PhD student in Musicology

The Department of Culture and Aesthetics is a large and dynamic department within the Faculty of Humanities with about 120 employees, including approximately 50 PhD students within five subject areas. Musicology at Stockholm University is part of the Department of Culture and Aesthetics, which also includes the subject areas of History of Ideas, Art History, Literature, Theatre Studies, Curating and Heritage Studies. The department offers a four-year doctoral program in Musicology. Within musicology our research focuses on music history (especially from the 18th century to the present day), music theory and music analysis, and music in relation to media and technologies, including theories and methodologies from intermediality, narratology and cultural studies in research on multimedia phenomena such as opera, film music and video game music.

More information about us, please visit: the Department of Culture and Aesthetics.

The doctoral student’s employment will be covered by funding from the Olle Engkvist Foundation.

Subject area 

The thesis work will be conducted within the framework of Musicology. We encourage applications that relate to how the doctoral research subject is described in the general study plan, which can be found on the website.
Doctoral studies in Musicology: Forskarutbildning i musikvetenskap.

Qualification requirements

A person meets the general entry requirements if they have completed a second-cycle degree, successfully completed courses equivalent to at least 240 higher education credits, of which 60 credits must be in the second cycle, or have otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge in Sweden or elsewhere.

In order to meet the specific entry requirements, applicants must have successfully completed an advanced level degree in Musicology: courses on advanced level covering at least 30 credits including a thesis covering at least 15 credits.

In terms of specific entry requirements, it is also required that the applicant has knowledge of English. Language skills must include the ability to read, speak and write in this language.

The entry requirements may also be met by applicants who have acquired essentially equivalent qualifications, either domestically or abroad. Any assessment of equivalence is conducted by a group appointed by the supervisory committee and decided by the department board.

The entry requirements must be met no later than the application deadline.

Selection

The selection among the eligible candidates will be based on their capacity to benefit from the training. In addition, we take into account the applicant’s ability to contribute to and benefit from the research environment at the department. The doctoral student as an employee shall be physically present at the department and be active at the seminar activities. The selection among the eligible candidates will be based on the following criteria:

1. Education. Assessment of both depth and breadth of previous education.

2. Previous scientific production. Based on a Bachelor’s thesis, a Master’s thesis or other academic papers, the ability of the applicant to benefit from the education is considered according to:

• critical ability
• analytical ability 
• creativity
• independence.

The assessment also takes into consideration the aspect of time, that is, to what extent the applicant has shown the ability to meet his or her previous scientific obligations within given time constraints. In addition, the scientific progress of the applicant is considered.

3. Research proposal/project proposal. The applicant should enclose a short research proposal (max. 15,000 characters including spaces), covering the research problem/s and an outline of the research project. It should also describe:

• why you are interested in the project and what makes you suitable for it
• how the project relates to the state of research 
• which theoretical and methodological approaches you want to use in the project.

The research plan is assessed according to:

• relevance
• originality
• feasibility within given the given timeframe (that is full-time work during a four-year period of doctoral studies).

4. Available supervisor competence.

5. Ability to collaborate. 
The ability of the applicant to be collaborative is determined by personal references, certificates or interviews.

Admission Regulations for Doctoral Studies at Stockholm University.

About the post

The doctoral student’s employment will be covered by funding from the Olle Engkvist Foundation. We offer a fixed-term employment as a doctoral student according to Chapter 5 of the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100). The period of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education for four years. As a doctoral student, you should primarily devote yourself to your own doctoral education, but the employment may include work with education, research and administration to a limited extent (maximum 20 %).

A new employment as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year, the employment is then renewed for a maximum of two years at a time.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact

For more information, please contact Associate Professor Johanna Ethnersson Pontara, phone: +46 8 16 19 52, johanna.ethnersson.pontara@music.su.se.

Application

Apply for the PhD student position at Stockholm University's recruitment system. Attach a personal letter and CV as well as the attachments requested in the application form. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position.