PhD scholarship in Grundtvig Studies at the Faculty of Theology

The Faculty of Theology at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH) invites applications for a vacant PhD scholarship. The research will be conducted as part of the research project Writing with the Dead – N.F.S. Grundtvig’s Use of Historical Sources (WWD). The position is a fixed term 36-month position, starting on November 1, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.

About the Core Group Project
WWD investigates how the influential Danish theologian, thinker, and poet N.F.S. Grundtvig worked with textual sources from antiquity to his own day. In addition to the analysis of Grundtvig’s published works, the project group will take advantage of a new research infrastructure called Grundtvig’s Manuscripts Online (GMO). GMO uses the AI-software Transkribus to transcribe of more than 80,000 unprinted pages in the Grundtvig Archive at the Royal Danish Library. The shared theoretical foundations for the interdisciplinary research team are Modern Genre Studies and Conceptual History. More information about the core group project is available here: https://teol.ku.dk/english/research/dept/akh/writing-with-the-dead/.

The Research Environment and Activities
The Faculty of Theology is dedicated to fostering a workplace culture grounded in diversity, equity, and inclusion. We strive to offer a supportive environment for researchers at every stage of their careers, emphasizing work-life balance and equitable access to career development opportunities.
WWD offers a diverse and interdisciplinary research environment, affiliated with the section of Church History at the Faculty of Theology at the South Campus of UCPH https://teol.ku.dk/english/research/dept/akh/. Parts of the project will be conducted at other departments at the South Campus and at The Royal Danish Library. The PhD-student is expected to participate in research, teaching, and conference participation related to Grundtvig’s writings and their genesis and impact.

Job Content
We seek applicants who demonstrate strong motivation and enthusiasm for contributing to our research project. Candidates primarily from Theology or Humanities are encouraged to apply. Of special interest are applicants who want to study Grundtvig’s engagement with sources from Late Antiquity and the Early Church. Applications should describe how their project contributes to Grundtvig research and relates directly to the goals of WWD and its sub-projects.

We seek candidates who are interested in/or have experience with:

• Collaborative research
• Archival research
• Using the AI-software Transkribus

The following skills are a clear advantage:

• Knowledge of Grundtvig’s writings and sources
• Proficiency in reading 19th century vernacular Danish
• Proficiency in ancient Greek and Latin

Inquiries about the position can be made to the Principal Investigator of the project, Associate Professor Anders Holm, phone + 45 51 30 20 35, email: aho@teol.ku.dk.

General Information
PhD studies consist of research programmes at the highest international level that qualify students for independent research, knowledge dissemination, and teaching. The main emphasis is on PhD students organising and conducting their own research project (under supervision). The programme culminates in the submission of a PhD thesis, which the student must defend in public. The programme is prescribed to 180 ECTS credits, corresponding to three years of full-time study.

A PhD degree opens a range of career opportunities in academia and elsewhere. As well as writing a thesis, PhD students work in active research environments in Denmark and abroad. They contribute to the academic environment, take research training courses, and convey the results of their research in teaching, at academic conferences, and to the public.

The Candidate will be enrolled in the PhD School of the Faculty of Theology, see: https://teol.ku.dk/english/phd/about/

For further information about the guidelines for PhD studies at UCPH, please refer to: https://phd.ku.dk/english/.

Qualification requirements
Applicants must have qualifications corresponding to master’s level related to the subject area of the project, e.g. [relevant educations]. If you have completed your education in Denmark, you must have a master’s degree covered by the collective agreement for academics in the state sector. If you have completed your education outside of Denmark, you must either have a master’s degree equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (two years) or as minimum a bachelor’s degree equivalent to a Danish bachelor’s degree (three years) and be assessed as having professional qualifications at master's level.

If you have completed your education abroad, we will obtain an assessment of your education from the Danish Research Agency.

