Apply to doctoral studies
Interested in a PhD? Get a guide to the admission process and learn about eligibility requirements, doctoral employment, study plans, as well as the thesis and public defence.
Eligibility
To be admitted to doctoral studies, you must meet the general entry requirements and, in some cases, the specific entry requirements.
General entry requirements
The general entry requirements are the same for all doctoral education in Sweden. You meet the general entry requirements if you fulfil at least one of the following:
- been awarded a second-cycle qualification,
- completed the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle, or
- acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.
You must also be considered to have the abilities otherwise needed to benefit from doctoral studies.
Specific entry requirements
In addition to the general entry requirements, each doctoral subject may have specific entry requirements that are necessary for benefiting from the education. These may include:
- knowledge from specific higher education programmes
- specific professional or vocational experience
- required language skills
The specific entry requirements are listed in the general syllabus for each subject.
Application and selection
Admission to doctoral studies takes place after a doctoral position has been advertised. Vacant positions are published on the university’s page for vacant positions. Select the professional area "Doctoral student".
Each faculty’s departments advertise their own doctoral positions. To be eligible for doctoral education, you must meet both the general and the specific entry requirements.
Once you have found a position that interests you, read the advertisement carefully to check whether you meet the requirements. Before applying, we recommend that you learn more about doctoral education at the relevant faculty. If you have specific questions about a particular position, please contact the person listed in the advertisement. All information about what to include in your application is provided in the advertisement.
The selection of applicants who meet the requirements is based, first and foremost, on their ability to benefit from doctoral education.
Admission
Admission to doctoral education takes place at the department where the studies will be conducted. The exact process may vary between departments, but in most cases applicants who meet the eligibility requirements are invited to an interview. The purpose of the interview is to ensure that the applicant with the greatest ability to benefit from the education is admitted. As the number of doctoral positions is very limited, competition is often strong.
When you are admitted, you will also be employed as a doctoral student, unless you are admitted through an external position.
Decisions on admission to doctoral education cannot be appealed.
International applicant
If you are admitted to doctoral studies and need a residence permit for higher education in order to study in Sweden, you must apply for it well in advance of the start of your studies. Otherwise, the department may decide to withdraw the admission decision. The start date for your studies is agreed with your department when you are admitted.
Doctoral subjects
Each faculty determines the doctoral subjects within its field of research. Every subject has its own general study syllabus.