Overview

Drawing on internationally well-established research environments based in the fields of Anthropology, International Area Studies, and the Study of Religion, a particular strength of the PhD programme is interdisciplinarity. Strong research environments dedicated to exploring and integrating methods from beyond the Humanities, e.g. in the study of culture, cognition and religion as well as in human security and international development, offer students unique opportunities for the pursuit of new directions in and across the associated disciplines. At the same time, strong individual research environments ensure disciplinary training at the highest levels.
Collaborations with institutions in the respective regions and with leading universities in Australia, across Europe and North America provide extensive opportunities for international research and training.
Theoretical interests are founded on a combination of solid social and human science theories, and range from phenomenology, post-structuralism and grounded theory over various comparative, sociological and historically-based approaches to cognitive science.
All B-level courses of the study programme will be available in English. The programme is affiliated with the national PhD education networks for Anthropology, International Area Studies and the Study of Religion.

Research facilities available

In the context of collaborations with researchers in the cognitive neuro- and behavioral sciences in the context of MindLab some PhD projects at Aarhus University draw on the world-class experimental facilities at AU.

Programme Structure

Current core research areas include:

ethnographic methods;

experimental anthropology;

visual anthropology; welfare, children and youth;

democracy, globalization and transnational mobility; contemporary religion and contemplative traditions;

history of religions; cognitive science of religion;

gender and politics;

human security and post-conflict studies.

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 36 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2025-09-01 00:00:00
- Apply before 2025-03-15 00:00:00
Starting 2026-02-01 00:00:00
- Apply before 2025-10-01 00:00:00

Language

English, Danish

IELTS

6.5

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TOEFL^® IBT

83

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Credits

180 ECTS

Delivered

On Campus

Disciplines

Anthropology Theology and Religious Studies

Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

IELTS

6.5

Schedule an IELTS test!

TOEFL^® IBT

83

Pass IELTS with Swoosh English! Sign up for a free writing masterclass or claim your exclusive 25% Studyportals discount and accelerate your preparation by taking a course designed by experts to get you the results you need.

Student insurance

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items, so make sure your student insurance ticks all the following:

Additional medical costs (i.e. dental)
Repatriation, if something happens to you or your family
Liability
Home contents and baggage
Accidents
Legal aid

We partnered with Aon to provide you with the best affordable student insurance, for a carefree experience away from home.

Get your student insurance now

Starting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.

Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at Aarhus University and/or in Denmark, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

Other requirements

General requirements

Personal information
Curriculum Vitae
Academic background
Financing - indicate sources and amounts of possible financial support, if any. Also, please see the "Financing and prospective supervisors" section above.
Plan of study
Project description for open calls (½-4 pages) - describe your ideas and research plans for your project.
References
Motivation

Tuition Fee

Documented funding is a prerequisite for admission. You can apply as a self-financed student or for scholarships/fellowships in connection with your application

Living costs for Aarhus

6639 - 10051 DKK /month

Living costs

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.