PhD Fellow in drama and theatre studies, film studies, art history or media studies

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Video: https://youtu.be/Xt-yHCN5QS0About the position

Are you motivated to take the step towards a doctorate and open up exciting career opportunities? The Department of Art and Media Studies is advertising a position as a PhD fellow linked to the ph.d. program in aesthetic subjects. The announcement does not include the ph.d. education in artistic development work.

Applicants shall develop their own project, linked to one of the following research groups at the department:

• The Film Research Group
• AI Media
• Reflexive Dramaturgy
• Media, Data, Museums
• Environmental Humanities
• Socially Engaged Art Research
• Middelaldersenteret

The application must explain how the project relates to the relevant research group and to the department's academic activity. The applicant must contact the relevant research group well before the application deadline and obtain confirmation from a potential main supervisor who wishes to supervise the project. The main supervisor must be employed at the Department of Art and Media Studies. The supervisor must satisfy the ph.d. regulations' requirements for supervision at the doctoral level.

As a PhD fellow with us, you will work towards achieving your doctorate, while simultaneously gaining valuable experience that qualifies you for further careers in higher education and research, both within and outside academia. Planned start date for the position is 11.01.2027.

Your immediate manager will be the Head of Department.

Qualification requirements

To be qualified for the position, you must

• be qualified for admission to the ph.d. program in aesthetic subjects. This normally means having a relevant master's degree that includes a major independent work equivalent to a master's thesis of at least 30 ECTS credits. Your educational path must correspond to a five-year Norwegian study, where 120 ECTS credits have been achieved at the master's level
• have a grade point average from the master's degree studies, or equivalent education, that is equal to B or better in conjunction with NTNU's grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must still have an equivalent academic foundation
• have very good oral and written expression in English

If you have a weaker academic background or a master's thesis of smaller scope, you may be considered if you can document that you are particularly suited for a ph.d. education. Such documentation should, if applicable, be attached to the application. NOTE: For detailed information on what the application should contain, see the section “About the application”.

In accordance with the university and college regulations, previous PhD fellows at NTNU are not eligible for the position, regardless of the field of study. Applications from persons who already hold an approved doctorate from other institutions, nationally or internationally, will also not be processed.

Personal qualities

To complete a doctorate (ph.d.), it is important that you are able to

• show curiosity and strong motivation for the project
• work in a structured, systematic, and goal-oriented manner
• demonstrate good communication and collaboration skills
• work constructively under pressure or when facing adversity
• have the motivation to contribute to a good academic and social PhD and work environment
• complete the tasks you set for yourself.

Emphasis will be placed on personal suitability in the assessment of applicants.

About the application

We will only consider applications sent electronically via Jobbnorge.no before the deadline and which have all mandatory attachments. Therefore, ensure that your application clearly shows how your skills and experiences meet the qualification requirements. If you are invited to an interview, you must bring confirmed copies of certificates and diplomas upon request.

The application must include:

• Copies of diplomas, including transcripts for both bachelor's and master's degrees. If your institution offers a diploma supplement (common for most European educational institutions), this must also be attached.
• Completed CV in jobbnorge.no.
• Description of the doctoral project to be carried out during the fellowship period, according to the template for project description. We point out that it is mandatory to follow the template, and that the project description must be in English, Norwegian, or another Scandinavian language.
• Copy of master's thesis. If you have recently submitted your master's thesis, you can attach a draft of the thesis.
• Supervisor confirmation according to the prescribed template from the intended main supervisor.
• Name and contact information for two relevant references.
• Applicants with a grade foundation that is too weak must document special suitability by attaching documentation of relevant work experience and/or peer-reviewed scientific works or similar. We take into account work you have done together with others. If it is difficult to identify your contribution in collaborative work, you must attach a short explanation of your participation.
• Applicants with a master's thesis of a smaller scope than 30 ECTS credits must document other equivalent education as a basis for admission.

