OpenFieldSwedish Defence University Salaried PhD Employment in War Studies
Four-year salaried doctoral research appointment examining contemporary armed conflict, military operational art, hybrid warfare, and Baltic Sea regional deterrence.
Swedish Defence University: War Studies, Crisis Management & Doctoral Fellowships
The Swedish Defence University (Försvarshögskolan / SEDU) in Stockholm is Sweden's premier public institution for higher education and research in war studies, international security, political science, crisis management, and defence systems, playing a central role in Nordic and NATO security strategy.
Verified degree programs and opportunities
Review checked academic pathways and funding options below:
Swedish Institute (SI) Scholarship for Global Professionals at SEDU
Prestigious Swedish government scholarship funding international master's candidates committed to international peace, institutional governance, and the rule of law.
Master of Science in International Operational Law & Armed Conflict
Advanced legal master's examining the law of armed conflict (Geneva Conventions), maritime interception, cyber warfare legal thresholds, and autonomous weapons regulation.
Centre for Societal Security (CTSS) Crisis Management Research Assistantship
Applied research post investigating total defence concepts, civil protection, cyber resilience in critical infrastructure, and emergency supply chain logistics.
Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters Strategic Defence Policy Practicum
Strategic policy placement with Swedish defence agencies or think tanks in Stockholm analyzing NATO integration, interoperability, and Nordic security architecture.
Postdoctoral Fellowship in Hybrid Warfare & Information Influence Operations
Two-year postdoctoral appointment examining foreign information manipulation, psychological defence, and democratic resilience against gray-zone interference.
Master of Science in Politics, Security & War
Comprehensive master's taught in English examining military strategy, crisis leadership, international security governance, and geopolitical power transitions.
Admissions, language requirements & application process
- Master's admission eligibility
- Bachelor's degree (180 ECTS) in Political Science, War Studies, International Relations, or related social science field via Universityadmissions.se.
- Doctoral admission eligibility
- Master's degree (minimum 240 ECTS total with 60 ECTS at advanced level) in War Studies, Political Science, or International Security with a completed scientific thesis.
- Language proficiency
- English 6 / English B (IELTS 6.5 with no band below 5.5, or TOEFL iBT 90 with minimum 20 in writing).
- Research statement / Proposal
- For doctoral employment calls: 5-page research plan detailing research questions, theoretical approach, methodology, and security relevance.
- Application fee
- 900 SEK application fee via Universityadmissions.se (EU/EEA students exempt).
- Required documentation
- Bachelor's/Master's diplomas, complete transcripts of records, thesis sample, CV, and letters of reference.
Tuition fees and verified scholarship systems
Tuition is free for Swedish, EU/EEA, and Swiss citizens. For non-EU/EEA students, master's tuition is approximately 110,000 to 125,000 SEK per year. PhD candidates are employed as full-time university researchers with starting salaries of ~32,000 SEK/month, paying zero tuition fees.
Verified faculty profiles and research leaders
Distinguished researchers and laboratory heads at Swedish Defence University:
Dr. Kjell Engelbrekt
Professor of Political Science & Security Studies · European Security Governance, Strategy Formulation, Great Power Politics, NATO Evolution
Dr. Jan Ångström
Professor of War Studies & Head of Department · Theories of War, Military Doctrine, Strategic Coercion, Armed Conflict History
Dr. Linnea Gelot
Associate Professor of Peace and Security Studies · Peace Operations, African Union Security, Protection of Civilians, International Intervention
Important verification note
Facts reflect official Swedish Defence University documentation reviewed 2026-10-15. Degree admissions, scholarship awards, and employment positions are subject to formal university review. OpenField does not charge students application fees.
Reviewed 2026-10-15 · Editorial standards · Report an issue