Employment as a PhD student

According to Danish labour regulations, PhD students are employed for a fixed three-year term, during which they are paid full monthly wages. The salary is based on labour agreement between employer and relevant organisation and will cover living expenses (i.e., it is a fully funded position). PhD students with a scholarship will therefore not have to supplement wages with work outside of the PhD programme. According to Danish labour regulations, employment cannot be extended beyond the three-year contract.

 While all PhD students are enrolled in the PhD School, their place of employment differ.

Employment at the faculty

PhD students may be employed on a fixed-term 3 years contract. In that case, PhD students will have the same rights and obligations and work under the same conditions as other employees at UCPH.

See the basic principles of the personnel policy (pdf) and the Personnel Policy Handbook.

External employment

PhD students may also be employed by an external, private or public sector company or research organisation. In this case, the external employer’s terms and conditions for employment apply.

In case of external employment, it is mandatory to draw up a collaboration agreement signed by the employer, the PhD student and the Head of the PhD School before the PhD programme begins. The collaboration agreement will regulate the collaboration on supervision, educational fee, expected workload, office space, intellectual property rights and other details.

You can contact the PhD Administration for help on collaboration agreements.