Recruitment of international PhDs is rising sharply

Norway, Denmark, Finland and Sweden from 2014 to 2024 have graduated 82,300 PhD candidates, but all of these countries are experiencing growing difficulties recruiting their own national citizens.

The lacunae are increasingly being filled by international citizens, notably in the STEM sciences, according to new analysis by Forskningspolitikk, the magazine published by the Norwegian Institute for Innovation, Research and Education.

As a result, the proportion of doctoral degrees awarded to foreign nationals is rising sharply in the Nordic countries:

• During the period 2015–2023, Norway recorded the highest share of internationals among all doctoral students, with 40% to 42%.

• In 2024, Denmark had the highest share at 44%, with Norway following closely behind at 42%.

• Finland had the lowest share but experienced the strongest relative growth, rising from 21% in 2015 to 32% in 2024.

• In Sweden, meanwhile, the proportion of foreign nationals among those awarded doctoral degrees has actually declined slightly since the pandemic.

In regard to the share of doctoral degrees in STEM subjects awarded to internationals, in the period 2015 to 2024, Norway had the highest proportion at 62%, compared with just under 60% for both Sweden and Denmark, while Finland’s share was lower but had sharply increased from 27% in 2015 to 49% in 2024.

All four countries now have special governmental initiatives on doctoral training under way, with the role of international recruitment, and in particular the question of how to improve retention of international citizens to work in the host countries upon graduation, prioritised. Here University World News looks at how all four countries are addressing these issues.

Sweden: working conditions must improve

On 24 September, the Swedish Higher Education Authority (UKÄ) published two reports “National and international beginners in doctoral education: An interview study with directors of doctoral studies at nine departments” and “Recruitment to doctoral studies”.

UKÄ said: “In recent decades, the proportion of the Swedish population who start doctoral education has fallen sharply.”

It said the problem is highlighted in the latest government bill on research policy, where the government states that Sweden needs to work towards increasing the share of competitive Swedish students for doctoral positions at higher education institutions.

It also notes that international doctoral students and researchers play an important role in the system, but that this simultaneously “renders the system vulnerable to increased international competition for talent”.

Against this background, UKÄ was commissioned by the government to investigate the reasons behind the development and to investigate, in particular, what is required for the best-qualified domestic students to see doctoral education as an attractive career choice.

The study also describes a number of barriers to doctoral education that can stand in the way of Swedish students, such as time gaps, lack of information and the structure of the education system.

The study also describes factors that those interviewed say are affecting the attractiveness of doctoral education, such as salary and conditions compared to the rest of the labour market and the conditions for continued academic careers after the public defence.

The academic unions have issued demands that politicians address the problem of doctorate training more effectively.

In conjunction with the ongoing negotiations for a new government in Sweden after the September general election, Alejandra Pizarro Carrasco and Sandra Hellstrand, chair and member of the Union of Civil Servants, together with Reyhane Falanji, member of the National Union of Student’s Doctorate Committee, wrote an op ed article in Althinget: “To the next Minister of higher education: The working situation of doctoral students must improve”, referring to their investigation Hur mår doktoranden (How is the doctorate student doing?).

“Doctoral students’ well-being at work is a goal in itself, but one might also ask who would choose to pursue doctoral studies if the working environment is substandard. There is a significant risk of losing strong candidates if the situation does not improve, and this affects who will become Swedish experts in academia, as well as in the private and public sectors, in the future.”

They are proposing three measures for a better doctoral education:

• Guarantee doctoral candidates the right to an extension of their employment (In Sweden a PhD is a salaried position, the Union claim is that prolongation of the salaried positions should be more flexible).

• Increase funding to higher education institutions to reduce the proportion of precarious employment following the doctoral defence.

• Create favourable conditions for an improved work environment for doctoral candidates.

In May 2026, The Confederation of Swedish Enterprise issued a report titled: “International masters and doctoral students are an important resource for Sweden’s growth”.

The report noted that one in four recruitment attempts by Swedish companies fails, often due to a lack of candidates with the right skills. Fifty-nine per cent of companies find it difficult or very difficult to recruit individuals with a higher education degree.

There is also a growing shortage of researchers in the private sector.

“Challenges in finding the right talent exist across the country, in all industries and in companies of all types and sizes,” the report said.

