PhD students in language education (3-4)

Ref. No. SU FV-1014-23

at the Department of Teaching and Learning . Closing date: 17 April 2023.

The department of teaching and learning is part of the Faculty of Humanities, at Stockholm University. We educate and conduct research in language education as well as in mathematics education, science education, arts education, humanities education and social science education. 

The research area of language education comprises foreign languages (English and other modern languages such as French, German, Italian and Spanish), Swedish, and Swedish as a second language. Our research addresses questions concerning language teaching and language learning, as well as language and literacy development in relation to language users of all ages in schools and other settings and contexts. For instance, we investigate issues concerning the content, conditions and forms of language teaching, as well as teachers’ and learners’ thinking in relation to learning and teaching languages. Our research includes several perspectives, for instance, multilingual aspects and learning of and in a second language, literary education perspectives on teaching and learning languages, subject-specific literacy and multimodal perspectives on interaction, language and learning. 

Our research is often classroom-based and can also be cross-disciplinary. We collaborate with teachers in schools and in other educational contexts on research and development projects, as well as with researchers in other relevant disciplines. 

Qualification requirements
In order to meet the general entry requirements, the applicant must have completed a second-cycle degree, completed courses equivalent to at least 240 higher education credits, of which 60 credits must be in the second cycle, or have otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge in Sweden or elsewhere. 

In order to meet the specific entry requirements, the general study plan for doctoral studies in the field of language education stipulates that applicants must have completed courses on the MA level equivalent to at least 30 higher education credits, including an MA thesis of at least 15 credits in language education, language or an equivalent field of study.

The entry requirements may be met by those who have acquired a matching competence, whether in Sweden or abroad.  

The entry requirements must be met by the application deadline.  

Selection
Selection among the eligible candidates will be based on their capacity to benefit from the education. The following criteria will be used to assess this capacity:

• Previous education in general. Assessment is made with regards to the depth as well as breadth of previous education.

Previous academic output. The applicant’s capacity to benefit from the education is assessed on the basis of exam work from the BA and MA levels as well as other written academic work. Timeliness is also assessed; i.e. to what extent 

• the applicant has demonstrated an ability to complete their academic assignments within a given timeframe. In addition, an assessment is made of the applicant’s academic development, based on a comparison of the academic outputs. The academic work is assessed in terms of critical and analytic abilities, independence, and creativity.
• Research plan. The applicant must give a brief account of their suggested research topic. The account should include research questions and a sketch of how the research is to be completed. The plan is assessed with regards to its relevance, originality, and feasibility within the allotted timeframe (i.e. a period corresponding to four years’ full-time study).
• The availability of suitable supervisors.
• The ability to collaborate. The applicant’s ability to collaborate is assessed on the basis of, e.g., references, letters of recommendation, or interviews.  

Admission Regulations for Doctoral Studies at Stockholm University are available at: www.su.se/rules and regulations.

Terms of employment
Only a person who will be or has already been admitted to a third-cycle programme may be appointed to a doctoral studentship.

The term of the initial contract may not exceed one year. The employment may be extended for a maximum of two years at a time. However, the total period of employment may not exceed the equivalent of four years of full-time study.

Doctoral students should primarily devote themselves to their own education, but may engage in teaching and administration corresponding to a maximum of 20 % of a full-time position.

Please note that admission decisions cannot be appealed.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact
We welcome applications in the research area of language education, see above. For more information, please contact our subject division professors: Camilla Bardel, [email protected] (+46 8-120 767 23) for teaching and learning English and modern languages; Kristina Danielsson, [email protected] (+46 8-120 766 90) Swedish in education; or Christina Hedman, [email protected] (+46 8-120 766 90) för teaching and learning Swedish as a second language.

For more information please contact the head of department, Anna Chryssafis, telephone: +46 8-12 07 67 87, [email protected] , or the director of PhD studies, Tore Nilsson, telephone +46 8-12 07 67 36, [email protected] .

Union representatives
Ingrid Lander (Saco-S), telephone: +46 708-16 26 64, [email protected] , Alejandra Pizarro Carrasco (Fackförbundet ST/Lärarförbundet), telephone: +46 8-16 34 89, [email protected] and [email protected] (SEKO), PhD student representative [email protected] .

Application
Apply for the PhD student position at Stockholm University's recruitment system. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

Please include the following information with your application

• Your contact details and personal data
• Your highest degree
• Your language skills
• Contact details for 2–3 references

and, in addition, please include the following documents

• Cover letter (maximum 500 words) where you describe why you are interested in pursuing PhD studies in language education and what makes you suitable for such work
• CV – degrees and other completed courses, work experience, a list of degree projects/theses and scholarly publications (if applicable)
• Project proposal/research proposal, of maximum 2 000 words. The proposal should specify
  • the research question(s), state of research,
  • theoretical grounding,
  • material, methods, and delimitations, as well as present a timeframe for the planned work.
• Degree certificates and grades confirming that you meet the general and specific entry requirements (no more than 6 files)
• Letters of recommendation (no more than 3 files)
• Degree projects/theses (no more than 3 files).

 The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position .

You are welcome to apply! 

Stockholm University contributes to the development of sustainable democratic society through knowledge, enlightenment and the pursuit of truth.

URL to this page
https://www.su.se/english/about-the-university/work-at-su/available-jobs/phd-student-positions-1.507588?rmpage=job&rmjob=20419&rmlang=UK