Doctoral student position in Education Law at the Faculty of Law - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

A doctoral student position in Education Law

Beginning 1 September 2019 or upon agreement.

In Sweden education law is a dynamic area of the law where there is a great need for research. From a broad perspective education law covers international, regional and national law. In national law, education law primarily means the legal frameworks that regulate the school system and higher education, but it can also be considered to include the regulation of other types of education. Since education is a central sector of society subject to constant regulatory change at the same time as there is no legal research in large parts of it, there is an extensive need for research in the area. There is also a need for lawyers with special expertise in the area.

The Faculty of Law at Uppsala University has a research environment in education law, and the doctoral student will be a member of it. In 2013 an initiative was taken at the Faculty to set up a legal centre focusing on education law. The Institute of Education Law was therefore established in 2015. Information about the research environment is available at www.ifu.jur.uu.se. Since 2009 the Faculty of Law has been responsible for the course on “School law and the exercise of public authority” in compulsory positional training, the Educational Leadership Programme, provided by Uppsala University. The doctoral student’s teaching activities will take place as part of this programme.

To strengthen our research environment in education law and meet the need for expertise in school law, the Department of Law at Uppsala University is now advertising a doctoral studentship focusing on education law, especially the school system.

Focus of the doctoral student project Education law focusing on the school system
The school system has undergone a number of major reforms since the 1990s, and the commitment to reform among governing politicians has not decreased. On the contrary, the school system is constantly subject to both major and minor change. Central issues for the area concern the governance and supervision of schools, the rights and obligations of individuals (as pupils, custodians, staff), and the legal standing of independent schools. In view of developments in society with greater regulation of the school system and the resulting need for research and expertise in the area of “school law”, this advertisement of a doctoral studentship in education law relates to research projects focusing on the school system.

Project proposals where education law focusing on schools is an important and integral part of the research topic are relevant to this advertisement. As education law as such is not a doctoral education subject at the Faculty, the doctoral student will be admitted to one of the subjects of administrative law, public law and constitutional law.

An employed doctoral student must primarily devote his or her time to his or her own doctoral research. Other duties at the faculty may be included, such as teaching students, working in teaching teams, and administration (no more than 20% of the position). A requirement for employment as a doctoral candidate is that the applicant must have been admitted to doctoral studies. The regulations governing the employment of doctoral candidates and admittance to doctoral studies are found in Chapter 5, Sections 1-7, and Chapter 7, Sections 34-41, of the Higher Education Ordinance, and in the general study plan for doctoral studies at the Faculty of Law, Uppsala University.

In order to be admitted to doctoral studies, the applicant is required to meet the following qualifications.

To qualify as applicant with the Faculty of Law, the applicant must either

1) in Sweden, have completed a Master of Laws degree or completed a law programme, or

2) in Sweden or abroad, have acquired knowledge equivalent to the degrees mentioned in 1). In evaluating whether the knowledge is sufficient, consideration must be given to what is required to successfully benefit from the doctoral programme in the specific subject area.

Applicants must have an adequate knowledge of Swedish or English.

The overall purpose of the doctoral studies is to provide future newly qualified doctors of laws with good prospects for a successful career within or outside of higher education. This includes in-depth knowledge of the chosen subject in the field of research, a capacity for independent and critical thinking, proficiency in scientific methods and modes of working, an ability to identify interesting and researchable issues, teaching skills and the ability to express himself or herself well both orally and in writing, an ability to operate in an international context and an ability to understand and deal with ethical issues concerning research.

Admission is based on an evaluation of the applicant’s capacity to successfully complete the doctoral studies. The evaluation is primarily focused on the project description as well as the scientific written material (published or not published). Analytical ability, ability to structure the material and to independently work on the proposed project, and the project’s news value, is paramount. In addition to the written material, other merits, such as grades, diplomas, completed courses etc., may also be of importance in the assessment. Further, the applicant’s capacity to cooperate in different ways, e.g. with teaching colleagues, may be taken into consideration as well as the Faculty’s needs to recruit doctoral candidates in all subject areas.

Your application including the below required attachments is to be electronically submitted.

Project description in Swedish or English (required document)
The project description should include the research question(s) of the proposed research, the relationship between the research topic and the relevant area of research, research already undertaken in this field, a reflection upon material and method, a time plan, and the possible scientific value and contribution of the proposed project. The project description must comprise no more than 35,000 characters including spaces (approximately ten A4-pages).

Popular summary in Swedish or English (required document)
The project summary must include a brief popular summary in Swedish or English, no longer than 2,000 characters including spaces.

CV in Swedish or English (required document)

Grade transcripts (required document) and other certificates in Swedish or English Written scientific work (electronic copy of books, articles, undergraduate essays, manuscripts, etc.)

A statement from a potential supervisor or, alternatively, a letter of recommendation or contact details for at least one reference person (e.g. university teacher or employer)
In order to be admitted, the applicant needs a statement from a professor or an associate professor at the Faculty of Law in Uppsala, stating that he or she is willing to supervise the proposed project. If a statement from a potential supervisor is not attached to the application, the Faculty of Law will, if possible, obtain such a statement for prioritised projects. When the application does not include a statement, a letter of recommendation or contact details for a reference person may be of particular importance.

Application forms for admission to doctoral studies, and employment as a doctoral student.

Please click here:Application for admission to third-cycle studies and here: Application for employment as doctoral student

Please note that those already admitted to doctoral studies must attach an updated individual study plan to the application for employment as a doctoral student.

Decisions on admissions are made by the Research Committee at the Faculty of Law upon preparation by an evaluation committee specifically set up for this purpose. As part of the admission procedure, interviews may be held with a limited number of applicants. Only applicants who have a potential supervisor at the Faculty of Law by the time of the interview or shortly thereafter, may be offered a position as a doctoral candidate.

Decisions on employment are made by the Head of Department. A person may be employed as a doctoral student for a maximum of eight years, but no longer than the equivalent of four years of full-time doctoral research. For teaching within the employment, extension is admitted.

Salary: Local guidelines are established for setting the salary.

Starting date: 1 September 2019 or according to agreement.

Type of position: Temporary position longer than 6 months

Further information may be obtained from Erik Svensson, Director of Studies, email: research@jur.uu.se, phone: +46 18 471 26 01. 

You are welcome to submit your application, including required documents, no later than 1 March 2019, UFV-PA 2018/4591.

Only complete applications will be taken into consideration.