Applications and admission

Apply to doctoral studies

Admission to doctoral studies takes place after doctoral studies is advertised. Doctoral studies are advertised by the departments at each faculty. To be eligible for doctoral studies, you must meet the general requirements and sometimes also the specific entry requirements for a specific research subject.

Doctoral studies that lead to a doctoral studentship are listed under Vacancies, under the professional area Doctoral student.

Admission to doctoral studies 

The selection among applicants meeting the requirements is based, among other things, on assessments of applicants’ overall ability to benefit from the studies. All applicants will be notified of the admission decision within three weeks from decision.

International applicant

If you are admitted to doctoral studies and need a residence permit for higher education to study in Sweden, you must apply for a residence permit in good time before the start of your studies. You must be able to present a valid residence permit at the start of your studies, otherwise the department may decide to withdraw the admission decision. The date for the start of the studies is decided upon together with your department when you are admitted.  

Doctoral studentships

The majority of doctoral students at the University of Gothenburg are employed at the University once they are admitted to doctoral studies. The initial period of a doctoral studentship may not be for more than one year and may be renewed no more than two years at a time. This means that full-time doctoral students will have at least three employment contracts during the study period. You can only receive a doctoral studentship after, or in connection with, having been admitted to doctoral studies. The types of financing allowed at the University of Gothenburg are regulated in the  Rules for Doctoral Education – Doktorandreglerna.

External position

It is also possible to be admitted to doctoral studies with an external position financed by an employer outside of the University of Gothenburg. As an externally positioned doctoral student, you conduct your doctoral studies within the framework of your employment, while also working within the organisation where you are employed. As an externally positioned doctoral student, you conduct your studies at a pace of no less than 50 per cent.

Even as an externally positioned student, you need to apply for doctoral studies according to the instructions defined by the faculty. More information is available on each faculty’s website.

Departmental duties

As a doctoral student with a doctoral studentship, you may be offered to combine your doctoral studies with departmental duties at your department. Departmental duties can include teaching, research, artistic development work, administration, and appointed assignments. Departmental duties, including appointed assignments, may be a total of 20 per cent of a full-time position and result in an extension of your studies by the equivalent amount of time.