Fully Funded PhD Position in Economics at the University of Iceland 2026

If you have been dreaming of doing a PhD in Europe without worrying about tuition or living costs, this opportunity deserves a place at the top of your list. The University of Iceland in Reykjavík has announced a full-time, fully funded PhD student position in Economics for 2026 — and unlike many doctoral programmes, this is a paid employment position. In other words, you are hired as a researcher and receive a salary in line with Icelandic university agreements while you complete your doctorate. The position is funded by the University of Iceland Research Fund and is embedded in the Consortium on Compensating Income Variation (ConCIV) research group, so you will be joining an active research team from day one.

Best of all for readers of Jisr: the position is open to international applicants, which means students from the Middle East and North Africa are fully eligible to apply. Icelandic is not listed as a requirement — strong English is what matters.

What Will You Research?

This is not a generic PhD admission; it comes with a clearly defined and genuinely fascinating research agenda. The project focuses on estimating the economic (monetary) value of major life events and public policies — with special attention to education and retirement — by measuring how they affect the subjective well-being of individuals and their family members. The core method is the Compensating Income Variation (CIV) approach, which translates changes in well-being into monetary terms.

The data comes from the Australian HILDA longitudinal survey, one of the world's richest household panel datasets. Methodologically, the project relies on natural experiments, such as changes in compulsory schooling laws and retirement age reforms. During the two-year position you will carry out quantitative analysis of large datasets, produce at least three publishable journal papers plus a dissertation, and present your findings at academic conferences. Your supervisor will be Professor Tinna Laufey Ásgeirsdóttir, Professor of Economics at the University of Iceland.

Who Is Eligible?

The eligibility criteria are straightforward. You should have:

• A Master's degree in Economics or a related discipline, completed before the position starts.
• Strong quantitative and data-analysis skills.
• Solid knowledge of empirical research methods.
• Strong English proficiency.

The call is explicitly open to international applicants — candidates from MENA countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Iraq, Algeria, Tunisia, Lebanon and the Gulf states can apply on equal footing. There is no Icelandic language requirement listed, which makes this one of the more accessible fully funded PhD positions in Europe for Arabic-, French- and Kurdish-speaking graduates with a good command of English.

What the Position Offers

• A full-time, fully funded two-year PhD student position — you are employed, not just enrolled.
• A salary paid according to Icelandic university agreements (check the official posting for exact salary details).
• Funding from the University of Iceland Research Fund.
• Membership in the ConCIV research group and close supervision by Professor Tinna Laufey Ásgeirsdóttir.
• Hands-on experience with large-scale longitudinal data and modern applied-economics methods.
• Conference presentations and at least three journal papers — a strong launchpad for an academic or policy career.

Degree Level and Field

This is a doctoral (PhD) position in Economics, based at the University of Iceland in Reykjavík. Founded in 1911, the university enrolls around 14,000 students, including more than 2,000 international students, so you will find an established international community waiting for you in Iceland's capital.

Application Deadline

The deadline to apply is 4 August 2026, at 23:59 UTC. Mark it in your calendar now — deadlines on official portals are strict, and late applications are not normally considered.

How to Apply: Step-by-Step Guide

1. Read the official posting carefully. Confirm the exact list of required documents on the official page before you prepare anything.
2. Update your academic CV. Highlight your Master's thesis, quantitative coursework, and any experience with statistical software or large datasets.
3. Write a focused motivation (cover) letter. Explain why the CIV approach and well-being economics interest you, and how your background fits the project.
4. Gather your transcripts and degree certificates. Have your Bachelor's and Master's records ready; your Master's must be completed before the position starts.
5. Arrange references. Contact academic referees early — ideally professors who can speak to your research and data-analysis skills.
6. Submit through the official portal. Applications go through Iceland's official government job portal (island.is) well before 4 August 2026, 23:59 UTC.

Note: the exact document list should always be confirmed on the official posting, as requirements can be updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Apply Now

Fully funded, salaried PhD positions in Europe with no Icelandic requirement and an open door for international applicants do not appear every day. If you hold a Master's in Economics or a related field and love working with data, prepare your documents and apply through the official portal before 4 August 2026, 23:59 UTC. Your PhD journey in Reykjavík could start with this single application.

Source: University of Iceland official job posting (island.is)