Get a PhD in History

Each year the Department receives applications from many highly qualified candidates. Studying on doctoral level involves four years of full-time study, three of which are dedicated to the dissertation and one year to courses. The PhD student has two supervisors during their study.

Study plan

You will find the Department’s study plan for the PhD programme here (in Swedish). 

Allmän studieplan 2025-02-04 pdf, 325.6 kB. (325 Kb)

An individual study plan is drawn up when a new PhD student is admitted to the programme. This document will be updated annually.

Employment

A PhD student usually has full employment at the University for up to four years, which includes full benefits such as sick leave, parental leave etc. Doctoral studies are usually conducted on a full-time basis. Half time can also be possible, although only for a period of a maximum of eight years.

Since 2008, the History departments at Stockholm and Uppsala Universities collaborate around the PhD programme. The cooperation is built on common courses, PhD-student organised workshops, common seminars and the possibility to have supervisors from both departments. The admissions process is also coordinated.

The research school has four compulsory courses:

Introduktionskurs till forskarutbildningen i historia (Introduction to the PhD programme), 7,5 ECTS

Historisk teori och historiska klassiker (Historical theory and historical classics), 7,5 ECTS

Metodkurs (Methodology), 7,5 ECTS

Teoritillämpning i historisk forskning (Theory put into practice), 7,5 ECTS

The PhD student is free to choose their remaining courses, in consultation with their supervisors.

Teaching in the PhD program is given in Swedish and English. Some compulsory courses are given only in Swedish. Applicants are expected to have knowledge of either Swedish, Norwegian or Danish, and English. If the applicant does not know any Scandinavian languages, they are expected to commit to learn Swedish. Language skills must include reading, speaking and writing these languages.

Stockholm University offers Swedish language courses for international employees. Find them via the link below:

Department of Swedish Language and Multilingualism

The call for applications to the PhD programme is published on the departmental web pages and on the University web page www.su.se, www.uu.se

The call is usually published 15 February, with the deadline in 15 March. Admissions are usually decided in early June with studies beginning on September 1. A different starting date can be agreed to by the Head of Department.

Apply for a PhD student position at Stockholm University's recruitment system. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

Instructions for applicants are available at:

How to apply for a position

You will find information on what documents to include in your application in the current call.

The application should include a research proposal. The applicant must briefly describe his/her proposed field of research. The account should contain one or more research problems and an outline of the implementation of the research. The research proposal will be assessed on the basis of: relevance; originality; potential for completion within the specified time limits (i.e. a period equivalent to four years of full-time study).

The research proposal should be an independent work by the candidate.

The admissions process is open and positions are awarded in competition. Decisions on admissions are made by the Departmental board based on the recommendations of an admissions committee that comprises of scholars from the History departments in Stockholm and Uppsala, external reviewers and a PhD student from one of the departments. You can read more about the admissions procedure (In Swedish) in this PDF:

Antagningsordning beslut 2025-02-11 pdf, 316.1 kB. (316 Kb)

Be aware that different calls may have differing requirements. Always read the current call before applying.

Funding

Attending the PhD programme requires funding from day one, either from the University or external funding agencies. The Department may admit applicants who have funding from other sources if the Department finds that this is a secure source of funding. The Department is very restrictive with admitting applicants on this basis.
PhD students are employed by the University for 48 months.

In order to meet the general entry requirements, the applicant must have completed a second-cycle degree, completed courses equivalent to at least 240 higher education credits, of which 60 credits must be in the second cycle, or have otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge in Sweden or elsewhere.

In order to meet the specific entry requirements, the general syllabus for doctoral studies in the field
stipulates that applicants must have received a passing grade on second-cycle courses worth at least 30 credits, including a degree project worth at least 15 credits.

The qualification requirements must be met by the deadline for applications.

Be aware that different calls may have differing requirements. Always read the current call before applying.