Mälardalen University (MDU) is looking for a PhD candidate in Didactics

Mälardalen University (MDU) is Sweden's newest university. With our vision to be a progressive and collaborative university where we together shape a sustainable future, we want to make a real difference.

Do you want to contribute to our development?

Together, we contribute to a more sustainable future through knowledge and innovation. We believe that new knowledge and new perspectives are best created and achieved in collaboration with others - colleagues, students, industry, and the public sector both nationally and internationally.

Employment Information

• Employment type: Fixed-term employment
• Employment period/start date: 4 years starting from 2026-08-01 or by agreement
• Extent: Full-time
• Number of positions: 1
• Application deadline: March 6, 2026
• Location: Västerås
• Academy/unit/department: Educational Sciences and Arts
• PhD subject: Didactics

Admission to the doctoral program is regulated by the university's admission regulations, which gather national and local rules applicable for admission to doctoral education at Mälardalen University. Read more about doctoral education at MDU here (https://www.mdu.se/utbildning/forskarutbildning).

The educational position is associated with a full-time employment as a doctoral student during the training period, which corresponds to four years.

For more information about the doctoral school's focus, see here (www.su.se/enheter/specialpedagogiska-institutionen/nyheter/nyhetsartiklar/2025-11-14-vetenskapsradet-beviljar-32-miljoner-till-forskarskola-i-specialpedagogik).

Job Responsibilities

As a PhD candidate, you will conduct your own research studies and research project. Institutional duties may occur up to a maximum of 20%, in the form of teaching. Within the framework of your employment, you will participate in activities at the doctoral school in special education as well as research seminars in the research environment Children and Youth in School and Society (BUSS) at Mälardalen University.

The doctoral school in special education with a focus on intervention research is conducted in collaboration with Stockholm University, Linköping University, and the University of Gothenburg. The host for the doctoral school is Stockholm University. The doctoral projects within the framework of the doctoral school will focus on school interventions at the intersection of special education and mathematics didactics.

Eligibility Requirements

To be admitted to doctoral education, the applicant must have basic eligibility and the specific eligibility required by the subject, as well as be assessed to have the ability otherwise necessary to benefit from the education.

Basic eligibility for doctoral education (according to HF 7 chap. § 39) is held by those who:

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

Specific eligibility for admission to doctoral education in didactics is held by those who:

• have at least 60 higher education credits at an advanced level with educational relevance and
• have completed an independent project corresponding to 15 higher education credits with educational relevance, or
• have acquired equivalent knowledge in some other way within or outside the country.

Selection Criteria

Selection among applicants who have basic and specific eligibility will be made with regard to their ability to benefit from the education (HF 7 chap 41 §).

In addition, selection among eligible applicants will be made according to the following assessment criteria:

• good knowledge of Swedish, both spoken and written
• teacher's degree
• experience of pedagogical professional activity.

In the selection process, the applicant's preliminary research plan and previously completed independent work will be considered regarding independence, methodological clarity and theoretical awareness, analytical and stylistic coherence, as well as a critical approach.

In an overall assessment of suitability, personal abilities will also be taken into account. All employees at MDU are expected to collaborate and treat colleagues and students with respect, take responsibility for the organization and their own tasks, and contribute to a good working environment.

We value the qualities that a balanced age and gender distribution as well as ethnic and cultural diversity contribute.

Application

You can submit your application by clicking the “Apply” button below.

You as an applicant are responsible for ensuring that the application is complete according to the advertisement and received by the university no later than the application deadline. The application must include the documents requested to verify eligibility and materials for merit evaluation. Degree certificates and/or transcripts must always be attached to the application, and the documents must be officially issued by the institution. You should also attach a preliminary research plan that includes purpose and research questions, background, project description, and ethical considerations (approximately 5-7 pages in Word).

Submitted materials can be written in Swedish or English. Documents regarding merits (certificates, grades, and degree certificates) in other languages must be translated by an authorized translator into Swedish or English. However, a copy of the original document (if in another language than above) must always be attached.

If the admitted candidate needs a residence permit to reside in Sweden and conduct their studies, and the studies require physical presence at Mälardalen University, the university reserves the right to revoke the admission decision if the admitted candidate cannot present a valid residence permit required for the studies by the date of the start of studies.

Welcome with your application!

Union Representatives:

Saco-S [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
Susanne Meijer ST-OFR/S, tel: 021-10 14 89

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