Doctoral students in Political Science (3-4)

Om jobbet

The University of Gothenburg tackles society's challenges with diverse knowledge. 58 000 students and 6800 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

Doctoral positions in Political Science (3-4)

The Department of Political Science is an open and socially engaged institution, in the middle of the city and at the centre of the debate. Our research revolves around elections, democracy, corruption, forms of government, globalization, the environment and politics, and European politics. The department hosts research programs such as the Center for Environmental Political Studies (CEPS), Quality of Government (QoG), Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem), Governance and Local Development (GLD) and the Swedish Electoral Research Program. We offer education at all levels, from undergraduate to postgraduate. Teaching is offered in both Swedish and English. In total, about 1,400 people study with us. The Department of Political Science has around 180 employees. For more information about the Department, please visit our website, https://www.gu.se/en/political-science.

The Department of Political Science is currently looking for up to four qualified and motivated individuals for positions as doctoral students in Political Science.

General information about being a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg can be found on the university's doctoral student pages.

https://www.gu.se/en/doctoral-studies

Duties

A doctoral student conducts research and contributes to the development of knowledge within the discipline. Doctoral students are expected to develop ideas independently and to communicate research findings orally and in writing.

The aim of a doctoral studentship is to help the student acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct research independently within political science and to contribute to the development of knowledge within the discipline by writing a dissertation. Another aim is for doctoral students to develop the ability to apply their knowledge and skills in post-doctoral research or in other professional roles. For more information on the structure of our PhD program and on the work assignments of doctoral students, please see our website.

Doctoral studies comprises four years of full-time study, and leads to a doctoral degree.

As part of your employment as a doctoral student, you may have departmental duties corresponding to up to 20 % of full-time employment, distributed throughout your study period, and result in a corresponding extension of the studies. Departmental duties usually consist of teaching at first- and second-cycle levels, but may also include research and administration.

Eligibility

Doctoral education requires general eligibility and, where appropriate, specific eligibility as set out in the general syllabus for the subject.

The general eligibility requirements for doctoral studies are:

1. having completed a degree at second-cycle level, or
2. the fulfilment of course requirements totalling at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits must be at second-cycle level, or
3. the acquisition of equivalent knowledge in some other way, either in Sweden or abroad.

According to the Higher Education Ordinance Ch.7, Sec.40, and the General Syllabus for Third-Cycle Studies in Political Science, GU 2024/3687, an applicant meets thespecific entry requirementsif he/she has obtained at least 60 higher education credits (one year of full-time studies) in Political Science or has equivalent qualifications.

Studies at the second-cycle level in other social sciences or related disciplines may be considered equivalent in terms of scope and depth.

Please note that we cannot provide any information on the eligibility of individual applicants before the application deadline has passed.

Assessment criteria

The selection of applicants who meet the basic and specific eligibility requirements will be based on the ability to assimilate the doctoral studies.

We will primarily base this assessment on the following:

1. A working sample, which will be assessed in terms of ability to formulate, delimit, and analyze a research problem and to present novel research findings.
2. A statement concerning the intended research project laying out the applicant's research interests and describing the intended topic of the doctoral thesis. The statement must demonstrate familiarity with previous and current research and an ability to formulate scientific problems. Maximum 2.500 words (approx. 6 pages).
3. Academic transcripts.
4. Previous merits.
5. The selection process includes interviews.
6. We may ask applicants to provide letters of recommendations at a later stage in the process.

Admission and employment

Once you have been admitted to doctoral studies, you will be employed as a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg.

The provisions for employment as a doctoral student can be found in ordinance SFS 1993:100.

Initial employment as a doctoral student may apply for a maximum of one year, and may be renewed by a maximum of two years at a time.

A doctoral student may be employed as a doctoral student for a maximum of eight years, but the total period of employment may not be longer than the equivalent of full-time education at doctoral level for four years.

Type of employment: Fixed-term employment, four years full time

Extent: 100% (full-time)

Placement: Department of Political Science, Gothenburg

Starting date: 2026-09-01

The University applies a local agreement on salaries for doctoral students.

Please note, doctoral studies at the Department of Political Science require physical presence to conduct the studies. If the admitted applicant needs a residence permit for higher education to pursue studies in Sweden, the Department of Political Science has the right to revoke the admission decision if the applicant cannot present a valid residence permit no later than at the start of the studies.

Selection process

All applications will be screened by an admission committee led by the Director of Studies for the PhD Program. The formal decision on admission is taken by the Head of Department. The final admission decision will be announced during the month of April. The decision cannot be appealed.

Contact information

Kristina Gurok, program coordinator
E-Mail: phdprogram@pol.gu.se
Phone: +46 31 786 5855

Johannes Lindvall, Assistant Head of Department, responsible for the PhD programme
E-Mail: johannes.lindvall@gu.se
Phone: +46 31 786 1224

Unions

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here:
https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande

Application

You can apply to be admitted to doctoral education via the University of Gothenburg's recruitment portal.

It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per this notice, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline.

The application must be in English. To be complete, the application must include:

1. An introductory letter of 1.000 words maximum (approx. 2 pages), preferably shorter. The letter should consist of four paragraphs in the following order:
   
   • a short presentation of yourself,
   • a short presentation of your qualifications,
   • a short presentation of the intended research project, and
   • a short statement concerning why the Department of Political Science and its the doctoral studies program is of interest to you.
2. CV including a list of publications (if applicable).
3. One writing sample. Normally, this would be a master's thesis, but it could also be a revised version of the thesis, or another paper, article or book chapter for example, or equivalent work. The writing sample must be submitted in Swedish or English. Any translated versions must be accompanied by the original text and translated in their entirety.
4. A description of the intended research project indicating the applicant's research interests and planned focus area of his/her thesis and research. The project description must demonstrate familiarity with previous and current research as well as an ability to formulate scientific problems. 2.500 words maximum (approx. 6 pages) including abstract, excluding bibliography. Further instructions can be found here: https://www.gu.se/en/political-science/doctoral-studies/open-for-application-doctoral-studentship-positions.
5. Verified copies of academic transcripts and evidence of other relevant qualifications, if applicable. Please note that you need to submit detailed academic transcripts that specify your finished courses, credits and degrees. If English is not the original language, you need to submit both the original and an English translation. For degree transcripts from universities within the EU, please provide a diploma supplement. Please note that you need to provide transcripts for your previous studies at both the bachelor and master levels.
6. Applicants may be asked to provide recommendation letters later in the process. Please do not submit any recommendation letters before we contact you and explicitly ask for them. However, it may be a good idea to get in touch with two persons who could write a recommendation letter for you and ask them to prepare to submit the letters following the instructions. Instructions with regards to format and content can be found here: https://www.gu.se/en/political-science/doctoral-studies/open-for-applicationdoctoral-studentship-positions.

Applications must be received by:29 January 2026

Information for International Applicants

Choosing a career in a foreign country is a big step. Thus, to give you a general idea of what we and Gothenburg have to offer in terms of benefits and life in general for you and your family/spouse/partner please visit:

https://www.gu.se/en/about-the-university/welcome-services
https://www.movetogothenburg.com/

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

Salaries are set individually at the University.

In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden's regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.

In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.