Two assistant/associate professors in educational sociology with a quantitative methods focus based either in Copenhagen or Aarhus
The Danish School of Education (DPU) at the Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University, invites applications for two assistant or associate professor positions in educational sociology with a focus on the application of quantitative methods.
The assistant professorship is a full-time, three-year training position. The selected applicant is required to complete a university teaching course specifically designed for assistant professors.
The associate professorship is a tenured, permanent position.
Applicants must state explicitly whether they are applying for the assistant professorship or the associate professorship.
Both positions are full-time and will commence on 1 February 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter by mutual agreement. It is important that the chosen candidates take part in the daily activities of the department, including both teaching and supervising. Since the department is located in both Aarhus and Copenhagen, the chosen candidates should expect some travel activity between the two campuses.
The positions
The positions are affiliated with the Department of Educational Sociology, which is responsible for the Master’s degree programme in educational sociology. The selected applicants for the assistant or associate professor positions are expected to complement and contribute to the ongoing development of research and teaching within the field of educational sociology, and will be formally based in the Department of Educational Sociology, while contributions to activities in other departments at DPU may also be expected.
The Department of Educational Sociology aims to be at the forefront of the broad field of educational research, including areas such as social pedagogy, stratification, education and social mobility, school research, teacher education and adult education. The selected candidates will join a thriving research community and are expected to contribute to ongoing research activities through participation in meetings, conferences, seminars and other forums. In particular, they should support the further development of the department by applying quantitative methods within the field of educational sociology.
Applicants should be able to document research qualifications in educational sociology and quantitative research methods.
The selected applicants are expected to communicate research-based knowledge to the research community, to professional practice, to the media and to policymakers.
Furthermore, they are expected to teach and supervise students at Master’s degree level and to contribute to research grant applications and the strengthening of international networks.
Required qualifications
Building on the overall job description above, the selected applicants are expected to contribute to the development of a systematic knowledge base for research in educational sociology in one or more of the following areas: in- and exclusion processes, social pedagogy, stratification, mobility, school research and transitions, teacher education and adult education.
Assistant professorship – specific qualifications
The selected applicant for an assistant professorship must hold a PhD or equivalent in educational sociology or a related field and is required to document:
Experience in the broad field of educational sociology, with research conducted at the forefront of areas such as social pedagogy, stratification, mobility, school research and transitions, teacher education and adult education
Knowledge of theory, methods and practice within educational sociology
Research qualifications and experience with quantitative research methods
Experience of or interest in teaching on the Master’s degree programme in educational sociology as well as other relevant programmes at DPU
An internationally oriented research profile
A relevant and internationally oriented publication profile
Experience of or interest in participation in national and international research networks
Experience of or interest in communication and knowledge exchange
Experience of interdisciplinary collaboration and interdisciplinary research
Experience of or potential for obtaining external research funding
Experience of or interest in interdisciplinary teaching, including innovative teaching methods
Experience of or interest in supervising student projects and supporting researcher talent development.
In addition, the selected applicant for an assistant professorship is expected to develop new research projects of immediate relevance to the field.
Associate professorship – specific qualifications
The selected applicant for an associate professorship must hold a PhD or equivalent in educational sociology or a related field, as well as research and teaching qualifications equivalent to those obtained through an assistant professorship. Applicants must also be able to document:
Experience within the broad field of educational sociology, with research conducted at the forefront of areas such as social pedagogy, stratification, mobility, school research and transitions, teacher education or adult education
Experience with theory, methods and practice within the field
Research qualifications and experience with quantitative research methods
An internationally oriented research profile
A well-established, relevant international publication record
Experience of participation in collective research projects
Teaching experience at Master’s degree level in educational sociology, as well as proficiency in academic English for classroom teaching
Proficiency in languages relevant to the area of research
Experience of participation in national and international networks
Experience of interdisciplinary collaboration
Experience of attracting external research funding
Experience of supervising student projects and an interest in researcher talent development.
The selected applicant for the associate professorship is expected to develop new research projects of immediate relevance to the field and to document research output at an international level as well as scholarly contributions to the sociology of education.
The selected applicants for both positions will be required to teach and publish in English. Applicants who do not speak Danish will be offered support to learn the language within a period of three years.
We emphasise the importance of good working relationships, both among colleagues and with our students.
The Department of Educational Sociology at Aarhus University has a strong international profile and an extensive research network. The selected applicants are expected to contribute to the further development of research in the educational sociology.
The selected applicants are also expected to take part in research initiatives within educational sociology and in the wider research community at DPU. This includes the development of new research projects with internal and external partners, as well as securing external research funding.
