PhD Candidate in History at Södertörn University

Södertörn University is an institution in Stockholm that educates, researches, and collaborates for sustainable societal development. Education and research are conducted within the humanities, social sciences, technology, and natural sciences. The university also offers police education and teacher training with an intercultural profile. Multidisciplinary research on the Baltic Sea and Eastern Europe has a significant role. At Södertörn University, subjects, perspectives, people, and experiences are mixed. Here you will find the curious and the questioning, those who seek unexpected combinations, development, and challenges.

We are looking for a PhD candidate in history within the field of educational science studies.

Description of the PhD Position

You will defend your thesis and conduct your doctoral studies in the subject of history at the Department of History and Contemporary Studies. The multidisciplinary environment surrounding educational science studies (UVS) also constitutes an important context for your research and studies. History is part of the doctoral education area UVS, which is a multidisciplinary research environment. The area encompasses research on how culture, knowledge, and values are transferred and developed between generations within the framework of formal education. More specifically, there is a focus on didactic research, including general didactics and subject didactics, as well as on how research problems arising from the teaching profession can and should be understood.

More information:

Educational Science Studies (https://www.sh.se/education/history)

Eligibility Requirements

Basic eligibility for doctoral education is met by those who:

• have obtained a master's degree
• have completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits at the advanced level, or
• have acquired equivalent knowledge in some other way, either within or outside the country.

The faculty board may grant exceptions from the requirement of basic eligibility for an individual applicant if there are special reasons. Regulation (2010:1064).

Specific Eligibility

Specific eligibility is met by those who have at least 90 higher education credits in history, economic history, intellectual history, or equivalent, and who have written an independent historical scientific work comprising at least 15 credits at the advanced level. The ability to comprehend scientific presentations in English and master the languages required to carry out the dissertation work is a prerequisite for completing the education.

Admission and Employment

The announcement involves both admission to doctoral education and employment as a PhD candidate at the Department of History and Social Studies for a maximum of four years full-time. The doctoral education corresponds to 240 higher education credits and aims to lead to a doctoral degree. The employment may be extended by a maximum of one year for institutional duties in teaching, research, and administration (corresponding to a maximum of 20% of full-time). Other reasons for extending employment include leave due to illness, service in the total defense, trust assignments within trade union/student organizations, or parental leave. Regulations regarding PhD employment can be found in the Higher Education Ordinance Chapter 5, Sections 1-7.

Start date: September 1, 2026.

General Study Plan

The general study plan for doctoral education in history with a focus on UVS can be found here.

Application Procedure

For more information, see the FAQ page on sh.se. Apply through Södertörn University's web-based recruitment system “ReachMee”. Click the “apply” link at the bottom of the advertisement.

An application can be written in Swedish/Norwegian/Danish or English and must include:

• application letter
• curriculum vitae
• degree certificate and certificates showing eligibility to apply for the position (if written in languages other than those mentioned above, you must attach translated documents)
• candidate and master’s thesis according to the subject's requirements for specific eligibility (if written in languages other than those mentioned above, a translated summary in one of the languages must be attached, 5-6 pages, approximately 14,000 characters)
• research/project plan that clarifies the project's relevance to the subject and doctoral education area (1000–1500 words)
• two references with contact information.

If publications exist, a maximum of three may be attached to the application.

Applications that are incomplete by the application deadline will not be considered.

Application deadline: February 11, 2026, at 23:59

Contacts

Andreas Åkerlund, Professor of History and Head of the History Subject and the Contemporary Historical Institute, [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
Johannes Heuman, Associate Professor of History and Subject Representative in the UVS Steering Group, [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
Elisabeth Wollin, Director of Studies for Doctoral Education in Historical Studies, [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
Liza Haglund, Research Coordinator for Educational Science Studies, [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
Mirjam Bargello Lindberg, HR Generalist, [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])