Vacant job

Örebro University is seeking a PhD student for doctoral studies leading to a PhD in Social Work at the Department of Behavioural, Social and Legal Sciences, with a start date in September or October 2026.

About the Doctoral Programme in Social Work

The subject of Social Work at Örebro University is part of the Department of Behavioural, Social and Legal Sciences (BSR), alongside psychology, law, and criminology. Within the subject and the unit for Social Work at Örebro University, the following are offered: the Social Work programme, the Health and Medical Care Counsellor programme (advanced level), standalone courses at basic and advanced levels, various commissioned training programmes, and doctoral education.

Research in Social Work addresses various aspects of the significance of social relations and structural preconditions for social change work with people facing difficult living conditions in different life phases within the labour market and institutions. Research within the subject involves studies of social issues concerning children and young people, adults, and the elderly, as well as preconditions and conditions for social work and social interventions related to this. We are now seeking a PhD student and wish for the applicant to focus on one of the following research areas:

• Globalisation, Migration and Social Cohesion (Glomisco) - https://www.oru.se/forskning/forskargrupper/fg/?rdb=g365 (https://www.oru.se/forskning/forskargrupper/fg/?rdb=g365)
• Social Violence Studies (SVS) - https://www.oru.se/forskning/forskargrupper/fg/?rdb=g484 (https://www.oru.se/forskning/forskargrupper/fg/?rdb=g484)
• Social Work and Care in a Life Course (SAOL) - https://www.oru.se/forskning/forskargrupper/fg/?rdb=g384 (https://www.oru.se/forskning/forskargrupper/fg/?rdb=g384)
• Welfare, Labour Market Policy and Social Responsibility (VASA) - https://www.oru.se/forskning/forskargrupper/fg/?rdb=g463 (https://www.oru.se/forskning/forskargrupper/fg/?rdb=g463)

The Education and Employment

The doctoral programme consists of courses and independent research work presented in a doctoral thesis. The education is intended to conclude with a doctoral degree. The programme comprises 240 higher education credits, equivalent to four years of full-time study. The employment may include departmental service in the form of teaching, administration, and research other than the own thesis work, up to 20% of full time. In this case, the study period is extended to five years.

Our ambition is that your doctoral education should be stimulating and feel meaningful from the very beginning until your doctoral degree. A good introduction as a PhD student facilitates the start of your studies and provides a solid foundation for your doctoral education. As a PhD student at Örebro University, you are offered a specially adapted seminar series covering everything from educational regulations and career development to support in your study situation and PhD networking events. The education is conducted in Swedish.

A full-time PhD position is attached to the study place for the duration of the education. In the rulebook (https://www.oru.se/globalassets/oru-sv/utbildning/utbildning-pa-forskarniva/regelhandbok-for-utbildning-pa-forskarniva.pdf (https://www.oru.se/globalassets/oru-sv/utbildning/utbildning-pa-forskarniva/regelhandbok-for-utbildning-pa-forskarniva.pdf)), you can read more about PhD positions as well as studies and employment on a part-time basis. The starting salary for the PhD position is 32,300 SEK per month.

Eligibility and Selection

To read the full advertisement, please visit: https://www.oru.se/jobba-hos-oss/lediga-jobb/jobbannons/?jid=20260070 (https://www.oru.se/jobba-hos-oss/lediga-jobb/jobbannons/?jid=20260070)

Information

Further information about the education and employment is provided by Åsa Källström, Professor of Social Work, 019-303007 ([email protected] (mailto:[email protected])).

At Örebro University, we expect all employees to be open to development and change, take responsibility for their own work effort and quality, show engagement in collaboration and contributing to development, and show respect for others through a constructive and professional approach.

Örebro University actively works with equal opportunities and gender equality, ensuring our work environment is characterized by openness, trust, and respect. We value the qualities that diversity brings to our operations.

Application for Education and PhD Position

You make your application for the education on our website by clicking the "Apply" button.

A complete application must include the following electronic documents:

• CV
• Personal statement (approx. one page)
• Copies of original degree certificates and official transcripts for the Bachelor's degree
• Copies of original degree certificates and official transcripts for the Master's degree
• Independent work (thesis)
• Other relevant documents, certificates, and diplomas supporting your application
• A project description including subject and purpose, research questions and outline, theory and method, and material. In the project description, you must also describe how the proposed project relates to one or more of the subject's research areas (5-10 pages)

As a general rule, the application with attachments must be written in Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, or English. Documents in other languages must be translated by an authorized translator into Swedish or English. A list of translators can be obtained from the National Board of Justice Administration (http://www.kammarkollegiet.se (http://www.kammarkollegiet.se)).

An application for admission to the education also serves as an application for employment.

More information for applicants can be found on our Vacancies page: https://www.oru.se/jobba-hos-oss/lediga-jobb/information-for-dig-som-sokande-och-sakkunnig/ (https://www.oru.se/jobba-hos-oss/lediga-jobb/information-for-dig-som-sokande-och-sakkunnig/)

The application deadline is 2026-05-08. We welcome your application!

As we have already made our choices regarding external partners and marketing in connection with this recruitment, we decline contact with recruitment agencies and ad sellers.

According to the National Archives' regulations, we must archive one set of application documents, excluding publications, for two years after the appointment decision has become final.