phd in economics norway

• NMBU student

Doctoral degree Full time Economics and Business

Admission to the PhD programme at the School of Economics and Business conditions the applicant to document:

- grade A or B on the master's thesis,

- average grade B or above on courses included in the master’s degree (120 credits),

- average grade C or above on courses included in the bachelor’s degree (180 credits), or

- equivalent grades from previous education with other grading systems/ grading scales.

Relevant academic backgrounds will be a master's degree in economics, economics and business administration, entrepreneurship and innovation, or similar programmes relevant to the PhD project.  An MBA degree does not fulfill the requirements for admission.

Our vacant PhD positions (research fellow) are announced in February every year under vacant positions:  https://www.nmbu.no/en/about/vacancies

Start of Studies :

The aim of the programme is to qualify candidates for research of international standard within all the department’s subject areas, and for other work that require scientific insight and analytical thinking and skills.

As a PhD student at the school, you become part of an international and ambitious research environment. You get to work closely with renowned researchers, conduct independent research and develop your teaching skills. As a PhD student, you will also participate in one or more of the faculty's research groups.

The School of Economics and Business offers professional specialization in economics, finance, organizational theory, innovation, entrepreneurship and management.

Career opportunities

The PhD programme in Economics and Business shall qualify candidates for research of international standard within all the department’s subject areas, and for other work where there are high demands on scientific insight and analytical thinking. 

Upon completing the doctoral degree, you will be awarded the title PhD (Philosophiae doctor).

Learning outcomes

LEARNING OUTCOMES

On completion of the PhD programme, the new doctor is expected to:

* Have in-depth knowledge in the chosen subject area and be at the forefront of knowledge within their specific area of research.

* Have in-depth knowledge about scientific theories and methods within the field.

* Be able to assess and analyze different theories, methods and processes in research and academic development projects, also from an international perspective.

* Be able to contribute to the development of new knowledge, new theories and methods in the field.

* Be able to formulate research issues, and to plan and conduct research and academic development work of high international standards within the subject area.

* Be able to handle complex scientific questions and to challenge established knowledge and practice in the field.

* Be able to contribute to the development of new knowledge, new theories and methods within their subject area, master relevant social science and statistical methods and be able to assess the utility and limitations of different methods.

* Be able to handle complexity, create an overview and synthesize scientific information.

* Be able to perform critical assessments and give constructive criticism on scientific work in their field.

GENERAL COMPETENCE

* Be able to conduct the research with professional and ethical integrity, and to identify new relevant ethical issues.

* Be able to participate in complex interdisciplinary tasks and projects.

* Be able to disseminate research and development work through recognized national and international channels, and to participate in scientific debates in international forums.

* Be able to disseminate the research findings to the authorities and public administration, to companies and organizations, and to the general public through contact with the media.

* Be able to teach students within their subject area or field of specialization.

* Be able to place own research in broad academic and societal contexts.

* Be able to assess the need for and, if required, stimulate innovation in the field.

Exchange possibilities

NMBU facilitates national and international exchanges. Part of the doctoral work or doctoral courses may be taken at other Norwegian or foreign academic institutions when it can be incorporated into the plans, and funding has been secured.

Program structure

ACADEMIC CONTENT AND STRUCTURE

The PhD programme in Economics and Business is based at NMBU¿s School of Economics and Business. The programme is based on the general description of the PhD education at NMBU, and is regulated by the Regulations for the Degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. Supplementary regulations are given by the department.

The programme has a nominal duration of three years. The programme consists of required coursework and a thesis. The course package must contain a minimum of 45 credits and is put together in collaboration with the candidate, the supervisor and the department (the research committee), depending on the subject area of the thesis and the candidate¿s background and needs.

The coursework must provide knowledge about the forefront of research in the field, i.e. ongoing research and unanswered questions. Courses both at NMBU and other higher education institutions may be included in the degree. Students are also encouraged to spend one to two semesters at recognized universities abroad, if possible.

The thesis usually consists of 3-4 articles, and the candidate must demonstrate through the choice of analysis methods and research issues that he/she is capable of conducting independent research work of high quality. Publishing findings in good international journals is an important goal.

PhD students must submit annual progress reports on a standard form by 1. February every year. Deviations from the plan must be explained. The requirement of a progress report is set out in section 9.1. PhD students and supervisors share responsibility for progress.

All PhD candidates must attend three regular seminars at the Department (see section 9.1): an introductory seminar after approximately 6 months, a midway assessment seminar after approximately 1.5-2 years and a final seminar approximately 6 months before submitting the doctoral thesis. The midway assessment seminar must be carried out in accordance with section 9.2. The seminars are considered to be part of the required coursework and quality assurance of the PhD programme, and will give the students useful feedback for the work ahead.

