The SULF Doctoral Candidate Association is the PhD candidate association of SULF, a politically and religiously independent union. We strive to make your voice heard in our mission to improve the working conditions for PhD candidates at Swedish Universities.
The SULF Doctoral Candidate Association is the PhD candidate association of SULF, a politically and religiously independent union. We strive to make your voice heard in our mission to improve the working conditions for PhD candidates at Swedish Universities. Our goal is that PhD candidates shall enjoy good working conditions, economic security, fair and equal treatment, transparency and legal certainty, at all Swedish higher education institutions, from application and admission to thesis defence including migration-related issues.
Report: Aliens in Academia (March 2022)
The report from SFS-DK and SULF-DCA presents stories of PhD candidates who have been personally affected by the new legislation. While the issue has been broadly discussed from macro perspectives such as Sweden’s attractiveness for research funding, this report provides the perspective of people with actual names, hopes, dreams, anxieties and fears. You can download the full report The Aliens in Academia here
About SULF's Doctoral Candidate Association
We are working for approximately 3,450 PhD members by monitoring labor issues, employment terms, admissions, equality, the post-doctorate labor market and the quality of the PhD education. Our activities derive equally from our democratic statutes and activity plan; accessible through this site.
As a member of SULF, you are given the opportunity to engage with others in the struggle that is union work, and help with improving local conditions. You also get access to a helpline for navigating the jungle of Swedish laws and regulations, offers of membership services abroad, a salary research tool, access to fair insurance, the SULF magazine, get the latest PhD news and more.
The labour conditions of PhD candidates play a crucial role in shaping our academic journey and overall well-being. At SULF-DCA, we are dedicated to advocating for significant improvements in these conditions to foster a thriving academic environment. Our focus includes pushing for equitable and fair salary structures, ensuring a supportive and inclusive work environment, promoting work-life balance, and securing comprehensive benefits for all PhD candidates in Sweden. By addressing these core issues, we aim to empower PhD students to excel not only in their academic and professional endeavours but also in their personal lives. This working group is actively engaged in identifying and addressing the current challenges faced by PhD students regarding their labour conditions. We work in close collaboration with universities, governmental bodies, and other stakeholders to develop and implement solutions that will enhance the quality of life and work for PhD students across Sweden.
International PhD candidates in Sweden are facing increasingly challenging conditions due to restrictive migration policies. These policies not only threaten our research progress and limit access to educational and professional development opportunities, but also negatively impact our overall quality of life and future career prospects. Moreover, uncertainties in residency status make early-career researchers more vulnerable to workplace discrimination and exploitation. SULF-DCA is committed to advocating for more equitable and transparent migration policies that better support non-EU/EEA PhD students. We are also pushing for Swedish universities to take a more active role in providing robust support systems to help these students navigate complex immigration-related matters. By doing so, we aim to mitigate the adverse effects of current migration policies on their academic and professional lives. Our ongoing efforts include thorough investigations into how these policies impact international PhD candidates, and we are eager to gather personal experiences related to challenges in applying for residency extensions, permanent residence, and long-term residence permits.
Authorship and research ethics are fundamental aspects of academic integrity, especially for PhD candidates, who are often at the forefront of research projects. Navigating these issues can be complex due to the existing power dynamics within higher education institutions. PhD candidates may face pressures to include co-authors who have contributed minimally to the research, or experience the appropriation of their intellectual property by senior researchers. At SULF-DCA, we recognize the need for clearer guidelines and stronger regulations regarding research and publication ethics, particularly in relation to claims of co-authorship. Our working group is dedicated to investigating these multifaceted issues, with the goal of establishing clear criteria for co-authorship and ensuring the protection of intellectual property rights within doctoral research. We aim to provide PhD candidates with the necessary resources and support to challenge unjust practices and entrenched power structures that could undermine their contributions to academic research.
In Sweden, the Higher Education Ordinance 6:29 mandates that all PhD candidates at Swedish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) must have an Individual Study Plan (ISP). This plan outlines a PhD candidate’s research project, completed and planned course credits, supervision arrangements and other crucial aspects of their doctoral education. The ISP documents the reciprocal agreements between the institution, supervisors, and the doctoral candidate, ensuring that all parties adhere to agreed-upon responsibilities and goals. Despite its importance, there is no standardized format for ISPs across Swedish HEIs, leading to inconsistencies in content and structure. Some institutions have adopted advanced digital formats integrated with systems like Ladok, while others continue to use basic templates that may lack essential details. These disparities can result in varied levels of support and quality in doctoral supervision and research outcomes. To address this issue, SULF-DCA is undertaking a comprehensive project to gather and analyze best practices in ISP content and format from HEIs across the country. Our goal is to collaborate with these institutions to establish standardized, high-quality ISP practices that ensure a consistent and supportive doctoral education environment throughout Sweden. The best practices we have identified are now available for download here (pdf).
