Doctoral studentship in Social Work

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Description

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences is accepting applications for a doctoral studentship leading to a PhD in Social Work at the Department of Social and Psychological Studies. The discipline of social work conducts welfare research at the individual, group and community level. Through basic and applied research, knowledge is created about the causes and effects of social problems, as well as methods and perspectives for the development of social work practice. Find out more about our research at: https://www. kau.se/en/social-work.

Social Work offers studies at the bachelor, master’s and doctoral level. The subject includes a Bachelor of Science in Social Work programme with approximately 350 students, and we are 30 members of staff working with education and research in the subject. Social Work is part of a multidisciplinary department that also includes Sociology, Psychology and Gender Studies.

Duties

As a doctoral student, you will primarily dedicate time to your own studies. The doctoral programme comprises 240 credits for a Degree of Doctor and 120 credits for a Degree of Licentiate. The doctoral appointment is a paid position that offers a combination of studies and work, and a great opportunity for a potential career in academia. Doctoral students are expected to work independently and be prepared to contribute to the activities and development of the discipline and the department. Teaching and administrative duties may also be included upon agreement, but will not constitute more than 20% of full-time. Work as a doctoral student allows for great freedom and flexibility in terms of how you structure your day. It takes commitment, discipline and a structured approach in order to successfully complete a doctoral thesis. Experienced supervisors offer guidance and support along the way. To contribute to a positive work environment and further the department’s activities, we expect you to be a present and active part of the day-to-day operations and workplace community.

Qualification requirements

To be eligible for a doctoral studentship, applicants must meet the general and specific entry requirements (Higher Education Ordinance, Chap. 7, Sect. 35).

To meet the general entry requirements, applicants must have been awarded a second-cycle qualification, satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle, or acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad (Higher Education Ordinance, Chap. 7, Sect. 39).

To meet the specific entry requirements, applicants must have completed courses comprising at least 120 credits in Social Work or an adjacent subject, of which at least 30 credits are at master’s level, including an independent project (degree project) for at least 15 credits. An applicant can also be eligible after having acquired equivalent knowledge in some other way, in the country or abroad.

Admission and assessment criteria

To be eligible for doctoral studies, the applicant must be considered to have the ability required to benefit from the programme (Higher Education Ordinance, Chap. 7, Sect. 35). Admission is based on individual assessment.

The selection will be based on the applicant’s results in previous studies and the quality of independent written work included in these studies. Special weight will also be given to the academic quality of the submitted research plan and its relevance for social work.

The ability to independently plan, organise and prioritise work in a structured and efficient manner will also be given special weight. In addition, the extent to which the applicant intends to be physically present and active in the research environment is of considerable weight. Considerable weight will also be given to proficiency in spoken and written English. A good command of Swedish is seen as a valuable qualification since doctoral courses in social work are primarily conducted in Swedish. Proficiency in Swedish not only facilitates participation in these courses but also enhances access to empirical material for the doctoral thesis.

Considerable weight will be given to personal qualities such as the ability to cooperate, take responsibility, show sound judgement, dedication, and a positive attitude towards colleagues and students.

A Degree of Bachelor of Science in Social Work is considered a valuable qualification.

Terms

Upon admission to doctoral studies, the person will be offered the appointment of doctoral student (Higher Education Ordinance, Chap. 5, Sect. 3). The position comprises four years of full-time studies, or five years at a study rate of 80% with 20% teaching or other departmental duties. The position is fixed-term — one year initially, followed by possible extensions by a maximum of two years at a time. Start date by agreement.

The salary for the doctoral studentship corresponds to the standard level of salary for doctoral students and progresses in accordance with a local collective agreement.

Additional information

We aim for equal age and gender distribution and value ethnic and cultural diversity.

Application

Submit the application via the University’s web-based recruitment tool, Varbi.

Applicants are responsible for submitting a complete application in accordance with the advertisement, for providing translations of any documents written in a language other than Swedish, Norwegian, Danish or English, and for ensuring that the documentation allows for objective and qualitative assessments. A complete application should be submitted by the application deadline. An incomplete application may jeopardise a fair assessment of qualifications.

The application should include:

• a cover letter where the applicant details the reasons behind their interest in the position
• a list of qualifications (CV)
• degree certificate with a complete transcript of the courses included, or a certified list of completed courses with grades and dates
• a copy of Master’s thesis (60 or 120 credits), or equivalent
• where applicable, copies of publications or certificates for other qualifications
• a brief research plan, no more 3,000 words, in which the intended thesis project is described, specifying the aim, theory, methods and material
• two references, such as a teacher, supervisor, or former or current manager.

Attach all the documents and publications you wish to be considered to the electronic application (do not just provide links). Name each uploaded document to clearly indicate its content.

Documents that cannot be submitted electronically should be sent to the following address:
Karlstads universitet
HR-administratör
651 88 KARLSTAD

Application deadline: 2 February 2025
State ref. no: REK 2024/186

Applicants with qualifications from abroad 

If you have qualifications from a university outside Sweden or if they have not been recognised by a Swedish authority before, it is important that you attach degree certificates and official transcripts to facilitate the recognition of foreign qualifications.

Provide a contact for the degree-awarding institution (phone number or email) who can verify your qualifications.

We look forward to your application! 

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