PhD Candidate in Education at Södertörn University

Södertörn University is an institution in Stockholm that educates, researches, and collaborates for sustainable societal development. Education and research are conducted in the fields of humanities, social sciences, engineering, and natural sciences. The university also offers police education and teacher education 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 seeking unexpected combinations, development, and challenges.

We are now seeking a PhD candidate in Education within the research education area of Educational Science Studies (UVS).

Education at Södertörn University

The Education department at Södertörn University is a dynamic research environment rooted in a humanistic tradition with a clear interest in social science knowledge. The central phenomena studied are upbringing, teaching, and education, as well as the fundamental pedagogical questions these phenomena raise. For the current position, such fundamental questions may include ethics and values, migration and multiculturalism, democracy and participation, as well as pedagogical leadership and pedagogical quality within general pedagogical and didactic research. In addition to courses in the subject itself, the education subject is also included in all teacher education programs.

For more information about the education subject, see www.sh.se/pedagogik (http://www.sh.se/pedagogik) and the general study plan for doctoral education in the subject of education.

Educational Science Studies

You will pursue your doctoral studies in the field of education at the Department of Educational Science. The multidisciplinary environment surrounding UVS also constitutes an important context for your research and studies.

Education is part of the research education area of Educational Science Studies. This area encompasses research on how culture, knowledge, and values are transmitted 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 in preschool, school, and leisure centers can and should be understood.

Eligibility Requirements

Basic eligibility for doctoral education is granted to those who have:

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

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

Special eligibility for doctoral education in education is granted to those who have, with at least a passing grade, authored an individual independent scientific work in education focusing on the teaching profession in preschool, school, or leisure centers, or equivalent, comprising at least 15 credits at the advanced level, or have acquired equivalent knowledge abroad or through an older degree. If special reasons exist, the faculty board may grant exceptions from the requirements for special eligibility for an individual applicant.

Admission and Employment

This announcement entails both admission to doctoral education and employment as a PhD candidate at the Department of Educational Science for a period 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 for a maximum of one year for institutional duties such as teaching and administration (corresponding to a maximum of 20% of full-time). Other reasons for extended employment include leave due to illness, service in total defense, trust assignments within trade unions/student organizations, or parental leave. Regulations regarding doctoral employment can be found in the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 5, Sections 1–7.

Click this link for information on selection criteria according to the admission regulations and other governing documents at Södertörn University.

Employment date: September 1, 2026.

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 certificates and documents 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 special 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 scientific profile of the education subject and research area (1500–2000 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

Claudia Schumann, Director of Studies in Education at the doctoral level, [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

Niclas Månsson, Professor of General Pedagogy [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

Ellinor Olanger, HR Generalist, Teacher Education, [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

Welcome with your application!

Publications referenced should be attached to the application.

An application that is not complete or is received by Södertörn University after the application deadline may be rejected.

Union Contacts:

SACO: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
ST: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
SEKO: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) and Robert Lindberg (mailto:[email protected])

Södertörn University has made a conscious choice of media for this recruitment and therefore requests no contact from advertisement sellers or other sellers of recruitment services.

Common approach for employees and managers.