PhD Positions in Media and Communication Studies

The Department of Media Studies (IMS) is one of the larger departments within the Faculty of Humanities, with over 80 employees and approximately 850 full-time students.

More information about us can be found at: Department of Media Studies (http://www.su.se/mediestudier).

IMS is announcing two PhD positions in Media and Communication Studies starting in August 2026. The application deadline is April 15.

Research Education Subject

Media and Communication Studies focuses on the most pressing issues of our time at the intersection of communication, technology, politics, and culture. It explores the content and conditions of mediated communication, its various roles in societal and everyday life, its significance locally, nationally, and globally, from historical, contemporary, and future perspectives. The subject tradition at IMS constitutes a fertile melting pot for empirically, theoretically, and methodologically outstanding research concerning the significance of mediated communication for humans as cultural and societal beings. Our research profile is particularly characterized by a focus on power structures, (in)justice representation, and the opportunities and pitfalls of communication technologies.

Media and communication research at IMS is conducted within four main areas:

• Global Media Studies.
• Media Practices and Technical Media Studies.
• Politics, Media, and Communication.
• Popular Culture and Celebrity Studies.

For further information, see: www.su.se/forskning/forskningskatalog/forskningsamnen/2/medie--och-kommunikationsvetenskap (http://www.su.se/forskning/forskningskatalog/forskningsamnen/2/medie--och-kommunikationsvetenskap).

We encourage applicants to relate their proposed project to one or more of the areas above and clarify how it contributes to these and/or how their project otherwise contributes to the overall research direction of the Media and Communication Studies subject at the department.

As a PhD student at the Faculty of Humanities, you have the opportunity to participate in courses at a faculty-wide graduate school, with themes characterized by multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary collaborations (www.su.se/enheter/humanistiska-fakultetens-forskarskola (http://www.su.se/enheter/humanistiska-fakultetens-forskarskola)). The research group in journalism, media, and communication is also affiliated with the national research network TRAIN focusing on PhD courses and conferences in the fields of journalism and media and communication studies.

Eligibility Requirements

To be admitted to doctoral education, the applicant must have basic and specific eligibility. The eligibility must be fulfilled by the application deadline.

You have basic eligibility if you have completed a degree at the advanced level, or have completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits (hp), of which at least 60 hp at the advanced level, or have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way, within or outside the country.

To obtain specific eligibility for admission to doctoral education in media and communication studies, the applicant must have successfully completed courses at the advanced level of at least 30 hp in media and communication studies, including a thesis of at least 15 hp.

For specific eligibility, it is also required that the applicant is proficient in Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, or English. Language skills must include the ability to read, speak, and write in one of these languages.

The eligibility requirements can also be met by those who have acquired substantially equivalent competence within or outside the country.

Any equivalence assessment of eligibility will be made by a designated admissions committee, and decisions are made by the departmental board.

Selection

Selection among the applicants is made with regard to the ability to benefit from doctoral education. Criteria used to assess this ability include:

• Previous education in general. Assessment is made with regard to both depth and breadth in previous education.
• Previous scientific production. Based on theses from undergraduate and advanced levels and, where applicable, other scientific production, the applicant's ability to benefit from the education is assessed. The assessment also considers the time aspect; i.e., to what extent the applicant has demonstrated the ability to complete their previous scientific tasks within given time frames. Additionally, based on a comparison of the scientific outputs, an assessment of the applicant's scientific development is made. The scientific production is assessed with regard to critical ability, analytical ability, independence, and creativity.
• Research plan. In connection with the application, the applicant should briefly describe their intended research area. The description should include problem formulation(s) and a sketch of the implementation of the research work. The plan is assessed with regard to relevance, originality, and feasibility within the given time frame (i.e., over a period corresponding to four years of full-time education).
• Available supervision competence.
• Collaboration ability. The applicant's ability to collaborate is assessed based on, for example, references, certificates, or interviews.

Admission Regulations for Doctoral Education at Stockholm University.

About the Position

We offer a fixed-term position as a PhD student according to Chapter 5 of the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100). The employment period may not exceed what corresponds to full-time doctoral education for four years. As a PhD student, you will primarily focus on your own doctoral education, but the position may include work with education, research, and administration to a limited extent (maximum 20%).

A new position as a PhD student is valid for a maximum of one year, and the position is renewed thereafter for a maximum of two years at a time.

Stockholm University is committed to being a workplace free from discrimination and provides equal rights and opportunities for all.

Contact

Further information is provided by the head of department Jessika van der Sluijs, [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]), director of doctoral education Joel Frykholm, [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]), and subject representative for media and communication studies Anna Roosvall, [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]).

Application

You apply for the PhD position via Stockholm University's recruitment system. Attach a personal letter and CV as well as the documents requested in the application form. You as the applicant are responsible for ensuring that the application is complete in accordance with the advertisement and that it is submitted to the university no later than the application deadline.

Instructions for applicants can be found on the website: how to apply for a position (http://www.su.se/soka-en-anstallning).

Stockholm University contributes to the development of a sustainable democratic society through knowledge, enlightenment, and the pursuit of truth.