single-case studies of Norway are also welcome. Examples of comparisons could include comparing and contrasting Norway with other associated or third countries (such as Iceland, Switzerland or the United Kingdom), EU member states or candidate countries. Comparisons across policy areas are also welcome. We are open to a range of theoretical and methodological approaches.
Relevant research areas could include, but are not limited to:
We are looking for candidates with interesting and relevant research ideas, strong theoretical and analytical skills, and solid methodological competence. The project proposal should combine clear theoretical and empirical ambitions with a realistic and feasible research design.
The appointment as a PhD Research Fellow at ARENA is for a period of three years, with no compulsory duties. As a fellow, you will be based at ARENA Centre for European Studies’ premises in Gaustadalléen, Oslo. Presence at the unit is a requirement.
You will be admitted to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Oslo.
This is a full-time position commencing in the winter or spring of 2027. You will have access to office space, equipment, and services, as well as resources for fieldwork and conference participation as needed.
Required selection criteria
Excellent oral and written English proficiency is required
ARENA’s working language is English, and therefore, fluency in oral and written English is required. As Norway’s relationship with the EU is central to the position, Norwegian sources will be important, making good proficiency in Norwegian (or another Scandinavian language) an advantage.
Personal suitability
You should be able to take initiative and wish to participate actively in an international and interdisciplinary research team.
Appointment as a research fellow requires admission to a doctoral programme, or a binding agreement regarding admission.
Application for admission to a PhD programme must normally be submitted within three months of the start of the research project leading to the PhD degree.
In the assessment of candidates, particular emphasis will be placed on:
(1) the quality and relevance of the project proposal
(2) academic qualifications (transcripts must be attached)
(3) the master's thesis and any other published work
(4) references.
Personal qualities and motivation will be taken into consideration.
Potential candidates will be invited to an interview.
UiO is an open and internationally oriented comprehensive university that strives to be an inclusive and diverse workplace and academic environment. You can read more about UiO’s work on equality, inclusion, and diversity at uio.no.
We fulfill our mission most effectively when we draw upon our variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives. We are looking for great colleagues—could you be the next one?
We will provide appropriate accommodations should you need them. Relevant adjustments may include modifications to working hours, task adaptations, digital, technical, or physical adjustments, or other practical measures.
If you have an immigrant background, a disability, or CV gaps, we encourage you to indicate this in the job application portal. We always invite at least one qualified candidate from each group for an interview. In this context, disability is defined as an applicant who identifies as having a disability that requires workplace or employment-related accommodations. For more details about the requirements, please refer to the Employer portal (Norwegian).
The selections made in the job application portal are used for anonymized statistics that all state employers include in their annual reports.
More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here.
We hope you will apply for the position with us.
Read more about the benefits of working in the public sector at Employer Portal.
Your application should include:
Contact information for 2–3 references
Your CV must be entered into the Jobbnorge CV form; it cannot simply be submitted as an attachment. This procedure ensures correct documentation and record-keeping in accordance with Section 15 of the Regulations to the Public Administration Act.
The application with attachments must be submitted via our recruitment system, Jobbnorge; click “Apply for the position”.
When applying for the position, we ask you to retrieve your education results from Vitnemålsportalen.no. If your education results are not available through Vitnemålsportalen, we ask you to upload copies of your transcripts or grades. Please note that all documentation must be in English or a Scandinavian language.
For further information regarding the position please contact
Centre Director: Pernille Rieker, ARENA
Please note that we are unable to add documentation after the application deadline. As the deadline applies equally to all applicants, this policy ensures equal treatment throughout the recruitment process. If you experience difficulties uploading documents in Jobbnorge, please contact their customer service: Phone: +47 75 54 22 20 or Email: support@grade.com
The primary method of communication throughout the process will be e-mails and messages through the recruitment system Jobbnorge. When you receive a notification of a message in Jobbnorge, please log in to read it, as it may be important.
The best qualified candidates will invited for interviews.
Applicant lists can be published in accordance with Norwegian Freedom of Information Act § 25. When you apply for a position with us, your name will appear on the public applicant list. It is possible to request to be excluded from this list. You must justify why you want an exemption from publication and we will then decide whether we can grant your request. If we cannot, you will hear from us.
Please refer to Regulations for the Act on universities and colleges chapter 3 (Norwegian), Guidelines concerning appointment to recruitment positions at UiO and Regulations for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at the University of Oslo.
The University of Oslo has a transfer agreement with all employees to secure the rights to all research results and related intellectual property.
Source: NAV — Arbeidsplassen.no (Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration) · Retrieved 2026-11-07 · Not affiliated with or endorsed by NAV (the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration). Listings are removed from this site when NAV marks them inactive.
Apply on official site → View on Arbeidsplassen.no
| Norwegian | English |
|---|---|
| master | master's degree |
| cv | CV / résumé |
Type the gross monthly salary you were offered. We apply the 2026 tax rules and subtract an average rent from SSB.
Method: national insurance 7.6%, standard deduction 46% (max NOK 95,700), personal allowance NOK 114,540, ordinary income tax 22% (assumed unchanged; verify), bracket tax 1.7/4.0/13.7/16.8/17.8%. Ignores pension, union fees, deductions, municipal differences and holiday-pay timing. Rent = SSB 2025 survey average, not a current asking price. Food, energy, transport and insurance must still come out of what is left. Not advice.
Click a county or a city. Counties: Oslo · Østfold · Akershus · Buskerud · Innlandet · Vestfold · Telemark · Agder · Rogaland · Vestland · Møre og Romsdal · Trøndelag · Nordland · Troms · Finnmark.
PhD Research Fellow in Political Science - Norway and the EU, PhD Research Fellow in Political Science - Norway and the EU jobs, PhD Research Fellow in Political Science - Norway and the EU Oslo, jobs in Oslo, University of Oslo jobs, Utdanning jobs Norway, stillinger Oslo