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Norwegian Universities Face Declining PhD Positions Amid Funding Changes

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Widespread concern over PhD program future due to tighter finances – many informants in the Nifu report argue that an “economic logic” dominates university decisions, limiting academic freedom and risking fewer PhD positions. [2]

PhD candidate numbers and new contracts have fallen sharply – total stipendiates dropped from over 6,300 in 2021 to about 5,600 in 2025; new doctoral contracts fell from 1,120 in 2021 to 840 in 2024, a near‑25 % decline. [1][5]

2023 budget reform removed earmarked PhD funding – since the 2023 state budget, PhD positions are funded from the general university allocation, giving institutions flexibility to prioritize away from recruitment positions. [1]

Ministry created expert group to review doctoral education – a panel led by Professor Silje Haus‑Reve (University of Stavanger) will deliver a report in March 2027 on how future researcher training should meet societal needs. [6]

Survey shows mixed institutional responses to funding change – of 15 surveyed universities, four altered their PhD‑position allocation, eight kept pre‑2023 systems, and three are considering changes; half report no routine change, citing economic pressure rather than earmarking loss. [1]

University of Stavanger faces steep staff cuts, especially recruitment posts – the university lost 130 FTEs since autumn 2023, including 55 recruitment positions, prompting rector Klaus Mohn to warn of weakened research capacity. [1]

  • Christina Drange, researcher 3 at Nifu and project lead: “Institutions are aware recruitment positions are vital to their societal mission and try to shield them from cuts, yet large differences exist across disciplines and faculties.”
  • Christina Drange: “Tightening economics raises risk that recruitment positions become a ‘salderingspost’ (balancing item).”
  • Elisabeth Hovdhaugen, Nifu researcher: “In social‑science projects funded by the Research Council, a recruitment position now consumes too much of the 12 million‑kroner project budget, so it is often omitted.”
  • Klaus Mohn, rector, University of Stavanger: “The reduction in PhD and postdoc positions is worrying; these roles are the seed of our research capacity and their loss weakens our ability to conduct externally funded projects.”
  • Gro Adsen Sokn, HR director, University of Stavanger: “Maintaining the volume of recruitment positions is essential for attracting talent, boosting research activity, and competing for external funding.”
  • Karl Henrik Storhaug Reinås, leader of Stipendiatorganisasjonene i Norge: “The removal of the recruitment‑position target in 2023 was meant to increase autonomy, but tighter finances push institutions to cut the positions that are easiest to reduce.”

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