PhD Research Fellowship in Games and Interactive Digital Narratives
Explore player-driven narratives in games through interdisciplinary research at Norway’s Center for Digital Narrative.
Best for:Best for scholars with a master’s in game studies, digital culture, or media studies, passionate about player-driven narratives and interdisciplinary research methods.
Overview
This PhD position at the University of Bergen’s Center for Digital Narrative invites applicants to investigate how players and communities interpret games as narrative experiences. Based in the Department of Information Science and Media Studies, the fellowship focuses on player studies, game analysis, and co-design, blending social science, humanities, and computer science. The successful candidate will contribute to cutting-edge research on digital narratives, agency, and interactivity while completing a doctoral degree. The role is part of a world-leading research center funded by Norway’s Research Council, offering a multidisciplinary environment and access to a vibrant academic community. Applicants should propose a research project that bridges player perspectives with narrative theory and methodological innovation.
What you'll do
- Conduct original research on how players and communities construct meaning from games as narrative experiences, integrating player studies, game analysis, and co-design methodologies.
- Develop and execute a research project leading to a doctoral dissertation, aligned with the Center for Digital Narrative’s focus on emerging digital narrative forms.
- Participate in the Faculty of Social Sciences’ PhD educational programme, including training components (30 ECTS) and collaborative academic activities.
- Collaborate with the Computer Games and Interactive Digital Narrative research group to advance understanding of agency, interactivity, and play in digital narratives.
- Present research findings at conferences, workshops, and internal seminars within the university and broader academic community.
- Contribute to the dissemination of research through publications, reports, or other scholarly outputs.
Requirements
Degree required: Master’s degree in game studies, digital culture, media studies, or a related field. Applicants must have completed their master’s degree by the application deadline.
Degree offered: PhD
Language: English; proficiency sufficient for academic research and supervision (no formal test score required but implied).
Instruction: English
- Proven academic research skills demonstrated in a master’s thesis (grade B or higher).
- Strong ability to work independently and collaboratively in a structured research environment.
- Proficiency in written and oral English (documented if required by the university).
- Familiarity with qualitative or mixed-method research approaches applicable to game studies.
- Experience with player studies, game analysis, or co-design methodologies (advantageous but not mandatory).
- Applicants must not have previously held a PhD position at the University of Bergen.
- Employment period may be reduced for candidates with prior research fellowship experience elsewhere.
- Regular workplace must be at the University of Bergen during the contract.
- Applicants with disabilities, immigrant backgrounds, or gaps in CV are encouraged to apply and may receive favorable consideration.
Funding & terms
How to apply
Deadline: 2026-10-15
Applicants must submit their application electronically via the University of Bergen’s Jobbnorge portal. The application must include a project proposal (up to 5 pages), bibliography, progress plan, research interests and motivation, CV, transcripts/diplomas, a summary of the master’s thesis, publication list, up to three publications, relevant certificates, and contact details for two referees (one of whom must be the master’s thesis supervisor). All documents must be in Norwegian, Scandinavian languages, or English. Only PDF or Word formats are accepted.
- Project proposal (up to 5 pages/12,000 characters)
- Bibliography for the proposed project
- Progress plan for the project
- Account of research interests and motivation
- CV
- Transcripts and diplomas for bachelor’s and master’s degrees (with ECTS information)
- Summary of the master’s thesis (up to 3 pages)
- List of scientific works (publication list)
- Up to three publications in the applicant’s name
- Relevant certificates/references
- Contact information for two referees (one must be the master’s thesis supervisor)
Contact
Kristine Jørgensen· Professor and PI of the Computer Games and Digital Narrative Research Group
+47 55 58 41 13
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