phd in sweden business studies

Higher seminar PhD Courses

PhD studies

Announcement: up to 7 phd students in business studies.

We have now announced seven PhD positions in Business Studies. You can apply to these until 2 April 2024. The PhD Programme starts 21 August 2024.

The positions which are announced are the following:

• 2 general PhD positions in Business Studies
• 1 position connected to the project 'The Growing Firm - Decisions about Innovation and Global Expansion'
• 1 position connected to the project 'Decoding Digital Transformation in Multinational Corporations'
• 1 position connected to the project 'From Invention to Innovation: Novelty, Impact and Value of Patents in 20th Century Sweden'
• 1 position connected to the project 'Pay with Engagement'
• 1 position connected to the project 'Directions and Drivers of Technological Trajectories of Swedish MNCs over the Past Three Decades'

For more information about the positions and how to apply, please see the job announcement which you find under the heading 'Up to 7 PhD Students in Business Studies' at Jobs and vacancies at Uppsala University .

The applications to the positions in Business Studies are processed separately by an evaluation committee consisting of Department supervisors. The most qualified applicants are called to an interview.

More information about how to apply

PhD Programme

The Department of Business Studies conducts research in the following areas: Accounting and Finance, Entrepreneurship, International Business, Marketing, Organisation and Management.

PhD studies comprise of four years of full-time study and leads to a doctoral degree. The PhD studies consists of a number of courses (90 academic credits) and research for the doctoral thesis (150 academic credits), a total of 240 academic credits. 

Programme structure

What are the career prospects? 

The PhD Programme aims to provide excellent scholarly training. PhD's hold positions as researchers and academics in Sweden and abroad at various universities and Business Schools. There are also opportunities to work outside of academia. In recent years, graduates from the PhD Programme have been offered positions in the Business Community and with various NGOs, the media and authorities.

• Director of PhD Studies Susanne Åberg
• ​​ ​ Administrator Doctoral Studies and the MIT Research School Golondrian Janke
• Administrator for the research school NordIB Elisabeth Hallmén
• Head of the PhD Student Association Carla Sacchi

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PhD programmes

When you apply for a phd programme in sweden, you’re actually applying for a job. yeah, you read that right. 👀.

“Do a master’s here – I’d say it’s a very good step to doing a PhD in Sweden. I did my master’s at Malmö University and now I’m doing a PhD at Lund University” – Sanjay, Malmö University. Photo: Oskar Omne

So that means – no tuition fees, no scholarships. But you’ll receive a monthly salary instead. Nice, eh? And that’s why available PhD positions are listed on a university’s job board.

How to apply for a PhD position? You’ll apply directly to the university.

Just so you know, there’s no centralised application process. And things like requirements and application dates? This kind of stuff is decided by each department. But we do know that you’ll need to have a master’s degree – in the same field of study – and a great level of English to apply for a PhD here. You might even need to be fluent in Swedish. But that’ll depend on the subject.

+ - Find a PhD at a Swedish university

• PhD at Blekinge Institute of Technology ↗️
• PhD at Chalmers University of Technology ↗️
• PhD at Dalarna University ↗️
• PhD at Halmstad University ↗️
• PhD at Jönköping University ↗️
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• PhD at Karolinska Institutet ↗️
• PhD at Konstfack ↗️
• PhD at Linköping University ↗️
• PhD at Linnaeus University ↗️
• PhD at Luleå University of Technology ↗️
• PhD at Lund University ↗️
• PhD at Malmö University ↗️
• PhD at Marie Cederschiöld University ↗️
• PhD at Mälardalen University ↗️
• PhD at SLU (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences) ↗️
• PhD at Stockholm School of Economics ↗️
• PhD at Stockholm University ↗️
• PhD at Stockholm University of the Arts ↗️
• PhD at the Swedish Defence University ↗️
• PhD at Södertörn University ↗️
• PhD at Umeå University ↗️
• PhD at University College Stockholm ↗️
• PhD at University West ↗️
• PhD at University of Borås ↗️
• PhD at University of Gothenburg ↗️
• PhD at University of Gävle ↗️
• PhD at University of Skövde ↗️
• PhD at Uppsala University ↗️
• PhD at Örebro University ↗️

+ - Find other academic positions in Sweden

• University Positions ↗️
• Academic Positions ↗️
• EURAXESS academic positions in Europe ↗️

+ - Useful info about research

• CORDIS ↗️ – EU Research and Information Service
• EURAXESS information ↗️ – Portal for information and practical assistance for researchers moving to Sweden
• Formas ↗️ – The Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning
• Swedish Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare ↗️
• Swedish Research Council ↗️
• Vinnova — Sweden’s Innovation Agency ↗️ – An organisation that integrates research and development in technology, transport and working life
• Handbook for International Researchers ↗️ – Stockholm University’s handbook for international researchers

• 👩🏽‍🎓 Beyond the master's: a PhD?
• Find a research position at a Swedish university ↗️

• PhD programs
• Business Administration

PhD program in Business Administration

• Program structure
• Application & admission
• Alumni stories
• PhD content hub
• Keep me posted!

