PhD scho­lars­hip in Sta­ti­sti­cs 2026

The Center for Statistics within the Department of Finance at Copenhagen Business School invites applications for a PhD scholarship in Statistics. The scholarship is available under both the traditional three-year PhD scheme and the 4+4 PhD scheme.

We seek a highly motivated candidate with a strong background in statistics and/or machine learning. Areas of particular interest include, but are not limited to:

• Causal Discovery and Causal Inference
• Extreme Value Theory
• Time Series Analysis
• Graphical models
• Computational statistics

We welcome applications from candidates with an educational background in fields such as:

• Mathematical Statistics
• Machine Learning
• Econometrics

The successful applicant will become part of the Center for Statistics, contributing to its vibrant research environment. The PhD scholarship is initially funded for three years (or four years under the 4+4 PhD scheme). Extended funding is available for outstanding candidates pursuing an academic career.

PhD students are expected to contribute to teaching within the department, particularly in undergraduate and graduate courses in statistics.  We encourage ambitious, talented applicants to apply and join our dynamic research community. For further details on the application process and eligibility criteria, contact Søren Wengel Mogensen (swm.fi@cbs.dk).

About the program
The three-year PhD program at CBS allows students to conduct research under the supervision of CBS faculty, supported by research focused PhD courses. The program is highly international, and students are expected to participate in international research conferences and to spend time abroad at another research institution as a visiting PhD student. Students are also expected to actively participate in the Center’s research activities, such as seminars and conferences organized by the Department and the Center for Statistics.

Copenhagen Business School has a broad commitment to the excellence, distinctiveness, and relevance of its teaching and research programmes. Candidates who wish to join us should demonstrate enthusiasm for working in such an environment.

The expected starting date is September 1, 2026, but may be agreed upon individually.

For further information please contact: Natalie Soudani, nso.fi@cbs.dk. Please see the CBS website for more information about Department of Finance and Center for Statistics.

Employment and salary
A PhD scholarship runs for a period of 3 years and includes teaching obligations equivalent to 416 work hours. For the 4+4 PhD scheme, which includes the final year of a master's degree followed by three years of PhD studies, the total teaching obligation is 277 work hours.

The scholarships are fully salaried positions, according to the national Danish collective agreement. The scholarship includes tuition fees, office space, course and travel costs (according to the current CBS agreement). The monthly salary is currently starting from app. DKK 29,691,75 up to DKK 36,180, depending on seniority, and includes an additional pension contribution totalling 18.07%. For questions related to the 4+4 PhD salary, please contact Natalie Soudani nso.fi@cbs.dk.

Salary level and employment take place in accordance with the Ministry of Finance's agreement with the Academics' Central Organization.

Following an offer of employment, the successful applicant will enroll in the CBS PhD School. Further information about CBS PhD scholarships and the PhD programme can be found at https://www.cbs.dk/en/research/phd-programme.

Requirements
To be considered for the traditional three-year PhD program, the candidate should have an education at the Master’s level (similar to the 3+2 Bologna process). The applicant must have successfully completed the Master’s degree before commencing PhD at CBS, but we also welcome applications from individuals close to completion of the Master’s degree. The applicants must be fluent in English.

For admittance to the 4+4 PhD scheme, the candidate must have completed a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) and have passed subjects corresponding to 60 ECTS in a relevant master's program. Applicants who are not enrolled in a master's program at CBS will be assessed by the CBS Admissions Office.

The successful applicant must have shown academic excellence with a record of top grades from previously completed programs. Priority will be given to candidates who have strong previous training in theoretical statistics and/or machine learning, and who have high grades from their previous programs.

Application procedure
The application (see link below) must include a five-page project description. The project description should describe one or more topics within Statistics that the applicant has an interest in.

The project description should include the following:

• a description of topic(s) in Statistics that are of particular interest to the applicant
• a description of a research direction within Statistics to focus on during the PhD, including a brief statement of the overall aim and purpose of the proposed project
• a positioning of the project within the Center’s research areas (see https://www.cbs.dk/en/research/departments/department-finance/center-statistics#03112-research)
• a work plan for the three years. This could for example split the proposed project into separate work packages with more specific goals. It could also contain a proposed timeline for a research visit abroad (see About the program).

Upon commencement of the PhD, the successful candidate and their supervisor(s) will jointly formulate a PhD project based on the interests of the student. For the assessment of applicants, the research potential of the applicant carries more weight than the quality of the proposed project. Candidates are welcome to contact Søren Wengel Mogensen (swm.fi@cbs.dk) with questions regarding the project description.

More information can be found here: https://www.cbs.dk/en/research/phd-programmes/admission 

In addition to the project description, copies of the following must be included:

• Diploma for bachelor's and master's degrees or other certificates at an equivalent level, as well as grade transcripts (bachelor’s degree certificate is sufficient if applying under the 4+4 PhD scheme).
• A concise curriculum vitae (CV).
• A list of articles and publications (if applicable).
• One example of a selected written work (e.g., master's/bachelor thesis).
• A letter of recommendation (to be sent directly to Natalie Soudani at nso.fi@cbs.dk).

Recruitment procedure
The Recruitment Committee expects to conduct a shortlisting of applicants to be assessed by the Assessment Committee. All applicants will be notified of their status in the recruitment process after the application deadline.

Applicants selected for assessment will be notified about the composition of the Assessment Committee and will receive their personal assessment later. Selected applicants will be invited for an interview. Please note that a positive assessment does not automatically result in an interview.  Once the recruitment process is completed each applicant will be notified of the outcome of their application.

Closing date: May 20, 2026

The application must be submitted via the electronic recruitment system, using the link below.

Copenhagen Business School must receive all application material, including all appendices (see above), by the application deadline.

One of CBS’ strategic goals is the promotion of diversity, which is why every effort has been made to ensure a recruitment process that reduces potential bias. Applicants are therefore encouraged not to include a photo or unnecessary personal information in their application.

Details about Copenhagen Business School are available at www.cbs.dk/en.