The Ph.D. Programme in political science
The Ph.D. Programme in political science comprises 240 higher education credits (hec). The goal of the programme is for the doctoral students (PhD students) to acquire and develop the knowledge and skills required to conduct independent research in Political Science and to complete a PhD.
The dissertation comprises 180 hec, and course work comprises 60 hec. Doctoral students (Ph.D. students) that are admitted to the programme are employed at the Department. The Ph.D. Programme is governed by the Higher Education Ordinance, The University’s and the Faculty’s rules and regulations for third-cycle studies, and the General Syllabus.
Doctoral position
Our Ph.D. students are generally employed for four years. Up to 20 percent of doctoral employment can consist of departmental duties, and the employment is extended with the corresponding amount of time. This means that the total time of employment can be a maximum of five years. Periods of sick leave, parental leave, leave of absence and certain representative duties are exempt from the five-year maximum.
Salary
The doctoral salaries are fixed by local agreements at the University of Gothenburg and negotiated with union representatives.
For 2023/24, the starting salary is 30 100 SEK. The doctoral salary increases once the Ph.D. student fulfills half and 80 percent of the requirements of the Ph.D. programme according to the individual study plan. The maximum salary is currently 34 600 SEK.
Several benefits
Ph.D. students at the University of Gothenburg are state employees and are thus entitled to several benefits and insurances.
Read more about benefits and insurances at the University of Gothenburg.
Supervision
Each Ph.D. student is assigned a main supervisor and an assistant supervisor. Supervisors are appointed in consultation between the Ph.D. student and the Director of Doctoral Studies. Prospective Ph.D. students do not need to contact potential supervisors before applying to the programme.
The dissertation
The dissertation can be written in the form of a compilation, which means several articles and/or papers preceded by an introductory chapter (“kappa”), or as a monograph (i.e. a cohesive book).
Ph.D. students are expected to present their work several times during the Ph.D. Programme. At the end of the first year of the programme, the Department organizes a prospectus presentation seminar, at which the first-year Ph.D. students present the first draft of their dissertation to the entire Department, and receive questions and feedback from discussants.
When a Ph.D. student has completed around 50 percent of the programme, they present a paper or chapter or their dissertation at one of the Department’s seminar series.
When a Ph.D. student has completed around 80 percent of the programme, they present two chapters (for monographs), or one paper and the introductory chapter (for compilations) of their dissertation at the Department’s General Research Seminar.
Finally, Ph.D. students defend their dissertation at a public Ph.D. defense, where the dissertation is discussed with an opponent, and a grading committee decides whether it will receive a ”pass”.
International networks and contacts
The Ph.D. Programme offers great opportunities for establishing international contacts. For example, doctoral students can participate in research conferences and might also participate in research work at universities abroad.
Future careers
A doctorate in political science can lead to a research career within or outside academia, teaching at different levels within universities, or a career such as a social analyst in the public sector or politics.