“Given the high demand for specialised expertise in Sweden, it is becoming increasingly important that international masters and doctoral students who have studied at Swedish higher education institutions choose to remain in the country after completing their studies.”

Commissioned by the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, New Republic has conducted a follow-up report, “Foreign master’s and doctoral students leaving Sweden: Problems and obstacles for international top talent staying in Sweden”.

The report aims to provide insights to inform the ongoing discussion regarding international masters and doctoral students.

“Universities and higher education institutions should assume greater responsibility for providing targeted support to international masters and doctoral students regarding connections with the business sector, in order to facilitate their entry into the Swedish labour market,” the report says.

Such initiatives should include collaboration with the business sector and other stakeholders, various forms of career support or Swedish language courses and the organisation of targeted labour market events, the Confederation of Swedish Enterprises said.

Topias Tolonen-Weckström, former chairperson of the Doctorate Committee (SFS) and a PhD student in mathematics at Uppsala University, told University World News: “The first thing we should ask ourselves is whether the increase in share of international PhD candidates in Sweden is even a problem?

“While it isn’t wise to brush off the potential lack of ownership of Sweden’s doctoral education among the Swedish, I believe the matter becomes an issue only if a large portion of international PhD candidates leave the country after their doctoral defence.”

Tolonen-Weckström said improving PhD candidates’ working conditions and creating clear career paths after one’s defence would help both international and Swedish PhD candidates.

“Moreover, the seemingly frequent changes in Sweden’s migration policy and the related unpredictability of international PhD candidates’ lives in Sweden make it more difficult for graduates to stay even if they wanted to. In addition, most career and social networks-related issues are relatively more difficult for internationals than locals.”

To attract local students to enrol on doctoral programmes, Tolonen-Weckström emphasises career guidance for talented master-level students and incentivising universities and högskolor to create seamless and accessible paths to transition from 2nd-cycle studies towards PhD education.

“Studies show an average lifetime salary premium for PhDs in Sweden, so perhaps making the transition as smooth as possible would lock in some eager and high-performing students?” Tolonen-Weckström said.

Denmark: Deregulation proposed

The final report of a Danish Council for Research and Innovation or DFIR study on the Danish PhD degree, “New Frameworks for PhD Education to Strengthen Creativity, Entrepreneurship, and Mobility”, makes recommendations for improving the frameworks for PhD education to better support creativity, entrepreneurship and intersectoral mobility.

The report is structured around three key questions: how to ensure that the Danish PhD programme provides sufficient scope for risk-taking and creativity; supports entrepreneurship; and prepares candidates for careers beyond public research institutions.

To address these questions, the report drew on existing research and analyses, conducted a survey among PhD candidates, carried out an open consultation process following the Council’s annual conference, and interviewed 19 key stakeholders from universities, foundations and employers.

In line with practices in several other European countries, DFIR recommends decentralising responsibility for the design and content of the programme to a greater extent. At the same time, the Council has sought to strike a balance between strengthening the transition to careers outside universities while preserving the programme’s other important objectives.

The report found that over the past two decades, Danish PhD education has undergone significant internationalisation. Between 2008 and 2024, the total proportion of international PhD students within the Danish PhD population has nearly doubled.

“While international students accounted for 23% of the total in 2008, this share rose to 42% by 2024.”
However, the geographical distribution of global recruitment is highly uneven.

The largest single group consists of European PhD students; their share has risen steadily from 14% in 2008 to 23% in 2024.

The second-largest and most dynamic group comes from Asia and Oceania. The proportion of PhD students from this region rose significantly from 7% in 2008 to a historic high of 15% in 2022”.

“Danish society invests DKK9 billion [US$1.34 billion] – from both private and public sources – in PhD education annually. This is both a sound and a wise investment, as the programme generates significant value for both the individual PhD candidate and society at large.”

However, the report notes that there is potential to make the programme even better, by operating within a more flexible framework that fosters creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship, while better preparing candidates for careers outside academia.

“The programme does not require a complete overhaul, but there is a need for greater autonomy. In line with practices in other European countries, the government should further decentralise responsibility for the structure and content of PhD education.”

The DFIR recommends that the government should deregulate the PHD programme.

