PhD Position in Political Science 2026 | Eligibility and How to Apply

The University of Bergen (UiB) is offering a fully funded three-year PhD position at its Department of Government, embedded within the internationally recognised Centre for Research on Discretion and Paternalism. This is not just a scholarship; it is a paid research job with a competitive salary, pension benefits, and access to a global network of leading scholars.

This position is part of the PROTECT project, a five-year socio-legal research initiative examining how welfare states handle children involved in serious violent crimes while protecting children’s rights and ensuring public safety. It sits at the intersection of political science, child protection, and criminal justice, making it ideal for candidates who want their research to have real-world policy relevance. The position is open to applicants from any country, making it a genuinely international opportunity.

This post covers everything you need to know about this PhD position: the eligibility requirements, what the role involves, the benefits, how to apply, and practical tips to help you submit a competitive application before the June 30, 2026 deadline.

Scholarship Overview

About the Position

The University of Bergen is one of Norway’s most respected research universities and consistently ranks among Europe’s leading institutions. Its Department of Government is home to strong expertise in public policy, welfare state studies, democracy, and political institutions.

The PROTECT project is led by Professor Marit Skivenes (political science) and Professor Linda Gröning (law), and is funded by the Research Council of Norway. The project takes a cross-country comparative approach and combines criminal law and political science to explore how child protection and criminal justice systems respond to children involved in serious violent crimes.

For the PhD position specifically, the focus is on work packages 3 and 4 of the PROTECT project. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the project leader before applying to understand exactly what these work packages entail and to discuss tentative research ideas. The start date for this position is January 1, 2027, and the successful candidate is expected to reside and work in Bergen, Norway.

Eligibility

To qualify for this PhD position, you must meet all of the following requirements:

• Citizenship: There is no citizenship restriction. Applicants from any country are welcome to apply.
• Academic Qualifications: You must hold a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in political science or sociology. Your MA must be completed and awarded before the application deadline of June 30, 2026. The position requires a grade of B or better on your Master’s thesis and for your Master’s degree overall.
• Quantitative Methods: Extensive knowledge and experience with quantitative methods is listed as a firm requirement, not a preference. This is a core competency the selection panel will assess.
• Research Alignment: You must have a genuine and explicit interest in the PROTECT project’s research areas, which include children’s rights, child protection systems, criminal justice, and comparative welfare state research.
• Language Requirements: Proficiency in both written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of a Scandinavian language (Norwegian, Swedish, or Danish) is considered a positive asset but is not mandatory.
• Work Experience: Experience as a research assistant is considered a positive addition to your application but is not required.
• Residency Requirement: The successful candidate must be willing to relocate to and reside in Bergen, Norway for the duration of the position.

Eligible Countries

This position is open to applicants from all countries worldwide. The University of Bergen explicitly welcomes international candidates and states that diversity is a strength.

Eligible Fields of Study

This PhD position is restricted to the following disciplines:

• Political Science
• Sociology

Your Master’s degree must be in one of these two fields. Applicants from other disciplines, even related ones such as law, public administration, or psychology, should verify their eligibility directly with the department before applying.

The research topic itself sits at the intersection of political science, child protection, and criminal law. Relevant specialisations within political science or sociology may include comparative politics, welfare state studies, public policy, social policy, or related areas.

Benefits

This position is a paid employment contract with the University of Bergen, not a traditional scholarship grant. The full package includes:

• Salary: NOK 568,700 per year (equivalent to approximately USD 52,000 to 55,000 depending on exchange rates). This is a starting salary under PhD employment code 1017.
• Salary Increases: Automatic annual salary increases of 3% per year for up to 4 years of employment.
• Pension: Full enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, which is a strong retirement and insurance benefit.
• Tuition Fees: As a university employee, tuition for the PhD programme is covered.
• Living Allowance: The salary functions as your full income and is designed to cover living costs in Bergen.
• Health Insurance: Norway’s public healthcare system (provided through the National Insurance Scheme) covers residents, including employed international workers. 
• Other Benefits: A professionally stimulating and international research environment, access to a global research network, and participation in the PhD programme at the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Required Documents

Prepare and upload all of the following through the Jobbnorge application portal:

1. Cover letter explaining your research interests and your motivation for applying specifically to this position and the PROTECT project.
2. Project proposal of maximum three pages (excluding bibliography) outlining how you would approach work packages 3 and 4 of the PROTECT project within your PhD research. This is a mandatory document and applications without it will not be considered.
3. CV summarising your education, academic positions, research and teaching experience, administrative roles, publications, and other qualifying activities. Career breaks including parental leave should be noted and will be taken into account during evaluation.
4. Transcripts and diplomas showing the completion of both your Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.
5. Academic work submitted for assessment, including your Master’s thesis or an equivalent piece of scholarly writing.
6. Names and contact details for two referees, including their name, relationship to you, email address, and phone number. One referee must be your main MA thesis supervisor. Reference letters are not required at this stage.

Note: All documents and appendices must be in English or a Scandinavian language. Certified translations are required where original documents are in other languages.

How to Apply

Step 1: Visit the PROTECT project page at uib.no/en/protect to understand the research focus, particularly work packages 3 and 4. This is essential before you write your project proposal.

Step 2: Contact Professor Marit Skivenes directly at marit.skivenes@uib.no or by phone at +47 959 24 979. She will share the full project description and you can discuss tentative research ideas before writing your proposal.

Step 3: Read the UiB faculty guide for writing project descriptions, which is referenced in the official posting. Request this guide from the department or find it on the UiB website.

Step 4: Write your three-page project proposal. Focus on how you would approach work packages 3 and 4, your choice of theory and methods, your research problem, and a progress plan for the different stages of your PhD.

