Miriam Madsen

A fully funded PhD fellowship is available at Aarhus University, Denmark, focusing on "Economic philosophies of education in contemporary public policymaking in Denmark and New Zealand." This opportunity is ideal for candidates interested in the intersection of education policy, economic philosophy, and the wellbeing economy framework. The project investigates how new economic thinking, such as the 'beyond GDP' or 'wellbeing economy' movement, influences educational policy through tools like the DREAM model (Denmark) and the Living Standards Framework (New Zealand). The PhD project must include a comparative study of textual and calculative practices in policymaking, analyzing how these frameworks shape educational policy. Applicants are expected to propose a methodological framework, including methods, empirical material, and analytical approaches, as well as a theoretical framing for studying these practices. The position is affiliated with the Graduate School at Arts, Faculty of Arts, and the Danish School of Education at Aarhus University. The PhD student will be part of the Learning and Education programme and is expected to be present at the school regularly. A research stay at a foreign institution is also anticipated during the programme. Applicants should hold a Master’s degree in education science, political science, sociology, philosophy, intellectual history, or a related field, and have training in document analysis and/or qualitative methods. Excellent English communication skills are required (minimum TOEFL 83 or IELTS 6.5). The application must include a motivation letter, CV, project description, literature list, timetable, cover sheet, and copies of educational certificates. The application can be written in Danish or English. For further information, contact Associate Professor Miriam Madsen ([email protected]). The fellowship is fully funded for three years (5+3 programme), with salary and employment benefits according to Danish regulations. The deadline for applications is 1 January 2026. For more details and to apply, visit the official Aarhus University PhD calls page.