About the PhD School

Welcome to the PhD School in the Faculty of Humanities. We are an institution dedicated to advanced research and academic excellence across a diverse spectrum of disciplines. Our PhD programme equips students with specialized academic knowledge and research qualifications at the highest international level, serving as the cornerstone for the careers of our graduates within academia and beyond. 

The Faculty of Humanities offers research expertise spanning cultural studies, history, linguistics, philosophy, media, aesthetics, archaeology, modern and ancient languages, religion, and literature among others. This array of disciplines creates a comprehensive academic environment that caters to a wide range of research interests, often cutting across conventional fields.

A PhD degree is an advanced research degree earned through the successful completion of a three-year PhD programme. The programme includes an individual research project that culminates in an original PhD thesis written under expert supervision. The thesis is assessed by an international committee of academic experts and must be publicly defended before the degree can be awarded.

The PhD programme extends beyond the individual research project and PhD thesis. Completing the program advances scientific maturity and develops students to independent scholars who will significantly contributes to the evolution, revitalization, and dissemination of knowledge within their respective field.

In addition to scientific maturity, the PhD program will promote the ability to engage in nuanced knowledge exchange with both the academic community and the broader public. Furthermore, the cultivation of international and interdisciplinary networks is a cornerstone of our philosophy, enabling PhD students to form collaborations that transcend geographical and disciplinary boundaries.

In essence, the PhD School in the Humanities offers 3 years of academic opportunity to redefine professional and intellectual boundaries. We invite you to embark on the PhD education with the expectation of engaging in rigorous scholarship, creative intellectual discovery, and the forging of lasting academic connections. A PhD degree stands as an indelible token and as a process that will shape and propel you forward on your academic and professional journey.

Management and administration

The PhD School in the Humanities is headed by Associate Dean for Research and Impact. By delegation from the Dean, the PhD School leader has the overall responsibility for the PhD programme. At the department level, the academic training and working conditions of PhD students are organised by a PhD Coordinator, who is a faculty staff member. PhD Coordinators also facilitate information and knowledge exchange between PhD-students, faculty, department management, and the PhD Administration.

See list of PhD Coordinators.

The PhD School is supported by an elected PhD Committee, consisting of academic staff and PhD students from the respective departments. 

From March 2025, the PhD Administration is a joint administration for the PhD schools at the University of Copenhagen.