Doctoral students in education

In the spring 2020, the national graduate school Schooling in perspective: A graduate school in applied history of education will admit a total of nine doctoral students at four of Sweden’s leading academic environments for history of education research. The graduate school is a cohesive multidisciplinary graduate school with an international footing, where doctoral students from various disciplines will feel at home and where they will be offered the best conditions for making leading-edge contributions to international research. The launch of the graduate school is planned to the autumn 2020.

The graduate school’s focus on applied history of education signifies a thematic orientation of research that, in different ways, contributes to a greater understanding of pressing contemporary educational policy issues. It focuses three themes of fundamental importance in a time of globalisation and intensified calls for reform: education in debates and historical narratives; the history of the school system and school reforms; and education in an international and transnational perspective. This general orientation of the graduate school thus covers a range of topics of interest both to those who are interested in historical issues as well as those who are oriented toward current educational policy debates. Further information on the specialisation and activities of the graduate school can be found on its website: https://appliedhistoryofeducation.school.blog/home

Three of the graduate school’s doctoral students will be admitted to Örebro University and the doctoral programme in education, at the School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences. At this department, research within gender studies, history, comparative literature, sociology and political science, to name a few, is conducted. Education is a broad social science discipline focusing on different aspects of Bildung, communication, learning and socialisation processes. At Örebro University, didactics, curriculum theory, history of education, special education, and issues relating to educational policy and democracy are firmly rooted in educational research. 

Selection
In selecting between applicants, their ability to benefit from the doctoral programme shall be taken into account and the selection shall be made based on the selection criteria laid down by the university, see annex 2 to the general syllabus for education. If applicants are found to have equal qualifications, preference will be given to applicants of the underrepresented sex. The term ‘underrepresented sex’ here refers to if and when the share of either female or male students enrolled on the doctoral programme in the subject amounts to less than 40 per cent. 

Doctoral studentships
The place on the programme is linked to a full-time doctoral studentship for the duration of the study programme. Duties such as teaching, administration and research other than the student’s thesis project may be included, however, with no more than 20 per cent of a full-time post. To compensate for any time spent on such duties, extensions to the programme length and funding period will be granted correspondingly. Extensions to the programme length will also be granted for sick leave and parental leave, among other things. More information on doctoral studentships, part-time studies and part-time doctoral studentships can be found in the Regulations Handbook for doctoral students. The initial salary for a doctoral studentship is currently SEK 26,900 per month. 

Further information about doctoral studies
Information on admission regulations, the general syllabus for the programme in question, a regulations handbook for doctoral students and other information can be found on Örebro University’s webpages for doctoral education: https://www.oru.se/english/study/doctoral-education/

Application to the programme and for a doctoral studentship
For the full advertisement and application, visit https://www.oru.se/english/working-at-orebro-university/jobs-and-vacancies/