PhD Candidate in Economics

PhD Candidate in Economics, Centre for Applied Macroeconomics and Commodity Prices (CAMP)

BI Norwegian Business School offers a four-year Ph.D. Programme with specialization in Economics, which trains students to engage in high quality scientific research. The position is financed by the Research Centre for Applied Macroeconomics and Commodity Prices (CAMP) at the Department of Economics at BI Norwegian Business School.

CAMP seeks to bring together economists working on applied macroeconomic issues, with special emphasis on energy economics. CAMP is financed by Equinor’s research program in energy economics and the Research Council of Norway. Its objectives are to advance research and post-graduate training in relevant fields.

An ideal doctoral candidate at CAMP has a strong quantitative background and interest in economics/finance and econometrics. We value creativity and good communication skills. The candidate should be interested in doing research on applied macroeconomics (for instance, business cycles, monetary- and fiscal policy), time series, energy economics and/or commodity markets. CAMP has a strong commitment to research. Faculty members and associates at CAMP publish their research regularly in highly ranked international journals, and is often mentioned in both international and domestic media. The center has a large international network, and regularly organizes workshops and conferences with special emphasis on applied macroeconomics and energy economics. Doctoral students at CAMP are also expected to take part in this network by attending workshps and study abroad for shorter periods as part of their training.

CAMP is part of the Department of Economics which has a strong research-oriented faculty working within microeconomic theory, macroeconomics, econometrics, labour economics, natural resource and energy economics, political economy, industrial organization, and international and development economics.

The doctoral programme is an important element in the department’s research excellence strategy and in BI’s vision to become one of the leading research business schools in Europe. The selected candidates will join a group of talented and ambitious PhD candidates at the department that work in close collaboration with faculty members. PhD students are expected to participate actively in research seminars and workshops. The place of work will be at BI Norwegian Business School in Oslo.

A PhD from BI can be a gateway to prestigious academic positions at universities and research institutions around the world. We encourage and support our candidates in the international job market. Recent graduates of BI's PhD specialization in economics have been hired by, among others, European Central Bank, Norges Bank, Sciences Po, University of Chicago, Católica Lisbon School of Business & Economics and University of Oslo.

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 specialization in Economics by the time the programme 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. The four-year scholarship is set according to the Norwegian State Salary Scale, and currently pays NOK 572.800 annually. The position is linked to The Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (Statens Pensjonskasse). The scholarship involves 25%
work obligation. BI Norwegian Business School is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage women to apply for the positions.

Applications must be submitted electronically by using the "Send Application" button on the right-hand side of this announcement. Paper or e-mail applications will not be accepted. You are required to submit the following electronically together with your application:

Background Information:

• A short personal statement describing your research interests and potential research projects. Please also include BI Department of Economics faculty members (faculty list is available here) that you may be interested in working closely with should you be admitted to the PhD program.

• Curriculum Vitae (CV).

Letters of Recommendation:

• We require a minimum of two (preferably three) letters of recommendation from people that can comment on your research potential. These should be emailed directly to us by the letter writers rather than uploaded by you. However, you must include the names of your letter writers in your application. Please arrange with the people submitting recommendation letters to email their recommendations to phd.economics@bi.no by the
application deadline.

Academic Transcripts:

• 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 associated with the obtained degree.
• Signed transcript verification document (to be found here). (Please note that this
document should be uploaded with your application and not sent to your university. We
will use the document to request an official transcript if you are considered for admission
to the program and check for any discrepancy with the transcript you uploaded.)

Test Scores:

• GRE General/GMAT test score: All applicants, except those who hold a master’s degree
from an institution inside the European Economic Area/the European Union or
Switzerland, must submit results from GMAT or the GRE General test. Note that we need
scores for the Verbal, Quantitative and Analytical Writing sections of the GRE General or
GMAT to consider your application. Incomplete sections or partial scores are not sufficient
to consider your application.
• TOEFL/IELTS test score: Applicants whose native language is not English must take either
TOEFL or IELTS. To be considered for admission, applicants must have a minimum TOEFL
score of 575 (written test)/233 (computer-based test)/90 (internet-based test) or a IELTS
score of 6.5. In some cases, applicants can request a waiver from TOEFL/IELTS by
submitting a waiver form here together with the application. As a general rule,
exemptions are made for applicants:

•  who have two years or more of higher education where the language of instruction was English.

•  from a country which is a member of the EU/EEA and/or the Council of Europe/UNESCO-Cepes who have English as the first foreign language taken over a period of at least 7 years in primary school, secondary school and upper secondary education.

• We accept scanned copies of test scores. TOEFL/IELTS scores must be from within the last two years. For scanned IELTS scores, the TRF number must be visible. In case of sending official score reports from the test center, you can use the following codes for BI
Norwegian Business School:

• TOEFL/GMAT: 0529.
• GRE: 7365.

Additional documents:

• In addition, you may upload the following documents:

•  A writing sample that documents relevant research activities (e.g. a Master’s thesis or academic paper).
•  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).

All documents, apart from the recommendation letters, must be uploaded in the electronic application
and may not be submitted by e-mail or on paper. Furthermore, note that any documents forwarded
after the application deadline will not be considered. Exceptions will only be made for students who
are completing their master’s degree in 2026 and do not have a final certificate when applying. Please
note that you will not be able to revise your application once it has been submitted.

Candidates may, at a later stage, be asked to forward further information and/or be called in for an
interview. Candidates who are admitted to the programme must provide a more detailed progress
plan with milestones and courses for the four years of study.

Additional information about the doctoral programme and admission requirements can be obtained
from the doctoral administration at BI Norwegian Business School. E-mail: info@bi.no.