As a leading international university Aarhus University combines in-depth, cutting-edge research with interdisciplinary collaboration and maintains a strong focus on talent development and knowledge exchange with the business sector.

At Aarhus University we are determined to attract the most talented PhD students from all over the world. Thus Talent Development is – together with Education, Research and Knowledge Exchange - one of Aarhus University’s core activities. Our aim is to create one of the most attractive, international research environments in Europe that cultivates the brightest minds recruited from the global talent pool by giving them the best possible conditions for developing their special abilities.

PhD degree programmes with an international orientation

Aarhus University offers PhD degree programmes which compare favorably with the best in the world. With a long tradition for international cooperation in the areas of teaching and research, the PhD programmes are naturally of a high international standard.

The programmes are offered at four graduate schools: Arts, Health, Science and Technology and School of Business and Social Sciences. All graduate schools offer a three-year programme and a three-year business-oriented industrial PhD programme - both of which require a Master’s degree for admission. Some graduate schools also offer a four-year PhD programme for students who have completed four years of full-time study towards the Master’s and a five year programme for students with a Bachelor’s degree.

A rigorous programme with numerous career opportunities

With a PhD degree from Aarhus University you are trained to independently undertake high-caliber research, development and teaching projects in the private and the public sectors.

A PhD degree – or a similar background – is a requirement for employment as an academic member of the staff at institutions of higher education, including universities and business schools, and at government research institutions. In addition, a PhD has become a much sought-after qualification for other jobs requiring a research background, e.g., in large companies in the consulting sector (lawyers, accountants, consultants etc.), the financial sector, international organisations and public administration.

The majority of PhD students from Aarhus University find employment before graduating or in immediate continuation of their PhD studies. A very high number of PhD graduates from Aarhus University find employment at universities and other public research institutions (primarily in Denmark), while the health and pharmaceutical industry likewise attracts a high number of PhD graduates. Find more data about employment of PhD graduates in our 2011 Employment Survey (only in Danish).

Join a young and dynamic research environment

As a PhD student at Aarhus University you will be part of a  diverse body of researchers. The university has more than 2500 doctoral and post-doctoral students and approximately 2000 senior researchers, lecturers and professors, making it a very young and dynamic research environment. The university and its four graduate schools strive to create an international community with excellent facilities that provide our international students and staff with a unique opportunity to meet fellow scholars.

Enjoy an active social environment

Aarhus University wishes to make your stay at the university inspiring and truly exciting - when it comes to the social environment, too. The PhD house at Aarhus University provides lecture rooms for transferable skills courses for PhDs and a café for young researchers at Aarhus University. The PhD House is a focal point for national and international PhD students who can meet both professionally and socially. Read more about the PhD House here.

For international PhD students

Moving to Denmark for a position at Aarhus University is a unique opportunity – not only professionally and academically, but also personally. Our work-life balance, the workplace atmosphere, and our perspective on PhDs as early career researchers, make Aarhus University very attractive for international talent. Furthermore, we offer very generous conditions for researchers bringing their children and families to Denmark; read more about these conditions here.

International PhD students and their accompanying families are provided a wide range of services through the International Centre to assist them as they settle into the university’s research environment and the broader community. Read more about our international services here.

For further information please see our Guide for International PhD students.

Our nationwide locations

Aarhus University has campuses, research facilities and field stations all over Denmark.
See a map of Aarhus University’s different locations here.

Our main campus is Campus Aarhus, which is situated in the centre of Aarhus City.
Additional AU campuses near larger cities are:

• Campus Emdrup near Copenhagen
• Campus Foulum near Viborg
• Dept. of Environmental Science near Roskilde
• Dept. of Bioscience near Silkeborg
• AU Herning near Herning