2-5 PhD-candidate positions in Social Work

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world’s top universities. The University has around 47 000 students and more than 8 800 staff based in Lund, Helsingborg and Malmö. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain and improve our world and the human condition.

Lund University welcomes applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We regard gender equality and diversity as a strength and an asset.

Work duties
The programme leading to a doctoral degree comprises a total of 240 credits divided into a course component of 75 credits and an academic thesis of 165 credits. The education is completed with the public defense of the doctoral thesis. The PhD-programme consists of four years of full-time study. A PhD candidate is employed to fulfill the requirements of the PhD-programme, and is also expected to contribute and take active part in the research environment at the School of Social Work. Departmental duties of up to 20 per cent of full-time may occur depending on the department’s needs, mainly in the form of teaching and administrative work, in which case employment is extended accordingly. Both Swedish and English are used as languages within the PhD-programme, seminars and meetings. Non-Swedish speaking doctoral students are expected to acquire basic skills in Swedish during the period of employment. Opportunities to take part in language teaching within Lund University are available.

The general syllabus for the program is available here: https://www.sam.lu.se/en/internal/research-and-education/phd-studies/general-syllabi

Requirements for admission
A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle studies if he or she:

1) has been awarded a second-cycle degree,
2) has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle,
3) or has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

A person meets the specific admission requirements if he or she has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 30 second-cycle credits in Social Work, or a corresponding qualification acquired in Sweden or abroad. The doctoral student must also have completed a second-cycle independent project worth 15 credits.

Assessment critera
The overriding selection criterion is the applicant’s ability to benefit from the PhD-programme and the capacity to independently, creatively aand crititcally conduct social work research. Applicants are evaluated based on study results, academic publications such as journal articles, books, book chapters, and research reports, the research plan and previous experience of participating in research activities. Merits should be substantiated. The possibilities of the department to provide applicants with adequate supervision and a research environment of high quality are also key criteria in the selection process.

Application procedure
Applicants are asked to attach a dissertation research plan of 4-5 pages (upload it under Other files). The plan should contain a formulation of the research problem, research questions, some comments on the literature within the research field, an outline of a study design and relevant methodological considerations. Explain in what way your planned research contributes to social work and the department’s research areas. For further information on research areas at the School of Social Work, access the following website: https://portal.research.lu.se/en/organisations/school-of-social-work/organisations/

Applications must include a cover letter stating (a) the reasons why you are interested in the PhD-programme in Social Work, and (b) why you apply to Lund University.

The application must also include a CV, degree certificate or equivalent, and other documents and texts you wish to be considered (master’s thesis and other publications, grade transcripts, any co-author certificates, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etcetera).

Evaluation is based on merits and documents submitted at the application deadline. Only complete applications will be considered.

Interviews will be conducted with a limited number of applicants at the final stage of the admission process.

Applicants may be asked to undertake a work test after the application has been submitted.

Terms of employment
Only those admitted to third cycle studies may be appointed to a doctoral studentship. Third cycle studies consist of full-time studies for 4 years. A doctoral studentship is a fixed-term employment of a maximum of 5 years (including per cent departmental duties). Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1–7 §§.

The Faculty of Social Sciences at Lund University is one of the leading education and research institutions in Sweden and operates both in Lund and Helsingborg.

At the School of Social Work there is a program in social work, independent courses, master’s degrees and a well-developed research in the central research areas of social work (see http://www.soch.lu.se/en/). The School of Social Work is active in both Lund and Helsingborg.

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