PhD Student in Social Work

Södertörn University is a higher education institution in Stockholm that conducts education, research, and collaboration for sustainable societal development. We have around 14,000 students, 80 programmes, and 300 courses, and we conduct education and research in the humanities, social sciences, technology, and natural sciences. The university also offers police education and teacher education with an intercultural profile. A great deal of our research relates to the Baltic Sea region and Eastern Europe. We combine subjects, perspectives, people, and experiences, and are world-minded, curious, and questioning, searching for surprising syntheses, challenges, and development.

As a doctoral student in Social Work, you will join a research environment that offers multidisciplinary perspectives and an advanced curriculum. Doctoral students are affiliated with a research area called Politics, Economy and the Organisation of Society (PESO), encompassing the disciplines of Business Studies, Journalism, Political Science, Public Administration, Social Work, and Sociology.

Social Work at Södertörn University is distinguished by its lively research and teaching environment. Our research fields include families, children, and youths; school social work; ageing; disability; health; urban studies; social sustainability; segregation; civil society and social movements; the welfare state and globalisation; preventive social work; professions and organisations. Teaching and research staff in Social Work have a high level of involvement with national and international research networks.

Admission and Employment

This position includes admission to third-cycle education, i.e., research level, and employment on a doctoral studentship at the School of Social Sciences at Södertörn University. The intended outcome for admitted students is a PhD. The programme covers 240 credits, which is the equivalent of four years of full-time study. The position may be extended by a maximum of one year due to the inclusion of departmental duties, i.e., education, research, and/or administration (equivalent to no more than 20% of full-time). Other grounds for extension could be leave of absence because of illness or for service in the defence forces, an elected position in a trade union/student organisation, or parental leave. Provisions relating to employment on a doctoral studentship are in the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 5, Sections 1-7.

Date of employment: 1 September 2026

Application deadline: 11 February 2026 at 23:59

Further Information

Malin Eriksson, Professor in Social Work, [email protected]
Ludmila Voronova, Director of Studies (third cycle), [email protected]
Florence Fröhlig, Director of Studies, Baltic and East European Graduate School (BEEGS), [email protected]
Lovisa Uttman, Human Resources Officer, School of Social Sciences, [email protected]