Does the danish PhD programme provide sufficiently broad and supportive conditions for creativity, risk-taking and scientific breakthroughs? And does it adequately prepare candidates for careers outside the universities? DFIR has examined whether the PhD programme is up to date and whether adjustments are needed.
Read the final report (in danish)
The framework governing PhD education has remained largely unchanged since the early 1990s. At the time, there was a need to harmonise PhD education across disciplines and institutions. DFIR considers that the time has now come to introduce greater flexibility into the programme.
The report is structured around three key questions concerning how to ensure that the Danish PhD programme provides sufficient scope for breakthroughs and creativity, supports entrepreneurship, and prepares PhD students for careers outside public research institutions. DFIR has examined these questions through the collection and analysis of existing studies, a survey of PhD students, an open consultation process following DFIR’s annual meeting, and interviews with 19 key stakeholders from universities, foundations and employers.
As part of the project, DFIR hosted an annual conference where the Council’s preliminary analysis and recommendations on the Danish PhD education system were presented.
Read more about the conference
Read the opinion piece from Science Report, 23 April 2025
Read the opinion piece in Forskningspolitikk, 24 June 2025
Read the opinion piece in Science Report, 28 June 2026
The project commenced in November 2024. DFIR completed its final report on the project in June 2026.
DFIR’s working group for the project consists of:
