Doctoral studentship specialising in democracy and human rights at one of the departments of the Faculty of Social Sciences

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The Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Gothenburg announces a doctoral studentship specialising in democracy and human rights in one of the faculty’s third-cycle subjects (which are listed below).

We are looking for a person who is interested in contributing to the development of research in one of the Faculty's third-cycle subjects by means of a project that relates to "fundamental democratic values regarding freedom of thought, opinion, expression, and religion". The focus is based on a collaboration between the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Gothenburg Trading Company Fund (Göteborgs Handelskompanis deposition), which finances this doctoral studentship.

See information for each subject within third-cycle education at departments of the Faculty of Social Sciences:

http://samfak.gu.se/forskarutbildning

 

The subjects which are available for this call are the following:

-Environmental Social Science

-Journalism, Media & Communication

-Peace and Development Research

-Political Science

-Public Administration

-Psychology

-Social Anthropology

-Social Work

-Sociology

-Work Science

 

Duties and responsibilities
The position involves third-cycle studies totalling 240 higher education credits, equivalent to four years of full-time study. This includes formulating and implementing a thesis project that will lead to a doctoral thesis in accordance with an individual study plan and in collaboration with that student’s supervisor,. It also includes taking the required third-cycle courses. The doctoral student is expected to be active in the research environment and the daily activities of the department. The programme leads to a Doctor of Philosophy degree in one of the Faculty's third-cycle (doctoral)  subjects.

Eligibility
To be considered for admission, the applicant must fulfil the general entry requirements in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance (Chapter 7, Section 39) and the specific entry requirements for the third-cycle subject to which the application applies.

General entry requirements for third-cycle programmes are met by those who have:
1. Completed a second-cycle degree, or
2. Completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits are at second-cycle level, or
3. Acquired equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

For specific entry requirements for third-cycle programmes in a subject at the Faculty of Social Sciences, see the general syllabus for the relevant subject.

Basis for evaluation
Selection of applicants who meet the general and specific entry requirements is based on the ability to benefit from the doctoral programme. The evaluation criteria which will be used, can be found in the subjects’ respective general study plan.

In addition, particular attention will be paid to the following:

• A research outline containing a well thought-out research problem and research question, justification for the chosen subject area and a discussion of the theories, methods and materials that may be relevant. A description of and reflection on the ethical aspects and challenges of the proposed project must also be included.  
• How the applicants have stated and justified how the research question they wish to investigate relates to the focus of the announcement on "fundamental democratic values regarding freedom of thought, opinion, expression, and religion".
• The department's supervision resources in the area of the doctoral student's research specialisation.
• Proven ability to communicate in English both orally and in writing.

The position
The studentship is limited to four years of full-time work. The position is placed in one of the seven departments of the Faculty.

The employment is planned to start in the autumn semester of 2025.

Regulations for employment of doctoral students are found in Ordinance SFS 1998:80. Only those admitted to doctoral programmes may be appointed to this studentship. In addition to the obligation to devote themselves to their own doctoral studies, duties relating to teaching, research and administrative work in accordance with separate provisions of the Ordinance can be organised. Please note that decisions on appointment to a doctoral studentship cannot be appealed.

The university applies a local agreement on salaries for doctoral students.

Contact details for the position

Karl-Fredrik Ahlmark, supervisor for research and doctoral education at the Faculty of Social Sciences, karl-fredrik.ahlmark@gu.se
and
Subject Representatives at the respective departments:

Department of Political Science, Johannes Lindvall, https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/hitta-person/johanneslindvall

Department of Social Work, Frida Petersson, https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/hitta-person/fridapetersson

Department of Psychology, Anne Ingeborg Berg, https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/hitta-person/anneberg

School of Public Administration, David Karlsson, https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/hitta-person/davidkarlsson

Department of Journalism, Media and Communication, Jesper Strömbäck, https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/hitta-person/jesperstromback

Department of Sociology and Work Science, Mattias Wahlström, https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/hitta-person/mattiaswahlstrom

School of Global Studies, Sofie Hellberg, https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/hitta-person/sofiehellberg

 

Labour union organisations

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here: http://www.gu.se/omuniversitetet/aktuellt/lediga-jobb/fackliga-kontaktpersoner

How to apply
You apply for admission to doctoral studies via the University of Gothenburg's recruitment portal by clicking on the "Apply" button. As an applicant, you are responsible for ensuring that the application is complete in accordance with the advertisement and that it is received by the university no later than the application deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

In your application, you should indicate in which of the faculty's third-cycle subjects you wish to take your degree.

The following must be attached to the application:

• A personal letter with a short statement as to why you are interested in doctoral studies (max. 1 page) and in which subject you wish to take your degree.
• A CV/ curriculum vitae
• A research outline (max. 4 pages). The outline should include justification of the relevance of the question to the purpose in the announcement (see above)
• Certified copies of diplomas and proof of fulfilment of specific entry requirements (extracts from LADOK), as well as any other documents relevant to the position that you wish to refer to.
• Copies of theses, dissertations and other publications that you wish to cite.

 

Other matters
The selection process may include interviews and reference checks.

Doctoral studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences requires physical presence to conduct the studies. If the admitted applicant needs a residence permit for researcher to pursue studies in Sweden, the admitting department has the right to revoke the admission decision if the applicant cannot present a valid residence permit no later than at the start of the studies.

 The deadline for applications is 31 January 2025.

 

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden’s regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.

In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.