PhD students in War Studies

Published: 11 June 2026

The Swedish Defence University is an internationally renowned university in the area of defence, crisis management and security. We offer a unique academic environment where military and civilian researchers, teachers and students interact. We educate and train top-level executives, experts, and researchers for the task of analyzing and managing current and future crises, security issues and conflicts. The university educates all military officers in the Swedish armed forces and leads the academic progression of the military profession. We conduct research in the areas of Law with a focus on International and Operational Law, Leadership and Command & Control, Military History, Political Science, Systems Science for Defence and Security and War Studies. The Department of War Studies conducts research and education in the subject of War Studies. The department has around 160 staff members and approximately 1,000 students and participants in commissioned training programmes. The Department offers education at all levels within the framework of four programmes: the Officer Programme (undergraduate level), the Advanced Officer Programme (postgraduate level), the Master’s Programme in War and Defence (postgraduate level), and doctoral studies in Military Science (research level). In addition, commissioned education is also provided through a number of stand-alone courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. War Studies is a social science whose central object of study is war and the use of force. The discipline contains research on how military capability is created, led, organized, maintained over time and comes into effect in operations, in wars, conflicts and crises. War Studies also includes social and ethical aspects as well as critical perspectives in relation to war and warfare. The discipline has both a general theoretical and knowledge-based dimension, as well as a practical and applied dimension linked primarily to the education of officers. The Swedish Defence University is the only university in Sweden where the discipline is taught.

The Department of War Studies invites applications for one or several fully funded PhD positions in War Studies.

Duties

The PhD programme consists of four years of full-time studies (240 ECTS credits). The central task is to write a doctoral thesis in War Studies under supervision (180 ECTS credits), but coursework (60 ECTS credits) is also part of the programme. The positions are fully funded throughout the four years. The positions may include teaching and other departmental duties up to 20% of full time, resulting in the extension of the employment period for a corresponding length of time (to a maximum of five years in total). Learn more about the doctoral education in War Studies here.

The Department is now inviting applications for several fully funded PhD positions in War Studies: several positions in War Studies without specialisation, one position in War Studies with specialisation in Russian Warfare, one position in War Studies with specialisation in Gender, Peace and Security as well as one position in War Studies with specialisation in Logistics.

For the PhD positions in War Studies without specialisation, applicants are free to independently develop research proposals within War Studies.

For the PhD position with a specialisation in Russian warfare, projects should consist of social science research on Russian military power and warfare, with an emphasis on how Russia develops, organises, and employs military capabilities. Projects may address issues such as force development, command and control, operational planning, organisational structures, military theory, strategy, and doctrine, and defence-related technology. Applicants for this position must demonstrate documented proficiency in reading Russian.

For the PhD position with a specialisation in gender, peace, and security the focus is on research in feminist security studies, broadly conceived. It can, for example, include questions about gender and military organisations, war preparedness, warfighting, or peace processes as well as explorations of how gender norms, ideas and structures have shaped our understanding of war, defence, and security.

For the PhD position with specialisation in Logistics projects should focus on civil defence’s contribution to military defence in war and defence preparedness of the supply chains during peace time. The research is expected to include data collection from the war in Ukraine, and ongoing peace time activities in the civil defence in the Nordic countries.

Applications must clearly show which position(s) that is applied for.

Qualifications

Entry requirements for doctoral programmes (third-cycle) require both general and specific eligibility.

The general entry requirements for doctoral programmes (third-cycle) are a Master’s degree (second-cycle), completed courses equivalent to at least 240 ECTS credits, of which at least 60 ECTS credits must be at the postgraduate level (second-cycle), or otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge in Sweden or abroad.

The specific entry requirements for admission to doctoral studies in War Studies at SEDU are the completion of course requirements of 90 ECTS credits in the social sciences (or equivalent), and at least 30 ECTS credits in War Studies or closely related subject, such as International Relations, Peace and Conflict Research, Security Studies or Political Science. In addition, qualified applicants must master English in speech and writing.

Assessment Criteria

Selection among applicants who meet the entry requirements will be made with regard to their ability to benefit from the doctoral program and will be based on the following assessment criteria:

• The scientific quality of previous work and the project plan, in regard to independence, methodological clarity and theoretical awareness, analytical ability, critical approach and the ability to communicate clearly.
• The quality and relevance of previous post graduate education (second cycle), the relevance of the thesis subject, as well as other qualifications relevant for the position.
• The selection is based on a balanced assessment of the above. As basis for the assessment of the scientific quality of previous work, one or more independently authored academic theses or equivalent are required, in Swedish, English, Danish or Norwegian, or in translation to either of these languages.

To have successfully completed a professional military education is a merit.

Application

Applications are submitted via the Swedish Defence University’s recruitment system by clicking on the link ‘Log in and apply for the job’ on the advertisement page. Read more about the admission process and the documentation needed for the application here.

Mark your application with reference number: Ö 308/2026.

Your application must be submitted by 24 August 2026. Completed applications must be received by the Swedish Defence University no later than midnight CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time) on the closing date.

Only complete applications will be considered. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete and in accordance with what is stated in the advert. Applications should preferably be written in English, but could also be written in Swedish, Danish or Norwegian. Documents submitted in other languages must be accompanied by an authorised translation. The applicant may be invited to interviews in autumn 2026 with the aim of making a decision on employment and admission to the doctoral programme in good time before the spring semester 2027.

About the positions

The position as a doctoral student is full-time. The employment is fixed-term and regulated according to the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 5. The doctoral position is located at the Department of War Studies (IKV) and will be filled from January 2027.

Civilian doctoral students are paid according to a local collective agreement, where the starting salary is currently SEK 32,600/month. According to special regulations in the local collective agreement, professional officers are paid the same basic salary as they have in the Swedish Armed Forces or at the Swedish Defence University. The doctoral student’s salary then increases in accordance with the Swedish Defence University’s locally agreed salary scale.

In addition, doctoral students are allocated funding for travel, literature and other expenses relevant to the programme. This sum amounts to a maximum of SEK 30,000 per year.

The Swedish Defence University strives for equality and diversity in all positions. We welcome applicants from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. In the current employment category, the majority of employees are men, which is why we welcome women as applicants. We have an inclusive working environment and our employees can combine work with active parenthood.

Employment at the Swedish Defence University may involve a security clearance according to the Security Protection Act (2018:55). The employment may include wartime posting. If you are already placed in a wartime position your current employment at an authority and your expertise is needed in the Swedish Defence University’s wartime organisation, negotiations will take place between the relevant authority and the Swedish Defence University regarding your posting.

We welcome applications from both Swedish and international candidates.

Welome with your application no later than the 24th of August 2026!

From Midsummer onwards, response times to enquiries regarding employment may be longer than usual due to the summer holiday period. Enquiries received during this period may, in some cases, not be answered until after the end of the holiday period.

To get in contact with union representatives please send an e-mail to saco@fhs.se, OFR/O@fhs.se and OFR/S@fhs.se In the event of any disagreement between the English and the Swedish versions of this announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence. Please do not send offers of recruitment or advertising services.

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