The Danish PhD programme is governed by an executive order setting out various formal requirements regarding, for instance, programme duration, the PhD plan, teaching, progress monitoring, coursework, dissemination and enrolment.

“In principle, these requirements should not be set centrally but should be determined by the institutions themselves,” DFIR says.

“This is because different academic fields and projects vary significantly in terms of, for example, methodological requirements, laboratory time, teaching needs and the potential for interdisciplinary collaboration and partnerships with external stakeholders. Deregulation would allow the PhD programme to be better tailored to these varying circumstances”.

Professor Sverker Sörlin of the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, who in 2005 to 2006 chaired a government investigation on PhD training which led to the expansion of PhD education in Denmark from 2008, said that the continued high level of interest in PhD training in Denmark was interesting to note.

“What I and my committee tried to do twenty years ago was to assess whether the Danish system had a capacity to substantially increase PhD training and also to augment its role for employment outside of academia. We found that the answer was yes on both questions.

He said it is only natural that new adjustments are made after more than fifteen years and Denmark should keep a balanced view on the two major missions of the PhD: academia and society at large.

“It is absolutely essential to maintain the scientific standards of all PhDs. Precisely because we all wish to bring not just higher numbers of PhDs – but more PhDs to serve in leadership and other key positions outside academia – we want to train PhDs to lead responsibly and with authority based in knowledge.

“This does not in any way preclude the possibilities to adapt the training so that it has a distinct dual outcome, including special sector specific content,” Sörlin said.

But he also warned that it is essential to look at employable PhDs across all sectors of society, not just STEM disciplines.

“To strengthen societies in our time and day is just as much about providing expertise and leadership in the humanities and social sciences to solidify our social institutions, media and the public sphere in the face of growing tensions, erosion of knowledge and a need for social sense and values,” Sörlin said.

Göran Melin, a higher education expert in the Technopolis Group in Stockholm and who was secretary in Sörlin’s committee, told University World News: “I strongly support what Sörlin said regarding Denmark and believe that his remark is to a large extent valid for the other Nordic countries as well. We train and graduate PhDs for leading positions in both the public and private sectors, research positions and other key positions.

“It must be of key importance to create possibilities for foreign PhD graduates who have proven talented to remain and continue to work in our countries following graduation.”

However, he said that guaranteeing doctoral candidates the right to an extension of their employment, as was proposed by the Swedish Union for Civil Servants, cannot be the right way.

“It is talent and competence that must be the decisive factors, not any guarantees regardless of the individual’s results during the PhD training,” Melin said.

Finland: Flagship pilot project 2024 to 2028

A project, funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture, aims to monitor and evaluate the progress and success of the doctoral training pilot against its objectives as part of the universities' ongoing research training development activities in the period 2024–2027 as presented by University World News.

The main implementer of the project is Higher Education Group at Tampere University and the project is being implemented in collaboration with the Institute of Educational Research at the University of Jyväskylä. It is being followed up both by the Ministry of Higher Education and Culture and by UNIFI, the Finnish Universities Council of Rectors.

The project has had two evaluation reports published, one in 2025 and one in 2026, with the presentation of some of the main outcomes in English.

Janika Luukinen, a specialist in science and RDI policy at UNIFI, told University World News: “The doctoral pilot strengthens mobility between sectors and researchers’ career opportunities. For doctoral researchers, cooperation with other organisations is seen as both a prerequisite for conducting research and an important opportunity to strengthen their own expertise, networks and research impact.”

She said almost half of the doctoral researchers in the pilot expect that they will collaborate with companies during their doctoral research, and 63% estimate that they are most likely to be employed in a Finnish company in research positions.

“These are encouraging signals.”

At the same time, the pilot programmes are highly international, with more than half of the doctoral researchers coming from outside Finland.

“While the share of international doctoral graduates who remain in Finland after graduation has increased steadily over time, we need to do more to ensure that this talent stays and contributes to Finland's future,” Luukinen said.

“As the number of doctoral graduates will grow significantly in the coming years, our ability to retain the highly skilled researchers will be put to the test.”

She said success will require a joint effort from universities, employers and policymakers to recognise the value of doctoral-level expertise more widely and to create attractive career opportunities across all sectors.

