The Faculty of Social Sciences offers doctoral studies in 17 subject areas. Our departments and sections admits approximately 35 doctoral students per year. The faculty has around 180 active doctoral students. The Graduate School of Gender Studies, in collaboration with the departments, offers doctoral studies specialised in gender issues and several departments collaborate with national graduate schools or other graduate schools within Umeå University.
Doctoral studies comprise four years of full-time studies for a doctoral degree, or two years for a degree of licentiate. The education consists of a number of courses and a doctoral thesis.
Beside in-depth knowledge within an academic field, the doctoral student trains in critical and analytical thinking. To be eligible as a doctoral student, you must meet the admission requirements for each subject, and you must have the general skills and characteristics required to complete the education. Doctoral studies prepare the doctoral student for a professional career in academia, in trade and industry or in the public sector.
Generally, you apply for doctoral studies by applying for a doctoral student position, which is an employment at the university, and also the most common form of doctoral studentship. Available doctoral student positions are advertised under Work with us.
If you are interested in taking on doctoral studies, you are advised to first contact the department in charge of education and research in your subject area. They can also provide information of potential upcoming job postings for doctoral education. See the list of contacts within each subject area.
