If you are interested in making your own PhD project proposal, we suggest that you:

• Concretise:
  • What have I specialised in?
  • What can I offer a research group/project?
  • Who can I contact and how?
• Make a well-thought project proposal and a problem that can contribute to new research in that area. It is a good idea to get inputs and inspiration as well as discuss your idea with relevant persons.
• Contact and get to know people/research groups with common interests.
• Talk to the academic department which you expect to be affiliated with during the PhD. Locate both existing PhD students to hear their experiences and advice - as well as relevant researchers within the field you wish to focus on. E.g. reach out to PAU (the association and network for PhD students at AAU).
• Look for a PhD supervisor with the knowledge in the research topic, who has possibly collaborated with relevant research interested companies and who is experienced with PhD supervision.

You should also contact the doctoral schools for further information. The doctoral schools have the overall responsibility for organising and developing the PhD programmes offered. Read about the schools and PhD positions.

Other universities in Denmark and abroad also have PhD position. Therefore, broaden your search by looking at the websites of other universities.

In Denmark, a PhD is considered a job, meaning you will receive a salary and a work contract. You can also contact your union, which can help you understand and negotiate your terms.

A few websites to use as inspiration:

• DASTS (Danish Association for Science and Technology Studies)
• Eurograd

In many countries, you have to pay a yearly tuition fee when doing your PhD. However, you can also apply for grants to lessen the costs.

In Denmark, you are often paid, as you are considered an employee.

At AAU, you can also apply to become a PhD student without a position, such as self-financed, industrial PhD, co-financed, and PhD assessment without study participation. Make sure that you know the rules and possibilities.

Terms:

An industrial PhD is a 3 years industrial research programme and a PhD education, which is a coorperation between a company, a PhD student and a university.

• The PhD student is employed with salary in the company and is enrolled at the university. You divide your hours between the company and the university and spend all your time on the project.
• The company and the university receive grants from the Innovation Fund to cover their expenses.

The terms for an industrial PhD

Get help at AAU PhD Career Hub

A research career at a university often looks (very simplistic) like this (for the best qualified, who go all the way):

1. A research education (PhD)
2. Lecturer
3. Assistant Professor
4. Professor

There are also other positions, e.g. post.doc., which give you the opportunity to develop yourself in terms of research and qualify for the next level in the position structure.

This model will be relevant at most Danish universities.

It is far from everyone who continues in a research career. Some take their PhD degree into other parts of the labor market.

With a PhD, your career can e.g. go in these directions:

• An academic career at the university
• Research in the industry or other organisations (e.g. commercial research institutions, NGOs, etc.)
• Specialist roles such as teacher, consultant, advisor, development of focus areas, products, etc.
• Generalist roles such as consultant, project management, etc.
• Startups, where you, e.g., use your research knowledge to develop products, make production, or within consulting companies.

Are you a PhD considering going in a different direction than academia?

First of all, consider what kind of special knowledge you have as a result of the research you have done as a PhD, and how this can add to different roles, industries, and organisations/companies.

It will be both your specialist knowledge and your general, methodological, and technical competencies as a PhD that open the door to a job outside academia - but you must be ready to turn and angle your knowledge in new ways and in new surroundings.

It is a good idea to be strategic during your PhD. in order to opening doors outside the university.

You can e.g.:

• Collaborate with businesses and network both at and outside the university.
• Discover new opportunities and seek out knowledge by e.g. expanding related areas of interest to your core expertise and knowledge.
• Have different versions of your CV that focus on different tracks in relation to your knowledge.

Read about careers for PhDs