Job Description & Qualification
The Department of Finance at BI Norwegian Business School is inviting applications for doctoral scholarships, starting in August 2026.
The PhD specialization in Finance prepares candidates for careers in the world’s leading academic institutions, research-oriented international and national organizations, and the industry. Job market candidates from the department have found employment at premier universities, including London Business School, Tilburg University, University of Melbourne, and NOVA University Lisbon. Local placements in Norway include the Norwegian School of Economics, Financial Supervisory Authority, Boston Consulting Group, and Storebrand.
The four-year program offers rigorous training for candidates with strong analytical skills and intellectual curiosity. It follows a standard structure in place at all comparable programs around the world. The first year is devoted to course work that covers all the major fields in Finance and core topics in Economics relevant for a Finance PhD. These courses are mainly taught by BI faculty. The candidates can also take specialized courses and participate in doctoral workshops through the Nordic Finance Network.
The second year of the program sees candidates transitioning to research work. The candidates will work towards the doctoral dissertation that is typically a collection of three research articles. Research work is done in close co-operation with the supervisor and other faculty members from the department. Projects joint with faculty members often involve collaborators from other research institutions. Candidates also participate in weekly research seminars with international scholars and present their research work at departmental workshops. The research environment is supportive and PhD candidates take actively part in all the social life at the department.
Additional information, including detailed course plans, may be found here:
https://www.bi.edu/programmes-and-individual-courses/phd/finance/course-plan
Application Procedure
Application requirements
We encourage applications from candidates who have solid quantitative skills and a strong background in disciplines such as Finance, Economics, Statistics, and Mathematics. Strong communication and analytical skills are also crucial for successful completion of the program. If applicants are otherwise equally qualified, female applicants will be given preference.
We welcome research interests, theoretical or empirical, in all areas of Finance. These include, but are not limited to, asset pricing, corporate finance, behavioral finance, household finance, corporate governance, asset management, banking and financial institutions, and market microstructure.
Detailed description of the formal application requirements and procedures:
https://bi.easycruit.com/vacancy/3536361/200453?iso=no
Application timeline and submission rules
The application and its attached documents can be submitted only electronically by using the „Send Application“ button on BI’s application portal (link above). E-mail or hard copy applications will not be accepted. Kindly note that all documents need to have reached the Doctoral Administration by the deadline stated in this announcement in order to be considered. The only exception to this rule are candidates who are completing their Master’s degree in 2026 and do not have a final certificate when applying. You will not be able to revise your application once it has been submitted.
About the Organization
Department of Finance
The department is committed to research at the highest international level. There are currently over 30 faculty members and they represent about 20 nationalities. Faculty come from some of the world’s best institutions such as University of Chicago, Wharton, UCLA, Ohio State University, Carnegie Mellon, University of Southern California, London Business School, and London School of Economics.
Faculty members publish their research regularly in the top Finance and Economics journals. These publications have appeared in Journal of Finance, Review of Financial Studies, Journal Financial Economics, American Economic Review, Econometrica, Journal of Political Economy, and Review of Economic Studies. The strong commitment to research has earned the department a top-10 rank in Europe based on research output in top-tier academic Finance journals.
The department runs an international weekly research seminar series in which academics from the world’s best research institutions present their work. These seminars and other visits by international researchers give PhD candidates an excellent opportunity to reflect and receive feedback on their own research. The department also regularly organizes conferences and workshops.
The department has access to all the commonly used international databases. Many faculty members also work with unique Norwegian micro data on firms and individuals obtained from official registers. The department hosts the Centre for Asset Pricing Research (CAPR) and the Centre for Corporate Governance Research (CCGR). These centers sponsor and support faculty research groups, conferences, and seminars.
Additional Information
Funding
The four-year scholarship is set according to the Norwegian State Salary Scale and currently pays NOK 572.800 annually (will be adjusted during 2026). The position is linked to The Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (Statens Pensjonskasse). The scholarship involves 25% teaching obligation.
Interviews and additional information
Candidates may, at a later stage, be asked to forward further information and/or be called in for an interview.
Information about the doctoral program and admission requirements can be obtained from the Doctoral Administration at BI Norwegian Business School. E-mail: info@bi.no
Website
https://www.bi.edu/programmes-and-individual-courses/phd/finance
