The PhD Programme in political science

The PhD Programme

The dissertation comprises 180 hec, and course work comprises 60 hec. Doctoral students (PhD) that are admitted to the programme are employed at the Department. The PhD 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 PhD students are generally employed for four years. Up to 20 per cent of the 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 in accordance with local agreements at the University of Gothenburg, and negotiated with union representatives. For 2019, the starting salary is 26 175 SEK. The doctoral salary increases once the PhD student completes 50, 80 and 100 per cent of the PhD programme. The maximum salary (after PhD defense) is currently 32 850 SEK.

PhD students at the University of Gothenburg are state employees and are thus entitled to a number of benefits and insurances.

Supervision

Each PhD student is assigned a main supervisor and an assistant supervisor. Supervisors are appointed in consultation between the PhD student and the Director of Doctoral Studies. Prospective PhD 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).

PhD students are expected to present their work at a number of occasions during the PhD Programme:

At the end of the first year of the programme, the Department organizes a prospectus presentation seminar, at which the first year PhD students present a first draft of their dissertation to the entire Department, and receive questions and feedback from discussants.

When a PhD student has completed around 50 per cent of the programme, they present a paper or chapter or their dissertation at one of the Department’s seminar series.

When a PhD student has completed around 80 per cent 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, PhD students defend their dissertation at a public PhD 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 PhD Programme offers great opportunities for establishing international contacts. For example, doctoral students can participate in research confer - ences and might also participate in research work 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 in politics.