The Department of Economics at Copenhagen Business School (CBS) is now accepting applications for several fully funded PhD scholarships in Economics, with the program set to begin on February 1, 2026.
These prestigious positions offer the opportunity to contribute to advanced research in key areas of economics, supported by world-class faculty and research centers. The scholarships are open to outstanding international and domestic candidates who meet the academic requirements.
Institution: Copenhagen Business School (CBS)
Department: Economics
Country: Denmark
Program Level: PhD
Eligible Applicants: Open to all nationalities
Scholarship Type: Fully Funded (Salaried position)
Application Deadline: August 20, 2025
Start Date: February 1, 2026
The PhD projects should align with the department’s primary research themes, including but not limited to:
Behavior, Incentives, and Economic Design
Labor Markets and Employment Dynamics
AI and Machine Learning in Economic Research
Energy, Environment, and Resource Economics
Firm Behavior, Innovation, and Market Dynamics
Globalization, Migration, and Urbanization
Macroeconomic Issues: Growth, Unemployment, and Inflation
Quantitative Methods and Data Science
Welfare Economics: Education, Health, and Pensions
CBS hosts two leading research centers:
Copenhagen School of Energy Infrastructure (CSEI)
Pension Research Centre (PeRCent)
To be considered for a CBS PhD Scholarship, applicants must:
Hold a Master’s degree (equivalent to the 3 + 2 Bologna process) in economics or related fields
Have obtained at least a grade of 10 (or equivalent) for their master’s thesis under the Danish 7-point grading scale
Hold a weighted GPA of at least 8.2 (bachelor’s and master’s combined) or 9.5 in the master’s degree alone.
If these GPA requirements are not met, proof of ranking in the top 40% of your graduating class is also accepted
Complete their master’s degree prior to starting the PhD program
Demonstrate strong English proficiency (written and spoken academic English)
Three-year salaried PhD position in accordance with the national Danish collective agreement
Monthly salary of approximately DKK 28,993–DKK 35,015 (based on experience)
17.1% pension contribution
Full coverage of tuition fees
Access to office space, course funding, and travel grants
416 hours of teaching or related work during the scholarship period
Salary and employment conditions follow the agreement between the Ministry of Taxation and the Academics’ Central Organization.
Applicants must upload the following:
Cover Letter
Bachelor’s and Master’s Diplomas + Grade Transcripts
Documentation of GPA/class ranking, if GPA requirements are not fully met
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
List of publications (if applicable)
One sample of written work (e.g., master’s thesis or academic paper)
Proof of English proficiency
Five-page PhD project proposal that must include:
An original research question
Theoretical framework and proposed methodology
Description of intended empirical material
A clear 3-year research timeline
Interested and eligible candidates should apply online via the official CBS application portal:
Deadline: August 20, 2025
Copenhagen Business School is one of Europe’s leading business universities, located in the heart of Denmark. CBS combines strong academic disciplines with real-world relevance, offering an international research environment that promotes collaboration, innovation, and critical thinking.
If you’re passionate about contributing to cutting-edge economic research and seeking a fully funded PhD opportunity in a world-class institution, the CBS 2025 PhD Scholarship in Economics could be the perfect next step.