At Umeå University there are many opportunities to advance your career as a doctoral student, researcher or employee. Our goal is to make you feel that you can thrive and develop in a work environment characterised by good leadership, participation, openness, gender equality and diversity.
Read more about Umeå University's available career support.
Managers and leaders
Umeå University offer two programmes for new managers and leaders:
Doctoral students
Doctoral studies involve four years of full-time study, which include several courses and a doctoral thesis. Besides acquiring in-depth knowledge of a field of study, you will also cultivate your critical and analytical thinking. During your studies, you get to solve problems independently as you prepare for a professional career within academia, or the business or public sector. You will give oral presentations, write articles, and teach. Over the years, you will develop into a more independent researcher and will be prepared for the next step forward in your research career. When you need to develop your talents, improve your knowledge, and develop your skills, there is support for you.
Information about doctoral studies
Study plans and supervision
There is a general study plan which regulates the main content and structure of the doctoral programme, the eligibility requirements and the criteria applied to the selection and assessment of applicants. As a complement to the general study plan you have an individual study plan (ISP). which is a tool for planning and monitoring your doctoral studies, research, and career development.
For guidance you will have two supervisors, a main supervisor and a co-supervisor. Both supervisors have a Ph.D. and at least one of them Docentship. You will also have access to a reference group in which both supervisors are included and at least one scientifically qualified teacher who is not related to your research project. In this way, we create conditions for successful research studies.
Doctoral schools
To provide you opportunities for national and international collaboration and access to in-depth knowledge and network building, there are doctoral schools in several different subject areas. A doctoral school is characterised by a cohesive education at the doctoral level.
Development Programme for Doctoral Students
The development programme for doctoral students aims to contribute to your increased knowledge and self-awareness in order to strengthen the ability to meet the requirements and tough situations that arises in your role. You and your supervisor participate in the program together. This gives you the chance to develop your respective roles and improve the collaboration between you both.
Development Programme for Doctoral Students
Support with research data management
The university provide an infrastructure for support with research data management (RDM). Specialists throughout the university are available to offer support with different aspects of RDM and the effort is coordinated by the university library. Researcher support for RDM include support with legal, IT, archival, metadata, registration and dissemination issues. You also have access to domain specialists, who can help with RDM issues specific for your particular domain of research.
When formulating and upholding your research data management plan (DMP), the library provide access to tool DMP online, where you can create, share and develop your data management plan throughout the research process.
Support when writing and publishing
If needed, the university library can provide support and services during the entire research process, with tasks such as:
During your doctoral studies, you can teach up to 20% of full-time. It gives you the opportunity to develop your teaching skills and pedagogical skills. If you need to, there are several activities to help and support your development.
The Centre for Educational Development (UPL) contributes by offering professional pedagogical support to teachers, departments, units and faculties.
Learning Swedish
There are several reasons why you should learn Swedish. It is a great way to get integrated into Swedish society, both professionally and socially. Since teaching in Swedish is very common and sometimes a must, fluency in Swedish will give you a greater opportunity to pursue a career in Sweden. The Swedish courses offered to employees are specially adapted to an academic context.
Support with career planning
My individual development plan tool by ScienceCareers includes exercises to help examine skills, interests, and values and articles and resources for guidance through the process and what to work on to fit a certain type of job.
Postdocs
The University provides an infrastructure for researcher support during the entire research process.
Support for planning your research
The Research Support and Collaboration Office provides you with help when planning your research, applying for funding and collaboration. Support is available during all stages of the grant application process, prior to as well as during the application phase. Once your project is up and running you can get support with your administrative issues.
Support with career planning
My individual development plan tool by ScienceCareers includes exercises to help examine skills, interests, and values and articles and resources for guidance through the process and what to work on to fit a certain type of job.
Support with research data management
The university provide an infrastructure for support with research data management (RDM). Specialists throughout the university are available to offer support with different aspects of RDM and the effort is coordinated by the university library. Researcher support for RDM include support with legal, IT, archival, metadata, registration and dissemination issues. You also have access to domain specialists, who can help with RDM issues specific for your particular domain of research.
When formulating and upholding your research data management plan (DMP), the library provide access to tool DMP online, where you can create, share and develop your data management plan throughout the research process.
Support when writing and publishing
If needed, the university library can provide support and services during the entire research process, with tasks such as:
Support for development in teaching
There are a wide range of courses, workshops and seminars for professional development in higher education they can give you an opportunity to continuously develop your pedagogical skills.
The Centre for Educational Development (UPL) contributes by offering professional pedagogical support to teachers, departments, units and faculties.
