Postdoctoral Position in Education

Reference number PAR 2026/527

The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 58 000 students and 6800 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

Department of Education and Special Education (IPS)

The Department of Education and Special Education (IPS) is one of four departments within the Faculty of Education. Key areas of interest at the department include education and society, educational systems, school development and educational leadership, adult education, inclusion, learning, language and assessment, as well as grading and evaluation issues. A significant part of the department’s undergraduate education is conducted within various teacher education programs, but we also offer education at bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels within our fields of study: educational science, workplace learning, educational leadership, communication, school development, didactics, and teaching.

For information about the Department of Education and Special Education:
https://www.gu.se/en/education-special-education

For more information about doctoral education at the Department of Education and Special Education (IPS):
https://www.gu.se/en/education-special-education/doctoral-studies

Subject

The Department of Education and Special Education is announcing a doctoral student position in Education. More information about the subject can be found at:
https://www.gu.se/en/learning-leadership-health/our-doctoral-education

Education is a doctoral subject focusing on education, teaching, upbringing, socialisation, and learning. The subject has a particular interest in the relationship between individuals and society, and the conditions under which institutional arrangements operate and have operated over time. Research in education examines processes of influence and their significance for the relationship between structure and agency, both within and outside the formal education system.

Research Environments

IPS hosts several strong research environments that contribute to increased dynamism between research, education, and collaboration with society. These environments include FUR, LUBS, PRIS, SKUL, KRIT, POP, and FYRK, each with its own distinct profile but sharing a common commitment to educational issues:

https://www.gu.se/en/education-special-education/research-environments

The doctoral student position will be affiliated with the department’s research environments and preferably connected to ongoing research projects.

Research Environment Descriptions

• FUR: Individual conditions, organisation, resources, and educational outcomes
• LUBS: Learning, teaching, and assessment in language education
• PRIS: Special education, school development, leadership
• SKUL: School development, leadership, change processes
• KRIT: Power, subjectivity, resistance; critical sociology of education
• POP: Political dimensions of education; curriculum and comparative studies
• FYRK: Vocational education and training

The Doctoral Project

The Department of Education and Special Education at the University of Gothenburg hosts the national longitudinal infrastructure Evaluation Through Follow-up (UGU). The doctoral student position is specifically linked to UGU’s activities and the challenges associated with managing, developing, and analysing longitudinal individual-level data.

UGU is currently in a dynamic phase in which development work concerning missing data, the construction and application of weights, and longitudinal analyses is of particular importance. The doctoral student will have the opportunity to participate in all aspects of UGU’s work—from questionnaire design, piloting, and collaboration with teachers to the analysis and presentation of survey data.

This means that the doctoral project may include substantive topics within the UGU framework concerning constructs such as motivation, engagement and school-related well-being as well as methodological and analytical components. An important aspect of the project concerns ensuring robust methodological approaches for designing and analysing longitudinal educational data and advancing methods for addressing the challenges posed by extensive non-response in large-scale survey studies.

Duties

The doctoral student will engage in doctoral education. In collaboration with supervisors, the doctoral student will formulate and carry out a dissertation project and complete coursework consisting of both compulsory and elective doctoral courses in accordance with the general syllabus and an individual study plan.

During the doctoral period, the dissertation work will be presented and discussed in seminar form with an invited discussant on at least three occasions. The doctoral student is expected to participate actively in the department’s research environment.

The department encourages and supports the presentation of dissertation work at national and international conferences.

In addition to pursuing the doctoral studies within the prescribed time, departmental duties (maximum 20%) may be assigned in teaching, research commissioned activities, and administration in accordance with applicable regulations. The employment period will then be extended accordingly.

The studies will be conducted within the doctoral subject area of Education.

Eligibility and Qualifications

Applicants admitted to doctoral education will receive a four-year doctoral studentship at the department.

General eligibility

• Completed second-cycle degree, OR
• At least 240 higher education credits (60 at second-cycle level), OR
• Equivalent knowledge acquired in Sweden or abroad

Specific eligibility (Education)

• 90 credits in Education
• At least 30 credits at second-cycle level
• Independent thesis of at least 15 credits

Equivalent knowledge may also be accepted.

Selection Criteria

Selection is based on ability to benefit from doctoral education.

Criteria include:

• Quality of degree thesis
• Quality of research proposal
• Experience with Swedish school system (required)
• Quantitative analysis experience
• Scientific writing
• Longitudinal data experience (UGU highly meritorious)
• Methodological development experience
• Personal suitability

Good proficiency in Swedish and English is required.

Admission is competitive and based on overall assessment. Interviews may be conducted. Final decision is made by the Head of Department.

Employment

Applicants admitted to doctoral education will be employed as doctoral students.

• Fixed-term employment: 4 years full-time doctoral studies
• Initial contract: up to 1 year, renewable
• Maximum total employment: 8 years (including extensions)
• Extent: 50–100%
• Location: University of Gothenburg
• Start date: 1 October 2026 or by agreement
• Reference number: PAR 2026/527

Doctoral education requires physical presence.

Contact

Director of Doctoral Studies:
Daniel Bergh
Email: daniel.bergh@gu.se
Phone: 0766-18 21 09

Trade Union Organisations

Information available here:
https://www.gu.se/en/about-the-university/work-at-the-university/support-for-applicants

Application

Applications must include:

• Cover letter (max 1 page)
• CV
• Academic transcripts (LADOK or equivalent)
• Thesis (15 credits) + one additional research text
• Preliminary research proposal (max 5 pages)
• References
• Additional merits

All documents must be in Swedish or English.

Submission

Scientific publications not available electronically should be sent to:

University of Gothenburg
Department of Education and Special Education
Ivana Nikolic
Box 300
SE-405 30 GOTHENBURG
SWEDEN

Deadline

1 August 2026

Additional Information

The University archives application documents for two years. Recruitment channels are predefined; external recruitment agencies are not contacted.