More about the program

Societal relevance.

The PhD programme in Economics and Business shall qualify candidates for research of international standard within all the department's subject areas, and for other work where there are high demands on scientific insight and analytical thinking. Students must learn to work in accordance with recognized principles of academic and research ethics. The objective of the PhD education is to give candidates knowledge, skills and expertise in line with the Norwegian qualifications framework.

Learning activities

MEANS OF ACQUIRING THE KNOWLEDGE

* The required coursework of at least 45 academic credits, which offers comprehensive in-depth competence.

* Reading and keeping updated on literature within their field of specialization.

* Completing an independent work of research of international standard.

MEANS OF ACQUIRING THE SKILLS

* Participating in planning and shaping the PhD project in detail and, if applicable, participating in the planning of new project applications.

* Supervision and own research, where the PhD candidate actively benefits from the competence of the supervisory team.

* Developing his/her own international academic network.

* Attending courses on research methods and writing when relevant.

* Working on publications, submissions to journals and handling comments from referees.

* Working on the thesis.

* Participating in peer review of scientific manuscripts, giving feedback on colleagues' manuscripts.

* Attending seminars where other PhD students' and researchers' ideas and results are discussed.

MEANS OF ACHIEVING GENERAL COMPETENCE

* Taking a course on research ethics and philosophy of science with a scope of at least 5 credits.

* Supervision and own research.

* Working on publications and the thesis.

* The trial lecture. The trial lecture requires familiarization with a specified topic quickly, time management, searching for / selecting / evaluating / processing information, and giving an oral presentation of this topic.

* Presenting own research findings at national and international scientific conferences.

* Giving lectures at conferences and scientific meetings.

* Giving interviews on radio and TV, in newspapers or other journals.

Examination

The degree of philosophiae doctor (PhD) is conferred on the basis of:

* Approved completion of the required coursework

* An approved doctoral thesis

* An approved trial lecture on a specified topic

* An approved public defense of the doctoral thesis (disputation)

Arrangements students from partner universities

Study advisor(s) :.

Kirsti Pettersen

Oslo PhD Initiative in Economics

The Oslo PhD Initiative in Economics is a cooperation between BI Norwegian Business School (BI) and the University of Oslo (UiO) to make Oslo one of the most attractive places to do a PhD in Economics and Business Economics in Europe.

The Initiative has two pillars which draw on faculty excellence from both departments. Pillar One consists of a common PhD research seminar, in which PhD candidates from both departments interact and discuss their on-going research ideas under the guidance of two faculty from the two departments. Pillar Two consists of a broad set of elective courses offered by both departments, which span all fields on the research frontier in Economics, and which PhD candidates at the two departments can take.

BI Department of Economics:

• Courses at BI
• PhD specialisation in Economics at BI

UiO Department of Economics :

• Courses at UiO
• PhD specialisation in Economics at UiO

Useful links

• Tips 4 Economists by Masayuki Kudamatsu
• Research Advice by Keith Head   
• Ten Commandments for How to Give a Seminar by Kjetil Storesletten
• Jesse M. Shapiro - How to give an applied micro talk
• Rachael Meager - Public Speaking for Academic Economists
• Paul Goldsmith-Pinkham - Beamer Tips
• Eliana La Ferrara - How to present your job market paper
• Carmine Gallo - How to Rehearse for an Important Presentation
• Marc F. Bellemare - 22 Tips for Conference and Seminar Presentations

Doctoral degree and PhD

The University offers research training of a high international standard, with a broad range of subject areas and strong research environments. A doctorate from the University of Oslo qualifies candidates for an academic career as well as other professions requiring a high level of competence.

Before applying

To be eligible for admission to a PhD programme, certain educational and financial requirements must be met. If you have not applied to a PhD programme before, we recommend that you read this before you proceed to the programme pages.

Facts about the PhD programmes

• Requires a completed Master’s degree.
• Stipulated length of three years’ full-time studies.
• 2.5 years of independent research work.
• Educational component worth 30 credits.
• In 2018, 468 PhD candidates successfully defended their theses at the University of Oslo.

PhD programmes

Each faculty has its own PhD programme. The programme pages give details on how to apply, the programme structure, thesis and public defence.

PhD in the Humanities

PhD at The Faculty of Law

PhD in medicine and health sciences

PhD at The Faculty of Dentistry

PhD at The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

PhD in Social Science

PhD at The Faculty of Theology

PhD at the Faculty of Educational Sciences

Courses and seminars

Find information on courses and seminars offered at PhD level.

