PhD Student in Political Science

Stockholm University

Department of Political Science, Stockholm University
Published: 16 Dec 2025
Last Application Date: 6 Feb 2026
Reference Number: SU FV-4500-25

Overview

The Department of Political Science is a dynamic and strong education and research department at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Stockholm University. The Department aims to be nationally leading and internationally prominent in research and education.

The Department announces one fully funded PhD position in the doctoral program, with a specialization in Public Administration. The position is planned to start in April 2026, or later by agreement.

More information: Department of Political Science

Project Description

The PhD position is part of the Doctoral School for the Public Sector of the Future (FOFOS), embedded within SustainGov, a national innovation programme addressing societal challenges. FOFOS is a transdisciplinary doctoral school carried out in collaboration between six Swedish higher education institutions.

The PhD project falls under the theme “Public Officials and the Future Social Contract”, examining:

• How values, value conflicts, and role expectations for public officials are shaped
• Changes in the relationship between politics and administration
• The role of knowledge and expertise
• Emerging interactions between the state, market, and civil society

The project is conducted in collaboration with the Stockholm Centre for Organizational Research (SCORE). The PhD candidate will participate in doctoral school activities such as partnership meetings, conferences, courses, and other learning activities.

Qualification Requirements

General Entry Requirements:

• Completed second-cycle degree, or equivalent knowledge in Sweden or abroad
• At least 240 higher education credits, with at least 60 at the second cycle

Specific Entry Requirements:

• Completed higher education equivalent to 150 Swedish university credits, including at least 60 credits at master’s level in political science, or equivalent
• Completed an academic independent work of at least 15 Swedish university credits in political science
• Completed an additional 90 Swedish university credits, or equivalent, in relevant subjects
• Proficiency in English (TOEFL ≥ 550)
• Good proficiency in Swedish (required for collecting and analysing empirical material)

Selection Criteria

Selection is based on the candidate’s capacity to benefit from the doctoral training, assessed by:

• Quality of previous written work (theses, articles, reports)
  • Empirical substance
  • Independence in structure and analysis
  • Clear research design: research problem, research questions, justified delimitations, relation to theory, methodological awareness
• Feasibility of completing the thesis
  • Demonstrated ability to complete tasks within time limits
  • Clear problem definition and research plan

Admissions follow the Admission Regulations for Doctoral Studies at Stockholm University.

Employment Details

• Type of employment: Temporary position (doctoral student, Chapter 5, Higher Education Ordinance 1993:100)
• Scope: Full-time (100%)
• Duration: Maximum four years
• Additional duties: May include education, research, and administration up to 20% of working hours
• Location: Stockholm

Employment is renewed annually for a maximum of two years at a time.

Application Instructions

• Apply via Stockholm University’s recruitment system
• Attach: personal letter, CV, and any attachments requested in the application form
• Ensure the application is complete before the deadline

Instructions for applicants: How to apply for a position

Contact Information

• Application questions: antagning.forskarutbildning@statsvet.su.se
• Research questions: Associate Professor Martin Qvist, martin.qvist@statsvet.su.se

Union Representatives:

• ST/OFR: st@st.su.se
• Saco-S: saco@saco.su.se
• Seko: sekodirekt@seko.se