Postdoctoral Position in Education

University of Gothenburg

Reference Number: PAR 2026/61
Employer: University of Gothenburg, Department of Pedagogical, Curricular, and Professional Studies (IDPP)
Type of Employment: Fixed-term doctoral employment (full-time, 100%)
Start Date: 1 September 2026 (by agreement)
Application Deadline: 16 March 2026

About the University & Department

  • University of Gothenburg has 58,000 students and 6,800 staff.

  • IDPP is one of the strongest educational research environments in the Nordic countries, focusing on equitable and sustainable education.

  • Departmental work includes teacher education, educational research, curriculum studies, and school-based development initiatives.

  • More info: IDPP

About the Graduate School BEPPE

  • The graduate school on subject-specific didactic models in primary school (BEPPE) is a collaboration with Karlstad University.

  • Total of nine doctoral studentships, four at University of Gothenburg and five at Karlstad University.

  • Focus: Practice-based subject-didactics in primary education (pre-school to grades 1–6) and teacher education.

  • Research areas: Natural sciences (biology, physics, chemistry), social sciences (geography, history, religion, civics), mathematics, and languages.

  • Goal: Study how subject-didactic models function across subjects, inform teacher education, and identify “best practice” teaching strategies.

  • Info: BEPPE Graduate School

Research Environments

  1. Didactic Classroom Studies: Teaching, learning, and content studied integratively
    Didactic Classroom Studies

  2. Phenomenography, Variation Theory, Learning Study: Focus on improving pupils’ opportunities to learn specific content in practice-based research
    Phenomenography & Learning Study

Duties of a Doctoral Student

  • Devote primary time to own doctoral research (240 ECTS for Doctorate; 120 for Licentiate).

  • May contribute to teaching and administrative work (≤20% of full-time).

  • Participate actively in research environments and collaborate with peers.

  • Structure and organize work to successfully complete doctoral thesis.

Eligibility & Requirements

General Eligibility:

  • Second-cycle degree (Master’s) or equivalent (≥240 ECTS, 60 at second-cycle level)

Specific Eligibility – Educational Work:

  • Teaching degree at second-cycle level, or

  • 90 credits in educational practice/work with children, ≥30 second-cycle, including 15-credit independent project

Specific Eligibility – Subject-Matter Education:

  • Teaching degree with ≥60 credits in relevant subject-matter field + 15-credit independent project, or

  • 90 credits in subject-matter field (≥30 second-cycle) including 15-credit independent project

Language Requirement:

  • Proficiency in a Scandinavian language is required due to research nature.

  • Good command of English expected.

Assessment Criteria:

  • Quality of thesis/degree project

  • Relevance and quality of research plan

  • Engagement and presence in research environment

  • Personal qualities: independence, initiative, persistence, teamwork

  • Teaching experience in primary education is valued

Employment Terms

  • Fixed-term, full-time, up to four years (full-time equivalent).

  • Doctoral employment may include minor teaching/research duties (≤20% of full-time).

  • Salaries are set individually; regulated by Swedish Higher Education Ordinance.

Application Instructions

Applications must include:

  1. Cover letter (≤1 page)

  2. CV / list of qualifications

  3. Degree certificate with transcript

  4. Thesis/degree project (≥15 credits at Master’s level) + optional research text

  5. Preliminary research plan (≤5 pages, excluding references) detailing background, purpose, theory, method, and chosen third-cycle subject area

  6. Two references (teacher, supervisor, or manager)

  7. Other relevant qualifications

Submit via: University of Gothenburg web-based recruitment tool.
Mailing address for non-electronic documents:

 
DepartmentofPedagogical,Curricular,andProfessionalStudiesAtt:KatarinaGrönbäckUniversityofGothenburgBox300SE-40530GOTHENBURGReference:PAR2026/61

Information Session:

Contacts:

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