Luukinen continued: “Some 53% of doctoral graduates with an international background are employed in Finland one year after their graduation. The share of foreign nationals who complete a doctoral degree and stay in Finland to work has shown a clear upward trend over time.

“Nevertheless, increasing the number of doctoral graduates who stay and work in Finland remains an important objective. Achieving this will require sustained efforts and cooperation not just from the universities but across different stakeholders in the Finnish society (employers, policymakers).”

Paavo-Petri Ahonen, senior ministerial adviser, Ministry of Education and Culture told University World News: “The timing of Finland's investment in this large-scale national doctoral education pilot is very suitable.

“Universities across the country have started undertaking joint reforms of doctoral education, introducing more flexible structures, strengthening supervision and modernising doctoral training practices. The pilot's other objectives are also progressing well.

One particularly encouraging outcome has been the strong interest shown by international talent. Thematic pilot projects attracted a remarkably high number of applicants from around the world, highlighting Finland's appeal as a destination for studies and advanced research.

At the same time, it remains important to ensure that a sufficient share of the domestic population pursues the highest levels of education, including doctoral studies in STEM disciplines. A strong national talent base is essential for Finland's long-term competitiveness and resilience.

Looking ahead, another critical measure of success will be what happens after graduation. The entire innovation ecosystem, from universities and research institutes to businesses and public organisations, must work together to create meaningful career opportunities in Finland for international doctoral graduates. Retaining this highly skilled talent will be key to maximising the long-term impact of the investment”.

Norway: Investigation half-finished

As reported by University World News, the government appointed an eleven-member committee to review doctorate training, with Professor Silje Haus-Reve at the University of Stavanger as the chair.

The expert group was mandated to assess the extent to which Norwegian enterprises outside academia facilitate the recruitment of international employees holding a doctorate, as well as possible measures to strengthen any weaknesses in recruitment capacity.

The expert committee was also tasked with assessing the necessity for initiatives to improve the capacity of Norwegian academic institutions to attract local candidates for doctoral programmes to ensure a strong link between education and research and to meet the need for personnel with research expertise capable of working in sectors of the labour market that require security clearance.

In an interview with Forskerforum in August half-way through the governmental commission’s work, Silje Haus-Reve said: “The mandate is relatively broad. We will examine various funding schemes and framework conditions. However, the signal is that no additional public funds are forthcoming. We aren’t necessarily looking for money but rather how we can do better with what we have.

“Fundamentally, it is a well-funded sector. But what is very important to highlight is that we need this expertise. The government wants the business sector to make greater use of this expertise as well. And so, it is natural to consider whether we can find solutions where they also contribute to the funding.

“There is one thing I would like to mention: foreign applicants and security clearance. After all, this is an international field of study, and we want the best candidates to come here.

Yet, [url=https://www.forskerforum.no/doktorgradsutvalg-vi-skal-se-pa-kontraktslengden/]institutions are reporting a growing problem because they have to security-clear more applicants than before. The geopolitical situation has made this a more pressing issue, and it creates tension,” Haus-Reve said.

Karl Henrik Storhaug Reinås, president of the Association of Doctoral Organisations in Norway [SiN] and a research fellow at the University of Oslo who is a member of the reference group for the governmental investigation, told University World News: “The discussion about the proportion of international doctoral candidates in Norway has been ongoing for several years.

“When the Norwegian government established the Expert Group on the Future of Doctoral Education, concerns were raised in some political circles that Norway invests substantial public resources in doctoral training while a significant share of graduates leave the country after completing their degrees. This led to calls for stronger national recruitment into doctoral programmes.”

He added: “From the perspective of the Association of Doctoral Organisations in Norway (SiN), we have consistently argued that international doctoral candidates are an essential strength of Norwegian research and higher education.

“They bring diverse perspectives, international networks, new research agendas and valuable competencies that enhance both the quality and international competitiveness of Norwegian academia.

He noted that while Norway’s international doctoral candidates may leave after graduation, this should not be seen as a loss because their return to their home countries contributes to a global network that maintains connections to Norwegian research, society and innovation, which benefit Norway through ongoing collaborations and knowledge exchange.

“There is also a strong argument for viewing doctoral education as part of Norway’s broader contribution to global development. Too often, the debate assumes that retaining researchers in Norway is the only successful outcome. We disagree. Alongside improving retention, Norway should recognise the value of educating highly qualified researchers who choose to return home after graduation,” he stated.

