PhD in Social Sciences
See study programmeThe PhD in Social Science at Nord University is an interdisciplinary doctoral programme that offers advanced training in research on society, social structures, and transformative processes. The subject area of the programme exceeds disciplinary borders and is rather bound by a commitment to the understanding of social science as a historically contingent, relational, reflexive, and, ultimately, itself a social phenomenon. The programme therefore emphasises interpretive and critical approaches to social inquiry, encouraging candidates to engage with the complexities of social life through theoretically informed and methodologically pluralistic research. Crucial to this approach is the recognition that all social phenomena are historically situated, and that social science itself must be understood in relation to the historical contexts in which it emerges, operates, and evolves.
The programme is structured around three thematic specialisations that reflect the faculty’s research strengths and strategic priorities:
- Social Policy and Welfare – focusing on the development, transformation, and future of welfare systems, with particular attention to the Nordic model, social inequality, and the lived experiences of vulnerable populations.
- Arctic Vulnerabilities – addressing the social, political, environmental, and cultural dynamics of the High North, including Indigenous studies, climate change, and geopolitical tensions.
- Governance and Democracy in Transition – exploring political and institutional change, democratic resilience, technological disruption, and the reconfiguration of public spheres in times of crisis and uncertainty.
Detailed descriptions are provided under “Specialisations”.
The PhD in Social Science is a full-time, three-year programme (or four years with 25% teaching duties), consisting of two main components: a 30 ECTS educational training component which includes compulsory courses and electives tailored to the chosen specialisation; and a research component centred on the development of an independent PhD thesis based on original research, that contributes to new scientific knowledge and meets international standards in the field. The research component is supported by structured milestones, including a commencement seminar, midterm evaluation, and final seminar. All candidates are assigned to one of the faculty´s research groups and are expected to actively participate in and contribute to the faculty’s research environment.
The following are the total knowledge, skill and general competency learning outcomes for fully qualified PhD Candidates in Social Science at the Nord university
Knowledge
The candidate
- is in the forefront of general theory and academic debates in social science and of knowledge within their area of specialisation and masters the philosophy of science and methods required to answer questions that arise in the pursuit of better social knowledge
- Is in the forefront of research within their specialty
- can critically evaluate the appropriateness and application of various methods and strategies in social science and research, including ethical assessments
- can contribute to the development of new knowledge, new and better theories and methods within their area of specialisation and thus contribute to social science at large
- have good and up-to date knowledge of how the skills and competences acquired through the PhD education can be useful for the society and form the basis for future employment
Skills
The candidate
- can identify and formulate relevant problems, plan and carefully carry out research on social problems or phenomena
- can carry out social research that is critical, reflexive and at a high academic level
- can handle complex theoretical issues, assess and adapt theory for specific contexts and challenge established knowledge and practice in the social sciences
General competence
The candidate
- is able, when carrying out research, to identify and deal with ethical challenges and maintain a high level of scientific integrity
- can manage complex interdisciplinary tasks and projects
- can disseminate and communicate research through appropriate national and international channels to ensure knowledge sharing across relevant research fields and with society at large
- is able to communicate and defend research findings in the field in appropriate national and international forums to the benefit of the scientific community and the society at large.
- can assess the need for, initiate and contribute to improvements in society
The admission is based on individual application.
Please check the Regulations for the doctor of philosophy degree at Nord University, including the Supplementary guidelines for the PhD in Social Science more detailed information on admission requirements.
To become eligible for admission adequate funding is required beforehand. The funding must cover both living costs and the costs relating to the research project for the entire doctoral training period. This could be a university fellowship, a three-year scholarship from the Research Council of Norway or another external funding source. Announced positions as PhD fellowship at Nord university can be found under vacancies. Please note that it is only possible to enrol as a PhD candidate after you have been appointed to a PhD fellowship or have documented other sufficient funding.
No special costs except semester registration fee and syllabus literature.
In order to become eligible for admission and enrol as a PhD candidate, you must document satisfactory funding that covers both living costs and the costs relating to the research project for the entire doctoral training period. This could be a university fellowship of three or four years, a three-year scholarship from the Research Council of Norway or another external funding source.
With a PhD fellowship at Nord university you are employed as an early stage researcher for a period of 3 or 4 years in order to complete doctoral education and achieve a PhD degree. Fellowships at the faculty may be advertised very openly in which case applicants are invited to present their own ideas for a research project. However in most announcements lately, the fellowship is related to a specific research project. The announcement of the PhD fellowships will describe the guiding requirements for the fellowship.
Please note that it is only possible to enrol as a PhD candidate after you have been appointed to a PhD fellowship or have documented sufficient funding to cover the costs relating to the doctoral training period otherwise.
The student is required to complete a minimum of 30 ECTS on PhD level.
Please check the Regulations for the doctor of philosophy degree at Nord University, including the Supplementary guidelines for the PhD in Social Science for more detailed information on required coursework.
The final stage of doctoral training is the public defence (disputation).
After the Evaluation Committee, appointed by the faculty, unanimously has accepted the dissertation for a public defence the doctoral candidate must give a one hour trial lecture on a given topic. The trial lecture must be held and passed before the defence of the dissertation can be held the same day.
The public defence of the dissertation usually last for 2,5 hours. All the members of the Evaluation Committee and the audience can question the candidate.
When the trial lecture and disputation is approved and the Evaluation Committee concludes unanimously that the candidate fulfilled the requirements for awarding the degree Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) in Social Science the University Board will confer the PhD degree.