PhD in Social Sciences

The admission is based on individual application.

Please check the Regulations for the doctor of philosophy degree at Nord University, including the Supplementary guidelines for the PhD in Social Science more detailed information on admission requirements.

To become eligible for admission adequate funding is required beforehand. The funding must cover both living costs and the costs relating to the research project for the entire doctoral training period. This could be a university fellowship, a three-year scholarship from the Research Council of Norway or another external funding source. Announced positions as PhD fellowship at Nord university can be found under vacancies. Please note that it is only possible to enrol as a PhD candidate after you have been appointed to a PhD fellowship or have documented other sufficient funding.

The following are the total knowledge, skill and general competency learning outcomes for fully qualified PhD Candidates in Social Science at the Nord university

Knowledge

The candidate

• is in the forefront of general theory and academic debates in social science and of knowledge within their area of specialisation and masters the philosophy of science and methods required to answer questions that arise in the pursuit of better social knowledge
• Is in the forefront of research within their specialty
• can critically evaluate the appropriateness and application of various methods and strategies in social science and research, including ethical assessments
• can contribute to the development of new knowledge, new and better theories and methods within their area of specialisation and thus contribute to social science at large
• have good and up-to date knowledge of how the skills and competences acquired through the PhD education can be useful for the society and form the basis for future employment

Skills

The candidate

• can identify and formulate relevant problems, plan and carefully carry out research on social problems or phenomena
• can carry out social research that is critical, reflexive and at a high academic level
• can handle complex theoretical issues, assess and adapt theory for specific contexts and challenge established knowledge and practice in the social sciences

General competence

The candidate

• is able, when carrying out research, to identify and deal with ethical challenges and maintain a high level of scientific integrity
• can manage complex interdisciplinary tasks and projects
• can disseminate and communicate research through appropriate national and international channels to ensure knowledge sharing across relevant research fields and with society at large
• is able to communicate and defend research findings in the field in appropriate national and international forums to the benefit of the scientific community and the society at large.
• can assess the need for, initiate and contribute to improvements in society

PhD regulations with supplementary guidelines for the Faculty of Social Sciences (pdf)

The Social Policy and Welfare specialisation offers a multidisciplinary platform for doctoral students engaging in research into the development, transformation, and challenges of welfare systems, particularly within the Scandinavian context. The specialisation explores the historical foundations and contemporary dynamics of social policy, with a particular focus on interdisciplinary approaches and collaborative strategies to address pressing welfare challenges such as child welfare and protection, school absenteeism, housing problems, elderly care, migration and mental health and substance abuse issues. Issues relating to social work and child welfare are given particular consideration as the Faculty trains professionals in these fields.

Another key focus is the evolving relationships between state and local social policy, and between the public, private and voluntary sectors (the so-called welfare mix) in the Scandinavian countries. The Faculty of Social Sciences has a strong tradition of research on children and young people, and one area of growing interest is the inclusion and exclusion of children and young people in sport.

Methodologically, students engage with these topics through a range of approaches – from micro-level ethnographic studies to macro-level policy analyses exploring how welfare services and institutions impact on individuals and communities. A strong empirical interest is accompanied by an equally strong interest in social theory, both as support for empirical analysis and in the form of independent theoretical work.

The specialisation prepares candidates to contribute to national and international debates on welfare governance and equips them with the analytical tools needed to address complex societal challenges in a rapidly changing world.

The Arctic Vulnerabilities specialisation offers doctoral candidates a unique opportunity to engage with the pressing social, environmental and political challenges facing Arctic regions. The interdisciplinary specialisation is designed for students who seek to critically examine the complex dynamics of vulnerability and resilience in the Arctic region characterised by shifting geopolitical landscapes, rapid climate change and evolving socio-cultural societies. The specialisation focuses on various issues, theories and methodologies related to Arctic vulnerabilities, including climate and environmental issues, geopolitics, security and Indigenous peoples and communities in the Arctic. This can include conflicts and negotiations related to territories, use of land and water, nation-states and ethnic groups. The specialisation also covers issues related to the consequences of climate change, mitigation, adaptation and resilience on a local, national and international level.