Doctoral conferment

When your doctoral examination is approved by the faculty, you will be invited to a conferral ceremony in the University’s ceremonial hall, the Aula.

Public defences

Dr.philos. – another route to a doctoral degree.

The Dr.Philos. degree (Doctor Philosophiae) is awarded to academics who have qualified for a doctoral degree on their own, without formal supervision. They have no affiliation to the university as a doctoral candidate until their application for the doctoral examination has been approved.

Contact information

Questions about PhD and doctoral degrees?

Regulations

The research training is governed by the Act relating to universities and university colleges and local regulations.

Jobs at UiO

Browse through available doctoral research fellowships , read more about working as a researcher at UiO, and find the support site for international researchers.

• Master's programmes in English
• For exchange students
• PhD opportunities
• All programmes of study
• Language requirements
• Application process
• Academic calendar
• NTNU research
• Research excellence
• Strategic research areas
• Innovation resources
• Student in Trondheim
• Student in Gjøvik
• Student in Ålesund
• For researchers
• Life and housing
• Faculties and departments
• International researcher support

Språkvelger

Admission and financing.

• Regulations
• Upcoming doctoral defences
• Doctoral Awards Ceremony

PhD education

A PhD degree is the highest level of formalized education in Norway.

A doctoral degree from NTNU qualifies you to a range of positions both in the private and public sector. Though academia has traditionally been the main career path, an increasing number of doctors are going into leading positions in the private sector.

The doctoral education at NTNU is structured in various PhD programmes and gaining access to a PhD programme is a prerequisite for completing a PhD.

Find PhD programme

KRYSSPUBLISERT - PhD - Admission and financing - ID 1295482685 (sharing)

In addition to a master's degree or equivalent and a strong academic record, financing is an absolute requirement for admission to a PhD programme . Funding can be both through NTNU and other sources. Available PhD positions at NTNU are continuously posted online.

Programme components

The PhD education is a structured degree with a nominal duration of three-year full-time study . Some PhD positions may include a fourth year of required duties, usually in the form of teaching, this will be detailed in your employee contract if applicable.

• The programme consists of at least 30 ECTS of coursework, and an independent academic work in the form of a doctoral thesis estimated to 2.5 years.
• A PhD degree requires a great deal of independence and capacity for completion
• The final thesis should contribute to the development of new scientific knowledge and meet international standards in the field
• PhD education at NTNU is internationally oriented
• You are expected to contribute to international conferences and publish in international peer-reviewed journals
• It is possible to complete part of your studies abroad, either in the form of a prolonged research stay or by completing some of your courses abroad

KRYSSPUBLISERT - PhD - Dr.philos. degree - ID 1295512303 (sharing)

Dr.philos. degree.

It is possible to complete a doctoral degree outside of a structured PhD education. This is called a dr.philos. degree and is a completely independent non-supervised academic work where your first formal contact with the university will be upon handing in your thesis.

Joint PhD course database

A number of joint projects have been launched to support the vision of Nordic Five Tech as an extended campus. One of them is this joint PhD course database . The aim of this initiative is to increase mobility for our PhD students within the five universities and further strengthen the alliance by encouraging more research cooperation.

If you are a PhD student at one of the Nordic Five Tech universities you do not have to pay for participating in courses registered in this database . Please note that the database also includes non-technical PhD courses.

* Nordic Five Tech universities is an alliance of the five leading technical universities in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.

• Chalmers University Of Technology , Gothenburg, Sweden
• Aalto University , Helsinki, Finland (Former Helsinki University Of Technology, TKK)
• Norwegian University of Science And Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
• Royal Institute Of Technology (KTH) , Stockholm, Sweden
• Technical University Of Denmark (DTU) , Lyngby, Denmark

Doctoral awards ceremony

New doctors

krysspublisert ID: 1263188355 For existing PhD candidates

For existing phd candidates.

• PhD Handbook
• Information for current PhD candidates

Resources for Postdoctoral Fellows

Vacancies at NTNU  – also about working at NTNU and practical information.

Research and Innovation

• Faculties and departments with research groups
• Research portal
• Innovation portal
• Norwegian SciTech News

• Master programme in Economics (2 years)
• PhD programme in Social Sciences
• Oslo PhD Initiative in Economics

Find courses

• See list of  courses offered in English

Find a course Search

Find reading lists, lecture times and notes from all courses from the department.

