项目介绍

2026年6月2日

At the Department of Culture and Communication, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Aalborg University, a PhD stipend in Musicology is open for appointment from 1. september 2026. The position is fixed-term and full-time and includes both research and teaching activities.

Your work tasks

We invite applications for a PhD position in Musicology, broadly oriented toward music in relation to health, wellbeing, and societal contexts. The position is embedded within a humanistic research environment where music is understood as an artistic, cultural, and social practice.
The PhD project should take music as its primary point of departure. Applicants are encouraged to propose projects that explore the roles and uses of music across a range of contexts, which may include health-related settings. Projects may engage with perspectives from music therapy or music & health, but such approaches are not required and should be understood as part of a broader music-focused inquiry.
The position is open with regard to methodological and theoretical approaches, and we welcome projects that incorporate artistic, practice-based, analytical, or interdisciplinary elements.

The PhD student is, in close dialogue with their main supervisor, expected to identify and refine their own research focus and develop an original and independent line of research within the field. As part of the application, applicants are expected to outline a project description (5 pages, as mentioned below) in which the applicant suggests the framework for such a subproject, pointing out, for instance, research questions, theoretical considerations, approach, relevant literature and timeline.

Responsibilities and competencies

Research
PhD students are expected to develop and complete a PhD thesis at a level corresponding to international research standards within the relevant field. This includes the ability to produce high-quality, peer reviewed research outputs, such as publications in recognised academic journals and/or contributions to books or anthologies. PhD students are also expected to actively disseminate their research to academic peers as well as to broader audiences beyond academia.

As part of their research training, PhD students should develop a clear and well-defined research profile that demonstrates academic maturity and the ability to collaborate within their field of expertise. Engagement in research environments beyond the host institution is encouraged, for example through shorter or longer research stays at other research institutions. In addition, PhD students are expected to build knowledge of external research funding opportunities and funding strategies as part of their academic development.

PhD students carry out an independent research project under supervision, develop their own research profile, and contribute actively to the research environments at Aalborg University as well as to national and/or international research collaborations. 

Teaching
It is a mandatory part of the PhD programme to gain experience in teaching or other forms of knowledge dissemination related to the student’s PhD project. Accordingly, PhD students contribute to a limited extent to research‑based teaching and/or dissemination activities within one or more subject areas.

Aalborg University applies a problem-based learning (PBL) approach. Documented experience with PBL (such as project supervision, facilitation of group processes, and development of PBL-based learning activities) will be considered an advantage. Candidates without documented PBL experience are expected to complete a PBL training course within the first year of employment.

The candidate will most likely be expected  to conduct teaching, supervision, and examination within the both the Musicology and Music therapy programme. 

International applicants are expected to learn Danish to a level that enables them to teach in Danish.

Organizational and Academic Leadership
PhD students are expected to build and maintain professional working relationships both internally and externally. PhD students should contribute to a collegial academic environment by acting as sparring partners for colleagues and students in their daily work, as agreed.

Active participation in the professional and social life of the department, section, and relevant study programmes (e.g. study boards) is expected. PhD students should demonstrate an interest in placing their research and teaching within a broader societal context and be able to communicate their research in ways that are relevant and accessible to external stakeholders.

Qualification requirements
PhD stipends are allocated to individuals who hold a Master’s degree. PhD stipends are normally for a period of 3 years. It is a prerequisite for allocation of the stipend that the candidate will be enrolled as a PhD student at the Doctoral School of Social Sciences and Humanities in accordance with the regulations of Ministerial Order No. 1124 of September 19, 2025 on the PhD Programme at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions. According to the Ministerial Order, the progress of the PhD student shall be assessed at regular points in time. As part of the PhD study, you are among other things required to complete PhD courses corresponding to 30 ECTS, gain experience with teaching or other forms of knowledge dissemination and complete an external research stay outside of Aalborg University, preferably 3-6 months at a foreign research institution.

Please visit the website of the doctoral school for further information on admission requirements.

Who we are    

The Department of Culture and Communication deals with human life in its complexity. We ask fundamental questions about life and contribute knowledge about how human beings create meaning, interact, flourish and participate in society. The Department has activities at both Campus Aalborg and Campus Copenhagen.

The position is affiliated with the section: Art, Aesthetics & Health (AHH). The section constitutes an interdisciplinary consortium of scholars investigating art forms, aesthetic experiences and their meaning, value and interaction with people and society, especially in relation to health, technology, and sustainability. 

How to apply
Your application must include the following:

• Application, stating reasons for applying and qualifications in relation to the position
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Diplomas (bachelor’s and master’s degree diploma, including grades) 
• Project description (min. 5 pages). Read more about the project description
• Applicants WHO are planning to complete a doctoral thesis in English and who do not have English as a first language or WHO have not completed an English language-based Master’s programme (or an equivalent educational achievement in English) shall provide documentation that they have passed one of the following official tests with the respective minimum score: IELTS (band score): 7, TOEFL (paper-based): 600, TOEFL (internet-based): 100. The language test must be no more than five years old at the time of the application
• Other relevant documents

The application must be submitted via Aalborg University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aalborg University’s website. 

Aalborg University wants to reflect the surrounding society and has diversity as a core value. Therefore, everyone, regardless of personal background and orientation, is encouraged to apply for the position.