Doctoral student specialising in democracy at the Faculty of Humanities

Reference number PAR 2024/1057

The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 56 000 students and 6 600 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

The Faculty of Humanities at the University of Gothenburg announces a doctoral student specialising in democracy within one of the research subjects offered by the Faculty of Humanities, as listed below. We are looking for a person who is interested in contributing to the development of research that relates to "fundamental democratic values regarding freedom of thought, opinion, expression, and religion".

The financing of this position comes partly from the sale of assets of the bankruptcy estate of Göteborgs Handelskompani. The sales, in turn, are managed by two trustees. For the purpose of allocating part of the proceeds to research, the trustees, acting as representatives of the bankruptcy estate of Göteborgs Handelskompani Fund (Handelskompaniet), have entered into an agreement with the University of Gothenburg.

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

  • African Languages
  • Arabic
  • Archaeology
  • Art History and Visual Studies
  • Classical Archaeology and Ancient History
  • Comparative Literature
  • Computational Linguistics
  • Cultural Studies
  • English
  • Ethnology
  • Film Studies
  • General Linguistics
  • Gender Studies
  • German
  • Greek
  • History
  • History of Science and Ideas
  • Japanese
  • Language technology
  • Latin
  • Logic
  • Multilingualism
  • Musicology
  • Nordic Languages
  • Religious Studies
  • Romance Languages
  • Practical Philosophy
  • Sinology
  • Slavic Languages
  • Theoretical Philosophy
  • Theory of Science

See information for each subject within third-cycle education at departments of the Faculty of Humanities:https://www.gu.se/en/humanities/doctoral-studies/doctoral-programmes-list-of-subjects

Duties   

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: https://www.gu.se/en/humanities/doctoral-studies/general-syllabi-for-third-cycle-study-programmes 

Assessment criteria

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’ general study plan.

As a basis for this selection, particular attention will be paid to the following:

  • 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.

Employment 

The studentship is limited to four years of full-time work. The position is placed in one of the six 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 the Higher Education Ordinance. 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 information 

Pro-Dean Fredrik Engström, fredrik.engstrom@gu.se
and Subject Representatives at the respective departments:

Unions 

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

Application 

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 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 in which you not only describe why you are applying but also briefly outline the research area you wish to develop and how this aims to "strengthen fundamental democratic values related to freedom of thought, opinion, expression, and religion."
  • A CV/ curriculum vitae
  • A research outline, see the respective general study plan for more instructions on how the project outline should be formatted. The project outline must not exceed 20,000 characters (including spaces), unless otherwise specified in the relevant general study plan.
  • 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. If the documents are written in a language other than Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, or English, a professional translation must be attached to the application.
  • Copies of theses, dissertations and other publications that you wish to cite.
  • Contact details for academic references.

Applications must be received by: 17th of February 2025


Other.

The selection process may include interviews and reference checks.

Doctoral studies at the Faculty of Humanities 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 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.