Find staff and students

Bård Harstad, who is a professor at the Department of Economy at The University of Oslo receives his third ERC-grant. He will, among other things, investigate how international and policies agreements can be designed to exploit the domestic political forces, that is, to take advantage of them, so that the agreement or policy becomes stronger or more attractive.

Good measures require reliable data - these must be collected urgently.

- I aim at filling the gap between different views about justice and concrete policy recommendations, says Paolo Giovanni Piacquadio, Associate Professor at the Department of Economy. He received an ERC Starting Grant for the project Value Judgements and Redistribution Policies.

The gains from environmental policies may be unevenly distributed, according to a new study. Researcher Elisabeth Isaksen believes this can affect people’s support for climate and environmental measures.

Research Centres

ESOP - Centre for the Study of Equality, Social Organization and Performance

NFS - Norwegian Fiscal Studies

Master scholarships

The Department of Economics have several scholarships that students can apply for.

• PhD Academic Job Market Candidates 2023-2024

Follow ØI on Facebook

PhD programmes

As a PhD candidate at OsloMet, you can expect a high-quality research education in a supportive academic environment.

At OsloMet, you will be a full-fledged member of our research community and will join a supportive and diverse community of academics. We have a large and growing number of international doctoral candidates and are committed to attracting talented aspiring researchers from around the world.

Many alumni of our PhD programmes pursue careers in academia, while others go on to high-level careers in the public and private sector—both in Norway and around the world.

PhD candidates in Norway are not students, but employees. Research fellows who are employed by a Norwegian university can expect some of the best working conditions in the world. As you work toward your doctoral degree, you will enjoy a good salary and a host of benefits, including five weeks of paid holiday.

You can also pursue a PhD at OsloMet while working for a different employer, either in Norway or elsewhere in the world.

• Pilestredet Campus, Oslo

All of our PhD positions are publicly advertised. You can view current available PhD positions in our job portal. 

• Job openings

Interested in learning more?

You can find detailed information about our PhD programmes, including application procedures and how to apply for funding, on our employee website. 

• Admission and funding (ansatt.oslomet.no)
• Getting started (ansatt.oslomet.no)
• During your PhD (ansatt.oslomet.no)
• Completion of your PhD (ansatt.oslomet.no)

Upcoming public defences

• Pilestredet Campus
• Faculty of Technology, Art and Design
• PhD defences
• Faculty of Social Sciences / Department of Social Work, Child Welfare and Social Policy
• Faculty of Education and International Studies / Department of Primary and Secondary Teacher Education
• Pilestredet Campus / Hybrid event
• Centre for the Study of Professions

Life in Oslo

Are you considering applying for a PhD or academic position at a Norwegian university? We asked the experts—our own international employees—for their advice on how to navigate the transition to working in Norway.

What defines quality of life in a city? Is it the availability of good restaurants, bars and entertainment options? Or is it easy access to unspoilt nature? In Oslo, you don’t have to choose between the two—we have plenty of both.

The sun doesn't set until close to midnight, and even then it never really gets dark. You can spend the evening watching the light change at an outdoor café with friends, or go for a relaxing swim in the fjord alone. Oslo in the summer is a pretty magical place.

• Accessibility statement
• Cookies policy
• Employee directory
• Employee website
• Student website
• Upcoming events
• Work for us

PhD specialisation in Finance

The PhD specialisation in Finance offers rigorous training in financial economics in a vibrant and collegial research department.  Our program allows students to grow into ambitious researchers who can successfully move on to an academic career.  

The structure of the PhD program follows international standards. During the first year, students focus on challenging coursework. The second year includes additional coursework while the primary focus shifts to independent research. Students typically take five years to complete their dissertation. 

Our faculty covers all major areas in financial economics and is highly committed to support our doctoral students, who are well integrated into the activities of the department. We have a strong record of placing graduates in international academic institutions.   

• PhD programme at NHH

Structure of the Program

Students usually finish the program within five years. Here is an overview of the main ingredients of the program. 

Course Work 

The aim of the PhD courses is to equip students with the necessary tools to create innovative research. The first year in the program is fully devoted to coursework and students are expected to take some additional elective courses during their second year.  

Regular Courses: 

• Asset Pricing 1A
• Asset Pricing 1B
• Asset Pricing 2
• Corporate Finance 1A
• Corporate Finance 1B
• Financial Econometrics
• Scientific Methods in Finance
• Topics in Empirical Corporate Finance -  Empirical Corporate Finance II
• Research Seminar in Finance
• Continuous Time Finance

The regular courses are taught by NHH faculty and by adjunct faculty from top institutions such as the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and UCLA. In addition, leading scholars occasionally teach short specialized courses during visits at the department.           

