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 Languages and Literatures (SPL) is the Faculty of Humanities’ largest department with around 120 employees and around 1200 full-time equivalent students. For more information about the Department, go to: https://www.gu.se/en/languages.
Research in Romance languages involves language, literature and culture within Romance languages. At the University of Gothenburg, research is conducted primarily in the subjects French and Spanish. The department can thus provide supervision in these two languages. The main research areas are literary studies, linguistics and cultural studies, as well as language learning and teaching.
The advertised doctoral studentships will be part of a broad and dynamic research environment, where research is conducted in languages and literatures based on a broad cultural contextualisation and a broad spectrum of theoretical foundations and methodological applications. The Department has four major research areas: Literary studies, Language in Society, Language Learning and Teaching, and Linguistic Structures. Read more here: https://www.gu.se/en/languages/our-research
Duties
A doctoral student is to spend their time on their doctoral studies in accordance with the general syllabus for the subject area in which they are admitted. The ultimate goal of the study programme is a Degree of Doctor. The doctoral student carries out research and is expected to contribute to the development of knowledge within the subject area. This includes developing their own ideas and communicating research results both orally and in writing. The doctoral student is required to develop the knowledge and skills needed to be able to conduct independent research in the subject area through the production of a scholarly thesis. The doctoral studentship also aims to develop the doctoral student’s ability to utilise their acquired research skills and knowledge in future research projects or other qualified professional work.
As a doctoral student, you are expected to be physically present at the workplace and contribute to the doctoral education environment. This includes participation in subject area and other research seminars at the Department. In addition to your third-cycle study programme, a maximum of 20 per cent department duties (e.g. teaching) is included in the position, which will extend the doctoral studentship proportionately. The working language of the Department is Swedish and, if required, the University can offer introductory courses in the Swedish language.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for admission to doctoral studies, the applicant must meet the general entry requirements according to Sweden’s Higher Education Ordinance (Chapter 7 Section 39) and the specific entry requirements. A person meets the general entry requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if he or she:
- Has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
- Has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded at second-cycle level, or
- Has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.
For specific entry requirements for third-cycle studies in the subject area, see the general syllabus for the degree of Doctor in Romance languages:
https://www.gu.se/en/study-gothenburg/general-syllabus-for-third-cycle-study-programmes-in-romance-languages
How you satisfy both the general and specific entry requirements must be clearly stated in your application.
The applicant must also have a good knowledge of English and the languages relevant for conducting the selected research project.
Selection criteria
The selection is made from among those applicants who fulfil the general and specific entry requirements and is based on the assessed ability of the student to benefit from third-cycle courses and study programmes. The selection criteria for third-cycle studies in Romance languages are described in the general syllabus (https://www.gu.se/en/study-gothenburg/general-syllabus-for-third-cycle-study-programmes-in-romance-languages).
The selection takes into account in particular the applicant’s ability to independently benefit from third-cycle studies, the quality of the submitted research papers, and the project plan.
Appointment
Start date: 16 January 2023. The position is limited to four years full-time. The provisions governing doctoral studentships can be found in the Higher Education Ordinance (SFS 1998:80). Only those who are or have been admitted to third-cycle courses and study programmes may be appointed to doctoral studentships. Department duties, such as teaching, may be part of the position up to 20 per cent of full-time determined in relation to the entire study period. Where such duties are included, the doctoral studentship is extended proportionally.
The University applies local agreements when setting the salaries of doctoral students.
Appointment process
The appointment process is in two stages:
- Selection on the basis of submitted documentation.
- A shortlist of candidates are invited to an interview and a short oral presentation of their research project. Referees for the shortlisted candidates are contacted.
The availability of a suitable supervisor is taken into account.
Please note that decisions on employment as a doctoral student cannot be appealed.
Application
Your application should include:
- A personal letter written in Swedish or English. The letter should state why you wish to pursue doctoral studies in the subject area, how your project can contribute to the Department’s research profile, and what expectations you have of the Department’s research environment. The maximum length of this text is 3000 characters (including spaces).
- CV containing contact details, your education, work experience and other relevant qualifications.
- Degree certificate and Official Transcript of Records from Ladok, or equivalent, of completed courses. The certificates must show that you fulfil the general entry requirements as well as the specific entry requirements or equivalent in accordance with the general syllabus for the degree of Doctor in Romance languages (https://www.gu.se/en/study-gothenburg/general-syllabus-for-third-cycle-study-programmes-in-romance-languages). Foreign degree certificates must be submitted in both their original version and an authorized/certified translation into English.
- A project plan where you describe your project by formulating the project’s purpose and justifying this purpose, formulating the problem, describing the material to be used and your project’s relationship to previous research, and by discussing which theories and methods might be used. The project plan must include a schedule. The text may be written in Swedish or English. The maximum length of this description is 20,000 characters including spaces, notes, and references.
- Publications (Master’s thesis and any other publications, no more than 5). Any publications beyond those submitted may be listed separately. Theses written in other languages than French, Spanish, Swedish or English should be submitted both in the original language and in English.
Your application must have been received by no later than 11 August 2022. The applicant is responsible for ensuring that their application is complete in accordance with the advertisement and that it is received by the University at the latest by the deadline for applications.
Additional information
Submit your application electronically via the recruitment portal. (See https://www.gu.se/en/work-at-the-university-of-gothenburg/how-to-apply).
For information about third-cycle studies, see: https://www.gu.se/en/languages/doctoral-studies.
An information meeting on doctoral studentship appointments will be held in English via Zoom on 8 August 2022, 1 PM to 2.30 PM. At this meeting, third-cycle studies at our Department will be presented and there will be an opportunity to ask questions.
Contact details for the advertisement
Linda K. Hammarfelt, Assistant Head of Department for doctoral education
Linda.Karlsson.Hammarfelt@sprak.gu.se
Human Resources Officer
personalhandlaggare@sprak.gu.se
Unions or professional associations
Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here:
https://www.gu.se/en/work-at-the-university-of-gothenburg/how-to-apply
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.
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