项目介绍

2026年9月17日

Job description

Applicants are invited for a three to four-year full-time position as PhD Research Fellow in Special Needs Education, based at the Department of Special Needs Education, Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Oslo.

The position is linked to the research project Co-creating Professional Development (CoDev), which aims to contribute to strengthening inclusive education in Norwegian kindergartens and/or schools. 

In this position, the candidate is expected to produce research on: 

• Professionals’ approaches to inclusive education, including their knowledge, skills and attitudes
• How different approaches to professional development can affect inclusive education and sustaining professional development

The project is anchored in the research group Communication and Inclusion (COIN) at the Department of Special Needs Education.  

CoDev is an interdisciplinary project with several partners. The University of Oslo has the main responsibility for the project. In addition, Østfold University College and Oslo Metropolitan University are core collaborators, along with a selection of municipalities, kindergartens, and schools.

As a PhD Research Fellow, you will write an article-based PhD thesis, and conduct both theoretical and empirical (mainly qualitative) research.

More about the position

The fellowship period is 3 years. A fourth year as a PhD Research Fellow may become relevant, and it will involve 25 percent of other career-promoting work. Other career-promoting work may consist of teaching, supervision, and/or research assistance. This will depend on the candidate’s qualifications and the needs of the institute.

The research fellow must take part in the faculty’s approved PhD program and is expected to complete the project within the set fellowship period. The main purpose of the fellowship is research 
training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree.

For more information, please see our web site. 

Qualification requirements

Applicants must satisfy the requirements for admission to the faculty´s PhD program. This normally includes:

•  Applicants must hold a master’s degree or equivalent in education or special needs education 
• A master’s degree (120 ECTS) with a minimum grade B (ECTS grading scale) or equivalent. The master’s degree must include a thesis of at least 30 ECTS, with a minimum grade B 
• A bachelor’s degree with a minimum grade C (ECTS grading scale) 
• For 5-year studies, the average grade must be C or better for the first three years, and B or better for the last two years (ECTS grading scale). The master’s thesis must have been graded with a minimum grade of B 
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English and Norwegian (or another Scandinavian language) 

In the assessment of applications, emphasis will also be placed on: 

• Previous experience with practice-oriented research and/or relevant experience from special needs education in Norwegian kindergarten and/or schools

Personal skills 

We are looking for a motivated and engaged PhD fellow with strong potential for high-quality research. Personal suitability will be emphasized and assessed based on the following qualities:

• Is academically curious, proactive and able to work independently 
• Has good collaboration and communication skills, including the ability to collaborate and be a part of a cross-disciplinary academic community 
• Is structured and goal-oriented in their work  
• Is motivated to improve inclusive practices in Norwegian kindergartens and/or schools