Our team is dedicated to providing PhD candidates in Sweden with essential, up-to-date guidance through the Starter Kit. This resource is curated by a group of PhD candidates who have first-hand experience with the challenges and opportunities associated with pursuing a PhD in Sweden. The Starter Kit covers crucial areas such as Swedish regulations, admission procedures, housing, PhD student rights and obligations, conflict resolution with supervisors, residence permit-related issues, and other practical information needed for a successful doctoral journey. We believe that a well-informed PhD candidate is empowered to navigate the complexities of their academic path with confidence. As such, this guide is designed to be a comprehensive resource for understanding the nuances of doctoral education in Sweden.
Our commitment to continuous improvement means that we actively seek feedback, experiences, and suggestions from current PhD candidates. Your input is invaluable in making this guide more comprehensive and beneficial for future generations of PhD candidates. We expect that the updated version be published before the end of 2024.
PhD candidates in Sweden have the right to access courses that enhance their research and academic skills. However, there have been instances where universities have inappropriately charged course fees to PhD candidates, which is not aligned with the principles of academic accessibility and fairness. The PhD Courses working group is focused on raising awareness about the availability of fee waivers for PhD courses at other institutions and advocating against any malpractice related to the charging of course fees to PhD candidates. We encourage PhD students to report any such issues so that we can work towards ensuring that all candidates have equal access to the educational resources they need to succeed in their research.
The SULF Doctoral Candidate Association is the representative body for the doctoral candidate members of SULF. To ensure that our governance is transparent, democratic, and representative of all members, the SULF-DCA Board is elected at an Annual General Meeting by delegates from SULF local organizations across Sweden. As the number of these local organizations continues to grow, it has become necessary to review our democratic processes to ensure they remain robust and inclusive. The Revision of the Statutes working group has been formed to explore ways to improve the electoral process and to determine whether the DCA Statutes need updating to reflect the evolving structure of the organization. This review is critical to maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of the DCA in representing the interests of PhD candidates nationwide.
The SULF Doctoral Candidate Association board 2024-2025
The Board was elected at the annual general meeting held in April 2024. Please contact us if you have any questions or information that you think would be of interest to the board. You can contact us though our mutual e-mail.
It is up to you to decide when you want to inform your employer that you are going to become a parent, but you must do so at least two months before the start of your parental leave. SULF recommends that you have a planning dialogue with your immediate manager to plan r your parental leave and how your work is to be covered in your absence. This dialogue should also include a discussion of how you can maintain contact with your workplace during your leave and how the return to work should be organised. It is important that you do not lose skills so that you can continue to have good salary and career development.
It is also a good idea to establish a “contract” with your manager. This contract does not have legal bearing but can provide support and guidance for both you and your manager and help to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.
More information about rules regarding parental leave can be found here.
If you are a member of SULF you can log in to My pages. Under the Handböcker tab you will find a pdf entitled Advice for your parental leave.
The Swedish Employment Act lists four forms of fixed term employment – general fixed-term, substitute, seasonal and fixed-term employment when the employee is 67 or older.
More information about the rules regarding different types of fixed term employment can be found here.
When you log in to My Pages, you can see the membership data we have about you. You can update information such as your employer, e-mail address, position and so on. You can also see your invoices and your membership number.
We update all members’ address information automatically through SPAR, a register linked to the Swedish Population Register. If you would like to receive your post an address other than the one at which you are officially registered, choose yes in the field marked other postal address.
If you are a member of another Saco union, you can have dual membership and join SULF for a very small additional cost. This will give you membership of two unions for a single fee and provide access to two membership magazines, membership benefits from both unions and more.
Doctoral candidate membership fee: SEK 100 per month
Retired members fee: SEK 660 per year
If you are a member of another Saco union, you can have dual membership and join SULF for a very small additional cost. More information about our dual-membership fees can be found here (pdf).
Membership of SULF provides you with one of the best income insurance schemes on the market. It also includes our members’ magazine Universitetsläraren and discounts on several magazine subscriptions, as well as access to advice and support and a range of exclusive discounts on insurances and loans.
Membership of SULF does not include membership of an unemployment insurance fund. SULF recommends that you join the AEA unemployment insurance fund, Akademikernas a-kassa.
Local union representative
Contact your local Saco-S association if you have questions about salaries, working hours, terms of employment or working environment, or if you need negotiation support regarding a specific issue. You will find contact information here.
SULF member’s helpline
Contact SULF member’s helpline for general or more fundamental issues regarding labour and employment law. Call 08-505 836 00, press 1, or email radgivning@sulf.se. Available by email every weekday, phone hours Wednesdays 1-3 p.m. and Fridays 9-11.30 a.m.
SULF membership service
If you have questions about your membership, benefits, fees, invoices or our members’ magazine Universitetsläraren please contact SULF membership service. Call 08-505 836 00, press 2, or email medlem@sulf.se. Available by email every day, telephone hours Monday and Wednesday 9-11.30 a.m.
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