The PhD program in Business Administration (240 ECTS) has a history of over 50 years. Our overall purpose is to give the doctoral student a deepened and broadened theoretical and methodological knowledge, alongside the experience of having completed a substantial piece of original scientific work.

The conferral of the PhD in Business Administration signifies that the candidate has attained expert competence in a major field of study.

The PhD program in Business Administration is divided into four different specializations:

• Accounting and Managerial Finance
• Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology
• Management & Organization
• Marketing, Strategy & International Business

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Doctoral studies

Doctoral programmes (PhD programmes) are offered by all six departments at the Lund University School of Economics and Management. It is often given in collaboration with other parts of Lund University or with other institutions in Sweden.

The doctoral degree is the highest academic degree. The Swedish doctoral degree comprises 240 credits and the doctoral programme normally takes four years of full-time study.

The programmes differ somewhat between disciplines, but in all cases they consist of at least one year of course work and at least two years spent writing the doctoral thesis. The thesis can be produced in the form of a monograph or in the form of a number of articles published during the doctoral programme, a so-called compilation thesis. The thesis is defended at a public defence where an opponent reviews and opposes the thesis. An examining committee consisting of at least three people grade the thesis.

You also have the option of obtaining a licentiate degree after 120 credits. Such a degree can either conclude a programme or be awarded when you are halfway to a doctoral degree. The thesis is then called a licentiate thesis and is presented and examined at a seminar.

After graduation many doctors pursue academic careers while others obtain positions within business or public administration.

At present, the School of Economics and Management has about 100 admitted doctoral students and around 20 doctoral theses are produced each year.

Regulations for third-cycle education at LUSEM (pdf, 290 kB)

Apply to a doctoral programme

Are you interested in joining a doctoral programme at the School of Economics and Management? You apply via the department where you want to do your research. All vacant PhD positions are advertised via Lund University’s job portal.

Application and admission

Financing your doctoral studies

At the School of Economics and Management there are two different ways of financing your studies: employment as a doctoral student, or external funding. External funding may consist of employment outside the university or a scholarship from an external source. It is important to recognise that the different types of funding give you different levels of social security. Upon admission, funding must be secured for the entire duration of the programme and must be at least half-time.

The doctoral degree conferment ceremony

The doctoral degree conferment ceremony takes place at the end of May and is the biggest event of the academic year. During the ceremony, the University rewards those who have completed a doctoral programme and defended a doctoral thesis. At the promotion ceremony, the insignia of learning are awarded: the hat or laurel wreath, the ring and the diploma.

On the same occasion, the University also honours outstanding researchers from other universities and individuals by awarding them honorary doctorates. As a tribute to previous generations, those who received their doctoral degree 50 years ago are also promoted to jubilee doctors.

The doctoral degree conferment ceremony – lunduniversity.lu.se

Quality assurance in research education

Our doctoral programmes are regularly evaluated to maintain their quality.

Doctoral studies at the departments

• Department of Business Administration
• Department of Business Law
• Department of Economic History
• Department of Economics
• Department of Informatics
• Department of Statistics

Lund’s Doctoral Student Union

– for all research students at Lund University

For current doctoral students

More information about your doctoral studies in Canvas

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• Doctoral Programme at Stockholm Business School

Are you interested in pursuing doctoral research in Organisation and Management, Accounting, Finance, Marketing, or Entrepreneurship? Stockholm Business School is currently inviting applications to our Doctoral Programme and for full-time positions as a doctoral student (PhD studies) in Management, Accounting, Finance or Marketing. Access further information about the positions and application process here.

As a doctoral student at SBS you will be part of a vibrant academic community fully committed to the study of people, markets and organisations. You will be working with faculty members who are renowned for their significant contributions to key areas of business administration research, such as financial markets and instruments; branding, consumption and customer orientation; accounting and intellectual capital; public sector management and accounting; health services and workplace health promotion; organizational change, learning and decision-making.

Like any line of scholarly research, doctoral research and writing a doctoral thesis is about making a significant contribution to knowledge. Doctoral students are expected to complete their PhD in four years full time. As a doctoral student you will undergo rigorous training in theory, method and analysis – through individual supervision, coursework, seminars and workshops. No doubt, you will also benefit from being part of an academic community where scholarly dialogue continues outside of the seminar room.

Subject Areas

Stockholm Business School runs a doctoral programme in the following subjects:

Accounting Finance Management Marketing  

Application

Applications are normally accepted in January. 

