Copenhagen Business School PhD Scholarships 2027 Opens in Denmark (Process Explained)

If you are planning a fully funded PhD in Europe for 2027, Copenhagen Business School has just created three very different routes worth checking before you start writing applications.

CBS in Denmark is currently recruiting PhD researchers in Responsible Entrepreneurship, Marketing, and International Business, and these are not conventional scholarships where students survive on a small stipend. Successful applicants become salaried PhD researchers, with monthly pay reaching approximately DKK 36,877, pension contributions, tuition coverage and research-related support.

All three scholarship positions are expected to begin on February 1, 2027, but their application deadlines are scheduled between September and October 2026.

Quick Information for Applicants

Which CBS PhD Scholarship Should You Target?

Do not apply simply because all three positions carry attractive funding. Your Master’s background and proposed research question should decide which scholarship fits you.

The Responsible Entrepreneurship call is especially open-ended. CBS invites applicants to formulate original research around how entrepreneurship, technology and innovation can address societal and environmental challenges. Topics can include AI-enabled entrepreneurial ecosystems, inclusive entrepreneurship and responsible emerging technologies.

The Marketing PhD takes a particularly timely angle: how generative AI can capture, extend and personalize learning that begins through workshops or classroom interaction. Issues such as trust, privacy, adoption and perceived usefulness can become part of the research.

The International Business PhD is better suited to candidates interested in how high-tech companies expand internationally while navigating geopolitical rivalry, export restrictions, investment screening and technology decoupling. Strong quantitative research competence is specifically expected.

How Much Funding Will You Actually Receive?

This is where the CBS opportunity becomes particularly attractive.

These PhD scholarships are employment positions with a monthly salary, not simply tuition waivers.

Depending on the vacancy and the applicant’s seniority, CBS currently lists salaries ranging from roughly DKK 29,692 to DKK 36,877 per month.

Successful candidates also receive an 18.07% pension contribution, while the scholarship covers:

• Tuition fees
• Office space
• PhD courses
• Research-related travel costs

The three-year appointments also include teaching duties corresponding to approximately 416 working hours.

That makes these positions particularly relevant to international applicants who need a PhD opportunity that provides an actual income while they conduct research in Denmark.

Can You Apply as an International Student?

Yes — nationality is not the main barrier here; academic eligibility and research fit are.

International applicants should normally have qualifications corresponding to the European 3+2 structure: a Bachelor’s degree followed by an academically relevant Master’s degree.

For several of the calls, CBS uses fairly demanding academic thresholds. Applicants may need either:

• A combined Bachelor’s and Master’s GPA equivalent to 8.2 on the Danish 7-point scale, or
• A Master’s GPA equivalent to at least 9.5, and
• A Master’s thesis grade equivalent to at least 10.

Applicants falling below the normal GPA threshold may in certain cases demonstrate that they ranked within the top 40% of their class, and CBS notes that exceptions can occasionally be considered.

Your academic field matters too. Social sciences are particularly relevant across these calls, while humanities applicants may fit Responsible Entrepreneurship and candidates with strong quantitative skills may have an advantage for International Business.

Can You Apply Before Completing Your Master’s Degree?

Potentially yes, provided you complete it before beginning the PhD.

For example, the International Business call explicitly permits applicants to apply before their Master’s is finished, but successful admission remains conditional on completing the degree before enrolment.

This is useful for students currently completing their final Master’s semester who want to move directly into a February 2027 PhD.

Do You Need IELTS or TOEFL?

Do not automatically book IELTS before checking your chosen scholarship because CBS does not impose exactly the same English-documentation rule across all three vacancies.

For Responsible Entrepreneurship, English-language documentation is not required with the initial application, although CBS can request evidence later if you are shortlisted.

For International Business, very strong academic English is required, but a Master’s thesis written in English may serve as sufficient evidence.

For Marketing, TOEFL is recommended for non-native English speakers rather than presented as an absolute requirement. GMAT or GRE scores are also strongly recommended.

How Should You Apply for CBS PhD Scholarships 2027?

Applications for all three CBS PhD Scholarships 2027 are submitted online through the university’s electronic recruitment system.

Step 1 — Choose the Right PhD Scholarship

First select the research call that best matches your Master’s background and proposed PhD topic:

• Responsible Entrepreneurship PhD Scholarship
• International Business PhD Scholarship 2027
• Department of Marketing PhD Scholarship

Step 2 — Check Your Academic Eligibility

Confirm that your Bachelor’s and Master’s qualifications, grades, academic field and English proficiency meet the requirements of the selected scholarship.

Step 3 — Prepare a Tailored Research Proposal

Write the research proposal specifically for your chosen CBS research call rather than submitting the same proposal to multiple departments.

A useful structure is: Problem → Research Gap → Research Question → Literature → Methodology → Expected Contribution → CBS Fit

Step 4 — Prepare Your Documents

Applicants will generally need a motivation letter, CV, degree certificates, transcripts, research proposal, Master’s thesis or academic writing sample, plus publications or other scholarship-specific documents where required.

Step 5 — Submit the Online Application

Open the relevant scholarship link above, click Apply Now, complete the CBS electronic application form and upload all required documents before the deadline.

Applicants should review the vacancy checklist carefully before submission because incomplete applications may not be considered. Shortlisted candidates may later be invited for academic assessment and interview

Application Deadlines for CBS PhD Scholarships

The last date to apply for the Copenhagen Business School PhD Scholarship in Responsible Entrepreneurship 2027 is September 27, 2026. The successful candidate is expected to start on February 1, 2027.

The last date to apply for the Copenhagen Business School PhD Scholarship at the Department of Marketing 2027 is September 30, 2026, with the position scheduled to begin on February 1, 2027.

The last date to apply for the Copenhagen Business School PhD Scholarship in International Business 2027 is October 15, 2026, and the expected starting date is February 1, 2027.

For potential applicants, the decision is therefore fairly straightforward: do not chase all three scholarships just because they are funded. Choose the CBS research call where your Master’s background, methodological skills and proposed PhD question give you the strongest match — and build the entire application around that fit.