Call for Applications: Scholarship for Master’s Thesis in Social Science at CICERO (Evolve)

The scholarship is awarded as financial support for the completion of a master’s thesis with thematic relevance to the project’s research agenda within European energy policy and the energy transition. 

The scholarship amounts to NOK 20,000. Half of the scholarship will be paid at the start of the project, and the other half after the master’s thesis has been submitted. The scholarship is limited to theses that are initiated in the year in which the application is approved. 

The master’s thesis receiving scholarship must be written within the thematic scope of the EVOLVE project. The student will receive academic supervision from a researcher at CICERO and may further develop the thesis in dialogue with both CICERO and the university supervisor. The final research question, as well as the choice of method and theory, is determined by the student. 

CICERO is an internationally leading center for interdisciplinary climate research, with a strong social science research environment focusing on international climate cooperation and energy and climate policy in Norway, Europe, and other parts of the world. Students who receive a scholarship will be affiliated with the Climate Policy research group. Researchers in this group have backgrounds in the social sciences, including political science, science and technology studies (STS), and sociology. 

 

Possible Topics Related to the EVOLVE Research Project 

The EVOLVE project examines the energy transition in Europe, with a particular focus on EU electricity market policy and how it is implemented in different countries. The project builds on political science literature on public policy and administration and analyzes how the EU regulates the electricity market. This includes the design of support schemes for renewable energy and various measures to ensure a flexible and secure energy supply. EVOLVE builds knowledge about the politics of the energy transition in Norway and Europe, and about European and national governance structures within the energy sector. 

Read more about EVOLVE here: https://cicero.oslo.no/en/projects/europes-evolving-market-design-towards-2040-electricity-market-reform-and-decision-making-during-its-implementation 

Political science and other social science master’s theses related to a range of topics relevant to EVOLVE are welcome. Examples of relevant topics include: 

• Energy/electricity policy in Norway, Europe, and/or the EU 

• Cooperation and relations between Norway and the EU in the field of energy 

• Political, institutional, organizational or administrative issues related to, for example, renewable energy, energy transition, energy security, or the electricity market 

• Design and implementation of energy policy instruments 

• Changes in governance, organization, and responsibilities in the energy sector 

• Comparative studies across energy and other policy areas 

 

Who Can Apply 

The call is directed at students who: 

• will be writing a master’s thesis in social sciences (e.g. political science, European studies, international relations, public administration, or equivalent) in autumn 2026 and/or spring 2027 

• have an interest in energy, climate, and environmental policy and politics 

• have strong analytical and methodological skills, and good grades from previous courses/studies 

• are proficient in Norwegian and/or English, both written and spoken 

 

Scholarship and Affiliation 

1 tax-free scholarship of NOK 20,000 will be awarded. The scholarship is intended to cover parts of the work effort related to the master’s thesis. Half of the scholarship is paid at the start, and the other half after the master’s thesis has been submitted. 

The student will receive academic affiliation with CICERO during the scholarship period, including participation in relevant seminars and access to the institute’s academic environment and resources. The student will have the opportunity to present a project outline and draft thesis to the Climate Policy research group and participants in the EVOLVE research project, with opportunities for feedback from researchers with expertise in a wide range of social science methods, theories, academic traditions, and broad empirical knowledge. Workspace at CICERO may be arranged by agreement. 

For the scholarship recipient affiliated with EVOLVE, a possibility may arise for an hourly contract as a research assistant. In such cases, a separate employment contract will be established. 

If the student obtains a good grade on their master’s thesis, they may be invited to revise the thesis into a CICERO report for open publication. 

Start Date: Autumn 2026 

 

Application 

The application must include: 

• Name, address, phone number, and email 

• Study program and institution, number of credits the master’s thesis carries, and planned submission date 

• Short motivation letter (approx. 1 page) 

• Outline of the master’s thesis topic and preliminary research question (1–3 pages) 

• CV 

• Transcripts of grades 

• Planned start date / planned submission date 

Applications should be sent by email to the project leader of EVOLVE (see below), with the subject line: “Application for Master’s Scholarship CICERO”. 

 

Application Deadline 

1 June 2026 

Questions regarding the call may be directed to: 

Torbjørg Jevnaker, Senior Researcher and Project Leader of EVOLVE 

torbjorg.jevnaker@cicero.oslo.no 

 

About CICERO 

CICERO offers a strong working environment with approximately 100 employees with broad interdisciplinary backgrounds, including political science, sociology, human geography, economics, and several disciplines within the natural sciences. CICERO offers excellent opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, while also placing great emphasis on developing each researcher’s interests and expertise. CICERO is actively engaged in international cooperation through a broad network of contacts. CICERO is an inclusive workplace (IA enterprise) and seeks to ensure that its staff reflect the diversity of the population. CICERO is located in modern premises in the Research Park in Oslo and will move to new premises near Ullevål Stadium in October 2026. 

More information about CICERO: https://cicero.oslo.no 

More information about the Climate Policy research group: https://cicero.oslo.no/no/forskningsgrupper/klimapolitikk