The specialisation also includes historic, geographical and political studies, Indigenous studies, studies of interethnic relations, and studies of place and space in the Arctic. The specialisation also emphasises methodological pluralism, including qualitative, quantitative and participatory approaches, and encourage collaborative research designs with Indigenous and local communities, local stakeholders and international partners, contributing to sustainable and equitable futures in the Arctic.

The specialisation Governance and Democracy in Transition focuses on research questions that relate to political and social transformation processes, first and foremost, yet not exclusively, tied to the topics of democracy and governance. Transition should thus be understood in a twofold time-related sense. The specialisation is interested in abrupt and timely condensed transformations of governance and democracy in times of crisis, marked by conflict and disruption, but also in ongoing or long-lasting transformation processes of governance and democracy. In times of social acceleration and rapid change, it is crucial to understand the tensions, dilemmas, challenges, and opportunities that emerge at the macro, meso, and micro levels of society.

The specialisation fosters high-level cross-disciplinary research on transformative changes of democracy and governance, political systems, technologically determined social settings and forms of communication, culture as well as changes within daily working life. Key areas of focus for courses and associated projects include democratic governance and the impact of transnational and state-driven reforms on the provision of public goods and services, such as freedom and security, liable information, and social and political participation. Research in this specialisation aims to further understand both stability and change in Nordic democracies, exploring how they adapt to major challenges in order to ensure economic, environmental, and social sustainability. It also addresses democratic challenges such as declining public trust, social inequalities, demographic changes and the impacts of global crises.

PhD courses are regularly offered every autumn term and irregularly in the spring term. In addition to these courses, our candidates can choose from a wide range of courses at other national institutions and abroad.

List of available courses.

The final stage of doctoral training is the public defence (disputation).

After the Evaluation Committee, appointed by the faculty, unanimously has accepted the dissertation for a public defence the doctoral candidate must give a one hour trial lecture on a given topic. The trial lecture must be held and passed before the defence of the dissertation can be held the same day. 

The public defence of the dissertation usually last for 2,5 hours. All the members of the Evaluation Committee and the audience can question the candidate.  

When the trial lecture and disputation is approved and the Evaluation Committee concludes unanimously that the candidate fulfilled the requirements for awarding the degree Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) in Social Science the University Board will confer the PhD degree.

Search for dissertations in Oria.

• Nr. 76-2025 - Saara Isosomppi
  "Like, you would like to just play" – Everyday affectivity and materiality of organised youth sport
   
• Nr. 75-2025 - Charlotte Gehrke
  From Science Communication to Science Diplomacy
   
• Nr. 74-2025 - Tesfahun Alemayehu Terrefe
  Trust in Child Welfare Services. Understanding trust and distrust in the encounters between immigrant parents and child welfare
   
• Nr. 73-2025 - Anne Sigrid Haugset
  Mangfold og isomorfi i den norske barnehagen. Hvordan skapes og vedlikeholdes et likeverdig tilbud i en privatisert velferdssektor?
   
• Nr. 72-2024 - Tiril Vold Hansen
  Power and Interests in Norway’s Svalbard Policies
   
• Nr. 71-2024 - Alyssa Marie Kvalvaag
  Re/ Presentations of Migrant Integration Discourses in Northern Norway
   
• Nr. 70-2024 - Lisa Aareskjold
  Språkpolitikkens metaforer - en metaforteoretisk komparativ analyse av norsk, samisk, og nyere minoritetsspråk i den nasjonale språkpolitikken 2008-2020
   
• Nr. 69-2024 - Thea Næs Rabe
  Helping the Rejected: Moral Contestations of European Migration Policies from Below
   
• Nr. 68-2024 - Erik Bratland (dr.philos)
  Kunnskap i utdanningen: En sosialrealistisk undersøkelse av læreplaner, lærebøker og praksiser
   
• Nr. 67-2024 - Mathias Brynildsen Reinar
  Small steps in all directions. Exploring localisation of the Sustainable Development Goals in Norway
   
• Nr. 66-2024 - Virginija Popovaitė
  Lost, Found, and in Between. Following Maps in Norwegian Rescue Services in Northern Norway
   
• Nr. 65-2024 - Alin Ake Kob
  The use of an AI sensor in the practice of end-of-life care for elder people in Norway
   
