Subjects and general syllabus

Swedish as a second language

Research-level education in Swedish as a second language provides in-depth methodological and theoretical knowledge of language science, as well as solid experience in the analysis and processing of language-scientific problems with regard to Swedish as a second language.

The specialist expertise that the third-cycle programme in Swedish as a second language provides is in demand in more and more areas of our multilingual society. A doctoral degree also provides teachers of Swedish as a second language with subject-theoretical qualification to work as a senior lecturer in gymnasium schools, and is also of relevance for language consultants, head teachers and others with responsibility for educational provision. Other areas where research education is of value could include, for example, work in libraries, publishers and mass media.

Specialisation areas in third-cycle programmes in Swedish as a second language

• Swedish from a second-language perspective: Specialisation in this area focuses the research on comparative analyses of Swedish with regard to the various descriptive levels of language: phonology, morphology, syntax, vocabulary, semantics, discourse and pragmatics. Typological perspectives and comparative analyses between Swedish and source languages are integral elements of this kind of research.
• Swedish as a second language and the learning of second languages: Within this specialisation, the focus is on psycholinguistic aspects of Swedish as a second language in accordance with different theories concerning the learning of second languages. Attention is paid to biological, psychological, cognitive, social and cultural aspects that are of significance to learning in both informal and formal contexts. Analyses of the development of the language being learned from different perspectives provide an important basis, where there is a focus on issues concerning general development patterns, variability and bilingual influence.
• Multilingualism and use of a second language: Specialisation in this area focuses on the sociolinguistic aspects of multilingualism and use of a second language, where attention is paid to both individual and societal aspects. Research concerning linguistic socialisation, contact language phenomena such as pidgin and creole languages, and the exchanging of code are of particular relevance, as are studies of linguistic variation viewed from different dimensions. Studies of cross-cultural communication are also included. Language policy and planning are other key subjects in this context.
• Swedish as a second language – educational and teaching perspective: This area of specialisation includes studies in Swedish as a second language from (for example) didactic, pedagogical and education-sociological perspectives. Here, the focus is on the formal learning of second languages and on aspects of multilingual and multicultural education. Studies will include the development of reading and writing, and the teaching of second languages. Critical perspectives on education and teaching of a second language from the perspective of power and dominance are integral in this context.

A PhD is a prerequisite for a lectureship at a higher education institution.

Scandinavian languages

Research-level education in the Scandinavian languages provides in-depth methodological and theoretical knowledge of language science, as well as solid experience in the analysis and processing of language-scientific problems with regard to Scandinavian languages.

A doctoral degree is required for employment as a senior lecturer at universities and other higher education institutions. A degree in Scandinavian languages is also advantageous for employment at gymnasium schools and at scientific archives or libraries. Examples of other employment areas include working for publishers and in mass media.

Language Technology

The doctoral programme in Language Technology provides advanced methodological and theoretical training within the interdisciplinary field of language technology. The field encompasses the development and analysis of computer- and AI-based methods for processing human language, such as language and linguistic modeling, sentiment analysis, information extraction, and text analytics. The programme integrates linguistic theory with methods from computer science, machine learning, and contemporary AI research.

The field places particular emphasis on the development and application of linguistic resources and advanced language-technological tools for formulating and addressing research questions, both within language technology proper and in adjacent disciplines. This includes work with text and speech corpora, annotation frameworks, linguistic models, and infrastructures for data management, processing and experimental evaluation.

The programme provides in-depth knowledge of existing national and international language resources, methodological expertise in their application and critical assessment, and the independent capacity to design, implement, and evaluate new resources and tools. Through this training, doctoral candidates develop the ability to conduct empirically grounded, technically sophisticated, and theoretically informed research.

The capacity to analyse, structure, and generate linguistic information using AI-based and language-technological methods is central to systems for information retrieval, knowledge extraction, and advanced text processing, such as translation services, search platforms, and computer-assisted language learning. These technologies are also foundational to corpus-based linguistic research and the development of digital language resources, enabling large-scale, systematic, and empirically grounded analysis of linguistic data. In response to these developments, expertise in language technology plays a strategically significant role in the digitalised information society and is increasingly in demand across academia, as well as in the public and private sectors.

Humanities specialising in Educational Sciences

At the Department of Swedish, Multilingualism and Language Technology it is possible to link a doctoral project to one of five areas of research.

• In the area of the Didactics of Swedish, there are many possible research topics relating both to the school subject of Swedish and to Swedish as a second language. Several researchers at the department working in this field focus on students’ literacy, writing, and subject-specific language. We still know very little about what happens in classroom teaching with regard to the linguistic elements of the Swedish subject(s), such as the neighbouring Scandinavian languages or the Swedish language history.
• In the area of Text and context a research project may concern different kinds of text or forms of interaction which the pupil encounters or is expected to produce.
• In Multilingualism and Swedish as a second language research can be about language policies in schools, second language didactics or language use in multilingual educational environments.
• In the area of Grammar it is is possible to develop and test educational models of grammar, etc.
• Research in the area of Lexicology, lexicography and phraseology may involve investigations of how schools use dictionary resources and how they work with pupils' knowledge of vocabulary.
• In Language technology it is possible to study how language technology resources can support education and learning.