Positions for the main admission are normally announced mid-June and mid-November on NHH’s vacant positions page. The announcements will have “PhD Research Scholar positions” in the heading.
Please be aware that the departments may also announce positions at other times during the year.
The department/specialisation of finance only admits new PhD Research Scholars every second year. Next intake will be in 2025.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must normally have completed a 5-year (3+2) study cycle resulting in a Master of Science (MSc) in Economics and Business Administration or a comparable degree relevant for your specialisation (e.g. MSc in Social Sciences, Psychology, Philosophy, Mathematics, Management, Law).
Note that you only need to have completed your master’s degree prior to the starting date for the position (not prior to the application deadline). The information about the starting date will be included in the announcement.
The grade point average (GPA) must normally correspond to a B (4) or better, on a five-point scale (A=five, B=four, C=three, D=two, E=one) and is usually calculated on the basis of the entire 5-year degree. The GPA requirement of a B or better also applies to your master’s thesis.
Some of the PhD specialisations may require documentation both an adequate level of academic skills and an adequate level of English language proficiency. This will be specified in the announcement. We accept the following tests:
When applying, you are required to upload a scanned copy of your unofficial test scores in Jobbnorge (online portal) before the deadline. If you are shortlisted, NHH will ask you to give us access to your official test scores without delay.
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Application Requirements
Application Requirements
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
Please note that you need to upload the following documentation as part of your application:
- Certificate of a Master of Science degree or equivalent including transcripts of grades. You need to have completed you master’s degree prior to the starting date for the position (not prior to the application deadline). If you have not completed your degree when applying for the position, please attach an overview of the courses and grades that you have completed so far.
- Certificate of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent including transcripts of grades.
- Other relevant certificates or transcripts (e.g. courses completed at the PhD level).
- If the issuing authority of grades and degrees does not use the ECTS grading scale, please include an official description of the applied grading scale.
- Statement of purpose describing your motivation for applying for this position (250-300 words).
- Tentative research project outline (2000-4000 words). This research project outline should describe the aims, research questions, and motivation for the proposed area of research. Please note that your research project outline is tentative and often needs adjustments after your acceptance into the programme.
- Curriculum vitae.
- List of publications and/or other documented research activities.
- Contact details of two referees.
- Unless you are waived, you are required to upload a scanned copy of your unofficial test scores in Jobbnorge before the deadline.
A letter of recommendation may strengthen your application but is normally not mandatory. Please read the specific job announcement. The referees should send their letters of recommendation to hr-phd@nhh.no before the application deadline.
Incomplete applications will normally not be considered. We kindly ask you to upload the documents in separate files, not combined in one single file.
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About Proficiency Tests
About Proficiency Tests
Some of the PhD specialisations may require documentation both an adequate level of academic skills and an adequate level of English language proficiency. This will be specified in the announcement. Further below, you will find information on access codes, the minimum scores and exemptions from the requirements.
NHH handles your records confidentially.
You are waived from the GMAT/GRE tests if you hold a qualifying master’s degree from a Nordic institution. For GMAT, we accept the GMAT Exam, GMAT Online Exam and GMAT Focus Edition. For GRE, we accept the GRE General Test and the GRE General Test at Home.
Minimum test scores we normally require:
When applying, you are required to upload a scanned copy of your unofficial test scores in Jobbnorge (online portal) before the deadline. If you are shortlisted, NHH will ask you to give us access to your official test scores without delay.
On your request, the test centre will submit your test scores to NHH, you will need to provide the test centre with NHH’s access code. If you have not yet taken the test at the time of application, please indicate an expected test date. Test scores must normally be a maximum of five years old.
The codes for NHH are:
You are waived from TOEFL/IELTS/PTE Academic if you are a native English speaker, if you have a qualifying master’s degree from a Nordic institution or if you have a qualifying master’s degree where the language of tuition was English. For TOEFL we accept TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition, for IELTS we accept IELTS Academic and the IELTS Online, or PTE Academic.
Minimum test scores we normally require:
- TOEFL written test: a minimum score of 575 points
- TOEFL computer-based test: a minimum score of 233 points
- TOEFL internet-based test: a minimum score of 90 points
- IELTS tests: a minimum score of 6,5 points
- PTE Academic: a minimum score of 62
For TOEFL/IELTS: If you are shortlisted, NHH will ask you to give us access to your official test scores without delay. On your request, the test centre will submit your test scores to NHH. You will need to provide the test centre with NHH’s access code. If you have not yet taken the test at the time of application, please indicate an expected test date. Test scores must normally be a maximum of two years old.
- The TOEFL code for NHH is: 0686
- For IELTS we accept a scanned copy of your unofficial test results as long as the TRF number is visible.
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After Submission
After Submission
The application submission will be confirmed by a message in Jobbnorge shortly after the submission deadline. For the main admission with deadline in January, the message will also include further information on the admission process and the approximate timeline.
If you are one of the shortlisted candidates, you will be contacted by the relevant department and invited to an interview in person or digitally.
All applicants will receive a message in Jobbnorge once the admission is finalised.
Incomplete applications will normally not be considered. We kindly ask you to upload the documents in separate files, not combined in one single file.
We may also ask for your consent to an evaluation of your educational background by NOKUT (the Norwegian Agency of Quality Assurance in Education). The purpose of such an evaluation is to define the equivalent degrees, grades, study points etc. in the Norwegian education system.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us by email if you have any questions, phd@nhh.no.