• Nr. 64-2023 - Linn-Marie Lillehaug Pedersen
  Samarbeid til nytte eller besvær? En institusjonell etnografi om samarbeid i oppfølgingen av unge i Nav
   
• Nr. 63-2023 - Iselin Silja Kaspersen
  On Soldiering. An Inquiriy into Soldier’s Identity Negotiations
   
• ​​​​Nr. 62-2023 - Egil Trasti Rogstad
  ​Virtual(ly) Women Athletes; A Study of Gendered Power Relations and Inequality in Sports-Themed Esports​
   
• ​Nr. 61-2022 - Astri Moksnes Barbala
  Instagram feminism. Affect, agency and the uses of platform technology​
   
• Nr. 60-2022 - ​Kathinka Fossum Evertsen​
  ​Negotiating gender in climate change adaption​
   
• ​Nr. 59-2022 - Stine Marlen Henriksen​
  Forståelse, makt og materialitet. En etnografisk studie av hvordan forståelsen av personer med utviklingshemming får betydning for ansattes utøvelse av makt ved ett norsk bofellesskap​
   
• Nr. 58-2022 - ​Christian Li Kristensen​
  Evidens i praksis – mellem identitet og differens. Et studie af evidensbaseret socialt arbejde​
   
• Nr. 57-2022 - ​Mads Henrik Skauge Antonsen​
  Non-levelled playing fields and the rise of fit​​ness. Social inequality in late modern youth sport in Norway​
   
• Nr. 56-2022 - ​Lydia Mehrara
  How Universal Is Universal Health Care? A Policy Analysis of the Provision of Maternal Health Care for Immigrant Women in Norway​
   
• ​Nr. 55-2022 - Dina von Heimburg
  Mattering in co-creating inclusive communities – A participatory action research study on promoting health and well-being in kindergartens and communities through future-forming practices and policies​
   
• Nr. 54-2022 - Mikhail Kosmynin
  ​The doings of social entrepreneuring: Processes and practices of social venturing with public collaboration 
   
• Nr. 53-2021 - ​Stian Bragtvedt​
  ​Manufacturing Cooperation: An Ethnography of Norwegian Factory Regimes 
   
• Nr. 52-2021 - ​Majken P​​aulsen​
  Dilemmaet tilleggsfôring: En nymateralistisk studie av tilleggsfôring av rein​
   
• Nr. 51-2021 - Mikel Dominguez Cainzos
  Collaberation between first responders: A look into the dynamics of small-scale emergency response operations
   
• ​Nr. 50-2021 - ​Fredrik Wilhelmsen
  Decay and Rebirth. Conceptions o​​f History in Norwegian Right-Wing Extremism​
   
• Nr. 49-2021 - ​Bjørnar Blaalid​
  ​Rus & livsendring. En studie av sosiale rehabiliteringstiltak, rusavhengighet og livsløpsprosesser​
   
• Nr. 48-2021 - ​Frode Bjørgo
  Kommunenes rolle ved store industrietableringer i nordområdene: Hvordan styre rask vekst?​
   
• Nr. 47-2021 - Anders Lien​
  ​Counterpublic Discourses in Facebook Comment Sections – A Comparative Analysis of Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish (Social) Media Discourse on​ Islam​
   
• Nr. 46-2021 - ​Ingunn Fylkesnes​
  Kropp, kommunikasjon, aktørskap. Utviklingshemma barn og unge si livsverd i den institusjonelle konteksten barnebustad​​
   
• Nr. 45-2020 - ​Pål Halvor​sen​
  Egalitarian Consecration. Negotiating Historical Elite Institutions​
   
• Nr. 44-2020 - Anna Przybyszewska
  ​Downward professional mobility among Poles working and living in Norway​
   
• Nr. 43-2020 - ​Espen Leirset​
  ​Demokratisk deliberasjon eller demokratisk kontroll? En kritisk studie av møteoffentlighetsprinsippet i lokaldemokratiet
  ​
• ​Nr. 42-2020 - ​Julia Olsen
  Shipping and Arctic communities. An empirical study of local adaptive capacity
   
