University of Gothenburg | Doctoral position in History of Ideas and Science

About us

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.

The Department of Literature, History of Ideas, and Religion is one of the six departments of the Faculty of Humanities. It has about 100 employees (including about 20 doctoral students) and approximately 1,000 students. For more information about the Department, please see: https://www.gu.se/litteratur-idehistoria-religion.

The Department announces one position as doctoral student in History of Ideas and Science. Research in History of Ideas and Science at Gothenburg University covers wide areas, stretching from the history of politics, philosophy and aesthetics, to that of science, technology and medicine. Themes studied concern, amongst other things, conditions of critical thinking and the materialities of knowledge, environmentalism and ecocriticism, gender issues, the transformation of modernity, postcolonialism, and European identity. We also pursue research on hermeneutics, conceptual history and historiography. Geographically speaking most research focus on a European context, but topics of global range are also scrutinized. On current research areas and projects, including doctoral projects, please see: https://www.gu.se/en/literature-history-of-ideas-religion/history-of-ideas-and-science.

Job assignsments

The goal of the third-cycle study programme is a doctoral degree in the History of Ideas and Science. The programme includes coursework, with each course being examined as it is completed, and the doctoral student’s own research project, which leads to a scholarly thesis. During the study programme, the doctoral student will communicate research findings in both oral and written form.

The goal of the programme is for the doctoral student to develop the knowledge and skills to be able to conduct original and independent research in History of Ideas and Science, and to contribute to the development of knowledge within the discipline through the production of a scholarly thesis. Another aim is to develop the ability to apply the acquired knowledge and skills within post-degree research or other qualified professional work.

Doctoral students must be physically present at the department and actively interact in the research environment, including the department’s doctoral and research seminars. The working language of the Department is Swedish, while some activities and research seminars may be conducted in English. Admittance requires sufficient knowledge of Swedish and English to be able to benefit from compulsory course components and to participate actively in seminars and the like (on eligibility, see below). The University offers introductory courses in Swedish on an as-needed basis. The dissertation may be written in English or Swedish, alternatively in Norwegian or Danish.

General syllabus

The objectives, content and examination of the study programme as well as admission and selection criteria for the third-cycle study programme in History of Ideas and Science are described in the general syllabus: https://www.gu.se/en/humanities/doctoral-studies/general-syllabus-for-third-cycle-study-programmes

Eligibility

To be eligible for the position, the applicant must meet both general and specific entry requirements.

According to the Higher Education Ordinance Chapter 7 Section 39, applicants meet the general entry requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if they:

1. have been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
2. have satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle, or
3. have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

To be admitted to doctoral education in History of Ideas and Science, in addition to general entry requirements, the following is required (specific entry requirements):

1. at least 30 higher education credits in History of Ideas and Science awarded in the second cycle, of which at least 15 must be from a degree project (e.g. MA thesis), or equivalent knowledge, and
2. sufficient Swedish and English skills to be able to benefit from compulsory coursework and to be able to actively participate in seminars and similar activities.

Assessment

Selection among applicants who meet the requirements for general and specific eligibility is based on the ability to successfully complete the education at the doctoral level.

Assessment of the applications is done according to the criteria determined in the general syllabus (se also “How to apply” below). Recruitment and selection are also done in view of the research project’s potential to enter into productive dialogue with the ongoing research at the department, as well as the department’s supervision resources to support it.

Appointment procedure

The decision on admission is made by the Head of Department after preparation at the Department.

The appointment procedure involves two stages:

1. A shortlist is made based on material included in the application.
2. The shortlisted candidates will be called to an interview on November 16, 2026 (online). The interview process will involve an oral presentation of the applicant’s project proposal.

If the admitted applicant needs a residence permit for researchers to pursue studies in Sweden, the admitting department has the right to revoke the admission decision if the applicant cannot present a valid residence permit no later than at the start of the studies.

Contact information

Questions regarding the third-cycle education:

• Gunilla Hermansson, Deputy head of Department with specific responsibility for Doctoral Studies, gunilla.hermansson@lir.gu.se
• Jong Ho, HR officer, jong.ho@gu.se

Application and more details: https://web103.reachmee.com/ext/I005/1035/job?site=7&lang=UK&validator=9b89bead79bb7258ad55c8d75228e5b7&job_id=40480