Vacant job

In an increasingly uncertain world characterized by great power rivalry, conflicts and wars, disinformation, disasters, environmental degradation, pandemics, and other crises, there is a great need for in-depth knowledge and a diversity of analytical perspectives.

Political science research at the Swedish Defence University analyzes how security and insecurity are created, who security is for, and how crises are prevented and managed in Swedish, European, and global contexts. We research threats, conflicts, decision-making processes, communication processes, identity construction, and ethical dilemmas concerning the state, society, and the individual, with a particular focus on Sweden and the Nordic region, the European Union, the USA, Russia, and East Asia.

Job Description

Doctoral students should primarily devote themselves to their own education in political science at the research level. Doctoral studies consist of working on one's research project and following an individual study plan under supervision. Writing a doctoral dissertation in political science is the central task (165 higher education credits), but completing doctoral education courses is also part of the program (75 higher education credits). Typically, 20% of the position consists of institutional duties in the form of teaching, administration, and participation in joint activities. Doctoral studies cover 240 higher education credits, i.e., four years. The total time for the doctoral position, including 20% institutional duties, is five years.

Qualifications

Basic eligibility

Basic eligibility for education at the advanced level is held by those who have:

• completed an advanced level degree,
• fulfilled course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits at advanced level, or
• acquired in other ways, within or outside the country, knowledge substantially equivalent to the above.

Special eligibility

Special eligibility for admission to education at the advanced level in political science with a specialization in crisis management and security is held by those who have:

• fulfilled course requirements of at least 30 higher education credits at advanced level within the main subject area of political science with a specialization in crisis management and security or equivalent,
• authored a passed independent work (thesis) in political science with a specialization in crisis management and security or equivalent of at least 15 higher education credits at advanced level,
• fulfilled course requirements of an additional 90 higher education credits in subjects relevant to the education, and
• secondary school grades equivalent to English 6. For applicants who do not have grades from Swedish upper secondary school, or a degree from international education, a certificate of eligibility equivalent to English 6 from an internationally recognized language test (TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge ESOL) is required.

Evaluation Criteria and Selection

Selection among applicants who meet the eligibility requirements is made with regard to their ability to benefit from the education.

The evaluation criteria applied are in the following order of priority:

• scientific quality of previous work and relevant studies,
• scientific quality, including feasibility, of the research plan, and
• other merits that are significant for the education, including demonstrated ability to carry out tasks within given timeframes.

Application

The application must include:

• Degree certificates and transcripts from previous basic and advanced level studies confirming that you meet the general and specific eligibility requirements for the position.
• CV (max two pages).
• Contact details for two references.
• Example of an advanced level thesis or other relevant independent work of comparable difficulty and scope (max three texts).
• Draft research proposal (maximum 1400 words excluding references).
• A description of how your project fits into the research environment at the Department of Political Science. This description should clearly indicate which of the department's broad research areas, i.e., crisis management or security, the proposed project fits into. The letter should also explicitly discuss how the project relates to the department's research: https://www.fhs.se/forskning/var-forskning/statsvetenskap.html (https://www.fhs.se/forskning/var-forskning/statsvetenskap.html).
• If the applicant is not a Swedish citizen, a copy of the passport must be attached.
• Where applicable, confirmation of external funding for doctoral studies from an employer that guarantees funding for the entire program and that the applicant can devote the necessary time to studies to complete the program within the specified time.

Applications are submitted via the Swedish Defence University's recruitment system.

Mark your application with reference number Ö 241/2026.

It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that the application is complete and meets the requirements specified in the advertisement. Partial applications will not be considered. The application must be filled out in a Scandinavian language or English. Authorized translations must be provided for documents in other languages. Applicants may be called for interviews in early autumn 2026. The goal is to complete employment decisions well before the end of 2026. The employment is expected to start in the spring semester 2027 (January).

Terms of Employment

A doctoral position is classified as a full-time employment (100%). The period of employment is fixed-term and regulated by Chapter 5 of the Higher Education Ordinance. Doctoral students are placed at the Department of Political Science. Salary is paid according to the Swedish Defence University's doctoral ladder, according to which the starting salary is currently 32,600 SEK/month (from October 1, 2025). The employment is expected to start in January 2027. Doctoral students have access to a research budget of 30,000 SEK per year to cover costs for travel, literature, and other research-related expenses.