We additionally request that all those with foreign education attach a statement from the Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir). Follow the link to their website for more information on how to obtain such a statement: Apply for recognition of higher education from HK-dir. See also NTNU's website regarding requirements for documentation of foreign education.

Through the attached project description, applicants must demonstrate high scientific potential. The project description is the most important element in the evaluation of applicants. It will also be crucial that the project can be completed within the standardized 3 years for ph.d. education, where ½ year is set aside for the training part of the program. It will further be assessed whether the project will contribute to achieving the Department of Art and Media Studies' strategic plans. This must therefore be made visible in the project description.

The candidate who is hired commits to completing the ph.d. education within the employment period and the current resource framework. The applicant must therefore demonstrate that they will have access to the necessary equipment and infrastructure for the implementation of the project. PhD fellows at the Faculty of Humanities are allocated up to NOK 100,000 in operating funds for the implementation of the project.

We offer

• An exciting job with an important social mission
• Developing tasks in a strong and international academic environment
• Operating funds that can be used to carry out the project
• Mentorship scheme for new employees at NTNU
• Favorable terms in Statens pensjonskasse
• You will be employed as a PhD fellow at NTNU and gain access to employee benefits and advantages.

Salary and terms

In the position as PhD fellow code 1017, your salary will normally be gross NOK 550,800 per year, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a statutory contribution to Statens Pensjonskasse.

The employment period is 3 years, but other career-promoting work, such as teaching, may be considered added to the position, depending on the department's needs.

Upon employment in a PhD fellow position, you receive conditional admission to the relevant doctoral program. It is a prerequisite that the requirements in the conditional admission are met within three months, and that you subsequently participate in the organized doctoral studies for the remainder of the employment period.

As an employee at NTNU, it is important that you stay updated on academic and organizational changes and adapt to them.

For necessary academic and social interaction, it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the Department of Art and Media Studies in Trondheim on a daily basis.

The employment is carried out according to the principles in the Public Employees Act and legislation regulating the export of knowledge, technology, and services. Candidates who, after assessment of the application and attachments, are deemed to conflict with the criteria in the latter law, will not be able to be employed.

Diversity

Diversity is a strength, and at NTNU, we aim to be an employer that reflects the diversity of society and utilizes the potential in the population's collective competencies. Our vision is Knowledge for a better world and our values are creative, critical, constructive, and respectful. We believe that an organization that is equal, diverse, and gender-balanced is crucial for us to reach our goals together.

We seek employees with different competencies, combinations of subjects, life experiences, and perspectives to contribute to even better task solutions for our social mission within research and education.

If you find this position relevant and interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, disability, and cultural background, or if you have been outside the workforce for a period. NTNU has a number of measures to promote equality and diversity.

General information

NTNU recognizes a wide range of academic contributions and has committed itself to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment and the commitments in CoARA (responsible assessment of research and recognition of a wider range of academic contributions in accordance with NTNU's social mission).

A public applicant list with name, age, job title, and municipality of residence will be prepared after the application deadline expires. If you wish to reserve yourself from being listed on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the reservation is not granted.

If you have questions about the position, you can contact Head of Department Tore Kirkholt, email: tore.kirkholt@ntnu.no. If you have questions about the recruitment process, you can contact HR Advisor Martin Jakobsen, email: martin.jakobsen@ntnu.no.

Application deadline: 30.09.2026

For practical information about working at NTNU, please see this page.

Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is Norway's technology capital with a population of over 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens, and general equality, is likely the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized childcare is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers good educational opportunities (including international schools) and opportunities to enjoy nature, culture, and family life, and has low crime and clean air quality.

About the employer:

NTNU - knowledge for a better world

At NTNU, Norway's technological university, knowledge is created for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Art and Media Studies

We research and teach within the fields of media studies, film studies, film and video production, art history, and drama/theatre. The film and media studies teaching and research at the department has a clear humanistic profile. The Department of Art and Media Studies is one of seven departments at the Faculty of Humanities.