full time PhD training during four years. A PhD candidate is expected to work as a member of one of the research groups at the department
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 scientists and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.
The Department of Education, Communication and Learning is part of the Faculty of Education at the University of Gothenburg. At the department, extensive and internationally recognized research is conducted in areas that concern life conditions of children and youth, the preschool and children’s learning, the consequences of digitalization for preschool, school and education as well as in the area of adult learning at the workplace and elsewhere. Education is provided in the first, second and third cycles (Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD level). The Department’s primary programmes are those in pre-school education and primary education with a specialization in afterschool programmes.
Education is a third-cycle subject focusing on processes, both formal and informal, through which individuals are formed and changed within social, cultural and historical contexts. It includes various dimensions of upbringing, education, teaching, learning and other processes.
General information about being a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg can be found on the university’s doctoral student pages.
Duties
Doctoral candidates engage in full time PhD training during four years. A PhD candidate is expected to work as a member of one of the research groups at the department. In collaboration with supervisors, the candidate will formulate and finalize a dissertation and take part in courses which are a mix of mandatory and elective courses in accordance with the rules of the general and individual study plans.
During the PhD studies, the dissertation work will be presented and discussed in seminars with invited discussants on at least three occasions. As a doctoral student, you are also expected to participate in conferences, workshops, seminars and other research meetings, both nationally and internationally.
At the Department there is extensive research on topics that concern children and young people. This makes it possible for the PhD candidate to be part of local seminars and research activities as well as national and international collaborations of relevance to the research topic. In their application, candidates should specify how their research plan relates to ongoing research in the Department.
As part of your employment as a doctoral student, you may have departmental duties corresponding to up to 20 % of full-time employment, distributed throughout your study period. Departmental duties usually consist of teaching at first- and second-cycle levels, but may also include research and administration. The employment will be prolonged accordingly. Only those who are admitted to postgraduate education may be appointed to the position.
Education at third-cycle level comprises four years of full-time study, and leads to a doctoral degree.
Eligibility
Education at third-cycle level requires general eligibility and, where appropriate, specific eligibility as set out in the general syllabus for the subject.
The general eligibility requirements for education at third-cycle level are:
- having completed a degree at second-cycle level, or
- the fulfilment of course requirements totalling at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits must be at second-cycle level, or
- the acquisition of equivalent knowledge in some other way, either in Sweden or abroad.
Specific entry requirements for the subject Education:
A person meets the specific entry requirements if he or she has 90 higher education credits in education, of which at least 30 credits were awarded in the second-cycle, including an independent project (degree project) comprising at least 15 higher education credits.
Eligible applicants include those who have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.
Assessment criteria
Selection between applicants who meet the basic requirements and specific qualifications will be based on an assessment of an applicant’s ability to successfully complete the doctoral programme.
Selection will be based on the following criteria:
- the quality of the degree project affording eligibility (or equivalent document).
- the quality of the research plan submitted, where applicable related to this position and to research environments at the Department.
Admission takes place in competition on the basis of a combined assessment of the applicant’s submitted documents. Assessment of the applicant’s ability to complete doctoral studies will guide the decision. Key for this assessment are the results of earlier thesis work or alternatively thesis work and scientific article writing, together with a clearly formulated research plan where the applicant articulates a possible plan for a dissertation project within Educational Sciences. The dissertation research plan will be evaluated based on its scientific relevance, how well it connects to the research in the department as well as on whether or not it raises motivated and researchable questions and presents reasonable methods for their examination. If a required text has been written by more than one author, the applicant’s individual contribution must be described.
Only applicants who can be offered supervision can be admitted to third-cycle studies. Considerable weight will be put on the capacity of the applicant to actively contribute to a research group at the department.
The fact that an applicant is considered able to transfer credits from prior courses and study programmes or for professional or vocational experience may not alone give the applicant priority over other applicants (Chapter 7, Section 41 of the Higher Education Ordinance).
Employment
Once you have been admitted for education at third-cycle level, you will be employed as a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg.
The provisions for employment as a doctoral student can be found in ordinance SFS 1993:100.
Initial employment as a doctoral student may apply for a maximum of one year, and may be renewed by a maximum of two years at a time.
A doctoral student may be employed as a doctoral student for a maximum of eight years, but the total period of employment may not be longer than the equivalent of full-time education at third-cycle level for four years.
Terms of employment: temporary position of four years according to the Higher Education Ordinance
Extent: 100 %
Location: University of Gothenburg, department of Education, Communication and Learning
First day of employment: September 1, 2022 or by agreement
The University applies a local agreement on salaries for doctoral students.
Selection process
Applications are evaluated by an admissions panel. Interviews may be conducted. Admission decisions are made by the Head of Department and cannot be appealed. (The Rules and Regulations for Third-cycle Studies at the University of Gothenburg – Rules for Doctoral Students, ref nr V 2018/603).
Contact information
Roger Säljö, Deputy Head of Department
+46 (0)31-786 2457
roger.saljo@ped.gu.se
Mona Lundin, Director of studies, postgraduate education
+46 (0)31-786 5977
mona.lundin@ped.gu.se
About the application process:
Desirée Engvall, Post Graduate Coordinatior, IPKL
+46 (0)31-786 2410
desiree.engvall@gu.se
Unions
Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here:
https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande
Application
You can apply to be admitted for education at third-cycle level via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal.
Applications should include the following:
- Personal letter with a short description of relevant background, max 1 A4
- Curriculum Vitae.
- Study documents that provide evidence that basic and specific requirements have been met (Extracts from LADOK or other official study documents)
- Thesis equivalent to at least 15 credits at the master’s level. For example, an undergraduate and a master’s thesis or a scientific article and a master’s thesis
- Research plan, max five A4 pages (instructions)
- References (optional)
- Other merits that the applicant would like to
As applicant, you are responsible for ensuring that your application is completed in accordance with this announcement and that it is received by the university on the final application day at the latest.
Any documents that are not available in electronic format should be mailed to:
Göteborgs universitet
Institutionen för pedagogik, kommunikation och lärande (IPKL)
Desirée Engvall
Box 300
405 30 Göteborg
Sweden
Applications must be received by: April 19, 2022
Information for International Applicants
Choosing a career in a foreign country is a big step. Thus, to give you a general idea of what we and Gothenburg have to offer in terms of benefits and life in general for you and your family/spouse/partner please visit:
https://www.gu.se/en/about-the-university/welcome-services
https://www.movetogothenburg.com/
The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.
Salaries are set individually at the University.
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.