Applications for one fully funded PhD in International Migration and Ethnic Relations (IMER) within the European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant project Give Rights, by Malmö University is open. The successful candidate will be employed at the Faculty of Culture and Society, Department of Global Political Studies, beginning on 1 September 2026.
About the Position
The doctoral student will primarily devote their time to research and study within the IMER doctoral programme, which encompasses four years of full-time study (240 credits). The programme includes coursework, participation in research activities, and the completion of an independent doctoral thesis.
As part of the Give Rights project, the doctoral student will conduct research on undocumented migrants’ rights, welfare professionals’ practices, and the politics of rights protection in Europe. The position includes fieldwork in the Netherlands and active collaboration with an interdisciplinary, international research team.
Doctoral students may also undertake teaching, administrative, or research assistance tasks up to 20 percent of their full-time employment.
About the Give Rights Project
Funded by an ERC Starting Grant, Give Rights examines how undocumented migrants’ claims to rights intersect with the attitudes and resistance of welfare professionals across Europe. The project investigates how welfare professionals in countries such as Sweden, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom navigate duties linked to migration control and how their practices shape migrants’ access to rights.
The project uses a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, including survey data, policy mapping, media analysis, interviews, and ethnographic observation. The doctoral student will contribute to Dutch case research, media analysis, and dissemination activities.
The project plan is available here.
Qualifications
General Entry Requirements
Applicants must meet the requirements for admission to doctoral studies, including:
- A second-cycle qualification, or
- At least 240 completed credits, of which 60 credits are at the second-cycle level, or
- Equivalent qualifications obtained in Sweden or abroad.
Specific Entry Requirements
Applicants must demonstrate:
- A second-cycle degree in IMER or a closely related discipline.
- Knowledge and skills relevant to IMER, migration studies, or related social sciences.
Selection Criteria
Candidates will be assessed based on:
- Quality and independence of previous academic work.
- Clarity, relevance, and feasibility of the research statement.
- Methodological and theoretical maturity.
- Demonstrated knowledge of relevant project themes, such as undocumented migration, welfare rights, migrant activism, sanctuary cities, or human rights.
- Ability to conduct qualitative interviews.
- Proficiency in Dutch is considered an advantage.
Research and Learning Environment
The doctoral student will be part of:
- The Department of Global Political Studies, an interdisciplinary department focused on politics, governance, and migration.
- The IMER doctoral programme, one of Sweden’s leading research environments in migration and ethnic relations.
- Malmö Institute for Studies of Migration, Diversity and Welfare (MIM), an internationally recognised research centre.
Employment Conditions
- Four-year full-time doctoral studentship.
- Annual salary progression according to Malmö University’s doctoral student salary agreement.
- Opportunity to receive support and adaptations for permanent disabilities.
- Requirement to learn Swedish over time in order to participate in departmental activities.
Start Date
1 September 2026
How to Apply
Applicants must submit a complete application no later than 18 January 2026 via Malmö University’s recruitment system.
A complete application must include:
- Curriculum Vitae, including up to three referees with contact information.
- Certified diplomas and transcripts relevant to the position.
- A research statement (max. 2,000 words, excluding references) explaining:
- Proposed contribution to the Give Rights project, particularly the Dutch case.
- Preliminary PhD thesis outline (purpose, research questions, theoretical framework, methodology, potential challenges, and data sources).
- Reflection on previous research experience and interest in the topic.
- Advanced-level independent work, such as a master’s thesis or equivalent.
- Any additional relevant publications or documents.
Applications may be submitted in Swedish, English, or another Nordic language. Applicants are responsible for ensuring all documents are translated if necessary.
Malmö University is offering a fully funded doctoral studentship in International Migration and Ethnic Relations (IMER) within the ERC Starting Grant project Give Rights. The doctoral student will conduct original research on undocumented migrants’ rights and welfare professionals’ practices, with fieldwork focusing on the Netherlands. The position includes four years of full-time study, coursework, and thesis research, beginning on 1 September 2026. Applicants must hold a second-cycle degree or equivalent qualifications and submit a full application by 18 January 2026. Required documents include a CV, transcripts, research statement, and advanced-level independent research work.
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