Collective agreement for PhD employees

When you are employed as a PhD fellow, specific rules apply to your salary and employment conditions.

Most PhD positions follow public sector agreements. However, terms vary depending on where you are employed.

We help you understand your rights, whether you work at a university, hospital, municipality, or in a private company.

PhD fellow at a university

If you are employed as a PhD fellow at a university, your salary follows the Danish AC collective agreement in the state sector.

You are both enrolled at the university and employed in a fixed-term position. Your salary is typically funded by the university.

Industrial PhD

As an industrial PhD fellow, you are employed by a company while being enrolled at a university.

Your salary is paid by the company, which may receive funding from Innovation Fund Denmark.

PhD employed at a hospital

If you are employed as a PhD fellow in a region, for example at a hospital, you are usually covered by the AC collective agreement in the regional sector.

At the same time, you are enrolled at a university as part of your research project.

PhD in a municipality

If you are employed as a PhD fellow in a municipality, your employment follows the AC collective agreement for municipalities.

This applies whether your PhD is conducted independently or in collaboration with a university.

PhD via a university college

If you work as a lecturer at a university college, you may complete a PhD in collaboration with a university.

Salary and funding are agreed individually—either by the university college or jointly with other institutions.