Application
All applications must be submitted online via the link “Apply now” at the bottom of this page. The application must be written in English, Danish, Norwegian, or Swedish, and include the following enclosures in Adobe PDF or Word format:

• Cover letter (max. 1 page) detailing your motivation and background for applying for the specific PhD position
• CV (max. 2 pages, including contact details and language proficiency)
• Project description (12,000 keystrokes including spaces but excluding bibliography) containing a description of: 1) the planned research project; 2) the planned contribution to Grundtvig research and the WWD project; 3) a realistic draft outline of the study programme for the fulfillment of requirements under the Ministerial Order on PhD degrees with regard to participation in courses and periods of study at other institutions.
• One writing sample, demonstrating the applicant’s analytical writing skills (for example, one chapter of the MA thesis)
• Diploma and transcripts of records of both Master’s degree and Bachelor’s degree.
• Other information for consideration, e.g. list of publications, documentation of English language qualifications (if relevant)

The website for the PhD School offers information about the enclosures to include with the electronic application: https://teol.ku.dk/english/phd/how-to-obtain-a-phd-scholarship/admission-requirements/.

Applicants with a degree from a university where documents are not issued in English or in a Scandinavian language must provide a translation of their diploma and transcript of records verified by the issuing university. The documents must be translated into English, Danish, Norwegian, or Swedish. An official description of the grading scale in question (for instance diploma supplement) must also be enclosed.

Assessment Criteria
The following criteria are applied when assessing PhD applications:

• Research qualifications as reflected in the project description.
• Quality and feasibility of the project.
• Qualifications and knowledge in relevant disciplines.
• Performance (grades obtained) in graduate and post-graduate studies.
• Whether the faculty can offer adequate supervision for the research topic in question.

The Recruitment Process
After the deadline for applications, the dean considers advice from the appointment committee and then selects applicants for assessment. All applicants will be notified whether they have been shortlisted. After this step, the dean sets up an expert assessment committee to assess the shortlisted applications. The selected applicants will be informed who is serving on the committee. Each shortlisted applicant will be offered the opportunity to comment on the committee’s assessment of their application before the appointment is announced.

For further information about the recruitment process, please refer to the University of Copenhagen website: https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

The Ministerial Order on PhD degrees and other relevant documents can be downloaded from the faculty homepage at teol.ku.dk or by contacting the Faculty of Theology, Karen Blixens Plads 16, 2300 Copenhagen S.

Enrollment
It is a prerequisite for employment that successful applicants enroll at the PhD School of the Faculty of Theology at the University of Copenhagen.

For further information about the structure of the PhD programme, please refer to: https://teol.ku.dk/english/phd/phd-programme/structure/.

For further information about the guidelines for PhD studies at UCPH, please refer to: https://phd.ku.dk/english/.

Salary and Terms of Employment
Terms of appointment and salary will be in accordance with an agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). The monthly salary range starts at DKK 31,200 (EUR 4,100) + a 18,07 % contribution to the pension scheme.

According to the agreement, the PhD Fellow is required to carry out tasks at the relevant department to an extent corresponding to 840 working hours (6 months) without additional pay. The work obligation can include other related duties.

An Equal Opportunity Workplace
University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender or personal background. For more information on the diverse working place environment at the university and the university’s participation in the HRS4R, please see: https://employment.ku.dk/working-at-ucph/eu-charter-for-researchers/.

International Applicants
The University of Copenhagen offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including support before and during your relocation and career counselling to expat partners. Please find more information about these services as well as information on entering and working in Denmark here: https://ism.ku.dk/.

The University of Copenhagen strives to offer a family friendly and flexible working environment with a sustainable balance between work- and private life, including parental leave schemes (up to 47 weeks for both parents) and up to six weeks of paid holidays per year.

Contact Information
For further information about the structure and rules of the PhD programme, please contact the PhD Administration at email: phd@hrsc.ku.dk.

Information about the recruitment process is available from HR Centre South, email: hr-soendre@adm.ku.dk. Please refer to case number: 211-2435/26-2H #2.

The deadline for applications is June 22 at 23:59 [CEST].
Any applications or additional material submitted after the deadline will not be considered. However, changes may be made to the submitted application right up to the deadline.