Doctoral student in Media and Communication Studies

Umeå University is one of Sweden’s largest higher education institutions with over 37,000 students and about 4,700 employees. The University offers a diversity of high-quality education and world-leading research in several fields. Notably, the groundbreaking discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool, which was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, was made here. At Umeå University, everything is close. Our cohesive campuses make it easy to meet, work together and exchange knowledge, which promotes a dynamic and open culture.

The ongoing societal transformation and large green investments in northern Sweden create enormous opportunities and complex challenges. For Umeå University, conducting research about – and in the middle of – a society in transition is key. We also take pride in delivering education to enable regions to expand quickly and sustainably. In fact, the future is made here.

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities at Umeå University develops arts and humanities and invests in future Areas of Excellence. 

The Department of Cultural and Media Studies invites applications for the doctoral training programme in Media and Communication Studies.

The Department of Cultural and Media Studies is part of Umeå University's Faculty of Humanities and has approximately 70 employees. A unique combination of subject areas makes the department a creative environment at the intersection of art, culture, literature, and media. The department conducts internationally recognized research of high quality. For more information, please visit: https://www.umu.se/en/department-of-culture-and-media-studies/

Media and Communications Studies is an interdisciplinary field that deals with mediated communication in all its forms in traditional, as well as digital and social media. Our forms of communication are today in rapid change, due to a radically altered media landscape and the ongoing digitization of society and culture. These changes also alter perspectives on media history. At the department, around 20 researchers, teachers and doctoral students in Media and Communication Studies work with different types of research projects in areas such as Media History, Digital Media, Environmental, Journalism and Strategic Communication. The research is extensive and varied and holds many different theoretical perspectives and empirical fields.

To be a doctoral student at the Department of Culture and Media Studies
As a doctoral student, you formulate your research plan and independently develop your research project in consultation with your supervisors. You receive ongoing guidance and feedback both from supervisors and the Director of the doctoral program. You will be part of the department's research environment, where you are expected to be engaged and contribute through participation in seminars, research networks, -academic gatherings, and conferences. You are also expected to attend other meetings and events at the department, such as subject meetings, workplace meetings, and staff days.

General requirements
To be admitted to studies at the third-cycle level, i.e. doctoral education, the applicant must meet both general and specific eligibility requirements. General requirements: a Master’s or equivalent degree in a relevant field, having completed course requirements worth at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits must be at second-cycle (Master’s) level, or in some other way – either in Sweden or abroad – having acquired equivalent knowledge.

Specific requirements
In order to meet the specific eligibility requirements for admission to studies in Media and Communication Studies at third cycle level, the applicant must have completed at least 30 credits in Media and Communication studies at second-cycle level - or the equivalent in other subjects or areas of relevance to the position.

In order to assimilate the education, very good knowledge of English is required.

See general syllabus .

Assessment criteria
Applicants are ranked with reference to their capacity to benefit from and complete the programme. The assessment is based primarily on prior study results, with particular consideration given to essays, and the quality of the research plan and its relevance for the subject area. The assessment is also based on references and interviews, and additional possible evaluations of the main candidates.

The degree must be completed at the latest at the end of the application period.

Terms of employment
Doctoral students will mainly devote themselves to their own doctoral studies. Employment as a doctoral student will be for the time deemed necessary for the completion of doctoral studies at a normal rate of study, which corresponds to a full-time position for four years. An initial contract of twelve months is extended with up to two years at a time provided that the individual study plan is followed. A doctoral student may, to a limited extent, also work with teaching and administration up to a maximum of 20 percent of a full-time position. The period of employment may thus be extended up to a maximum of five years. The entry level salary is SEK 30,900 and rises in three steps to SEK 35,600.

Additional information
Doctoral students are affiliated with a research school, normally the Faculty of Arts and Humanities Doctoral College . The studies are coordinated with the doctoral training programme at the relevant department. The doctoral studies begin at the start of the autumn semester, 2 September 2024. The place of work is Umeå University. The doctoral students are expected to contribute actively to the research environment. High presence in the environment is a requirement.

According to The Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 12, Section 2, a decision of appointment for a doctoral student position may not be appealed.

Application
An application must contain:

• A degree certificate, transcript from the Ladok student registry, and/or equivalent attested copies of your academic transcripts proving that general and specific entry requirements are met.
• Curriculum vitae, including name and contact information of two reference persons.
• Copies of relevant Bachelor’s and Master’s theses and other relevant publications.
• A letter that states your motivation for undertaking doctoral studies, and that specifies what expertise at the department is needed for carrying out your research.
• Research plan – should normally not exceed 30,000 characters including spaces – that contains a description of the proposed:
  - purpose and research problem;
  - previous research;
  - implementation, that is, method, material and theory;
  - relevance; and
  - time plan.

Your application must be registered in Umeå University’s e-recruitment system Varbi no later than 10 March 2024.

Please note: the Swedish version is the official version of this advertisement. In the case of any differences in information between this and the official version, it is the official version that is the legally correct version of the advertisement for these doctoral student positions.

We look forward to receiving your application!