International Relations
The subject provides in-depth knowledge of how the international system has grown and works today. Globalization has been influenced by political and economic relations in the world.
Subject description
International Relations at Stockholm University is organized into three sub-disciplines, around which our education and research is focused: international security, international institutions, and international political economy. All are concerned with the power, order, and organization of global cross-border relations.
The study of international security focuses on historical, social and political dynamics around the pursuit of peace and stability. This includes the study of traditional and ‘new’ forms of security threat, as well as inquiry into the meaning of security and how it is framed.
Examining international institutions includes the study of global governance dynamics, such as the structure, causes, and consequences of today's complex web of international institutions. In focus here are both formal and informal institutions, and a variety of transboundary partnerships.
The study of international political economy covers the distribution of economic and financial resources through the international system. It includes our research on borderless challenges, resource flows, international economic and monetary institutions, systemic reform, and the critical evaluation of the global political economy.
Cutting across all sub-disciplines are central teaching and research themes, on some of the most important questions of our time. These include globalization’s effects, human development, structural inequalities, war and conflict, global risks and crises, resource depletion, and climate change. The department’s IR researchers are highly engaged in national and international networks, major collaborative research projects, professional organizations, and international publishing outlets.
Career opportunities
The subject is well suited for those who in the future want to work with international issues: journalism, government agencies, intergovernmental organizations - IGOs (UN agencies, humanitarian organizations, environmental organizations, energy organizations, finance, trade and customs organizations, regional organizations), as well as in the aid agencies, non-governmental organizations such as NGOs and multinational companies.
The subject can also be combined with other areas such as global development, human geography, economic history, political science, business economics etc.
Courses and programmes
For a bachelor’s degree in International Relations you can choose to study individual courses or join one of the bachelor’s programmes listed under Educations within the subject.
More information about degrees at Stockholm University
Research in international relations at the department is dynamic, open and interdisciplinary. We focus on a variety of topics such as development, Eastern European and Russian politics, global political economy, security and crisis management and sustainable development.
Our rapidly expanding research environment has the ambition to create conditions for research that both encompasses broad areas and more specialized studies.
Other subjects within Human, Social and Political Sciences, and Law
Area of interest.
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 ↗️
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- 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 ↗️
The PhD Programme in Peace and Conflict Research
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The Department of Peace and Conflict Research offers a PhD programme that lasts for 4 years, including compulsory course work corresponding to about 1 year of fulltime studies. PhD candidates are often involved in teaching or administration up to 20% of their time, so it may take up to 5 years to complete the PhD programme. The purpose of the PhD programme is to make students capable of scientific research. It includes both course work and the completion of a PhD thesis. A PhD degree is of value for further academic research and teaching activities as well as for advanced professional work outside the academic world.
It is important for prospective applicants to note that PhD candidates at the Department of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University, as with most Swedish universities, become employees of the university, that is, they are not seen as students. A consequence of this is that there are no tuition fees, but normally there are also no scholarships available.
Swedish as well as foreign students can apply. Only a limited number of students are admitted. Basic studies in peace and conflict studies or related subjects are required for admission. The application needs to include essays/writing samples in the form of a BA and/or an MA thesis or an essay corresponding to a C-level/Master-level course paper in the social sciences. Applicants should also present a plan for a possible research project leading to a dissertation.
The Department strives to advertise one or more faculty-funded PhD candidate positions in connection with any given admission opportunity. Applicants with external funding need to apply in the regular round of applications and are assessed according to the same criteria as for faculty-funded positions. At a minimum, to be considered, the applicant needs to document guaranteed full external financing for at least 2 years. External funding here refers to two types of financing organisation: either a reputed research council or an equivalent research funding organisation with a professional capacity to independently assess the quality of applications or a national/international governmental/non-governmental organisation that wants to sponsor one of its employees, for example, to raise the professional competence of the person in question.
Want to apply for an open position?
The application round for one general PhD position in peace and conflict research has closed. Future calls will be announced on this webpage, please check back for updates.
