Reference Number: PAR 2026/415
Institution: University of Gothenburg
Department: Department of Literature, History of Ideas, and Religion
Employment Type: Doctoral Studentship (Fixed-term)
Duration: 4 Years
Workload: 100%
Location: University of Gothenburg, Sweden
Starting Date: 1 February 2027
Application Deadline: 26 August 2026

About the University

The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. With 58,000 students and 6,800 employees, the University is a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. Through new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

About the Department

The Department of Literature, History of Ideas, and Religion is one of the six departments within the Faculty of Humanities.

The department has:

• Approximately 100 employees, including around 20 doctoral students.
• Approximately 1,000 students.

Research in History of Ideas and Science covers a wide range of topics, including:

• History of politics.
• Philosophy.
• Aesthetics.
• Science.
• Technology.
• Medicine.
• Critical thinking.
• Materialities of knowledge.
• Environmentalism and ecocriticism.
• Gender studies.
• Modernity.
• Postcolonialism.
• European identity.
• Hermeneutics.
• Conceptual history.
• Historiography.

Most research focuses on European contexts, while topics with global perspectives are also explored.

About the Doctoral Programme

The Department announces one doctoral position in History of Ideas and Science.

The aim of the doctoral programme is to award a doctoral degree in the subject.

The programme includes:

• Coursework, with examinations after each course.
• An independent research project leading to a doctoral thesis.
• Oral and written presentation of research findings.

The doctoral programme aims to develop the knowledge and skills required to:

• Conduct original and independent research.
• Contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the discipline.
• Apply research expertise in academic and other qualified professional contexts.

Doctoral students are expected to:

• Be physically present at the department.
• Participate actively in the research environment.
• Attend doctoral and research seminars.

The working language is Swedish, although some activities and seminars are conducted in English.

The University offers introductory Swedish language courses when needed.

The doctoral thesis may be written in:

• English.
• Swedish.
• Norwegian.
• Danish.

General Syllabus

The objectives, content, examination procedures, admission requirements, and selection criteria are described in the General Syllabus for Third-cycle Studies in History of Ideas and Science.

Eligibility

Applicants must satisfy both the general and specific entry requirements.

General Eligibility

Applicants must have:

• A second-cycle qualification; or
• Completed at least 240 higher education credits, including 60 credits at the second-cycle level; or
• Equivalent qualifications obtained in Sweden or abroad.

Specific Eligibility

Applicants must have:

• At least 30 higher education credits in History of Ideas and Science at the second-cycle level.
• At least 15 credits from a second-cycle degree project (e.g., Master's thesis), or equivalent qualifications.
• Sufficient proficiency in Swedish and Englishto:
  • Complete compulsory coursework.
  • Participate actively in seminars and related activities.

Assessment

Selection among eligible applicants is based on their ability to successfully complete doctoral education.

Applications are assessed according to the criteria specified in the General Syllabus.

Selection also considers:

• The potential of the proposed research project to contribute to ongoing research within the department.
• Availability of appropriate supervision resources.

Appointment Procedure

Admission decisions are made by the Head of Department following departmental review.

The recruitment process consists of two stages:

1. Shortlisting based on submitted application materials.
2. Online interviews with shortlisted candidates.

Interview Date

16 November 2026

During the interview, applicants will present their proposed doctoral research project.

Applicants requiring a residence permit for studies in Sweden must present a valid residence permit before the programme begins.

Employment

Employment is regulated under SFS 1993:100.

Key employment conditions include:

• Full-time doctoral employment for four years.
• Initial appointment of up to one year.
• Subsequent renewals of up to two years at a time.
• Maximum employment corresponding to four years of full-time doctoral studies.

The position may include departmental duties such as:

• Teaching.
• Administration.

These duties may comprise up to 20% of full-time employment, with a corresponding extension of the employment period.

Doctoral student salaries are regulated through a local agreement at the University.

Contact Information

Questions about the Doctoral Programme

Gunilla Hermansson
Deputy Head of Department (Doctoral Studies)
Email: gunilla.hermansson@lir.gu.se

HR Contact

Jong Ho
HR Officer
Email: jong.ho@gu.se

Application

Applications must be submitted through the University of Gothenburg's online recruitment system.

Applicants must submit:

• Personal Letter
  • Maximum 3,000 characters (including spaces).
  • Written in Swedish or English.
  • Explain motivation for applying and reflect on development demonstrated in previous degree projects.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Contact details.
  • Education.
  • Employment history.
  • Publications (if applicable).
  • References.
  • Other relevant qualifications.

• Degree Projects

  • Master's thesis meeting the specific eligibility requirements.
  • Up to five additional essays and/or publications (if applicable).

  Submitted work will be assessed based on:

  • Originality.
  • Scholarly relevance.
  • Difficulty of the topic.
  • Methodological quality.
  • Overall presentation.

• Research Plan

  • Maximum 20,000 characters (including spaces, references, and notes).
  • Should include:
    • Purpose.
    • Research questions.
    • Materials.
    • Relation to previous research.
    • Theoretical framework.
    • Methodology.
    • Preliminary project plan and timetable.

  Assessment criteria include:

  • Originality.
  • Scholarly relevance.
  • Scientific rigor.
  • Feasibility.
• Degree Certificates and Academic Transcripts
  • Demonstrating fulfilment of both general and specific eligibility requirements.
  • Professional translations must be provided for documents not written in Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, or English.

Incomplete applications will not be assessed.

Information Meeting

An online information meeting will be held on:

Date: 18 June 2026
Time: 12:00–13:00 (Zoom)

Applicants may attend to ask questions about the doctoral position.

Additional Information

The University of Gothenburg actively promotes equal opportunities and values diversity in its workplace.

Application documents are archived for two years in accordance with the regulations of the National Archives of Sweden. Documents may be returned upon request after the retention period; otherwise, they will be destroyed.

The University has already selected its recruitment channels and therefore declines further contact from recruitment agencies, staffing companies, and vendors.