Södertörn University welcomes doctoral proposals in Political Science that specialise in public policy and administration or comparative politics. Work will be conducted within the EU-funded research project: “Sustaining Public Administration in Modern Democracies (SUPA)”, which includes research institutions across Europe and beyond. The SUPA Consortium’s analytical starting point is the observation that democratic governments often produce more policies than can be effectively implemented. Its key aims are (1) to identify strategies that make policy growth more sustainable and (2) to develop approaches that make public administrations more resilient to the threat of becoming overburdened. SUPA combines qualitative and quantitative methods to examine patterns of rule growth and the resulting administrative changes and challenges in six European States (Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Spain, and the Netherlands) and the European Union. Within this broader consortium, the Södertörn team is specifically tasked with evaluating the effectiveness of “rule-offsetting” schemes.

The project is located in the Department of Political Science. Political Science research at Södertörn University covers a wide range of topics, including institutions, political parties, parliaments, governments, governance, democracy, citizenship, justice, security, migration and community-building. Many of our projects focus on Eastern and Central Europe, Russia, the Nordic countries and the European Union. Political Science staff and doctoral students are greatly involved in national and international research networks, as well as engaging in multidisciplinary cooperation through the Centre for the Study of Political Organisation.

For more information, please click here. For a Swedish version click here.

Doctoral studies at the Department of Political Science are part of the research area Politics, Economy and the Organisation of Society (PESO), which is an interdisciplinary research environment that encompasses the disciplines of Business Studies, Journalism, Political Science, Social Work, and Sociology. For more information, please click here. For a Swedish version click here.

Description of the doctoral position
The successful applicant will write their thesis as part of the Sustaining Public Administration in Modern Democracies (SUPA) research project. The team at Södertörn University assesses the effectiveness of rule-offsetting schemes in limiting rule growth. Their main tasks include analysing the state-of-the-art, theory development, the collection and coding of data on rule-offsetting schemes, and the empirical analysis of the relationship between overall rule growth and offsetting schemes. Since this research involves background interviews on the practical use of rule-offsetting schemes, knowledge or previous experience of interview methods is advantageous.

For more information about the SUPA, please contact the project manager (see below).

Entry requirements
The general entry requirements are:
1. a second-cycle qualification, or
2. fulfilled requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle, or
3. substantially equivalent knowledge acquired in some other way in Sweden or abroad.
The Faculty Board may permit an exemption from the general entry requirements for an individual applicant, if there are special grounds. (Ordinance 2010:1064)
Specific entry requirements
Specific entry requirements for third-cycle education in Political Science are met by those who
The ability to assimilate academic material in English and a command of the language necessary for work on the thesis are prerequisites for admission to the degree programme.

Grounds for assessment that are applied during selection:

• The applicant’s formal qualifications: course/degree certificates, grades and diplomas.
• The applicant’s expertise, documented in the form of essays and other autonomously written scientific work, and the proposed research plan, as regards

• subject knowledge
• knowledge of scholarly theory and method
• analytical ability.
• The quality, feasibility and relevance of the proposed research for the research subject, area and research project.
• The ability to comply with given timeframes.
• Any documented experience from relevant professional activities.
• The applicant's merits and competence are assessed in terms of creativity and scientific maturity, their ability to be rigorous and formulate problems, their independent judgement and critical analysis, and communication and cooperation skills.

During assessment, the following circumstances are also considered:

• whether there are adequate supervisory resources
• whether the planned research is deemed feasible given the available financial resources
• whether the planned research is deemed feasible from the standpoint of research ethics.

For one doctoral studentship in Political Science as part of the SUPA research project, the following grounds for assessment are also applied:

• Knowledge in political science, public policy and regulation or comparative politics.
• Knowledge of collecting, categorising and coding data.
• Previous experience and/or knowledge of qualitative methods is advantageous, specifically interview methods.
• Previous experience and/or knowledge of quantitative methods is advantageous.
• Excellent written and spoken English.

Admission and employment
This position includes admission to third-cycle education, i.e. research level, and employment on a doctoral studentship at the School of Social Sciences at Södertörn University. The intended outcome for admitted students is a Ph D. The programme covers 240 credits, which is the equivalent of four years of full-time study. The position may be extended by a maximum of one year due to the inclusion of departmental duties, i.e. education, research and/or administration (equivalent to no more than 20% of full-time). Other grounds for extension could be leave of absence because of illness or for service in the defence forces, an elected position in a trade union/student organisation, or parental leave. Provisions relating to employment on a doctoral studentship are in the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 5, Sections 1-7.

Date of employment: 1 April or by agreement

General Syllabus for third-cycle programmes in Political Science: English version or Swedish version.
Information about admission regulations including selection criteria, and third-cycle education at Södertörn University: English version or Swedish version

Application procedure
For more details, see this website under FAQ. Please use Södertörn University´s web-based recruitment system “Reach Mee”. Click on the link "ansök" (apply) at the bottom of the announcement.
Your application may be written in English or Swedish/Norwegian/Danish and must include:

• an application letter

• curriculum vitae

• degree certificate and certificates that demonstrate eligibility to apply for the position (if not written in English or Swedish/Norwegian/Danish, you must enclose translated versions)

• Bachelor’s essay and dissertation at second-cycle level in the field in accordance with the entry requirements (if not written in Swedish, Norwegian, Danish or English, you must enclose a summary of 5-6 pages, approx. 14,000 characters, to the copy of the essay)

• a research plan (project plan) of between 2000 and 3000 words. The project’s relevance to the EU-funded project SUPA must be clear

• two references, with contact details.

If available, a maximum of three publications may also be attached.

Incomplete applications will not be processed.

Application deadline: 15 January 2025 at 23:59

Further information
Project Manager, Brigitte Pircher, Associate Professor in Political Science, School of Social Sciences brigitte.pircher@sh.se
Johan Eriksson, Professor of Political Science, johan.eriksson@sh.se
Ann-Cathrine Jungar, Professor of Political Science, ann-cathrine.jungar@sh.se
Liudmila Voronova, PESO Director of Studies, liudmila.voronova@sh.se
Lovisa Uttman, Human Resources Officer, School of Social Sciences, lovisa.uttman@sh.se Welcome with your application!

Publications referred to must be attached to the application.

An application that is not complete or arrives at Södertörn University after the closing date may be rejected.

The current employment is valid on condition that the employment decision becomes valid.

Union representatives:
SACO: info.saco@sh.se
ST: st@sh.se
SEKO: Henry Wölling tel: +46 8 524 840 80, henry.wolling@ki.se

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