New Carlsberg Foundation postdoc and PhD funding 2026

Collaboration on PhD fellowships can take place through enrolment of a PhD student at the Faculty of Humanities’ PhD School and affiliation of the PhD fellow with one of IKK’s research environments. The fellow may be employed either at the university or at the museum (provided that the museum is state-recognised). In both cases, a collaboration agreement is drawn up upon grant award. IKK’s condition for collaboration is that the PhD project falls within one or more of IKK’s research areas and that the candidate, upon grant award, is assessed as qualified to complete doctoral training. According to the foundation’s call, only museums, kunsthallen, and exhibition venues may apply for funding for PhD fellowships, and the funding cannot be applied for by individual applicants.

The foundation co-finances the fellowship with up to DKK 2,000,000 in salary funding. In addition to the salary, the foundation supports the fellow’s activity costs (conference travel, research stays abroad, literature and materials, workshops, etc.) with a total of DKK 100,000. In addition, the fellowship includes DKK 750,000 allocated as a fixed amount of DKK 300,000 to the university (PhD enrolment fee), administrative contributions of DKK 100,000 per year to the institution where the candidate is employed, and DKK 50,000 per year to the collaborating institution. IKK cannot co-finance the fellowships. If the foundation’s co-financing of the salary does not cover the actual salary costs, the additional cost must be covered by the museum/exhibition venue.

Application for collaboration on PhD students

To apply for collaboration with IKK on enrolment of a PhD student, the museum or exhibition venue must submit a short project abstract (approx. 1 page) describing the research project. A description is also required of how the research is expected to be academically linked to IKK’s research areas, environments, and research clusters. In addition, the application must indicate and justify where the fellow is to be employed if funding is awarded.

The application must also state which of the foundation’s models the project is applying under: Model 1 (open call) or Model 2 (named candidate), as well as the desired project start date. For PhD fellows, the department has two possible start dates: 1 September 2027 or 1 February 2028. If applying with a named candidate, a CV (max. 2 pages) must be attached. The application must be submitted as a single PDF.

Applications for approval of collaboration with IKK on PhD students must be sent to ikk-forsk@hum.ku.dk no later than Friday 14 August 2026 at 12:00. IKK will then conduct a screening of the quality and relevance of the projects and, on this basis, select the applicants who are granted hosting. Notification of approval for collaboration can be expected no later than Friday 21 August 2025.

Process upon grant award

If the museum is awarded funding under Model 1 and the candidate is to be employed at IKK, the department will initiate a recruitment process with an open job posting, which will be formulated jointly by the department and the museum/kunsthalle/exhibition venue. An assessment committee and an appointment committee will then be appointed, in which the museum or exhibition venue will also participate.

If the museum is the employing institution, the procedure for advertising the position and appointing the candidate is organised in collaboration with IKK, which must ensure that the necessary documentation is obtained for the academic assessment of whether the candidate is qualified for enrolment as a PhD student.

If applying under Model 2, the named candidate must, once the grant is awarded, submit a full project description and a CV, which will form the basis for an academic assessment of whether the candidate is qualified for enrolment as a PhD student. The project description must follow the required template, including appendices. If the assessment is positive, enrolment and possible employment can be initiated. If not, the position may be filled under Model 1.

Upon grant award, a collaboration agreement is drawn up between the department and the museum/kunsthalle/exhibition venue. In the dialogue regarding the collaboration agreement, the more detailed practical and financial framework for the collaboration is discussed, including where the fellow will be based on a daily basis and have office space, how the PhD workload of 840 hours (teaching, dissemination, and organisational work) is distributed, and which PhD programme, research cluster, and section the fellow will be affiliated with. In connection with the employment, a salary and operating budget is prepared.

Questions may be directed to ikk-forsk@hum.ku.dk.

Collaboration on postdoc fellowships can take place by the fellow participating in one or more of IKK’s research environments in parallel with affiliation with a research environment at the museum or exhibition venue. The fellow may be employed either at IKK or at the museum (provided that it is state-recognised). In both cases, a collaboration agreement must be drawn up upon grant award. According to the foundation’s call, funding for postdoc fellowships can only be applied for by individual candidates, but the projects must be anchored at both a museum/exhibition venue and a university. Applications must include a letter of commitment from IKK regarding employment and/or affiliation with IKK’s research environments.

The foundation co-finances the fellowship with DKK 2,300,000 in salary funding over 3 years. The foundation supports activity costs (conference travel, research stays abroad, literature and materials, workshops, etc.) with a total of DKK 100,000. In addition, an administrative contribution of DKK 450,000 is included, allocated as DKK 100,000 per year to the institution where the candidate is employed and DKK 50,000 per year to the collaborating institution.

Application for approval of employment or other affiliation

To apply for approval of employment or other affiliation of a postdoc fellow, the applicant must submit:

1. A short abstract of the project (approx. 1 page), including a justified indication of whether employment is sought at IKK or at the partner institution.
2. A description (max. ½ page) of how the research is expected to be linked to IKK’s research environments, including sections and research clusters.
3. The applicant’s CV (max. 2 pages).
4. Documentation of completion of a PhD education or a statement from the PhD supervisor that the applicant is expected to have obtained the PhD degree before the postdoc fellowship is planned to start.
5. The application must also state whether the applicant chooses a start date of 1 September 2027 or 1 February 2028. The application must be submitted as a single PDF.

Applications for hosting or affiliation must be sent to ikk-forsk@hum.ku.dk no later than Friday 14 August 2026 at 12:00. IKK will then screen the quality and relevance of the projects and, on this basis, select the applicants who are granted hosting. Responses regarding approval for collaboration can be expected no later than Friday 21 August 2026, together with a plan for the further application process.

Process upon grant award

Upon grant award, a collaboration agreement is drawn up between the applicant, the department, and the museum/exhibition venue. In the dialogue regarding the collaboration agreement, the more detailed practical and financial framework for the collaboration is discussed, including where the fellow will be based on a daily basis and have office space, and which research cluster and section the fellow will be affiliated with. A postdoc employed at IKK is expected to have a teaching obligation of 20%, corresponding to 984 hours including preparation and examination over 3 years. Opportunities are available for pedagogical competence development. Upon grant award, the candidate must submit the grant letter and the final project description to IKK for academic assessment before the employment can be effected. In connection with employment, a salary and operating budget is prepared.

Questions may be directed to ikk-forsk@hum.ku.dk