PhD position in philosophy (4-year salaried), open to all areas of philosophy

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.

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The Faculty of Arts and Humanities at Umeå University develops arts and humanities and invests in future Areas of Excellence. 

The Department of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies invites applications for the doctoral training programme in philosophy.

The Department of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies belongs to Umeå University's Faculty of Arts and Humanities and has about 110 employees. The department gathers researchers, teachers, and students in the fields of Archaeology, Environmental Archaeology, Philosophy, History, History and Education, History of Science and Ideas, Religious Studies, and Theology under the same roof. 

The department offers courses and awards degrees in philosophy at the undergraduate (first-cycle), advanced (second-cycle), and graduate (third-cycle) level. There are 18 permanently employed faculty members in the subject. The research activity is high and research is pursued over a broad range of philosophical areas, including aesthetics, applied ethics, epistemology, history of philosophy, metaethics, metaphysics, normative ethics, philosophy of artificial intelligence, philosophy of language, philosophy of mind, philosophy of science, and political philosophy. A research seminar for the whole subject typically meets weekly during semesters. In addition, guest lectures, reading groups, workshops and conferences are organized. The research is highly internationalized and contributes to the advancement of knowledge through peer-reviewed publications in international journals and in books from international publishers. Researchers are engaged in extensive networks and collaborate with colleagues nationally and internationally. More information about the research environment is available on individual researchers’ webpages.

Qualifications General requirements

To be admitted to studies at the third-cycle level, i.e. doctoral education, the applicant must meet both general and specific eligibility requirements. General requirements: a Master’s or equivalent degree in a relevant field, having completed course requirements worth at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits must be at second-cycle (Master’s) level, or in some other way – either in Sweden or abroad – having acquired equivalent knowledge.

Specific requirements

To meet the specific eligibility requirements for third-cycle (doctoral level) education in philosophy one must have completed a minimum of 30 credits on second-cycle level in philosophy, practical philosophy or theoretical philosophy, including a degree project of at least 15 credits. Students who have acquired equivalent knowledge in some other way may be admitted to the third-cycle education after an assessment.

See general study plan.

Assessment criteria

Applicants are ranked with reference to their capacity to benefit from and complete the programme. The assessment is based primarily on prior study results, with particular consideration given to essays, and the quality of the research plan and its relevance for the subject area. The assessment is also based on references and interviews, and additional possible evaluations of the main candidates.

The degree must be completed at the latest at the end of the application period.

Terms of employment

Doctoral students will mainly devote themselves to their own doctoral studies. Employment as a doctoral student will be for the time deemed necessary for the completion of doctoral studies at a normal rate of study, which corresponds to a full-time position for four years. An initial contract of twelve months is extended with up to two years at a time provided that the individual study plan is followed. A doctoral student may, to a limited extent, also work with teaching and administration up to a maximum of 20 percent of a full-time position. The period of employment may thus be extended up to a maximum of five years. The entry level salary is SEK 30,900 and rises in three steps to SEK 35,600.

Additional information

Doctoral students are affiliated with a research school, normally the Faculty of Arts and Humanities Doctoral College. The studies are coordinated with the doctoral training programme at the relevant department. The doctoral studies begin at the start of the autumn semester, 31 August 2026. The place of work is Umeå University. Doctoral students are expected to contribute actively to the research environment. A high level of presence at the environment is required.

According to The Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 12, Section 2, a decision of appointment for a doctoral student position may not be appealed.

The doctoral student is admitted to studies at the third-cycle level in philosophy at Umeå University. In case a residence permit is required for the stay in Sweden, the university reserves the right to revoke the admission if the doctoral student is not granted a residence permit, or - if the date for the start of studies has been decided - if the doctoral student cannot present a valid residence permit before the start date of the studies. The latest possible start date is 26-08-31.

More info: https://www.umu.se/globalassets/fristaende-webbar/regelverk/utbildning-pa-forskarniva/instruktion---aterkallelseforbehall-i-antagningsbeslut.pdf

Application

An application must contain:

• A degree certificate, transcript from the Ladok student registry, and/or equivalent attested copies of your academic transcripts proving that general and specific entry requirements are met.
• Curriculum vitae, including name and contact information of two reference persons.
• Copies of relevant Bachelor’s and Master’s theses and other relevant publications.
• A letter that states your motivation for undertaking doctoral studies, and that specifies what expertise at the department is needed for carrying out your research.
• Research plan – should normally not exceed 30,000 characters including spaces – that contains a description of the proposed:
  - purpose and research problem;
  - previous research;
  - implementation, that is, method, material and theory;
  - relevance; and
  - time plan.

Your application must be registered in Umeå University’s e-recruitment system Varbi no later than 6 March 2026.

Please note: the Swedish version is the official version of this advertisement. In the case of any differences in information between this and the official version, it is the official version that is the legally correct version of the advertisement for these doctoral student positions.

We look forward to receiving your application!

Information box

Admission

2026-08-31

Salary

Monthly salary

Application deadline

2026-03-06

Registration number

AN 2.2.1-1376-25

Contact

Pär Sundström, Professor

+4690-7865163,[email protected]

Henrik Åström Elmersjö, Director of PhD studies

+4690-7866816,[email protected]

Anna Bladh, HR coordinator

+4690-7866478,[email protected]

Union representative

SACO

090-7865365

SEKO

090-7865296

ST

090-7865431