PhD Special Call: Financial aid and social mobility

Aarhus BSS Graduate School, Aarhus University invites applicants for a PhD Scholarship in connection with the research project "Financial aid and social mobility" at the PhD Programme Economics and Business economics.

The position is available from 1 February 2025 (or as soon as possible thereafter). Research project
The financial aid system has two objectives: (i) removing financial barriers for education for able students and (ii) limiting the need for student employment to a level, which does not prohibit academic progress. In this research project, we examine the importance of different elements of the financial aid system in achieving these objectives. The PhD project includes two pre-defined subprojects as well as an independent subproject. The first subproject addresses whether student outcomes are affected by the amount of student grants received. We aim to characterize the effects of higher student grants on academic performance, well-being as well as spillover effects on other individuals. We use microeconometric methods to estimate causal impacts. The second subproject considers how student aid in the form of subsidized student housing affects enrolment in and completion of education. We collect data on student housing and exploit institutional features of the student housing system in quasi-experimental analyses. The third subproject is defined by the PhD student within the theme of student housing. Job description
As a PhD student you will be a member of a research group led by Helena Skyt Nielsen. The group also consists of Maria Knoth Humlum, Rune Vejlin, Elena Mattana, Kristoffer Balle Hvidberg and international collaborators and experts. The PhD project includes collection of new data, and therefore, some amount of practical and coordination tasks must be expected.
As a PhD student you will work closely with members of the research group and pursue independent research. As a part of the PhD proposal, we therefore invite you to include a description of a potential independent subproject with a focus on student housing. Your qualifications
The successful candidate has a background in economics, public policy, math-econ or similar, strong analytical skills and a track record of good grades.
You are expected to have a profound interest in empirical work, and it is considered an asset if you have experience with data collection, statistical packages (e.g. SAS, Stata, RStudio) or if you have done coursework related to (micro)econometrics or labor/education/public economics. You are expected to be well-organized and meticulous as you will coordinate the data collection on student housing. Further information
For further information about the position, please contact Helena Skyt Nielsen, Email: [email protected]

If you need help uploading your application or have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR supporter Ulla Prisholm Bjørn, Email: [email protected]. Place of work
Fuglesangs Allé 4, 8210 Aarhus V
Formal requirements
You can read more about how to apply in the application guide and find the rules and regulations of the PhD education here.

The following criteria are decisive in the assessment of the candidates:

• the applicant’s academic qualifications (assessed on the basis of the qualifying degree)
• the quality and relevance of the project proposal
• the applicant’s level of academic aptitude and assessed ability to complete the project within the framework of the PhD programme

You can read more about the assessment procedure and committees appointed by the dean here.

Applicants are very much encouraged to supply documentation as to how they rank compared to their class (both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees). This may for example be in the form of a letter from your University stating either how you rank as an individual student compared to other students the year you graduated ("ranks as no. 6 out of 111" or "ranks as among the best 8 percent") or if that is not possible, general information from your University as to how grades were distributed in the year of your graduation, will be appreciated.

Please note that Aarhus BSS Graduate School reserves the right to evaluate the applications on the basis of the documentation received before deadline, and you will not necessarily be asked for further documentation. Furthermore, Aarhus BSS Graduate School reserves the right to reject application that do not comply with the limitations as stated in the application guide (see link above). Terms of enrolment
PhD students at Aarhus BSS Graduate School are always enrolled. The enrolment happens in accordance with the Ministerial PhD Order no. 1039 of August 27, 2013 and the terms stated in the Rules and Regulations for the PhD programmes at Aarhus BSS Graduate School. Both can be found here.
If relevant: If you are enrolled in part A of the 4- or 5-year schemes you will receive a SU PhD Scholarship according to the rules set out in the State Educational Grant and Loan Scheme (SU, in Danish). In addition, you will be offered to undertake paid work of up to 280 hours during your part A enrolment period. Terms of employment
If you are offered employment at Aarhus University in connection with enrolment in the 3-year scheme, the appointment is made in accordance with the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities as well as the circular on the Collective Agreement for Academics Employed by the State (in Danish). The job content and qualification requirements are described in further detail in the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

You can read more about the 3-, 4- and 5-year scheme here. Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Aarhus University
Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/

Department: Økonomi, Inst. f./Department of Economics and Business Economics

Deadline: 21 October 2024

Location: Aarhus V Fuglesangs Allé 4