The documents submitted should consist of the following:
a) the completed and signed application form,
b) a short cover letter (max 2 pages)
c) one or two samples of applicant’s research production (theses, articles etc.)
d) certified transcripts of academic records
e) certification of competence in Swedish or letter of intent to learn Swedish
Documents may be written in English or Swedish.
Application Form
Down-load the application form from here.
Print, sign, scan and submit.
Short cover letter
A short description of the documents submitted, particularly the samples of research production. If two samples are submitted,single out the one of them to which the Committee is to give priority in the evaluation.
Samples of research production (theses, articles etc)
Applicants are to submit one or two samples of prior research in English or Swedish, for example, a B.A. and/or an M.A. thesis ("C-uppsats", "D-uppsats" or “masteruppsats”). If two essays/articles are submitted,it should be mentioned in the cover letter which of them the Committee is to give priority in the evaluation. Note that the samples need not specifically be written within the field of political science, it suffices that the content is relevant from a political-science point of view. Note also that the samples submitted should not include anything less ambitious, in terms of scope and academic level, than an ordinary B.A. or M.A. thesis. If any of the samples submitted have multiple authors, they should be accompanied by a statement, preferably written by a co-author, certifying and detailing the specific contribution made by the applicant.
Certified transcripts of academic records
Authorized copies of academic documents, such as course records, diplomas, and certificates, which demonstrate general or special eligibility for post-graduate studies in political science. See minimal requirements for admission.
Certification of competence in Swedish
For applicants with a degree from a non-Swedish university, suitable proof of language skills (English and Swedish) or (if proficiency in Swedish is insufficient) a letter of intent to acquire such competence within the first year of study.
Minimal requirements for admission
General eligibility is possessed by anyone who has obtained a degree at advanced level, fulfilled course requirements for at least 240 ECTS points, of which at least 60 ECTS points at advanced level, or otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge in Sweden or abroad. For special eligibility for admission to graduate studies in political science the applicant is required to have satisfactory results on courses carrying 90 ECTS points in political science. Special eligibility is also possessed by anyone who has otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge in Sweden or abroad. Hence, in order to be eligible for admission, applicants must have completed at least a M.A. (e.g. a Pol. Mag., with at least a "D-level Thesis" or a One-Year Master's Thesis) or equivalent skills/degree. More details on required qualifications can be found in section 2 of the general syllabus (Swedish only).
The applicant’s ability to meet these requirements should be clearly evidenced by the documents submitted with the application. For courses taken outside the Swedish university system a certified explanation of the grading system used should be included.
Prospective applicants who are uncertain about whether they meet the course work requirements are advised to a) consult with the Director of PhD-studies Prof. PerOla Öberg (see contact information below) prior to submitting their application, and b) include certified documentation describing the courses they have taken in sufficient detail for the evaluation committee to decide whether the requirement is met.
To successfully participate in the programme, students must be able to understand English and Swedish without difficulty, in spoken as well as written form. In addition, they must be fluent, verbally as well as in writing, in at least one of these two languages. For applicants having a degree from a Swedish university, it is taken for granted that these requirements are met. Other applicants should submit suitable proof of their language skills. If the applicant is the sole author of samples of submitted research production written in English or Swedish, no additional proof of proficiency is required for the language in question.
Applicants with insufficient proficiency in Swedish may nevertheless be admitted to the programme. However, such applicants are expected to make a strong effort to learn Swedish during the summer months immediately after admission as well as during their first year of study. They are expected to submit a special letter of intent where they confirm their readiness to achieve the required proficiency in Swedish.
Basis of evaluation
Applicants who meet the minimal requirements for admission are evaluated based on their expected ability to profit from advanced graduate training and to produce, with proper training, independent high-quality academic research. Consequently, the evaluation is primarily based on submitted samples of prior research production.
The research samples submitted are evaluated with the purpose of obtaining an informed judgment about the applicant’s research talents. Hence, the samples should preferably demonstrate those talents in as clear a manner as possible rather than have the form of literature reviews. Ideally, the samples should be of such a quality that (with minor revisions) they would be publishable as research articles in scholarly journals (if not already published). The evaluation is based on an independent reading by members of the admission committee, where previous grades or other evaluations are left without consideration.
Besides the evaluation of prior research production, the applicant’s performance in prior course work is taken into consideration. Applicants should therefore include clear records of what they have accomplished in this regard, the grades obtained, and (for courses taken outside the Swedish university system) a certified explanation of the grading system used.
Decision
The admission committee presents its evaluations on a faculty meeting in late May where it is decided which of the applicants that may be admitted to the PhD-programme. The final decision is taken by the Head of Department (Prefekten). Applicants admitted to the programme are contacted as soon as possible, and the decision is communicated to all applicants in early June at the latest.
The Head of Department may decide to admit more PhD-students than advertised. This requires that financing for the whole programme is assured and that the student has been top ranked among applicants by the faculty meeting. External fundings have to be approved by the university.
More information
For more information, please contact the Director of PhD studies: Prof. PerOla Öberg (perola.oberg@statsvet.uu.se).