• Nr. 41-2020 - ​Ann-Torill Tørrisplass
  Barn på terskelen – En institusjonell etnografi om enslige mindreårige flyktningjenters møte med en ambivalent velferdsstat
   
• Nr. 40-2019 - ​Maja Nilssen
  More than words? Strengthening government by innovations and smart governance
   
• Nr. 39-2019 - ​Anne Kamilla Lund
  ​Tension work; On leadership tensions around autonomy, authority, power, and legitimacy
   
• Nr. 38-2019 - ​Hilde Åsheim
  ​Aktiveringspolitikkens ekko – om unge med psykiske lidelser i arbeidsavklaringsprosesser i NAV
   
• Nr. 37-2019 - ​Johanne Hansen Kobberstad
  Å passe inn; Kvalifiserte flyktningers møter og sammenstøt med «det norske» gjennom Introduksjonsprogrammet
   
• Nr. 36-2019 - Stina Rebecca Hirsti
  “Stereotypisering og kompleksitet” Om den profesjonelle tjenesteutøvers kulturforståelse og håndtering av andres identitetsarbeid i en samisk-norsk kontekst
   
• Nr. 35-2019 - Nikolai George Lewis Holm​
  Access Granted: Small Grant Schemes as a Pathway to Expanding Human Security Capabilities​
   
• Nr. 34-2019 - ​Asgeir Solstad
  "Det er krevende å arbeide «Navsk» i Nav!" Utviklingen av yrkesrollen i små Nav-kontor gjennom Nav-reformen
   
• Nr. 33-2018 - Linda Helèn Haukland
  Universitetet i Nordland: Spenninger og samspill i en høgskolesektor
   
• Nr. 32-2018 - ​Karianne Sørgård Olsen
  Tradisjonsforankrede og digitaldreide lokaljournalister: En hverdagssosiologisk studie av norsk lokaljournalistikk i en brytningstid
   
• Nr. 31-2018 - Esben Olesen
  Psykisk sårbar i velfærdsstaten. Institusjonelle styringer og unge voksnes hverdagserfaringer
   
• ​Nr. 30-2018 - Gøril Ursin
  Medborgerskap som praksis: En studie om deltakelse og inklusjon i samfunnet for familier som lever med demens
   
• Nr. 29-2018 - ​Vegard Pedersen
  Heated Debates in a Warming world: A Study of Parlamentary Climate Politics as an «Art of Government»
   
• Nr. 28-2018 - Anne Tjønndal
  Vilje til inklusjon – studier av innovasjon for sosial inkludering i idrett
   
• ​Nr. 27-2018 - Malene Paulsen Lie
  En mediehverdag i endring. En empirisk studie av lokalavisen og Facebooks betydning for hverdagsliv, stedstilknytning og samfunnsengasjement
   
• Nr. 26-2018 - ​Guro Wisth Øydgard
  “Forhandlinger i omsorg”. En institusjonell etnografi om pårørendes omsorgsarbeid og tilgang til Helse- og omsorgstjenester
   
• ​Nr. 25-2018 - ​Linda Sjåfjell
  Vold i nære relasjoner – Et likestillingsprosjekt?
   
• Nr. 24-2018 - ​Elisabeth Tømmerbakk
  Moving Towards a «Post-Carbon» Society? The challanges of non-extraction policies: The cases of Lofoten and Yasuni-ITT
   
• Nr. 23-2016 - Bengt Engan
  Bindeledd og grensesnitt. Lokalavisen som formidler av stedlig identitet, institusjonell politikk og medborgerkultur
   
• Nr. 22-2016 - Tone Jørgensen
  Til barnets beste. Ein studie av avgjerdsprosessar og problemløysing i det kommunale barnevernet
   
• Nr. 21-2016 - ​Per-Christian Borgen
  Systematisk HMS-arbeid i sykehus
   
• ​Nr. 20-2015 - ​Camilla Risvoll
  ​Adaptive capacity and adaptation processes in Norwegian pastoral communities in the face of environmental and societal change
   
• ​Nr. 19-2015 - Christian Lo
  How to Win Friends and Influence Policy: An Ethnographic Study of Government and Governance in Municipal Policy Development
   
