Apply for fellowship
Are you ready to apply for a QISTgrad PhD?
The call will be published here in December. Please check the page later.
Please note that DTU and UCPH will exchange your data, and you will receive information from both universities.
Please remember to download the questionnaire, complete it, save it as a PDF, and upload it with your application.
Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.
Eligibility
Applicants can either hold or be finalising an MA or MSc or hold a BA or BSc; however, you cannot already hold a PhD.
Students with a 2-year masters ‘of 120 ECTS can apply directly to the PhD program.
The process differs between UCPH and DTU:
At UCPH, you will need to finalise a Danish master's such as the QIS, before you can apply for the PhD. Your original master’s may give you the possibility to transfer most of your grades, so the QIS may only take about a year. See more about QIS here.
At DTU, the application is handled individually, and your acceptance depends on your individual skills and background.
You can apply at any point of your MSc studies, either at the initial enrollment (a combined master's and PhD (3+5)), or at any time during your MSc studies.
If the master’s degree is not completed at the time of application, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records and a written statement on the expected completion date from the institution is required. The master’s degree needs to be completed so that the diploma is issued no later than the start of the fellowship.
For entry into a Danish PhD program, you will need to complete a master’s degree. You will need to apply for entry into the QIS master’s program alongside your application for a PhD fellowship.
We have a limited number of stipends and funds to cover tuition fees for international students who are selected for a PhD fellowship, so the costs associated with the QIS master's may be fully covered.
If the bachelor’s degree is not completed at the time of application, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records and a written statement on the expected completion date from the institution is required. The bachelor’s degree needs to be completed so that the diploma enrolment into the QIS master’s program can be completed.
Your application for a QIST graduate fellowship does not cover your enrolment in the QIS master’s program. Please make sure you comply with all enrolment requirements.
Fellowship conditions
The QISTgrad PhD fellows will receive a contract with UCPH or DTU. The contract is for 36 months. The employment conditions will be equal to those of other PhD researchers employed at UCPH/DTU. The terms of employment are in accordance with agreements between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State and include:
- Depending on seniority, the monthly gross salary for PhDs begins at DKK 29,691.75 (basic) plus DKK 1,551.00 in PhD supplement (in total c. 4,165 Euro) (2025 salaries). See taxation rates here: Tax – University of Copenhagen)
- Monthly contribution to pension fund
- Full social benefits, including public health care
- Right to paid holidays (five weeks plus five special holidays, on top of national holidays)
- Right to salary during own illness and child’s first two sick days
- Right to parental leave (up to 32 weeks paid leave) and two childcare days/child/year until age 7
The overall working conditions at UCPH/DTU are centred around a set of basic principles ensuring an open, collaborative, secure, inclusive and developing work environment with equality for all staff. The QISTgrad fellow will:
- Have flexible work hours in a family-friendly environment
- Be hosted in a healthy physical and psychosocial work environment
- Have Annual Performance and Development Reviews with the nearest leader (main supervisor)
- Participate in university-wide satisfaction and well-being assessments