by
2026-02-27
Umeå University is one of Sweden’s largest higher education institutions with over 37,000 students and about 4,700 employees. The University offers a diversity of high-quality education and world-leading research in several fields. Notably, the groundbreaking discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool, which was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, was made here. At Umeå University, everything is close. Our cohesive campuses make it easy to meet, work together and exchange knowledge, which promotes a dynamic and open culture.
The ongoing societal transformation and large green investments in northern Sweden create enormous opportunities and complex challenges. For Umeå University, conducting research about – and in the middle of – a society in transition is key. We also take pride in delivering education to enable regions to expand quickly and sustainably. In fact, the future is made here.
Are you interested in learning more? Read about Umeå university as a workplace
The Department of Education is one of the largest departments within the Faculty of Social Sciences, with approximately 80 employees. Priority areas of research at the department include Sport Education, Leadership, Organisation and Working Life, Education in a Digital World, Didactics, History of Education and Assessment, Special Education, and Gender and Educational Processes in Society.
The department offers a wide range of courses and contributes to several academic programmes, including the Teacher Education Programmes, the Sport Science Programme, the Human Resource Management Programme, the Behavioural Science Programme with a focus on IT environments, and the Police Education Programme.
We are announcing two PhD positions in Education, with a specialization in Vocational Education. Both positions are located at the Department of Education, Umeå University, and connected to research in Didactics, History of Education and Assessment.
The doctoral students will be part of the national research school FYSALIS: Research School for Vocational Didactics and School, Working Life, and Teacher Education in Collaboration, funded by the Swedish Research Council and conducted in cooperation with other higher education institutions. The overarching aim of the research school is to strengthen the research base within vocational teacher education. Central themes include:
* Vocational education from historical, societal, and international perspectives (policy, governance, educational models)
* Socialisation processes and identity formation (vocational cultures, gender, class, ethnicity)
* Vocational didactics and social practices for vocational teaching and learning (vocational competence, workplace learning, assessment)
Doctoral candidates have the freedom to design a dissertation project related to these themes. Mandatory courses and participation in regular meetings at the collaborating universities are included.
This PhD position is announced in collaboration with the Research School in Educational Sciences at Umeå University, which provides a cohesive environment for postgraduate studies in educational sciences. You will combine your doctoral studies at the department with participation in a dynamic, interdisciplinary doctoral group and gain access to national and international research networks. As part of the research school, you will contribute to knowledge development valuable for researchers, teachers, and other educational professionals.
To be eligible for admission to doctoral studies, applicants must meet both general and specific entry requirements.
General eligibility
General eligibility requires that the applicant: a) has completed a second-cycle degree, or
b) has completed at least 240 ECTS credits, of which at least 60 are at second-cycle level, or
c) has acquired equivalent knowledge in another way, within or outside Sweden (Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 7, Section 39).
Specific eligibility
Specific eligibility for doctoral studies in Education requires: at least 90 ECTS credits in Education, and a) a second-cycle degree in Education, or b) 60 ECTS credits at the second-cycle level in Education, or c) another relevant education of equivalent scope and depth.
Equivalent knowledge acquired in other ways, within or outside Sweden, may also be accepted.
Selection criteria
Among eligible applicants, selection is based primarily on:
• ability to benefit from the doctoral programme
• previous academic performance
• the quality of the submitted research plan, in relation to the focus of the announced positions
Assessment of the ability to benefit from the programme includes:
• analytical ability
• communication skills, written and oral
• critical thinking
• independence
• ability to complete tasks within given time frames
Knowledge of and experience with the Swedish education system and teacher education is considered an advantage.
Doctoral candidates are expected to devote themselves primarily to their own doctoral studies. Employment as a doctoral student is granted for the time necessary to complete the programme, corresponding to four years of full-time study. The initial contract is for one year, with possible extensions of up to two years at a time, provided that the individual study plan is followed.
The position may include teaching or other departmental duties of up to 20%, which extends the total period of employment to a maximum of five years.
Doctoral candidates must complete mandatory courses offered by the Department of Education, the Research School for Vocational Didactics and School–Working Life–Teacher Education, and the Research School in Educational Sciences. Activities within the research schools begin in early autumn 2026.
The workplace is Umeå University. Salary follows the university’s salary progression for doctoral students. Doctoral candidates are expected to take an active role in the development of the department’s research environment.
Physically, the position is located at the Department of Education, where subject-specific courses and supervision take place. For an overview of the subject-specific study plan, see the current General Study Plan (ASP).
Under the Higher Education Ordinance (Chapter 12, Section 2), decisions regarding the employment of doctoral students cannot be appealed.
Applications must be submitted through the online recruitment system Varbi, available via Umeå University’s job vacancies webpage. The application deadline is 27 February 2026.
A complete application must include:
1. Personal letter summarising your academic interests and motivation for applying (max. 2 pages)
2. CV
3. Degree certificates and transcripts, including certificates of any additional courses claimed as merits
4. Theses and/or other publications
5. Research plan describing the proposed dissertation project (3 pages excluding references), linked to the themes described in “Focus of the Doctoral Position”
6. Contact details for two references (e.g., previous supervisors)
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
For more information about the Department of Education, contact:
Jörgen From, Head of Department, +46 (0)90–786 65 10, jorgen.from@umu.se
For information about doctoral studies in Education, contact: Peter Bergström, Director of Doctoral Studies, +46 (0)90–786 53 81, peter.bergstrom@umu.se
For information about the specific PhD positions, contact: Kristina Ledman, Associate Professor
+46 (0)90–786 67 93, kristina.ledman@umu.se
WELCOME WITH YOUR APPLICATION!
Admission
2026-09-01
Salary
Månadslön
Application deadline
2026-02-27
Registration number
AN 2.2.1-91-26
Contact
Jörgen From
090-7866510
Union representative
SACO
090-7865365
SEKO
090-7865296
ST
090-7865431