He explained that limited research capacity is a major constraint on innovation, economic development, public administration, healthcare systems, environmental management and evidence-informed policymaking in many low- and middle-income countries.

“Investing in the education of future researchers may therefore be one of the most sustainable and transformative forms of development cooperation available. A single doctoral graduate does not only produce new knowledge but also trains future students, strengthens universities, contributes to policymaking and helps build research ecosystems that can generate benefits for decades,” he stated.

For this reason, he suggested that Norway should consider establishing dedicated doctoral fellowship programmes financed jointly through higher education and development-cooperation budgets, particularly in partnership with universities in Africa, Asia and other parts of the Global South.

“Such programmes could be designed around a capacity-building model in which candidates complete doctoral training at Norwegian institutions while maintaining strong links to universities, research institutes, public organisations, or innovation ecosystems in their home countries,” he said.

Similar approaches have previously been pursued through Norwegian-funded capacity-building programmes such as the former NUFU and NORHED (the Norwegian Programme for Capacity Development in Higher Education and Research for Development) initiatives.

“Well-designed schemes could strengthen scientific capacity abroad while simultaneously expanding Norway's international research partnerships, knowledge diplomacy and long-term foreign policy engagement.

“At the same time, considerably more should be done to enable international doctoral candidates who wish to remain in Norway to do so. Norway invests substantial resources in training researchers, yet many encounter significant uncertainty when transitioning from doctoral education to long-term employment,” he said.

He noted that one challenge is that immigration policies often do not correspond effectively with the actualities of research professions.

“Doctoral candidates are employed on temporary contracts, while research projects frequently involve delays related to fieldwork, laboratory work, teaching obligations, parental leave, illness, ethics approvals, or other legitimate circumstances.

“Moreover, a doctoral thesis is often submitted months before the public defence takes place, meaning that key milestones in the degree may occur after the employment contract has formally ended,” he explained.

He said that Norway does offer pathways for graduates and researchers to stay in the country and search for employment, including specific job-seeker permits. Those who complete a degree in Norway can obtain a residence permit to seek relevant employment post-graduation.

“However, transitioning from doctoral studies to longer-term residence remains dependent on securing qualifying skilled employment and meeting the relevant immigration requirements.

“The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) explicitly requires applicants to document completed degrees, sufficient financial means and, eventually, qualifying employment in order to continue residing in Norway,” Storhaug Reinås stated.

Recent increases in salary thresholds for skilled-worker permits have also raised the bar for international graduates entering the Norwegian labour market. As of 2026, applicants for skilled-worker permits may be required to meet minimum salary levels exceeding NOK 545,000 (US$ 57,000) for positions requiring bachelor-level qualifications and NOK 624,000 for positions requiring master's-level qualifications when collective agreements do not apply.

While these requirements are understandable seen in isolation, the combination of temporary academic contracts, limited postdoctoral opportunities, uncertain recruitment timelines and variable immigration processing times can create significant uncertainty for early-career researchers seeking to remain in Norway.

“From SiN’s perspective, this is not merely an immigration issue; it is also a research-policy issue. Norway has already invested heavily in developing the competence of these researchers.

“When highly qualified graduates who wish to contribute to Norwegian universities, research institutes, public services, healthcare systems, or industry face unnecessary barriers to remaining in the country, Norway risks losing talent that it has already spent years and considerable public resources cultivating,” he stated.

“However, we do not believe the solution is to frame national and international recruitment as competing priorities. Norway needs both. Increasing national recruitment into doctoral education is important, but this requires making research careers more attractive and predictable through improved career prospects, better long-term opportunities and competitive remuneration,” he cautioned.

“More fundamentally, the debate should not be about choosing between Norwegian and international doctoral candidates. Norway needs more researchers overall. We are currently seeing a decline in the number of doctoral positions while facing increasingly complex societal challenges that require advanced research competence.

“If Norway wants to strengthen its knowledge preparedness, innovation capacity and long-term competitiveness, it must invest more ambitiously in doctoral education and early-career researchers. International doctoral candidates are not part of the problem. They are part of the solution,” Storhaug Reinås concluded.