The PhD specialisation in Marketing at BI is designed for candidates who want to develop the skills of a top level scholar, work with ideas that matter and grow the independence needed for a meaningful academic career.

The Department of Marketing publishes in the top journals in the field, including the Journal of Marketing, Journal of Marketing Research, Journal of Consumer Research, Marketing Science and the International Journal of Research in Marketing. We are a large department covering the three core areas of marketing, consumer behavior, marketing strategy and marketing modelling. The department has a highly international research environment with strong presence at leading conferences. Placements of graduates from our PhD programme include the University of Manchester, Bayes Business School, Grenoble Ecole de Management, Nanyang Technological University and the University of Groningen.

Our PhD candidates become part of an active research community shaped by shared interests, ongoing projects and faculty collaborations. They have full access to the department’s experimental research lab and benefit from close collaborations with industry partners that provide opportunities for field projects, proprietary datasets and externally funded research. The programme follows a development model that supports progression from early idea exploration to full scholarly independence, with clear milestones, academic career preparation and quality assured supervision. Candidates receive systematic support for publication, funding for major international conferences and early exposure to leading research arenas. This is an open call within our core areas, and applicants are welcome to propose projects in any of these fields.

Eligible applicants must have completed a Master of Science degree with thesis work, a research masters/M. Phil degree or a comparable degree relevant for the specialisation in Marketing by early summer 2026. We also welcome applicants with strong backgrounds in fields such as business, economics, psychology, statistics or related disciplines. An MBA does not meet the requirements. Final year Master of Science students are encouraged to apply. The four year scholarships are currently NOK 572 800 per year, adjusted in 2026. The scholarships include 25 percent teaching responsibilities and membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (Statens Pensjonskasse).The place of work is BI Norwegian Business School in Oslo. Additional information about the doctoral programme, admission requirements and the application can be obtained from the Doctoral Administration at BI Norwegian Business School (Email: info@bi.no) and the department’s website.

Applicants must upload all required documents in the electronic application system:

• Master’s and Bachelor’s degree certificates and transcripts, noting that BI requires a two year master degree with average grades of B or higher.
• Diploma Supplement or equivalent documentation of the degree and grading system.
• Original project proposal of 5–10 pages including topic, proposed method and schedule, with clear citation if generative AI is used.
• CV.
• Minimum two letters of recommendation from employers, professors or supervisors. Please arrange with the people submitting recommendation letters to email their recommendations to phd.marketing@bi.no by the application deadline.
• Certificates of previously completed doctoral level courses if requesting approval. If you have taken any courses at PhD level please complete the following form (maximum 18 ECTS).
• Complete list of publications and relevant activities.
• Other relevant certificates and transcripts.
• Signed verification document.
• Test scores TOEFL/IELTS (conditions for a TOEFL / IELTS waiver here: Language requirements).

Documents cannot be submitted by email. Late documents will not be considered, except for students completing their Master’s degree in 2026 who do not yet have a final certificate. Applications cannot be revised after submission. Candidates may be asked to provide further information or attend an interview. Accepted candidates must provide a detailed progress plan.