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Uppsala University, Department of Education, is offering three fully funded PhD positions as part of the research school STEPS (Strengthening Teacher Education for Equitable Practice in Swedish Schools).
Application Deadline: March 25, 2026
Employment Start: September 1, 2026
Employment Type: Full-time, temporary (4 years)
Location: Uppsala, Sweden
Project Overview
The PhD positions are part of STEPS, funded by the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet), grant number 2025–07018. STEPS focuses on research and doctoral training in educational equity, school segregation, and the societal mission of schooling, integrating interdisciplinary research with teacher education to strengthen the practical and research foundations of Swedish schools.
At Uppsala University, research will focus on three areas:
- School choice and contextual factors: How school markets, residential context, living conditions, and geography influence families’ early choices of preschool and compulsory school.
- Student composition and pedagogical practices: How preschool and school composition interacts with pedagogy, quality, and educational outcomes across regions and demographics.
- Development of school segregation: How segregation evolves in regional and local school markets, focusing on school provision, institutional practices, and management.
Doctoral students will be affiliated with the BUS research group (Housing, Education and Segregation), which combines quantitative analyses of registers and surveys with qualitative studies of institutional practices and everyday decision-making. The group emphasizes causal interpretations of segregation, school choice, and educational outcomes.
Further information on the BUS group: BUS Research Group
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct independent doctoral research leading to a PhD thesis
- Full-time participation in departmental activities
- Optional departmental duties (teaching, administration) up to 20%
- Integration of quantitative and qualitative methods
- Collaboration with municipalities and public actors for applied research
Requirements
General Eligibility:
- Advanced degree with at least 240 credits (60 at advanced level)
- Minimum 90 credits in Education or equivalent
- Excellent command of English; proficiency in Swedish not required but expected to learn
Additional Qualifications:
- Documented experience in quantitative methods (e.g., register or survey data analysis) is highly meritorious
- Interest in methodological development and advanced statistical analyses
Application Materials
Applications must be submitted through Uppsala University’s recruitment system and include:
- Completed application form Application Form
- Copies of bachelor’s and master’s theses
- CV, including publications and relevant experience
- Degree certificates and grades
- Proposed research project (4–5 pages) detailing:
- Research questions and disciplinary context
- Review of relevant literature
- Data requirements and methodology
- Relevance of the dissertation
- Motivation for pursuing doctoral studies at Uppsala University
All documents must be in English or Swedish; other languages must be officially translated into English.Employment Terms
- Full-time (100%) for 4 years
- Temporary position under Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7
- Salary according to local PhD agreement
- PhD students may be employed for a maximum of 8 years, but the full-time equivalent employment period cannot exceed 4 years
Contact Information
- Director of PhD Studies: Gunilla Lindqvist, [email protected], +46 70 693 8622
- BUS Research Leader: Håkan Forsberg, [email protected], +46 18 471 2456
For more information about doctoral studies: PhD Studies at Department of Education
These positions offer a unique opportunity to conduct interdisciplinary research at the intersection of sociology, geography, and education, focusing on equity, segregation, and school policy in Sweden’s educational system.
Apply now at: https://uu.varbi.com/en/what:job/jobID:899775/