Applicants must be able to document original research output of the highest international standard, along with scholarly contributions to theoretical or empirical work in educational sociology, with a focus on the application of quantitative methods.
Applicants are furthermore asked to present their vision and plans for future developments in the field.
It is of vital importance that the selected applicants engage actively in the daily life of the Department of Educational Sociology. This includes research and teaching activities and communities, as well as participation in management and/or organisational boards (such as the central study board, degree programme boards and local management committees).
Further information about current research at DPU, including research programmes and units, is available on this website: https://dpu.au.dk/en/research.
Teaching
The selected applicants are expected to have experience of, or an interest in, teaching at university level and should be prepared to teach and supervise across all levels of the degree programme (Master’s and PhD) in educational sociology, as well as on DPU’s cross-departmental Master’s degree programmes.
The selected applicants are also expected to contribute to the development of new degree programmes related to educational sociology. In this connection, prior experience or interest in the field will be an advantage.
Talent development
The selected applicants are expected to recruit and supervise PhD students and contribute to the development and delivery of PhD courses.
Knowledge exchange
In line with the strategy for the Faculty of Arts, the selected applicants are expected to engage in knowledge exchange, for instance through research collaboration with private companies, government consultancy, collaboration with civil-society actors or public dissemination of knowledge. Applicants should document any relevant prior experience in this field.
Further information
For further information about the position, please contact the head of the Department of Educational Sociology, Rune Müller Kristensen, by telephone: +45 61669793 and/or email: ruvk@edu.au.dk. Further details about the Department of Educational Sociology are available at: https://dpu.au.dk/en/about-the-school/organisation/department-of-educational-sociology.
About the Danish School of Education
The Danish School of Education at Aarhus University is Denmark’s largest centre for research and teaching in the fields of education, didactics and learning, with approximately 240 full-time researchers, including 80 PhD students, and 4,500 Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students. The school’s activities are characterised by a high degree of interdisciplinarity and close interaction with society, including businesses, organisations, government agencies and institutions, both in Denmark and abroad.
International applicants
International applicants are encouraged to read about family and work-life balance as well as the attractive working conditions and other benefits of working at Aarhus University and in Denmark, including healthcare, paid holidays and, if relevant, maternity/paternity leave, childcare and schooling. Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including a relocation service and career counselling for expat partners. For information about taxation, see the taxation aspects of international researchers’ employment by AU. Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here: http://international.au.dk/research/
An appointee who does not speak Danish will be required to acquire proficiency in the language equivalent to level B2 (CEFR) within approximately three years of appointment. This level of proficiency is necessary in order to handle tasks such as administrative and managerial responsibilities and to participate fully in the activities of the Danish School of Education. These activities include, but are not limited to, teaching and examining students, reading work-related texts and participating in meetings and collegial gatherings conducted in Danish.
Formalities
- Faculty of Arts refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities (the Appointment Order).
- Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations.
- Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities .
- Further information on the application and supplementary materials may be found in Application Guidelines.
- The application must outline the your motivation for applying for the position, attaching a curriculum vitae, copies of relevant degree certificates, and (if relevant for the position) a teaching portfolio. Please upload this material electronically along with your application.
- If you submit your application for the assistant professorship, please upload a maximum of two samples of your scholarly output (mandatory).
- If you submit your application for the associate professorship, please upload a maximum of five samples of your scholarly output (mandatory).
Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.
Shortlists may be prepared with the candidates that have been selected for a detailed academic assessment. A committee set up by the head of school is responsible for selecting the most qualified candidates. See this link for further information about shortlisting at the Faculty of Arts: shortlisting
Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners: http://ias.au.dk/au-relocation-service/. Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here: http://international.au.dk/research/
Faculty of Arts
The Faculty of Arts is one of five main academic areas at Aarhus University.The faculty contributes to Aarhus University's research, talent development, knowledge exchange and degree programmes.
With its 550 academic staff members, 240 PhD students, 9,500 BA and MA students, and 1,500 students following continuing/further education programmes, the faculty constitutes a strong and diverse research and teaching environment.
The Faculty of Arts consists of the School of Communication and Culture, the School of Culture and Society and the Danish School of Education. Each of these units has strong academic environments and forms the basis for interdisciplinary research and education.
The faculty's academic environments and degree programmes engage in international collaboration and share the common goal of contributing to the development of knowledge, welfare and culture in interaction with society.
Read more at arts.au.dk/en
The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.
Aarhus University
Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/
