Application guidelines

If it is a project position, and we are advertising more than one, you need to specify which one you are applying for.

In the system you need to enter your highest degree, other degrees, current employment, language skills, references and other requested information.

When specifying your degrees, include information on subject, year, month, and institution.

Justify your application and summarize your skills in an attached letter (Personal letter). This should not exceed one page, 4 000 characters.

Your personal letter should also contain information about planned pace of study. The rate of study is normally 100 % (4 years of full-time study for a PhD), but may not be less than 50 % (8 years of half-time study for a PhD).

Doctoral studies are normally 4 years (if full-time), but if you intend to take credit for previous studies, this will shorten your program. For those with a 2-year Master's degree, up to one year of the Master's degree can be counted towards the doctoral program. If a full year is credited, the program will thus be one year shorter.

The curriculum vitae must include:

• Degrees and other training relevant to the position
• Previous employment, most recent first
• Any periods of leave, including parental leave
• Other experiences relevant to the position
• Publication list

Should not exceed 2 pages, 8 000 characters.

NOTE: A project plan is required only for Open positions; it is not needed for project-specific positions. The call opening on March 1, 2025, does not include any open positions.

The research plan may not exceed 8 pages, including references, and should be written in Times New Roman font, font size 12 and single line spacing.

In a separate appendix to the application, applicants must describe the plan for their thesis. The submitted research plan is not binding. It can (and perhaps should) be revised during the supervision and research process. The research plan should be realistic in all respects except how the research funds will be raised.

The research plan normally includes the following points:

a. Purpose and research question/hypotheses

This section gives the reader an idea of how the applicant intends to define the scope of the research project. In the case of a synthesis thesis, both preliminary overall questions for the entire thesis project and the specific questions planned for the individual sub-studies can be stated.

b. Background

This section describes the chosen theoretical framework for the thesis project, some previous research and possibly your own experience/knowledge in the field. The background should be sufficiently comprehensive to make the choice of questions comprehensible. The theoretical/practical relevance of the chosen problem can be highlighted here.

c. Methodology

This section describes the approach to the investigations planned to study the thesis questions. The section should include the following:

• the choice of survey variables and how they will be measured/operationalized
• selection of the survey population and sample
• sources of error and control measures
• procedures, including recruitment of participants
• data processing methods
• time schedule

Please attach diplomas, certificates and attestations of basic and specific qualifications. Include a list of appendices. Maximum 6 files.

If you have not yet received your diploma, you must submit a certificate of your exam results (under "other appendices").

Please note that you may attach only one piece of work for assessment – either a degree thesis or another scientific work. Upload the selected work here.

In general, it is preferable to submit a single-authored student thesis rather than a co-authored scientific paper, as individual contributions to co-authored works can be difficult to assess. However, being a co-author on scientific papers is highly valued and will be considered in the evaluation of your CV. To ensure proper recognition, please include a publication list in your CV.

If a scientific work is attached where the applicant is not the sole author, the applicant must specify in the appendix (under "other appendices") their own and the other co-authors' contributions to the work. In this letter, the applicant also states the reasons why this particular work has been selected. A letter signed by all co-authors describing the applicant's contribution to the work must also be attached to the application. Separate letters from each co-author may replace the joint letter.

List, but do not attach to the application, all published and unpublished research reports or theses, memoranda, etc.

This point refers to written material that the applicant wishes to refer to as merit in connection with admission to doctoral studies in psychology, but which is not the work to be assessed.

Examples of such material, which is of great importance for assessing the applicant's suitability for doctoral studies, are degree projects, research reports, memoranda, etc.

List the previous activities, professional experience, service and employment that you wish to cite as a merit.

When, what type of service, how long, where, with whom.

Any additional files can be attached to the application here, such as certificates, letters from co-authors if you have attached a work of which you are not the sole author, etc.

Any other information and comments should be entered here.

If the applicant wishes to refer to, for example, a high grade ("Passed with distinction", "A") on parts of courses in psychology, this should be stated here.

Applicants who have not studied these courses at Stockholm University must ensure that copies of certificates are included with the application.