For further information please contact Director of Graduate Studies: Professor Björn Hagströmer Telephone: +46 8 16 30 30 E-mail:   [email protected]

We look forward to welcoming you to Stockholm Business School!

Last updated: December 22, 2020 Source: Doctoral Programme Coordinator

"I really appreciate the dynamic and inspiring atmosphere that is created by all the interesting, friendly and ambitious people who work and study at Stockholm Business School"  

Emma Björner PhD student in Marketing

Contact doctoral programme

For further information please contact Director of Graduate Studies: Professor Björn Hagströmer , or the Coordinator of Doctoral programme: Helene Olofsson

Useful links

Stockholm Business School

Application and admission.

Stockholm Business School welcomes applications to the Doctoral Programme in Business Administration. The general period of opening for PhD positions is in the month of January. In addition, announcements of vacant PhD positions may occur at other times.

Admission requirements

Applicants must have completed a master’s degree, or completed at least 240 ECTS (incl. at least 60 ECTS at master’s level), or acquired the equivalent knowledge through academic studies in Sweden or abroad. Applicants must also have completed at least 90 ECTS in Business Administration or equivalent, incl. a dissertation of at least 15 ECTS. Admission to PhD positions is restricted and competition for positions is usually tough.

Selection criteria

Selection is made on the basis of (i) documented knowledge in a relevant subject area, (ii) English language skills (written and spoken), and (iii) analytical, critical and creative thinking skills. We pay particular attention to the quality of your research proposal, your academic merits, and your academic references. Short-listed candidates are called to an interview.

About the doctoral programme

The Doctoral Programme runs for 48 months full-time, beginning 1st September. The University normally employs the doctoral candidates as staff members and pays a salary whilst the doctoral candidates undertake their PhD studies. There are no tuition fees for PhD studies at Stockholm Business School. For further information contact: Director of Graduate Studies, Professor Björn Hagströmer, [email protected]

Union representatives: Ingrid Lander (Saco-S), telephone +46 708 162664, [email protected], Alejandra Pizarro Carrasco (Fackförbundet ST/Lärarförbundet), telephone +46 8 16 34 89, [email protected], [email protected], and PhD student representative, [email protected].

Application

New positions are normally advertised in January.

Please include the following information with your application - for advertised positions only.

• Your contact details and personal data
• Your highest degree
• Your language skills
• Contact details for 2 references

and, in addition, please include the following documents

• Cover letter
• CV – degrees and other completed courses, work experience and a list of degree projects/theses
• Research proposal
• Degree certificates and grades confirming that you meet the general and specific entry requirements (no more than 6 files)
• Degree projects/theses, and other independent academic work (no more than 3 files).

Last updated: December 17, 2020

Source: SBS

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Last updated: February 13, 2024

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Third-cycle (doctoral) programme in Business Administration

A Swedish Ph.D. is expected to take four years to achieve, or five years if the student chooses to take part in lecturing at 20% of her or his time. It is mandatory for each Ph.D. student to have one main supervisor (being at least an associate professor), one additional supervisor (having at least a Ph.D. degree) and one examiner (being at least an associate professor), although. Supervisors and examiner can be changed during the process if the Ph.D. student so wishes. In total, the Ph.D. program consists of 240 credits, in terms of two major parts, of which one consists of course work (90 credits) and the other of the thesis itself (150 credits).

All open PhD positions at the School of Business and Economics at Linnaeus University are announced here: https://lnu.se/en/meet-linnaeus-university/work-at-the-university/ . We do not accept applications in other forms.

Mandatory courses

The course work consists of several mandatory courses (in total 45 credits) as well as courses, which are chosen by the Ph.D. student. The purpose of these mandatory courses is to give the Ph.D. student a good understanding of methodological issues as well as writing texts and defending or discussing them during seminars in combination with learning to take part in the scientific discourse. The mandatory courses are:

• Science of philosophy for Ph.D. students (7,5 credits)
• Methodology and method, at least 7,5 credits qualitative and at least 7,5 credits qualitative (30 credits)
• Active seminar participation (7,5 credits)

Read more about the third-cycle courses at the School of Business and Economics .

Research seminars

Writing the thesis is done with the support of the supervisors. However, the examiner takes a more active part at the seminars. It is mandatory for the Ph.D. student to present her or his on-going research at five seminars. The research seminars are:

• Research proposal seminar, containing a research proposal in order to determine the viability of the research interest and thesis purpose (after one-two semesters)
• Middle seminar, containing half of a thesis and usually a tentative description of empirical data as well as possible venues for analysis (after four-five semesters)
• Final seminar, containing an almost finished doctoral thesis (after six-seven semesters)
• Dissertation defense, that is the official defense of the Ph.D. student's thesis (after eight semesters)

General Study Plan

• Business Administration revised 2017.pdf
• Business Administration.pdf