Doctoral Student in Education

The Faculty of Education at the University of Gothenburg has received significantly increased block funding for research. The funds will be used to stimulate our research environments and create opportunities for a new generation of researchers to step forward. Read more on the faculty’s website.

The Department of Education and Special Education, IPS, conducts research, postgraduate education, undergraduate education and collaborative assignments in pedagogy, subject didactics and special education. Key areas of interest at the department are issues relating to the relationship between education and society, including educational systems, school development and school leadership, adult education, inclusion, language and assessment, and grading issues. IPS has just over 220 employees, of which about 35 are doctoral students. More information about the department's activities can be found at www.ips.gu.se

Job assignments

The doctoral student should devote themself to postgraduate education. In collaboration with the supervisor, the doctoral student will formulate and implement a dissertation and a course part with compulsory and elective doctoral courses in accordance with both a general and an individual study plan. During the doctoral period, the dissertation will be presented and discussed in seminars with invited discussants on at least three occasions. The doctoral student must be included in the current research environment at the department. The Department encourages and supports the dissertation work being presented at national and international conferences.

In addition to the obligation to engage in their own postgraduate education in order to complete the same within the stipulated time, some service (max. 20%) may occur in education, research and administration in accordance with specific provisions of the regulation. The position is then extended by the corresponding time.

Eligibility

Access to education at postgraduate level requires basic and, where appropriate, special eligibility. Basic eligibility for postgraduate education has the following:
1. graduated at the advanced level, or
2. completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits at the advanced level, or
3. otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge within or outside the country.

A person has special qualifications who has 90 higher education credits in pedagogy, of which at least 30 higher education credits at an advanced level, including an independent work (degree project) comprising at least 15 higher education credits.

Duly qualified is also the person who in some other way acquired, within or outside the country, essentially similar knowledge.

Assessment

Selection among applicants who meet the requirements for basic and special eligibility is based on the ability to take up the education at the research level. Selection of applicants who meet the eligibility requirements shall, in accordance with Chapter 7 of the Higher Education Ordinance be made with regard to the admissions group's assessment of the subject's relevance to the institution.

The assessment also includes the ability of the department to offer supervision in the area that the applicant intends to carry out his / her research training. In accordance with the doctoral rules at the University of Gothenburg, only doctoral students who can be offered supervision can be accepted for postgraduate education. Great emphasis is also placed on the fact that the applicant can actively participate in one of the research environments at the department through his / her dissertation work.

Admission is in competition on the basis of an overall assessment of the applicants' submitted documents. The assessment of the applicant's ability to take advantage of postgraduate education will be guiding. Central to this assessment are the results of previous theses and dissertations as well as a clearly formulated research plan in which the applicant presents his planned dissertation area. The research plan for the dissertation is assessed on the basis of its scientific relevance and whether it addresses motivated and researchable issues and indicates adequate forms of implementation. If more than one author exists for qualifying work, the applicant's individual efforts must be clarified.

The grounds of assessment used in admissions are the applicant's documented knowledge relevant to the research area, the applicant's documented knowledge in scientific theory and methodology, and the applicant's analytical, initiative and collaborative ability. Good language skills in Swedish or English are required.

The department will primarily take into consideration those of the applicants who, in the overall assessment, are considered to have the best conditions to take advantage of postgraduate education, including the institution's opportunity to offer supervision. Great emphasis is also placed on personal characteristics.

Employment

Upon admission to postgraduate education, you will be employed as a doctoral student. Regulations for employment as a doctoral student can be found in Regulation SFS 1993: 100. The first employment as a doctoral student may apply for a maximum of one year. The employment may be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time. A person may be employed as a doctoral student for a maximum of eight years. However, the total period of employment may not exceed the equivalent of full-time postgraduate education for four years.

Type of employment: Time-limited employment, corresponding to 4 years of full-time studies
Scope: 100%
Placement: Department of Education and Special Education, University of Gothenburg
Admission: 2020-09-01 or by agreement
Diary number: PAR 2020/111

The university applies a local agreement on the remuneration of doctoral students.

Appointment procedure

The applications are prepared by an admissions group, decisions on admission are made by the head of department. More information on admission to postgraduate programs at the University of Gothenburg can be found here:

https://uf.gu.se/utbildning/forskarutbildning/antagning

For further information regarding the position

Director of studies for postgraduate education: Alli Klapp, alli.klapp@ped.gu.se
Deputy Head of Research Education Britt-Marie Apelgren, brittmarie.apelgren@ped.gu.se
Deputy Head of Research Gun-Britt Wärvik, gun-britt.warvik@ped.gu.se

Unions

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg: http://www.gu.se/english/about_the_university/job-opportunities/union-representatives

How to apply

You apply for admission to research studies via the University of Gothenburg's recruitment portal. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline. Your application documents must, as far as possible, be digitalized.

Application documents must include a completed application form for postgraduate education, a copy of relevant thesis work (C-, D- and master's theses or equivalent), a short CV, a preliminary dissertation plan, any publications, and other relevant documents the applicant wishes to cite. The dissertation plan on a maximum of 5 pages shall address relevant issues, topic context, research situation, material and methodological issues, and reflections on the relevance of the dissertation project for the dissertation project. All documents attached must be in Swedish or English.

The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the application is complete in accordance with the vacancy notice and that it is sent electronically by the last application deadline. Any scientific publications, writings and the like that are not in electronic form should be marked with reference numbers and sent to:

University of Gothenburg,
Department of Education and Special Education
Frida Rydevik
Box 300
405 30 Gothenburg

Closing date: 2020-04-14

The University of Gothenburg promotes equal opportunities, equality and diversity.

Applications will be destroyed or returned (upon request) two years after the decision of employment has become final. Applications from the employed and from those who appeal the decision will not be returned.