Thesis Work 

Students converge on a research field and find a supervisor by the beginning of the second year. During the second year, the focus shifts from coursework to working on the dissertation. A dissertation usually includes three research papers that are deemed publishable in international journals. Some of the chapters may be coauthored with faculty members, other PhD students or researchers at other institutions.  

Seminars & Conferences

Participation in research seminars is an essential part of the doctoral studies. The department regularly welcomes leading scholars for seminar presentations.   Before each seminar, the PhD students and a different faculty member meet for a “pre-seminar workshop” to discuss the paper presented at the seminar. In addition, faculty members and PhD students regularly present their work in internal seminars. Research and conference travels are strongly encouraged and funding for these purposes is usually available.  

International Orientation 

We encourage and facilitate international interactions for the PhD students. The Department of Finance regularly host international visitors and we are a member of the Nordic Finance Network that organizes workshops and advanced courses for doctoral students at Nordic universities and business schools. Students also have the possibility of a research visit abroad during their studies. In recent years, students have undertaken long-term visits at places such as Boston College, Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, UCLA, University of Washington, and the University of Zurich.   

Adjunct Faculty

Current PhD students

ANDRE LOT 

Placement: The University of Sydney Business School, Australia  Position: Lecturer level B (tenure-track Assistant Professor) 

MARkUS LITHELL 

Placement: Virginia Tech (Pamplin College of Business) Position: Assistant Professor 

DIEGO BONELLI 

Placement: Banco de España Position:  Senior Research Economist

MICHAEL AXENROD

Placement: ESCP Business School, London Position:  Assistant Professor of Finance

Placement: Nankai University, School of Finance, Tianjin, China Position:  Assistant Professor

Placement:  Analysis Group, Brussels Position:  Associate

STIG ROAR HAUKØ LUNDEBY

Placement:  BI Norwegian Business School, Oslo Position: Assistant Professor of Finance

LORETA RAPUSHI

Placement: BI Bergen Position: Associate Professor of Finance

Damiano maggi

Placement: The Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway Position: Advisor at the Solidity Regulation Section

Negar Ghanbari

Placement: Aarhus BSS - Aarhus University Position: Assistant Professor of Finance

JOHAN MELLBERG

Placement: The Swedish Social Insurance Inspectorate Position: Researcher

Giovanni Bruno 

Placement:  Scientific Beta, France Postition: Senior Quantitative Researcher

Xiaoyu Zhang 

Placement:  Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam, The Netherlands Position: Assistant Professor

Varun Verma 

Placement: Horda Position: CFO

Erik Hetland Tvedt 

Placement: Ernst & Young, Norway Position: Analyst

Raffaele Giuliana 

Placement:  Central Bank of Ireland, Ireland Position: Economist

Yun Tang 

Placement: OECD, France Position: Economist

Jens Kværner 

Placement: Tilburg University, The Netherlands Position: Assistant Professor

Kamil Klavidko

Placement: Örebro University School of Business, Sweden Position: Associate Senior Lecturer

CHUNBO LIU 

Placement:  Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, China Position: Assistant Professor

Tor Åge Myklebust 

Placement:  Norwegian Cancer Registry, Norway Position:  Statistician

Job Market Candidates 2024

Application and admission.

We encourage candidates with solid quantitative and analytical skills, and a strong background in disciplines such as Finance, Economics, Statistics, and Mathematics to apply.  

We admit students for the PhD in finance biannually. The next starting date is August 2025. The application system will open in the fall of 2024.

Further information on minimum admission requirements and on how to apply can be found by clicking here.

19 Best universities for Economics in Norway

Updated: February 29, 2024

• Art & Design
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
• Mathematics

Below is a list of best universities in Norway ranked based on their research performance in Economics. A graph of 1.19M citations received by 56.1K academic papers made by 19 universities in Norway was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Oslo

For Economics

2. Norwegian University of Science and Technology

3. University of Bergen

4. Norwegian School of Economics

5. UiT The Arctic University of Norway

6. University of Stavanger

7. BI Norwegian Business School

8. Norwegian University of Life Sciences

9. University of Agder

10. Nord University

11. University College of Southeast Norway

12. Molde University College

13. Ostfold University College

14. Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

15. Norwegian School of Sport Sciences

16. Kristiania University College

17. Volda University College

18. MF Norwegian School of Theology

19. Oslo School of Architecture and Design

The best cities to study Economics in Norway based on the number of universities and their ranks are Oslo , Trondheim , Bergen , and Tromso .

Economics subfields in Norway