Support for learning Swedish
There are several reasons why you should learn Swedish. It is a great way to get integrated into Swedish society, both professionally and socially. Since teaching in Swedish is very common and sometimes a must, fluency in Swedish will give you a greater opportunity to pursue a career in Sweden. The Swedish courses offered to employees are specially adapted to an academic context.
Support for researcher mobility
Take your research career to the next level with Euraxess. In the Euraxess portal you can search for jobs, funding opportunities and personalised assistance across Europe.
Euraxess is a European initiative delivering information and support services to professional researchers, regardless of the career stage. Euraxess support researcher mobility and career development, while enhancing scientific collaboration between Europe and the world.
Post Doc Networks
Future Faculty at Faculty of Medicine
The aim of Future Faculty is to advance the conditions for young and future researchers at the Faculty of Medicine and to promote the development of a good career system within the Faculty of Medicine and Umeå University. Future Faculty represents non-tenured researchers with a PhD in relevant University bodies.
Umeå Postdoc Society (UPS)
Faculty of Science and Technology (in collaboration with Faculty of Medicin)
Founded in 2020, the Umea Postdoc Society (UPS) aims to shape the research environment for Postdocs at Umea University by connecting postdoctoral researchers across departments and disciplines.
The goal is to improve the career prospects and working conditions of Postdocs by organising networking and career development events, assisting newcomers during their start at Umea University, bringing together Postdocs through social activities and representing them within relevant University bodies.
Future Faculty at Social Science, Arts and Humanities
Future Faculty at the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Faculty of Arts and Humanities is a network of early-career researchers to promote the interests of and to support aspiring faculty members.
The main target group are early-career researchers without tenure positions, such as post docs or research assistants, but the network is open to and welcomes researchers at all early careers levels who want to improve the working conditions and career development for early-career researchers.
Future Faculty Social Science, Arts and Humanities
Established and leading researchers
The University provide an infrastructure for researcher support during the entire research process
Development Programs for Established and Leading Researchers
The research and leadership programme, ReaL, is a competence and career programme for research leaders at Umeå University. ReaL is designed to develop your individual leadership skills and capability and provide you with tools and techniques to become an even more impactful leader and researcher. The programme is divided into three steps depending on at which career stage you are.
Support for planning your research
The Research Support and Collaboration Office can provide you with help when planning your research, apply for funding and collaboration. Support is available during all stages of the grant application process, prior to as well as during the application phase. Once your project is up and running they support you with administrative issues.
The Research Support and Collaboration Office is the university's central support for collaboration and research funding.
Support with research data management
The university provide an infrastructure for support with research data management (RDM). Specialists throughout the university are available to offer support with different aspects of RDM and the effort is coordinated by the university library. Researcher support for RDM include support with legal, IT, archival, metadata, registration and dissemination issues. You also have access to domain specialists, who can help with RDM issues specific for your particular domain of research.
When formulating and upholding your research data management plan (DMP), the library provide access to tool DMP online, where you can create, share and develop your data management plan throughout the research process.
Support when writing and publishing
If needed, the university library can provide support and services during the entire research process, with tasks such as:
Support for development in teaching
There are a wide range of courses, workshops and seminars for professional development in higher education they can give you an opportunity to continuously develop your pedagogical skills.
The Centre for Educational Development (UPL) contributes by offering professional pedagogical support to teachers, departments, units and faculties.
Acquisition of educational qualification
Umeå University has a model for acquisition of educational qualification. The overall goal of the model is to contribute to continuous quality enhancement in education. The model is part of the university’s efforts for supporting teachers’ competence and career development. It is a complement to the career paths that can be found in the Appointments procedure for teachers. The model for acquisition of educational qualification acknowledges teachers with highly qualified pedagogical skills and the awarded teachers can in different ways contribute to educational development and renewal at their departments and faculties. The model has two levels: recognised and distinguished university teacher.
Acquisition of educational qualification
Support for learning Swedish
There are several reasons why you should learn Swedish. It is a great way to get integrated into Swedish society, both professionally and socially. Since teaching in Swedish is very common and sometimes a must, fluency in Swedish will give you a greater opportunity to pursue a career in Sweden. The Swedish courses offered to employees are specially adapted to an academic context.
Support for researcher mobility
Take your research career to the next level with Euraxess. In the Euraxess portal you can search for jobs, funding opportunities and personalised assistance across Europe.
Euraxess is a European initiative delivering information and support services to professional researchers, regardless of the career stage. Euraxess support researcher mobility and career development, while enhancing scientific collaboration between Europe and the world.