• ​Nr. 18-2015 - ​Øystein Henriksen
  ​Forebygging, felleskap og foreldremøter. En studie av foreldremøter innenfor rusforebyggende program i skolen
   
• Nr. 17-2015 - ​Bente Vibecke Lunde
  Helhetlig rehabilitering i kommunal regi. Kommunale aktørers "oversettelse" av helthetlig rehabiliteringspolitikk
   
• Nr. 16-2014 - Astri Dankertsen
  Samisk artikulasjon: Melakoni, tap og forsoning i en (nord)norsk hverdag
   
• Nr. 15-2014 - Rolf Andreas Markussen
  ​Knowledge Logistics. An epistemography of the Genesis of a Governmental Guideline
   
• Nr. 14-2014 - ​Tone Gunn Stene
  Kjønnslikestillingens tvetydigheter i det flerkulturelle barnevernet
   
• Nr. 13-2014 - Jorid Krane Hanssen
  ​Regnbuefamiliers døtre og sønner. Å forhandle med dominerende oppfatninger av familie og foreldreskap
   
• Nr. 12-2013 - ​Gunn-Elin Fedreheim
  Value creation on Norway‘s green gold. An analysis of policy formulation and implementation in the field of nature conservation
   
• Nr. 11-2013 - Carina Fjelldal-Soelberg
  Kroppsskadingens meningsmangfold - En sosiologisk studie av personer som skader egen kropp
   
• Nr. 10-2013 - ​Birgit Røe Mathisen
  Gladsaker og suksesshistorier. En sosiologisk analyse av lokal næringslivsjournalistikk i spenning mellom granskningsoppdrag og lokalpatriotisme
   
• Nr. 9-2013 - ​Marit Ursin
  The place where I buried my bellybutton´- A longitudinal study of transitions and belonging among young men on the street in Salvador, Brazil
   
• Nr. 8-2013 - Alinane Priscilla Kamlongera
  How is "Her Story" Told by History. A Look at the Old and New Malawian Primary School History / Social and Environmental Sciences Syllabus
   
• Nr. 7-2013 - Anita Berg
  ​Forhandlinger om store kropper – hvordan en overvekt og livet etter vektreduserende kirurgi håndteres
   
• Nr. 6-2012 - Yan Zhao
  Negotiating Differences. Transnational Adoption, Norwegianness and Identity Work
   
• Nr. 5-2012 - Janne Breimo
  "​Bundet av bistand” – En institusjonell etnografi om organisering av rehabiliteringsprosesser
   
• Nr. 4-2010 - Bjørg Hannås
  Den urolige kroppen. Unge og voksnes hverdagsliv og selvforståelse før og etter den diagnostiske utredningen av ADHD
   
• Nr. 3-2010 - ​Hilde Berit Moen
  ​I spenningsfeltet mellom personlig identitet og sosiale prosesser. En studie av kvinners beretninger om opprinnelse og tilfriskning ved spiseforstyrrelser
   
• Nr. 2-2009 - ​Arne Brinchmann
  ​Å holde ramma. En sosiologisk undersøkelse av virksomhetsledernes økonomistyring i skolen og eldreomsorgen
   
• Nr. 1-2008 - ​Hanne Thommesen
  ​Hverdagsliv, selvforståelse og dobbeltdiagnose - om mennesker med uvanlige erfaringer

No special costs except semester registration fee and syllabus literature.

In order to become eligible for admission and enrol as a PhD candidate, you must document satisfactory funding that covers both living costs and the costs relating to the research project for the entire doctoral training period. This could be a university fellowship of three or four years, a three-year scholarship from the Research Council of Norway or another external funding source.

With a PhD fellowship at Nord university you are employed as an early stage researcher for a period of 3 or 4 years in order to complete doctoral education and achieve a PhD degree. Fellowships at the faculty may be advertised very openly in which case applicants are invited to present their own ideas for a research project. However in most announcements lately, the fellowship is related to a specific research project. The announcement of the PhD fellowships will describe the guiding requirements for the fellowship.

Please note that it is only possible to enrol as a PhD candidate after you have been appointed to a PhD fellowship or have documented sufficient funding to cover the costs relating to the doctoral training period otherwise.