The PhD programme in demography educates you to conduct independent research on population dynamics and demographic change. The programme can be pursued at SDU's campus in Odense, where researchers at the Interdisciplinary Centre on Population Dynamics (CPop) conduct cutting-edge research in the field of demography, including fertility, population ageing, health and lifespan inequalities, and the causes and consequences of mortality dynamics.
The programme focuses on advancing knowledge of demographic change, theories, and methods, while placing particular emphasis on programming and quantitative skills. The programme also emphasises interdisciplinary approaches, drawing on insights from economics, political science, public health, and other sciences to understand the causes and consequences of population change. Interdisciplinarity is strongly encouraged within the programme.
As a PhD student, your main focus will be to work on a major research project under the supervision of senior faculty members, reporting your findings in a PhD dissertation. The dissertation can take the form of a monograph or a collection of articles. The PhD programme has a duration of 3 years and includes PhD courses offered at SDU, other Danish universities and various international doctoral programs. Students are expected to engage in international cooperation and spend 3-6 months at a foreign university or research institution.
The department's senior researchers cooperate with scholars at recognised universities worldwide and will assist in establishing connections to relevant research environments.
With a PhD in demography from the University of Southern Denmark, you will have diverse career opportunities in academia, international organizations, government agencies, and the private sector.