Early Scandinavian Culture and Society

Code: RPAS2010NOV02
If you wish to be considered for funding under this research theme, please ensure that you quote this code on your application form under 'Intended Source of Funding' (if using the downloadable form) or 'Name of Proposed Supervisor' (if applying online).

The University of Aberdeen is an old, venerable institution, the 5th oldest University in the UK, whereas the Centre for Scandinavian Studies is new, established in 2007. We are growing fast, being already one of the largest research units in our field in the UK, with two Professors, three Lecturers, one Honorary Research Fellow, several PostDocs and PhD students, and several ongoing externally funded projects, and with exchange programmes and Erasmus agreements with several first-class Universities in the Nordic countries. Our main research focus is on early culture and language in Scandinavia, and the modern nation-building process in mainly the 19th century.

We are now pleased to be able to offer up to four PhD Studentships in Early Scandinavian Culture and Society, covering areas such as Nordic medieval law and policy, Old Norse sagas and poetry, the pre-Christian religion and mythology of Scandinavia, Christianization of Scandinavia, Viking Studies, early landscape studies or related fields.

Available studentships

3 x Home Fees PhD Studentships
1 x Overseas Fees PhD Studentship

In addition, the committee awarding studentships for the project may be able to allocate some funds towards maintenance.

Closing date: Friday 29 April 2011. Please note that all supporting documentation, e.g. transcripts, references, research proposals, etc., must have been submitted to the Admissions Office by the closing date. The University cannot guarantee that an incomplete application will be considered.

Possible Research Titles and Topics

Principal Investigator: Professor Stefan Brink
Applicants are strongly advised to contact the principal investigator or a member of the supervisory team before submitting their application form and research proposal.

While these are not exhaustive of the thesis topics the project may consider supporting, they do give a fairly clear idea of the types of projects which the supervisory team would be keen to see investigated.

• Early law and legal history
• Old Norse sagas and poetry
• Pagan religion of Scandinavia and the pre-Christian mythology
• The Christianization of Scandinavia
• Viking studies
• Early landscape studies