PhD position

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

UiB - Knowledge that shapes society

UiB shall be among Europe's leading universities, internationally recognized for high quality in research and education. As a societal institution, we shall contribute to sustainable and democratic development and be an attractive and inclusive place to study and work.

PhD position

There is a vacancy for a PhD position at the Department of Social Anthropology. The position is for a fixed-term period of 4 years, of which 25% will be dedicated to teaching, supervision, and administrative tasks at the Department.

The Department of Social Anthropology is one of the largest social anthropology departments in Europe, with broad expertise spanning a wide range of ethnographic regions and thematic areas. The department currently comprises 17 permanent academic staff members, 5 postdoctoral researchers, and 25 PhD candidates. Staff and doctoral researchers conduct ethnographic research in most regions of the world, and the department hosts several major externally funded research projects. The department offers teaching and supervision at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels.

The department maintains a vibrant intellectual environment and is actively engaged in both scholarly debate and public outreach. Activities include monthly research seminars featuring international guest scholars, as well as the biennial Fredrik Barth Memorial Lecture.

For further information, please visit the department's website: http://www.uib.no/antro.

Qualifications and personal qualities:

• The applicant must hold a master's degree or the equivalent in Anthropology.
• The degree must be completed by the application deadline.
• The requirements are generally a grade B or better on the Master thesis and for the master's degree in total.
• Applicants must be able to work independently and in a structured manner and demonstrate good collaborative skills.
• The applicant must be proficient in both written and oral English.
• Applicants should demonstrate academic independence, strong organisational skills, and the ability to plan and carry out research and teaching activities, as well as the ability to collaborate effectively with others.
• Motivation to contribute to the department's teaching activities and scholarly environment is desirable. Experience in university-level teaching or teaching assistance, as well as experience in academic outreach and public dissemination, will be considered advantageous.
• The place of work for this position is Bergen, and the work requires that you are physically present at the Department of Social Anthropology daily (with the exemption of periods of field work and approved research travel).

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to the department for an interview.

The teaching language is usually Norwegian, but some of teaching is given in English.

About the PhD position:

About the PhD position (applies to university PhD positions):

The duration of the PhD position is 4 years. At least three years of work should be dedicated to the doctoral research. The remaining time is allocated to other career-promoting work that will help the employee qualify for relevant careers that require research competence.The employment period for the successful candidate may be reduced if he or she previously has been employed in a PhD position.

About the PhD training:

As a PhD research fellow, you will take part in the PhD programme at the Faculty of Social Sciences, UiB. The programme corresponds to a period of three years and leads to the PhD degree. To be eligible for admission you must normally have an educational background corresponding to a master's degree with a scope of 120 ECTS credits, which builds on a bachelor's degree with a scope of 180 ECTS credits (normally 2 + 3 years), or an integrated master's degree with a scope of 300 ECTS credits (5 years). Master's degrees must normally include an independent work of a minimum of 30 ECTS credits. It is expected that the topic of the master's degree is connected to the academic field to which you are seeking admission.

We can offer:

• Salary as PhD (code 1017) NOK 593 700, - per year. Automatic salary increases for up to 4 years with a 3% annual increase.
• A good and professionally challenging working environment.
• Enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.
• Good welfare benefits.

Project proposal:

A research proposal of 5-8 pages (including reference list) must accompany the application. The proposal should present the topic, the research problem(s) and choice of theory and methods. The proposal should also include a progress plan for the different parts of the project. Admittance to the PhD programme will be based on the research proposal. The faculty has prepared a guide for writing project descriptions.Priority will be given to projects that complement the department's existing thematic and regional strengths and contribute to its profile as a broad and comprehensive social anthropology department.

Your application must include:

• A cover letter including a brief account of your research interests and motivation for applying for the position.
• The names and contact information for two reference persons. One of them must be the main advisor for the master's thesis or equivalent thesis.
• Project proposal.
• CV.
• Transcripts and diplomas showing completion of the bachelor's and master's degrees.
• Relevant certificates/references.
• A list of academic publications.
• Academic publications that you want to submit for assessment (including your master's thesis or equivalent).
• If you have a master's degree from an institution outside of the Nordic countries, or a 2-year discipline- based master's degree (or the equivalent) in a subject area other than the one associated with the application, you may later in the application process be asked to submit an overview of the syllabus for the degree you have completed.

The application and appendices with certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language must be uploaded at Jobbnorge following the link on this page marked "Apply for this job".

Closing date: 15 September, 2026.

Applications submitted without a project description or applications sent as e-mails will not be considered. Only submitted documents will be subjected to an expert assessment.

General information:

Additional information about the position is obtainable by contacting Head of department Geir Henning Presterudstuen (geir.presterudstuen@uib.no).

Practical questions regarding the application procedures should be directed to Adviser – HR, Gudrun Horvei, gudrun.horvei@uib.no

Appointed research fellows will be admitted to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Social Sciences. Questions about the programme may be directed to Adviser Elina Troscenko; elina.troscenko@uib.no.

Diversity is a strength that enables us to solve our tasks even better. UiB therefore needs qualified employees regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, worldview, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and age.

We encourage men to apply.If multiple applicants have approximately equivalent qualifications, the rules pertaining to moderate gender quotas shall apply.

The University of Bergen applies the principle of public access to information when recruiting staff for academic positions.

Information about applicants may be made public even if the applicant has asked not to be named on the list of persons who have applied. The applicant must be notified if the request to be omitted is not met.

The successful applicant must comply with the guidelines that apply to the position at all times.

We encourage applicants with disabilities, immigrant backgrounds, or gaps in their CV to apply. By indicating such circumstances in your application, you may receive favourable consideration. We ensure that at least one qualified applicant from each of these groups is invited for an interview as part of our commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity. For further information about the recruitment process, click here.

Life as a PhD candidate at UiB

Marion Claireaux tells about life and work as a PhD candidate at UiB.

Where to apply

Website: https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/304462/phd-position-at-the-department-of-social-anthropology

Requirements

Research Field: Anthropology

Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent

Work Location(s)

• Number of offers available: 1
• Company/Institute: Department of Social Anthropology
• Country: Norway

Contact

• City: Bergen
• Website: https://www.uib.no/en/charterandcode
• Street: Muséplassen 2