PhD positions in War Studies with specialisation in AI

Published: 19 November 2025

The Swedish Defence University is an internationally renowned university in the area of defence, crisis management and security. We offer a unique academic environment where military and civilian researchers, teachers and students interact. We educate and train top-level executives, experts, and researchers for the task of analyzing and managing current and future crises, security issues and conflicts. The university educates all military officers in the Swedish armed forces and leads the academic progression of the military profession. We conduct research in the areas of Law with a focus on International and Operational Law, Leadership and Command & Control, Military History, Political Science, Systems Science for Defence and Security and War Studies. The Department of War Studies conducts research and education in the subject of War Studies. The department consists of about 160 employees and has about 1000 students and participants in commissioned programmes. The department offers education at all levels within the framework of four programmes: the Officer Programme (undergraduate level), the Senior Officer Programme (advanced level), the Master's Programme in War and Defence (advanced level), and the Postgraduate Programme in War Studies (postgraduate level). In addition, a number of independent courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level are also offered. War Studies is a social science whose central object of study is war and the use of force. The discipline contains research on how military capability is created, led, organized, maintained over time and comes into effect in operations, in wars, conflicts and crises. War Studies also includes social and ethical aspects as well as critical perspectives in relation to war and warfare. The discipline has both a general theoretical and knowledge-based dimension, as well as a practical and applied dimension linked primarily to the education of officers. The Swedish Defence University is the only university in Sweden where the discipline is taught.

Learn more about War Studies here.

The Swedish Defence University invites applications for two fully funded PhD positions in War Studies with the support of Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program – Humanity and Society (WASP-HS). 

Duties

The PhD programme consists of four years of full-time studies (240 ECTS credits). The central task is to write a doctoral thesis in War Studies under supervision (180 ECTS credits), but coursework (60 ECTS credits) is also part of the programme. The positions are fully funded throughout the four years. The positions may include teaching and other departmental duties up to 20% of full time, resulting in the extension of the employment period for a corresponding length of time (to a maximum of five years in total). Learn more about the doctoral education in War Studies here.

Research Projects

The PhD positions are funded by the Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program – Humanity and Society (WASP-HS), which is a national research program in Sweden. The vision of WASP-HS is to foster novel interdisciplinary knowledge in the humanities and social sciences about AI and autonomous systems and their impact on human and social development. WASP-HS enables cutting edge research, expertise, and competence building in the humanities and social sciences. Learn more about WASP-HS here.

The PhD candidate will take part in the WASP-HS graduate school, which provides foundations, perspectives, and state-of-the-art knowledge in the different disciplines taught by leading researchers in the field. Through an ambitious program with research visits, partner universities, and visiting lecturers, the graduate school actively supports forming a strong multi-disciplinary and international professional network between PhD candidates, researchers and practitioners in the field. It thus provides added value on top of the existing PhD programs at the partner universities, providing unique opportunities for participants.

The PhD positions will be split between two distinct lines of enquiry and applications must speak to either one of them:

The first PhD position will research how the military adoption of AI and autonomous systems is shaping strategic thinking and power dynamics in international relations.

The second PhD position will investigate the impact of increasing hybrid collaboration with AI and autonomous systems on military personnel and military organisation.

Qualifications

Entry requirements for doctoral programmes (third-cycle) require both general and specific eligibility.

The general entry requirements for doctoral programmes (third-cycle) are a Master’s degree (second-cycle), completed courses equivalent to at least 240 ECTS credits, of which at least 60 ECTS credits must be at the postgraduate level (second-cycle), or otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge in Sweden or abroad.

The specific entry requirements for admission to doctoral studies in War Studies at SEDU are the completion of course requirements of 90 ECTS credits in the social sciences (or equivalent), and at least 30 ECTS credits in War Studies or closely related subject, such as International Relations, Peace and Conflict Research, Security Studies or Political Science. In addition, qualified applicants must master English in speech and writing.

Assessment Criteria

Selection among applicants who meet the entry requirements will be made with regard to their ability to benefit from the doctoral program and will be based on the following assessment criteria:

• The scientific quality of previous work and the project plan, in regard to independence, methodological clarity and theoretical awareness, analytical ability, critical approach and the ability to communicate clearly.
• The quality and relevance of previous post-graduate education (second cycle), the relevance of the thesis subject, as well as other qualifications relevant for the position.

The selection is based on a balanced assessment of the above. As basis for the assessment of the scientific quality of previous work, one or more independently authored academic theses or equivalent are required, in Swedish, English, Danish or Norwegian, or in translation to either of these languages.

To have completed a professional military education is a merit.

Application

Applications are submitted via the Swedish Defence University's recruitment system by clicking on the link ‘Log in and apply for the job’ on the advertisement page. Read more about the admission process here.

Mark your application with reference number Ö 694/2025.

Completed applications must be received by the Swedish Defence University no later than midnight CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time) on the closing date.

Only complete applications will be considered. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete and in accordance with what is stated in the advert. Applications should preferrably be written in English, but can also be written in Swedish, Danish or Norwegian. Documents submitted in other languages must be accompanied by an authorised translation. The applicant may be invited to interviews in early 2026 with the aim of making a decision on employment and admission to the doctoral programme at the beginning of the autumn term 2026 at the latest. 

About the position

The position as a doctoral student is full-time. The employment is fixed-term and regulated according to the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 5. The doctoral position is located at the Department of War Studies (IKV).  

Employment as a doctoral student at the Swedish Defence University entails a salary placement according to the current starting salary in the doctoral student scale, which is currently SEK 31,500 per month.

For doctoral students who are career officers with permanent employment at the Swedish Armed Forces, the conditions regulated in the Local Collective Agreement on Salary Setting for Military Doctoral Students apply. When employed as a doctoral student at the Swedish Defence University, career officers retain their basic salary.

In addition, the doctoral students are allocated funding for travel, literature and other expenses relevant to the programme. This sum amounts to a maximum of SEK 30,000 per year.

The Swedish Defence University strives for equality and diversity in all professional groups. We welcome applicants from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. In the current employment category, the majority of employees are men, which is why we welcome women as applicants. We have an inclusive environment and our employees can combine work with active parenthood.

Employment at the school may involve a security clearance according to the Security Protection Act (2018:55).

The position may include wartime position. If you are already placed in a wartime position in your current employment at an authority and your expertise is needed in the school's wartime organization, negotiations will take place between the relevant authority and the school regarding your placement

We welcome applications from both Swedish and international candidates.

Welcome with your application no later than the 6th of January 2026!

To get in contact with union representatives please send an e-mail to saco@fhs.se, OFR/O@fhs.se and OFR/S@fhs.se In the event of any disagreement between the English and the Swedish versions of this announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence. Please do not send offers of recruitment or advertising services.

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