Karlstad University takes pride in combining active external cooperation with academic excellence. Karlstad University has around 16 000 students and a staff of over 1 200 members. Democratic principles, equality and diversity are cornerstones of the University. We value the enriching presence of diverse backgrounds and competencies among students and staff.
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The Department of Geography, Media and Communication is seeking a doctoral student in media and communication studies. The disciplines of media and communications studies, human geography, geography and tourism studies make up the department. Several researchers in the department are internationally recognised and prominent in their fields. We regularly publish in highly ranked international journals and have an active and successful application culture, having in recent years received funding from the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Foundation for Humanities and Social Sciences, the Ander Foundation, and FORTE. Visitors praise our pleasant and constructive workplace and inspiring research environment, not to mention, our delicious world-class coffee breaks.
Background
Media and communication studies is a discipline in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and provide an attractive study and research environment for undergraduate and master students. Undergraduate and master level degree programmes and courses are offered in several areas. Cross-border contacts and global perspectives are integral to our activities. Undergraduate studies are offered in two major programmes, Communication & PR and Media and Communication, the latter with the options Visual Communication and Design, and Digital Media and Analysis. The Department has recently launched the international master’s programme Geomedia Studies: Media, Mobility and Spatial Planning.
Research in media and communication studies is pursued in two profiled research groups at the department:
- The research group Geomedia, focusing on the importance of media in organising and attributing meaning to various spaces and places – and vice versa – with focus on, for example, tourism, daily life and popular culture.
- NODE (The Ander Centre for Research on News and Opinion in the Digital Era) with a focus on the societal role of journalism, practice and audience in a digital and fragmented age.
More information about the university, and media and communication studies here
Doctoral programme and duties
The doctoral programme comprises 240 higher education credits, including the doctoral thesis. Departmental duties such as teaching may be allocated if required. Doctoral students are expected to engage in the department on a daily basis. The doctoral studentship is four years but will be extended with the time allocated for possible departmental duties.
Why should you choose MKV at Karlstad University?
We look to the future in everything we do and there is always room for new ideas and commitment. Our well-reputed study programmes and research are characterised by close external cooperation and our successful research environment receives international recognition. We operate on an international basis and have staff, students and visitors from all over the world. We systematically work towards social, economic and environmental sustainability. An appointment at Karlstad University comes with many advantageous benefits, such as health promotion scheme. If you want to work in an exciting, young and forward-moving academic environment, then Karlstad University is the place for you!
Eligibility and assessment criteria
For admission to doctoral studies, applicants must meet the requirements of both general and special eligibility and judged to have the ability otherwise required to pursue the programme successfully. (Higher Education Ordinance, Ch. 7, sect. 35).
General eligibility requires a Master’s degree of at least 240 higher education credits, including at least 60 credits at Master level, or largely equivalent qualifications acquired in some other way in Sweden or abroad.
Special eligibility requires completed courses of at least 90 higher education credits in media and communication studies or in journalism with progressive specialisation, or equivalent qualifications earned abroad or gained in other ways.
In the ranking and selection of the applicants, special attention is paid to previous studies, especially to the quality of independently documented research or development projects completed in previous studies especially at Master’s level and to work experience with relevance to doctoral studies. Special consideration is also given to the proposed research area and its relevance to the departmental research profiles NODE/Geomedia, and the applicants’ intention to be present and participate in the departmental research environment. Considerable weight is also given to their ability to work independently as well as in groups and to cooperative skills and power of initiative.
Admission
Admission is based on individual assessment of applicants’ ability to successfully complete a doctoral studies programme. Starting date by agreement. Place of work is Karlstad.
Terms of employment
The position is full-time fixed-term employment with starting date by agreement.
Application
Application is made via Karlstad University’s web-based recruitment tool Varbi. The application should include:
- CV/List of qualifications (with verified copies of transcripts of courses completed, certificates, etc)
- Copies of C, D and E theses (independent/degree projects) cited,
- Any other research texts, e.g. journal articles or books/book chapters, demonstrating the applicants’ ability to successfully complete doctoral studies
- A brief (1000 words) letter of application, including background, reasons for applying and approach to their own doctoral studies
- A research proposal (2000 words) presenting a thesis topic and how it fits with the research profiles Geomedia/NODE
- Two letters of recommendation and contact information to two references.
Attach all documents and publications you wish to be considered and do not provide links to them. More information on the application is available in “Application Guidelines for the Appointment/Promotion of Teaching Staff” on our website under “Vacancies”, and in Karlstad University’s Regulations for the Appointment and Promotion of Teaching Staff” on the same site.
Three copies of documents that cannot be sent electronically, such as books and software, should be delivered to:
Karlstads universitet
Registrator
651 88 KARLSTAD
Sweden
State the Ref.no REK2020/13.
Deadline for applications: 1 March 2020