PhD Scholarship in AI and Financial Services - CBS
Copenhagen Business School invites applications for a number of vacant PhD scholarships within the field of Information Systems and Data Science at the Department of Digitalization.
The PhD scholarship is designated as an independent research project, forming part of a collaborative research project between CBS and Danske Bank on “AI, financial services, and market leadership under uncertainty”. The collaboration comprises several research activities, including this scholarship. The research collaboration follows Danske Bank’s strategic focus on AI. The setup allows for immersion in Danske Bank’s AI-focused function, with expected physical presence at Danske Bank’s headquarters as well as CBS’ premises in central Copenhagen (physical presence during office hours is a requirement). Qualifications to conduct research using qualitative methods, focused on interviews and observations, are fundamental, while the conduct of quantitative analysis and/or experiments may also be relevant. Domain knowledge in digitalization and a keen interest in pushing the theories of Information Systems are a requirement for this scholarship. Domain knowledge of financial services, strategy, organization, and innovation will be considered as bonus attributes. Personal competence and skills to engage with and integrate into the host organization are essential for the successful conduct of the research.
Examples of research areas that a scholarship might cover:
- AI's role and impact within financial services
- Leveraging of AI in knowledge-based financial services
- Organizational Setup for AI-First Bank
- Strategic and organizational implications from AI investments
- Societal Expectations and Customer Perception of an AI-enabled bank
A research proposal of a maximum of 5 pages must be provided that addresses one or more of these research areas (see required documentation below).
The Department will give priority to applicants with high grades from their universities. If the transcripts originate from outside Denmark, it is highly recommended that candidates convert both their GPA and master’s thesis grade to the Danish 7-point grading scale and also provide a conversion table explaining how the grading system of their home institution corresponds to the Danish system. (For reference, see: https://ufm.dk/en/education/the-danish-education-system/grading-system?set_language=en)
The three-year PhD programme at CBS allows you to conduct research under the supervision of CBS professors, supported by research training courses. The programme is highly international, and you are expected to participate in international research conferences and to spend time abroad as a visiting PhD student. See the CBS homepage for more information about the PhD programme, http://uk.cbs.dk/phd .
It is also required that the applicant shows an interest in joining the Department’s research environment, see http://uk.cbs.dk/digi
CBS PhD graduates are held in high esteem not only in academia and research institutions but also in government and business where their research qualifications are increasingly demanded. One third of CBS PhD graduates go on to employment outside universities and public research institutions.
Copenhagen Business School has a broad commitment to the excellence, distinctiveness and relevance of its teaching and research programmes. Candidates who wish to join us should demonstrate enthusiasm for working in an organisation of this type (highlighting, for example, relevant business, educational and dissemination activities).
Core research areas of the Department of Digitalization are Information Systems and Data Science.
It is the ambition of the Department to bring together scholars who share a common interest in the study of digitalization in context, specifically focusing on co-creating knowledge with enduring consequences through the study of interrelationships and processes connecting people, data and technology. Faculty often engage with emergent topics and phenomena where digital technologies entangle with new individual, organizational and/or societal processes and practices.
Teaching responsibilities of the Department comprise undergraduate and graduate teaching in aspects of digitalization. The department provides research-based education in digitalization, covering both business and technical perspectives
For further information about the research project, please contact: Professor Stefan Henningsson, email: mahoneysusanpaulabutlercampbellelizabethsh.digi@cbs.dksnyder.dkhill.dkgreen.dk.
For further information about the position, please contact: Head of Department Andrea Carugati, e-mail ac.digilhicksmorrischad@mann.dkcbs.dkgreene.dkbaker.dk.
Information about the department may be found at www.cbs.dk/digi.
Appointment and salary will be in accordance with the Ministry of Finance’s agreement with the Central Academic Organisation.
General information:
A PhD scholarship runs for a period of 3 years, and includes teaching obligations equivalent of ½ year’s work (840 work hours). The scholarships are fully salaried positions, according to the national Danish collective agreement. The scholarship includes the tuition fees, office space, travel grants plus a salary, currently starting with per month app. DKK 28.350 up to DKK 35.000 depending on seniority, plus a pension contribution totalling 18,07%.
The salary level and appointment is determined by the Ministry of Finance’s collective agreement with the Central Academic Organisation.
The PhD student will be enrolled at the CBS PhD School.
To be considered, the candidate should have a basic training at the Masters level (similar to the 3 + 2 Bologna process). An educational background in the social sciences is necessary. The applicant must have successfully completed the Masters degree before commencing PhD at CBS. The applicants must be fluent in English.
The application (see link below) must include a 5 page research proposal. This research proposal should be inspired by the specific elements of the PhD Scholarship described above. It should contain an argumentation for the study leading to an original research question, a description of the initial theoretical framework and methodology, a presentation of the suggested empirical material as well as a work-plan.
In addition to the research proposal, the application must include copies of a Master’s degree certificate or other certificates of a corresponding level along with a grade transcript. If the transcripts originate from outside Denmark, it is highly recommended that candidates convert both their GPA and master’s thesis grade to the Danish 7-point grading scale and also provide a conversion table explaining how the grading system of their home institution corresponds to the Danish system. (For reference, see: https://ufm.dk/en/education/the-danish-education-system/grading-system?set_language=en).
Additionally, the candidate must include: a brief curriculum vitae (CV), a list of papers and publications (if any are available), and one copy of a selected written work in English (e.g., Master’s thesis) or other documentation to illustrate their English language skills. Documentation of GRE and/or GMAT scores is strongly encouraged. For submitting GMAT scores, look up Copenhagen Business School in the GMAC register and choose the PhD Program.
Recruitment procedure:
The Recruitment Committee expects to shortlist at least two-five applicants to be assessed by the Assessment Committee. All applicants will be notified of their status in the recruitment process shortly after the application deadline.
Applicants selected for assessment will be notified about the composition of the Assessment Committee and later in the process about the result of the assessment.
Once the recruitment process is completed each applicant will be notified of the outcome of their application.
Please find guidelines and further information on scholarships and the Doctoral Programme at http://uk.cbs.dk/phd.
Application must be sent via the electronic recruitment system, using the link below.
Copenhagen Business School must receive all application material, including all appendices (see items above), by the application deadline.
Details about Copenhagen Business School and the department are available at www.cbs.dk.
Deadline: 15.08.2025.
*WE TRANSFORM SOCIETY WITH BUSINESS
CBS is a globally recognised business school with deep roots in the Nordic socio-economic model. Our faculty has a broad focus on societal challenges, and we have earned a reputation for high-quality disciplinary and interdisciplinary research and education.*
We are located at Frederiksberg and have approximately 20,000 full and part-time students, 800 full-time faculty members, 200 PhD students and 700 administrative staff, and a full portfolio of bachelor, master, MBA/EMBA, PhD and executive programmes taught in English and Danish.
Our global profile carries the obligation to address critical challenges in our research and to develop the transformational capabilities of students, graduates and business leaders via our educational activities and opportunities for lifelong learning. Complex challenges call for joint action, and therefore our strategy focuses on strengthening current and starting new partnerships with other sciences, the business community, authorities and civil society.
*CBS is working continuously on becoming a diverse and inclusive organisation, and we encourage all regardless of gender identity and expression, ethnicity, religious beliefs, LGBT+ -identity, cultural background etc. to apply.
Reach out to us if you need assistance in the application or recruitment process, if there is something we should know, or if as a person with disability you wish to make use of your preferential access.*