PhD student in Practical Philosophy

The Department of Philosophy at Stockholm University is the largest in Sweden, boasting a lively community of philosophers with a broad range of scholarly interests.  The department has a strong international profile: we frequently attract visitors from around the world, regularly invite internationally renowned philosophers to our colloquium, and are involved in several international research networks.  We have been repeatedly selected as one of the leading research areas in the humanities at Stockholm University.  The department's strengths within practical philosophy have recently been augmented by the addition of the Stockholm Centre for the Ethics of War and Peace. Several of our faculty members are associated with the Institute for Futures Studies, which hosts research projects of philosophical relevance, or with the Stockholm Centre for Healthcare Ethics and the Stockholm Centre on Global Governance. The department also cooperates with practical philosophy at Uppsala University and the University of Gothenburg through the Norms and Normativity graduate school, which is supported by the Swedish Research Council.

Subject area

The thesis work will be conducted within practical philosophy. Practical philosophy includes a range of research areas related to norms and normativity, including in particular applied ethics, normative ethics, meta-ethics, political philosophy, philosophy of action, philosophy of the social and behavioral sciences (including social ontology and philosophy of economics), philosophy of religion, aesthetics, philosophy of law, decision theory, game theory, and the history of these sub-disciplines.

Qualification requirements

In order to be admitted to postgraduate education, the applicant must meet the general and specific entry requirements.

You meet the general entry requirements if you have completed a second-cycle degree, or completed courses equivalent to at least 240 higher education credits, of which 60 credits must be in the second cycle, or have otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge in Sweden or elsewhere.

You meet the special eligibility requirements if you have successfully completed advanced level courses of 30 credits in practical philosophy including a degree project. These eligibility requirements can also be met if you who have acquired essentially equivalent skills in or outside the country. For special eligibility, it is further required that you have knowledge of English, which must include the ability to read, speak and write in this language.

If you have not completed your second cycle thesis or degree at the time of application, you might submit the thesis and proof of completion no later than June 13, 2025.

Selection

The selection among the eligible candidates will be based on their capacity to benefit from the training.  The selection is made with regard to the following criteria:

Previous education in general: assessment of both depth and breadth of previous education.

Scientific production: based on a Bachelor's thesis, a Master's thesis or other academic papers, the ability of the applicant to benefit from the education is considered in relation to the following assessment criteria:

• Critical ability
• Analytical ability
• Creativity
• Independence

The assessment should also take into consideration the aspect of time, that is, to what extent the applicant has shown the ability to meet their previous scientific obligations within given time constraints.  In addition, the scientific progress of the applicant is considered.

Research plan: the applicant should enclose a research plan, which should cover the research problem and an outline of the research project.  The research plan is assessed according to:

• Relevance
• Originality
• Completion within given time constraints (i.e., full-time work during a four-year period of doctoral studies)

The availability of suitable supervisor competence.

Ability to collaborate: the ability of the applicant to be collaborative is determined by personal references, certificates or interviews.

The Admission Regulations for Doctoral Studies at Stockholm University are available here.

Selection process

After the closing date (January 31, 2025), applications submitted will be given a preliminary ranking.  Applicants will be notified of their standing in this ranking no later than March 10, 2025.

After the last day for submitting theses and proof of second-cycle degree (June 13, 2025), a final ranking will be established.  Applicants will receive notification of admission no later than June 27, 2025.

Please note that admission decisions cannot be appealed. Also note that the final ranking on which admissions are based might diverge from the preliminary ranking communicated earlier.

About the post

Starting date: September 1, 2025, unless otherwise agreed.

We offer a fixed-term employment as a doctoral student according to Chapter 5 of the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100). The period of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education for four years. As a doctoral student, you should primarily devote yourself to your own doctoral education, but the employment may include work with education, research and administration to a limited extent (maximum 20 %). The position is fully salaried and with standard benefits of employment (such as the right to parental leave and benefit).

A new employment as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year, the employment is then renewed for a maximum of two years at a time.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact

For more information, please contact the Director of Graduate Studies, Practical Philosophy, Johan Brännmark ([email protected]), or the Head of the Department, Gunnar Björnsson ([email protected]).

Union representatives

Saco-S [email protected], Fackförbundet ST/OFR [email protected], and SEKO [email protected]. PhD student representative [email protected].

Application

Apply for the PhD student position at Stockholm University's recruitment system by clicking the "Apply" button.  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.

Please include the following information with your application

• Your contact details and personal data
• Your highest degree
• Your language skills
• Contact details for 2--3 references

In addition, please include the following documents

• Cover letter
• CV — degrees and other completed courses, work experience and a list of degree projects/theses
• Research proposal (maximum 2,500 words, including references)
• Degree certificates and grades confirming that you meet the qualification requirements, in chronological order (no more than 6 files)
• Up to four writing samples (papers, theses) along with a document ordering these according to how important they are for assessing your qualifications generally and in relation to your research project

    
The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position.

Stockholm University contributes to the development of sustainable democratic society through knowledge, enlightenment and the pursuit of truth.

Closing date: January 31, 2025

URL: https://www.su.se/english/about-the-university/work-at-su/available-jobs?rmpage=job&rmjob=24842&rmlang=UK