Step 5: Prepare your cover letter. This should clearly explain your research interests and why you are specifically motivated to work on the PROTECT project. Generic cover letters will not be competitive.

Step 6: Update your CV. Include all academic and research experience, teaching roles, publications, and any career breaks such as parental leave.

Step 7: Gather all supporting documents: transcripts, diplomas, and academic work including your Master’s thesis. If any documents are not in English or a Scandinavian language, arrange for certified translations.

Step 8: Identify your two referees and inform them you are applying. Give them your CV and a brief summary of the position so they are prepared if contacted. Note that reference letters are not required at this stage, only their contact details.

Step 9: Go to the official application portal on Jobbnorge using the link provided on the official UiB job posting page. Do not send your application by email as emailed applications will not be considered.

Step 10: Upload all documents in the required format and submit your application before June 30, 2026. Confirm you receive a submission acknowledgement.

Key Dates and Timeline

Application Deadline

The application deadline is June 30, 2026. No specific time or timezone has been stated in the official listing.

Applications submitted after this date will NOT be accepted. Applications sent by email will also not be considered regardless of timing. Submit only through the Jobbnorge online portal.

Contact HR Adviser Gudrun Horvei at gudrun.horvei@uib.no for any practical questions about the application procedure.

Selection Criteria

The selection panel will evaluate candidates based on the following:

• Academic Grades: Your grades at both Master’s and Bachelor’s level matter. A grade of B or better is a baseline requirement, and stronger academic records will be more competitive.
• Quantitative Methods Competency: This is heavily weighted. The panel will look for demonstrated experience with quantitative research methods, ideally through your Master’s thesis or research work.
• Quality and Fit of the Project Proposal: Your three-page proposal must not only be well-written but must also clearly align with the PROTECT project’s themes and work packages. A proposal that does not fit the project will not advance.
• Research Interest and Motivation: You must show a genuine and specific interest in the topics of children’s rights, child protection, criminal justice, and comparative welfare state research. This should come through in your cover letter and proposal.
• Independent and Collaborative Work Style: The panel looks for candidates who can work independently but also contribute actively to a team research environment.
• Research Experience: Experience as a research assistant is a positive factor in the evaluation.
• Language Skills: Strong written and oral English is essential. Scandinavian language skills are a bonus.

Important Tips

1. Contact the principal investigator before writing your proposal. Professor Skivenes explicitly encourages potential applicants to reach out. Use this opportunity to understand the project deeply and get your research ideas aligned before you write a single word of your proposal.
2. Treat the project proposal as the heart of your application. The official posting states that applications without a project description will not be considered. Spend the most time on this document and make sure it directly addresses work packages 3 and 4.
3. Demonstrate your quantitative skills explicitly. Do not just list “quantitative methods” in your CV. Show how and where you have used them. Reference specific methods, datasets, or analytical approaches from your MA thesis or research experience.
4. Tailor your cover letter entirely to this position. Read about the PROTECT project, the Centre for Research on Discretion and Paternalism, and UiB’s research environment. Reference them specifically. A generic letter will stand out for the wrong reasons.
5. Arrange certified translations early. If your academic documents are not in English or a Scandinavian language, certified translations take time. Do not leave this to the last week before the deadline.
6. Note career breaks clearly in your CV. UiB explicitly states that career breaks including parental leave will be taken into consideration. You are not penalised for time away from academia; being transparent about it is encouraged.
7. Apply even if you come from an underrepresented background. UiB actively encourages applicants with disabilities, immigrant backgrounds, or CV gaps. The university commits to interviewing at least one qualified applicant from each of these groups.
8. Do not submit by email. Applications sent as emails are explicitly disqualified. Use only the Jobbnorge portal linked from the official job posting page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this position open to applicants who do not have a Norwegian degree?

Yes. The University of Bergen welcomes international applicants from all countries. Your Master’s degree from outside Norway is fully eligible as long as it is equivalent to a 120 ECTS Master’s degree building on a 180 ECTS Bachelor’s degree.

My Master’s grade is not a B. Can I still apply?

The official requirement states a grade of B or better on the Master’s thesis and overall degree. Applicants who do not meet this threshold may not be considered. If your grading system is different from the Norwegian scale, contact the department to clarify how your grades will be assessed.

Do I need to speak Norwegian to apply or to live in Bergen?

Norwegian language skills are not required. The position specifies that English proficiency is required, and knowledge of a Scandinavian language is a bonus but not a condition of employment. Daily life and academic work at UiB can be conducted in English.

What exactly are work packages 3 and 4 in the PROTECT project? 

The official posting does not describe them in detail but directs applicants to contact Professor Skivenes directly for the full project description. Reach out at marit.skivenes@uib.no before writing your proposal.

Is the salary enough to live comfortably in Bergen?

Bergen is a relatively expensive city by global standards. The annual salary of NOK 568,700 is designed for PhD candidates and is aligned with Norwegian public sector pay scales. Combined with Norway’s public healthcare coverage and strong social infrastructure, it provides a reasonable standard of living. Researching current cost of living in Bergen before accepting any offer is advisable.

Can I apply if I have previously held a PhD position elsewhere?

Yes, but the employment period may be reduced to account for time already spent in a previous PhD position. The department will assess this on a case-by-case basis.

When will I find out if I have been shortlisted or selected?

The official posting does not provide specific dates for shortlisting, interviews, or results. Contact HR Adviser Gudrun Horvei at gudrun.horvei@uib.no for further information on the timeline.

Is it possible to do this PhD remotely or part-time? 

No. The posting explicitly states that the successful candidate is expected to reside and work in Bergen. Remote or part-time arrangements are not mentioned as options.

Official Link

Apply through the Jobbnorge portal via the official UiB job posting page, click the link below:

https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/300382/phd-position-in-political-science-3-years

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