Vacant job

At the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, education and research are conducted within economics, music, mathematics, humanities, social sciences, behavioral sciences, and educational sciences, with a clear connection to society, culture, and democracy. Our research is conducted in dialogue with the surrounding society and contributes to critical knowledge development, education, and a deeper understanding of complex societal issues. Through our collaboration platforms, we bring together academia, the public sector, and business to jointly contribute to knowledge development and meet societal challenges. The education is offered at all levels and is based on scientific or artistic foundations and academic breadth. Together, we contribute to a sustainable, open, and knowledge-based society. Within the faculty, there are three departments where a total of approximately 420 people work. The Department of Social Sciences and Humanities offers education in social sciences, behavioral sciences, and language and communication. The research focuses on societal issues such as democracy, migration, sustainable development, and communication and is conducted in close collaboration with the surrounding society.

Employment Information

Employment Type: Fixed-term employment

Employment Period/Start Date: Start 2026-10-01 or as agreed, for four years

Scope: Full-time

Number of Positions: 1

Application Deadline: 2026-08-09

Location: Karlshamn

Department/Unit: Social Sciences and Humanities

PhD Subject: Social Work

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

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

Job Description

As a doctoral student, you will conduct your own research and doctoral studies with the aim of obtaining a PhD in Social Work. Other duties of up to 20% may occur, such as departmental duties in the form of teaching. In such cases, the employment period is extended by the corresponding time. The doctoral program is conducted in both Swedish and English. Since data collection and collaboration take place in Swedish-speaking contexts, very good knowledge of Swedish, both spoken and written, is required.

The research project consists of four sub-studies and highlights how representations of social services in digital media have consequences for social workers and the practice of social work, as well as how these can change. In the studies, parents, social workers, and researchers co-create new knowledge and design trust-promoting working methods. As a doctoral student, you will be part of a larger research project focusing on the development of trust- and relationship-strengthening working methods in structurally disadvantaged residential areas.

Qualification Requirements

To be admitted to postgraduate studies, the applicant must have basic eligibility and the specific eligibility required by the subject, as well as be assessed to have such other abilities as are needed to benefit from the education.

Basic Eligibility for postgraduate studies (according to HF Chapter 7, Section 39) is held by those who:

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

Specific Eligibility for admission to Social Work is held by those who have:

• necessary knowledge from higher education or equivalent education and/or professional experience assessed based on relevance to the research project,
• necessary language skills in English, both oral and written,
• assessed ability to work independently and ability to formulate and tackle scientific problems.

Selection Criteria

This advertisement is abbreviated. To see the full advertisement including selection criteria, go to https://www.mdu.se/om-mdu/jobba-med-oss/lediga-jobb (https://www.mdu.se/om-mdu/jobba-med-oss/lediga-jobb).

Application

You submit your application by clicking the "Apply" button below.

As an applicant, you are responsible for ensuring the application is complete in accordance with the advertisement and submitted to the university no later than the application deadline. The application must include the documents requested to prove eligibility as well as material for merit assessment. Degree certificates and/or result transcripts must always be attached to the application, and the documents must be officially issued by the educational institution.

Submitted materials may 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 a language other than above) must always be attached.

If the admitted candidate needs a residence permit to reside in Sweden and pursue 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 on the start date of the studies.

We look forward to receiving your application!

Union Representatives:

Saco-S: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

Susanne Meijer, ST-OFR/S, tel: 021-10 14 89

We decline all contact with salespeople of advertisements. We have made our strategic choices for this recruitment.