Doctoral student in gender studies

Ref no: ORU 2.1.1-03750/2026

Örebro University is looking for a doctoral student for the doctoral programme in gender studies at the School of Social Sciences and Media Studies.

The programme will start in spring 2027.

Project description

Gender studies at Örebro University is oriented towards social science studies and the department is a dynamic research environment marked by its strong international ties. The subject heads up the multidisciplinary research environment Centre for Feminist Social Studies. Grounded in feminist and political theory, the research at the department is examining, among other things, feminist theory and knowledge production, love and sexuality, feminist violence studies, sustainability and masculinity, politics and collective organising, as well as work and organisation.

The programme and the doctoral studentship

The doctoral programme consists of courses and an independent research project that you will present in a doctoral thesis. The programme concludes with a doctoral degree and comprises 240 credits, which corresponds to four years of full-time study.

Our ambition is for your doctoral studies to be stimulating and purposeful throughout the programme until you have obtained your licentiate or doctoral degree. A thorough introduction will get you off to a good start and provide a solid foundation on which you can build your studies. As a doctoral student at Örebro University, you will be offered a specially tailored seminar series, covering matters ranging from doctoral programme rules and careers to student welfare support and networking.

The place on the programme is linked to a full-time doctoral studentship for the duration of the study programme, which corresponds to four years of full-time study. More information on doctoral studentships, part-time studies and part-time doctoral studentships can be found in the Regulations Handbook. The initial salary for a doctoral studentship is SEK 32,300 a month.

Entry requirements and selection

For admission to doctoral studies, applicants are required to meet both general entry requirements and specific entry requirements. In addition, applicants must be considered in other respects to have the ability required to benefit from the programme. A person meets the general entry requirements for doctoral studies if they have been awarded a qualification at the master’s level; have satisfied the requirements for courses of least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits at the master’s level; or have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad. For a full account of the entry requirements, refer to the admissions regulations as well as to annex 2 to the general syllabus for the doctoral programme in gender studies.

Applicants meet the specific entry requirements for doctoral studies in gender studies if they have received a passing grade in courses of at least 90 credits, including an independent project for the bachelor’s degree in gender studies or a closely related subject. Applicants who have acquired substantially corresponding knowledge, in Sweden or abroad, also meet the specific entry requirements.

Selection from among qualified applicants is made with regard to the applicant’s ability to benefit from the programme (see the university’s selection provisions, annex 2 to the general syllabus for gender studies). This ability is assessed partly on the basis of formal qualifications (education and other previous activities), and partly on demonstrated skills as shown in theses and other academic works, as well as in the outline submitted by the applicant of their preliminary PhD project. The application of a gender perspective in previous academic works constitutes a requirement for the applicant to be considered to have the ability to benefit from the programme.

Information

For more information about the programme and the doctoral studentship, contact Head of Subject Lena Gunnarsson, lena.gunnarsson@oru.se.

At Örebro University, we expect each member of staff to be open to development and change, take responsibility for their work and performance, demonstrate a keen interest in collaboration and contribute to development, as well as to show respect for others by adopting a constructive and professional approach.

Örebro University actively pursues equal opportunities and gender equality as well as a work environment characterised by openness, trust and respect. We value the qualities that diversity adds to our operations.

Application to the programme and for the doctoral studentship

Apply to the doctoral programme on our website. Click the button “Apply” to begin the application procedure.

For the application to be complete, the following electronic documents must be included:

• CV
• Copies of your original degree certificate(s) and official transcript(s) of records for your bachelor’s degree
• Copies of your original degree certificate(s) and official transcript(s) of records for your master’s degree
• Independent project/degree project at the master’s level
• Outline of preliminary PhD project including information about topic/research field, aim, theory, methods/material, and relevance for the gender studies research field (max. 3 pages)
• Other relevant documents, course and degree certificates, academic papers and relevant publications etc. supporting your application.

As a main rule, application documents and attachments are to be written in Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, or English. Certificates and documents in other languages verifying your qualifications and experience must be translated by an authorised translator into Swedish or English. A list of authorised translators can be obtained from Kammarkollegiet (the Swedish Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency).

When you apply for admission to the doctoral programme, you automatically also apply for a doctoral studentship. More information for applicants can be found on our career site: https://www.oru.se/english/career/available-positions/applicants-and-external-experts/

The application deadline is 28 September 2026. We look forward to receiving your application!

As we have already made our choices in terms of external collaboration partners and marketing efforts for this recruitment process, we decline any contact with recruitment agencies and advertisers.

As directed by the National Archives of Sweden (Riksarkivet), we are required to deposit one file copy of the application documents, excluding publications, for a period of two years after the appointment decision has gained legal force.