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🎓 PhD in Norway: scholarship vs. work

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📑 How the contract works

A PhD in Norway is not a scholarship, but an employment contract (stipendiatstilling).

● Duration: 3–4 years.

● Workload: 100% employment, of which ~25% may be spent on teaching or administration.

● Salaries are paid monthly, as for regular employees.

📌 The contract is signed with the university (UiO, UiB, NTNU, UiT, etc.), not with the grant fund.

💰 Salary and taxes

● Average salary for a PhD researcher in Norway: approximately NOK 500,000–550,000/year (before taxes).

● Income tax is ~22–25%.

● After taxes, ~35,000–38,000 NOK/month remains, which allows for a comfortable lifestyle and savings.

👉 Salary levels may vary slightly between universities and disciplines.

🏥 Social benefits

PhD researchers have full access to Norway's social security benefits:

● Health insurance and access to the healthcare system.

● Holidays (usually 5 weeks per year).

● Sick leave and parental leave.

● Pension contributions.

📌 This is one of the key advantages: employee status gives you more rights than a traditional scholarship.

📄 PhD contract conditions in Norway

  • ⏳ Duration: 3–4 years
  • 💼 Format: employment contract (stipendiatstilling)
  • 💰 Salary: ~500–550k NOK/year (before tax)
  • 📊 Taxes: 22–25%
  • 🏥 Benefits: vacation, sick leave, parental leave
  • 🎓 Duties: research + teaching (up to 25%)

A PhD in Norway is an amazing opportunity! It's a full-time job with a salary and social security benefits, not just a scholarship. The contract is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy stability, rights and comfortable conditions for research.

📌 Tip: look for positions on official portals (jobbnorge, EURAXESS) and prepare a strong CV + research proposal — competition is high, but you can make it!

FAQ

❓ Is a PhD in Norway a scholarship or a job?

It is a contract job with a salary and social security benefits.

❓ How much does a PhD researcher earn?

Around NOK 500,000–550,000 per year before tax.

❓ Do you have to pay taxes?

Yes, a PhD is a job, so you pay income tax of ~22–25%.

❓ What rights do PhD students have?

Holiday leave, sick leave, medical insurance, pension contributions.

❓ Can a PhD be combined with other work?

Only with the university's permission. It is important that your main work (research) does not suffer.

❓ What are the responsibilities of a PhD student?

The main responsibilities are research and writing a dissertation. Additional responsibilities include teaching, participating in projects, and administration.

❓ Is it difficult for foreigners to obtain a PhD?

Competition is high, but English-language positions are published on jobbnorge.no and EURAXESS.

Ksenia
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Ksenia

Post: I write about Norway — simply, clearly, and with respect for the details.

I’m 33 years old, and I’m one of the contributors to the Norway travel guide. I write for those who want to understand the country more deeply — not just what …

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1 comment

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  • N
    Naily
    Wow, det var interessant å lese! 🎓💼 En PhD som fulltidsjobb med lønn høres både trygt og motiverende ut. 😄✨ Likte at man også kan undervise litt underveis – perfekt for erfaring og CV! 📚👏