Example of PhD courses
- Classics in Peace Research
- Advanced Review Writing
- Research Design in Peace and Conflict Research
- The Practice and Ethics of Field Research in Peace Research
- Methods Course
General Syllabus
- General syllabus for PhD studies in peace and conflict research in English (pdf) Pdf, 183 kB.
- General syllabus for PhD studies in peace and conflict research in Swedish (pdf) Pdf, 206 kB.
Read through the list of PhD Dissertations at the Department of Peace and Conflict Research.
- Desirée Nilsson (Director of Studies, PhD Programme)
- Contact PhD programme
Faculty of Social Sciences | Lund University
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Doctoral studies
Become an important part of the department's research environment
On these pages we introduce doctoral studies at the department, how they are structured, and how you can apply.
Lund university aims for world-class research, and our outstanding research staff and specialised research environments create a fertile ground for PhD studies.
Doctoral candidates at Lund University are not only well prepared for successful careers as independent researchers but they also have strong possibilities to publish their work independently during their studies and to gain significant teaching experience.
Lund University offers PhD studies in all eight faculties. There are no tuition fees for PhD studies at Lund University.
Around 30 doctoral students work at the Political Science Department at any given time, and we normally accept new doctoral candidates once a year.
Director of Doctoral Studies Sara Kalm Telephone: +46 46 222 01 58 E-mail: sara [dot] kalm [at] svet [dot] lu [dot] se (sara[dot]kalm[at]svet[dot]lu[dot]se)
Information for our doctoral students on our internal pages
You who already are a doctoral student with us, can find all the information you need on our internal pages!
- International website
- Find courses
- Find research
- Find organisation
- The Department of Political Science
Doctoral Studies
The aim of the PhD Programme is to enable students to conduct high quality research in political science. The central component in the doctoral studies is to complete an academic dissertation.
The doctoral studies emphasizes the need for broad training in the theoretical and empirical cores of the discipline and we stress the importance of methodological pluralism. The PhD Programme has close ties with our areas of research, and doctoral students make a significant contribution to the work of the Department of Political Science.
Examples of research projects
Fore more examples of projects
- Young men feel the most threatened by advances in women’s rights (External link)
- Opinion polls can undermine democratic elections (External link)
IMAGES
COMMENTS
Doctoral studies in International Relations leading up to a licentiate degree comprises 120 credits. The course part is 60 credits and the licentiate dissertation 60 credits. The course part of the Doctoral Degree is divided into mandatory and elective courses.
You learn about changing power relations in the international system, and the ways in which connections between state and non-state actors contribute to the global order. Problems and challenges surrounding conflict and security are also central to the study of International Relations.
If you are an international student from a country outside the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland and you plan to pursue a PhD in Sweden, you will need a residence permit to study in the country.
Research in international relations at the department is dynamic, open and interdisciplinary. We focus on a variety of topics such as development, Eastern European and Russian politics, global political economy, security and crisis management and sustainable development.
You might even need to be fluent in Swedish. But that’ll depend on the subject. + Find a PhD at a Swedish university. + Find other academic positions in Sweden. + Useful info about research. When you apply for a PhD in Sweden, you're applying for a job. And if you get one, you'll get paid a monthly salary. Read more about PhDs in Sweden.
The PhD Programme in Peace and Development Research aims to develop knowledge and skills that enable independent and professional research, and to contribute to the research field through a doctoral dissertation.
The Department of Peace and Conflict Research offers a PhD programme that lasts for 4 years, including compulsory course work corresponding to about 1 year of fulltime studies.
The doctoral research programme at the Department of Economic History and International Relations at Stockholm University provides you with a fruitful research.
On these pages we introduce doctoral studies at the department, how they are structured, and how you can apply. Lund university aims for world-class research, and our outstanding research staff and specialised research environments create a fertile ground for PhD studies.
Doctoral Studies. The aim of the PhD Programme is to enable students to conduct high quality research in political science. The central component in the doctoral studies is to complete an academic dissertation.