Doctoral student in Language teaching and learning

In collaboration with Umeå School of Education, the Department of Language Studies is looking for a doctoral student in language teaching and learning.

The Department of Language Studies is a creative and dynamic department offering inspiring education based on an academic foundation and pioneering research within a wide range of subjects. The department provides education and conducts research in linguistics, Scandinavian languages, modern languages and literatures (English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish), Sami (language and culture), language didactics, and educational work with focus on language and learning.  

Welcome to a place where language and literature become sources of both intellectual pleasure and practical benefit!

Specialization of the doctoral student position

The research discipline Language teaching and learning is focused on didactic issues regarding the conditions for learning and teaching languages ​​and linguistic competencies. You will find more information about the doctoral studies and our supervisors´ areas of expertise here. This doctoral position is a collaboration with Umeå School of Education and is part of the postgraduate school in the field of educational science. 

The Postgraduate School in Educational Sciences offers a coherent environment for doctoral education in the field of educational sciences at Umeå University. You will combine your doctoral education at a department with being part of a dynamic, interdisciplinary doctoral student group and have access to national and international research networks. As a doctoral student in the postgraduate school, you will contribute to the development of knowledge in the field, for the benefit of researchers as well as teachers and other educational professions. Read more about The Postgraduate School in Educational Sciences here. 

As a doctoral student, you formulate your own research plan in language teaching and learning and independently develop your dissertation project in consultation with your supervisors. Your supervisors are assigned based on the project's focus. You will have continuous supervision and follow-ups with your supervisors as well as with the Director of Doctoral Studies. You will be a part of the department's research environment where you are expected to contribute through active participation in seminars, research networks, academic gatherings and conferences. You will also take part in other meetings and gatherings at the department, such as workplace meetings and staff days.

In this call, we are especially interested in applications that are aimed at reading and writing didactics for the younger years (F-6).

Qualifications

General requirements 
To be admitted to studies at the third-cycle level, the applicant must meet both general and subject specific entry requirements.
General requirements: a Master’s or equivalent degree in a relevant field, having completed course requirements worth at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits must be at second-cycle (Master’s) level, or in some other way – either in Sweden or abroad – having acquired equivalent knowledge. 

Specific requirements 
In order to meet the specific eligibility requirements for admission to studies in Language teaching and learning at the third-cycle level, the applicant must have completed an equivalent of 120 credits at second-cycle level in a subject of central relevance for the research area; these needs to include a 15-credit essay. 

See general syllabus: https://www.umu.se/en/faculty-of-arts-and-humanities/education/doctoral-studies/general-syllabi/ 

Assessment criteria

Applicants are ranked with reference to their capacity to benefit from and complete the programme. The assessment is based primarily on prior study results, with particular consideration given to essays, and the quality of the research plan and its relevance for the subject area. The assessment is also based on references and interviews, and additional possible evaluations of the main candidates.  As you are expected to run your own dissertation project, you should be self-motivated and structured and have a high commitment to the project. This employment also requires good knowledge of spoken and written Swedish and English. Other language skills are meritorious.

The degree must be completed at the latest at the end of the application period.

Terms of employment

Doctoral students will primarily devote themselves to their education at third-cycle level. Employment as a doctoral student is for the time necessary for the completion of research studies at a normal rate of study, which corresponds to a full-time position for four years. The initial contract of 12 months may be extended by up to a maximum of two years at a time, provided that the doctoral student’s individual study plan has been followed. Doctoral students may work with teaching and administration up to a maximum of 20 percent of their full-time employment. In such cases, the period of employment is extended with the equivalent time spent on teaching/administration, up to a maximum of one additional year. The entry level salary is SEK 33,100 and rises in three steps to SEK 39,200.   

Additional information 

Doctoral students are affiliated with the Postgraduate School in Educational Sciences, coordinated with the doctoral training programme at the Department of Language Studies. 

Doctoral studies begin at the start of the autumn semester, 31 August 2026. The place of work is Umeå University. Doctoral students are expected to actively contribute to the research environment. The doctoral students will have their employment at the Department of Language studies, and the department is responsible for the subject-specific research training and for supervision. 

Doctoral students are admitted to studies at the third-cycle level in Language teaching and learning at Department of Language Studies. In case a residence permit is required for the stay in Sweden, the university reserves the right to revoke the admission if they are not granted a residence permit, or - if the date for the start of studies has been decided - if they cannot present a valid residence permit before the start date of the studies. The latest possible start date is 31 August 2026.

According to The Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 12, Section 2, a decision of appointment for a doctoral student position may not be appealed.

Application

The application must be written in Swedish or English, and must contain:

• A degree certificate, transcript from the Ladok student registry, and/or equivalent attested copies of your academic transcripts proving that general and specific entry requirements are met.
• Curriculum vitae, including name and contact information of two reference persons.
• Copies of relevant Bachelor’s and Master’s theses and other relevant publications.
• A letter that states your motivation for undertaking doctoral studies, and that specifies what expertise at the department is needed for carrying out your research.
• Research plan – should normally not exceed 30,000 characters including spaces – that contains a description of the proposed: 
  - purpose and research problem;
  - previous research;
  - implementation, that is, method, material and theory;
  - relevance; and
  - time plan.

The application must be registered in Umeå University’s e-recruitment system Varbi no later than 6 March 2026.

Please note: the Swedish version is the official version of this advertisement. In the case of any differences in information between this and the official version, it is the official version that is the legally correct version of the advertisement for these doctoral student positions.

We look forward to receiving your application!