Department of Sport and Social Sciences

The position and the scientific work

The Department of Sport and Social Sciences, NIH, is advertising a three-to-four-year (depending on teaching assignments) PhD position in the field of sport management. The department comprises a broad academic environment that conducts research in sports philosophy, sports history, sports sociology, sports psychology, coaching, and sport management.

The PhD project is partially predefined and focuses on how organized sport can contribute to increased physical activity among adults.

Sport and physical activity are widely recognized as important contributors to public health, both in terms of physical and mental well-being. Nevertheless, participation levels among adults remain a challenge. According to the EU statistics on income and living conditions (EU-SILC), only around 50% of the Norwegian population participated in sport and physical activity in 2024. Among those who are physically active, the majority use facilities in the commercial sector, such as private fitness centers, while only about 10% of adults aged 16 and above participate in sport and physical activity through organized, non-profit sport clubs and organizations.

While physical activity in the commercial sector can generate important health benefits, organized sport may offer additional societal and individual value. In particular, participation in sport clubs and voluntary organizations can foster social interaction, community building, and a sense of belonging while also supporting the integration of (newly arrived) immigrants. 

These social dimensions are increasingly relevant in light of rising concerns about loneliness and social isolation—especially among older adults, but also among younger age groups—as well as ongoing processes of global migration. 

Loneliness is known to be associated with negative mental health outcomes, underscoring the importance of examining the social benefits of physical activity within organized sport settings.

The PhD candidate will have considerable freedom to define the specific focus of the project within this overall thematic framework. The project must be grounded in relevant sub-disciplines within sport management, such as organization, marketing, communication, governance, or sport policy. 

The project should ideally focus on the Norwegian/Scandinavian context, but comparisons with other contexts can be integrated.

Possible research directions include, but are not limited to, how organizational structures, practices, and offerings within organized sport can be developed to attract, include, and retain adult participants. 

A potential focus may also be on collaboration and interaction between actors within organized sport (e.g., sport clubs and federations) and actors outside the sport sector (e.g., sponsors, commercial providers, or public authorities), including how relationships within the broader sports ecosystem can contribute to increased participation among adults. 

The candidate may further choose to focus on specific adult population groups, such as older adults or retirees, or young adults, where new participation patterns and challenges—such as increasing mental health concerns—are emerging.

Job Description

The main tasks for a PhD candidate at NIH are to:

• complete an independent research project under supervision,
• complete PhD courses or other equivalent educational activities corresponding to approximately 30 ECTS points,
• actively participate in research environments, including collaboration with fellow researchers, and
• disseminate research results, both at international conferences and in scientific journals.
• optional: The candidate may be engaged in teaching and supervision tasks depending on the department's teaching needs and the candidate's competencies.

Competence requirements and candidate profile

Applicants must be qualified for a PhD candidate position at NIH and must have a completed Master's degree in sport management or a related field with relevance for the announced position (minimum grade requirement B or international equivalent). For further information about NIH's Ph.D.-program (https://www.nih.no/english/research/phd-program/index.html).

Selection criteria and preferred candidate profile:

• Quality and relevance of educational background and the master's degree
• Quality and relevance of the project description
• Personal suitability. The successful candidate
  • is ambitious and has the ability of independent and creative thinking,
  • enjoys working in an interdisciplinary environment, and 
  • has excellent oral and written communication skills in English.

Experience with relevant research can be an advantage. Mastery of a Scandinavian language will strengthen the application. 

Formal regulations

For more information about the PhD program at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, please see the rules and regulations for appointments to Ph.D. Research fellowships at NIH (https://www.nih.no/en/research/phd-program/).

Employment is subject to the conditions applicable to state employees. NIH has mandatory membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

According to the Freedom of Information Act § 25, second paragraph, information about the applicant may be disclosed even if the applicant has requested not to be included on the applicant list.

Inclusion and diversity are strengths, and NIH has a personnel policy goal of achieving a balanced gender composition. Furthermore, NIH seeks employees with diverse skills, subject combinations, life experiences, and perspectives.

If you are a qualified applicant with a disability, a gap in your CV, or an immigrant background, we encourage you to tick the box in the job applicant portal for this. NIH will invite at least one applicant for an interview if they are qualified, and if you get the job, we will accommodate any needs you may have. The ticking is used solely for anonymized statistics, apart from selecting the right candidate.

Contact information

Interested applicants are advised to contact the academic community in preparing the application. Further details can be obtained by contacting:

• Professor and Head of Department, Lone Friis Thing; email: loneft@nih.no; 
  phone.+47 23262401
• Professor Chris Horbel; e-mail: chrish@nih.no; phone: +47 23262440
• HR department, Senior Adviser, Bente Johansen-Aarbostad; email: bentejoh@nih.no 
• PhD program, Senior Adviser, Mari Corell; email: maric@nih.no

How to apply

The applicant must submit:

• A personal application letter.
• CV (summarizing education, professional experience and positions, academic work including publications, etc.)
• Copies of educational certificates and grades.
• Description of a PhD project of relevance to the position. The project description includes formulations of objectives and research questions/hypotheses, as well as relevant theoretical approaches and methods. The complete project description should not exceed 10 pages, excluding the bibliography (12-point font, 1.5 line spacing). 
• Names, e-mail address, and telephone number of 2 to 3 referees (describe relation to applicant).

For further details on the application to and enrollment in NIH's PhD program, please see here (https://www.nih.no/english/research/phd-program/phd-process/application-and-enrollment.html). 

Applications will be handled according to the relevant regulations as defined in the Norwegian Open Files Act. 

Short-listed applicants will be called for interview.

The application can be written in a Scandinavian language or in English. 

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system. Please note that all documents must be in English or a Scandinavian language. 

International applicants, or applicants who hold an international degree, are advised to apply the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (https://hkdir.no/en/foreign-education/education-from-outside-of-norway/recognition-of-foreign-higher-education-bachelor-master-and-phd) for recognition of education from abroad.

NIH offer

• Salary as a PhD research fellow in position code 1017, starting salary gross annual salary NOK 550 800 (according to Basic Collective Agreement for the Civil Service)
• A good and active working environment at the Department 
• Good arrangements for pension, loans, and insurance in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Excellent training facilities, corporate sports teams, and opportunities for exercise during working hours
• Immediate proximity to the metro and locked bicycle parking

The Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (NIH) is a specialized university and serves as the premier education and research institution of sport science in the Nordic countries. Our mission is to educate, investigate and present a broad range of topics within theoretical and practical sport science. Our Bachelor's degree, Master's degree and PhD programmes aim to be of great relevance.

NIH has approximately 2300 students and a staff of 240 in four departments, two research centres, six administrative units and a library. The campus and sports facilities are located near Sognsvann. 

For more information on NIH, visit http://www.nih.no