PhD – Accounting – Norway

The Department of Accounting and Operations Management at BI Norwegian Business School is inviting applications for doctoral scholarships.

The PhD specialization in Accounting prepares candidates for careers in the world’s leading academic institutions, research-oriented international and national organizations, and the industry.

The four-year program offers rigorous training for candidates with strong analytical skills and intellectual curiosity. It follows a structure that is used in comparable programs around the world. The first three semesters are devoted to course work covering all the major fields in Accounting and core topics in Finance and Economics relevant for an Accounting PhD. These courses are mainly taught by BI faculty. The candidates can also take specialized courses and participate in doctoral workshops through different international accounting research networks.

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 regular 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.

Requirements

They encourage applications from candidates who have solid quantitative skills and a strong background in disciplines such as Accounting, Economics, Finance, Mathematics and Statistics. 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.

The following list details the formal application requirements:

A. Academic record

Eligible applicants must have completed a Master of Science degree with thesis work, a Research Masters/M.Phil degree, or a comparable degree relevant for the specialisation in Accounting by the time the program starts in early autumn of 2026, with a grade point average of B or higher. An MBA degree does not fulfill the requirements for admission.

B. GRE / GMAT

Applicants who hold a Master’s degree from an institution in an EU/EEA country are encouraged to take either the GMAT or the GRE test. Applicants whose Master’s degree is not from an institution in an EU/EEA country are required to take either the GMAT or the GRE test.
Percentile scores and raw scores for the Verbal, Quantitative and Analytical Writing sections of the GRE or GMAT must be submitted together with the application. Incomplete sections or partial scores are not sufficient . A “good score” is generally considered to be 85% and higher. However, there is no minimum cutoff score for the GRE/GMAT .

C. TOEFL / IELTS

Applicants are encouraged to take either TOEFL or IELTS.

The codes for BI Norwegian Business School are as follows: GMAT 0529, TOEFL 0529, GRE 7365. For IELTS we accept copies as long as the TRF number is visible.

D. Materials to be uploaded in the electronic application

You are required to upload the following electronically with your application:

CV, recommendation letters, statement of purpose, and selected academic work

• Full CV / resume. In addition to the usual items, this should include a complete list of all research work, including publications (if any), thesis work, and other documented relevant research activities.
• Letters of recommendations from people who can assess your suitability for doctoral studies. These people would ideally by academics who have taught you, supervised your research work, or have other relevant information about your potential as a researcher. If such people are not available, non-academic professional people can also provide a letter with an emphasis on your research potential. A minimum of two letters is required. Please arrange with the people submitting recommendation letters to email their recommendations to phd.accounting@bi.no by the application deadline.
• Statement of purpose describing your plans and motivation for PhD studies and your career objectives. The statement should be written in English and should not exceed 1000 words.
• One selected academic work showcasing your previous academic output. This can be a copy of your Master’s thesis or other relevant research work.

Certificates, test results, and verification document
• Certificate of a Master of Science degree or equivalent, including transcript of grades.
• Certificate of a Bachelor degree or equivalent, including transcript of grades.
• A Diploma Supplement or a similar document, describing in detail the study and grade system and the rights for further studies associated with the obtained degree.
• Other relevant certificates and transcripts
• Test scores GMAT/GRE and TOEFL/IELTS (if relevant)
• Certificates from previously completed courses at the doctoral level, if requesting approval of these for the PhD programme at BI Norwegian Business School (see section 2 in our PhD Regulations). If you have taken any courses at PhD level please complete the following Form (maximum 18 ECTS).
• Signed verification document

Funding 

The four-year scholarship is set according to the Norwegian State Salary Scale and currently pays NOK 572.800 (49.317,22 €) annually. The position is linked to The Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (Statens Pensjonskasse). The scholarship involves 25% teaching obligation.

Organization/Company – BI Norwegian Business School.

Research field – Economics » Business economics

Research profile – First Stage Researcher (R1).

Country –Norway.

Application Deadline – 10 Dec 2025 – 22:59 (UTC).

More information: Euraxess.