Academic career paths
A doctoral education can lead to a wide range of career opportunities in industry, national and local government, and academia. If you are considering the next step in your academic journey, this brief overview outlines what the doctoral path looks like at Lund University.
A completed doctoral education or postdoctoral experience is highly valued by many organisations in both the private and public sectors, across the global job market. Likewise, experience gained in industry or the public sector can be a strong asset when starting or advancing an academic career.
The path to an academic career is rarely linear. It is often varied, with few individuals spending their entire career at a single university. Instead, it is common to progress through different career stages at multiple higher education institutions or other organisations.
The four stages of an academic career
In the EU, including Sweden, an academic career is typically divided into four stages. The overview below describes these stages as they apply at Lund University. Please note that the structure may vary at other universities.
Career paths can also differ between faculties within Lund University. As a result, there is not just one single route, but several possible pathways through an academic career.
Doctoral student (doctoral studies)
The first stage of an academic career is doctoral studies, undertaken as a doctoral student. These studies conclude with the award of a doctoral degree (PhD). After graduation, many individuals move on to roles in the private or public sector. However, some choose to remain in academia or return after gaining experience elsewhere.
Lund University aims to offer full-time, four-year doctoral positions. In some cases, this may be extended to five years if the student undertakes substantial departmental duties, such as teaching.
It is also possible to pursue doctoral studies while being employed by another organisation. In this case, an agreement is made between Lund University and the external employer. You would then be classified as an externally employed doctoral student.
Externally employed doctoral students are not employed by Lund University and are instead subject to the terms and conditions of their external employer.
Postdoc / associate senior lecturer
The second stage, often referred to as the development stage, can feel uncertain and insecure to some, but is also widely seen as an enriching and formative period. At Lund University, career development positions are intended to provide experience in both teaching and research. There are two formal types:
- Postdoc: 2–3 years
- Associate Senior Lecturer: 4–6 years
Both types of positions are filled through open competition.
During this stage, it is common to hold one or more postdoctoral positions, often at different universities in Sweden or abroad. These positions help strengthen your research profile and improve your chances of progressing in an academic career.
In Sweden, if you hold a postdoctoral position, national agreements require that your focus is primarily on research development. However, gaining experience in teaching and pedagogical development is also important, particularly for long-term academic careers.
An associate senior lecturer position in Sweden is a fixed-term role designed for career development. It offers the opportunity to be assessed for promotion to a permanent position as a senior lecturer. This is sometimes referred to as the tenure track in Sweden.
In fields such as medicine, engineering, and science, associate senior lecturer positions are often preceded by one or more postdoctoral appointments at other institutions.
While tenure-track systems also exist in many other European countries, it's worth noting that the concept of tenure track can differ significantly in meaning and structure from the system used in the United States.
Beyond postdoctoral or associate senior lecturer roles, you can also develop your academic career through:
- Applying for fixed-term research positions or equivalent roles
- Gaining experience in industry
- Volunteering
- Teaching positions to build your educational profile
Work experience from other higher education institutions, including international ones, can be especially valuable. If you completed a doctoral-level degree at a foreign university equivalent to Swedish doctoral studies, this may strengthen your chances of further academic advancement at Lund University.
Senior lecturer / researcher
At this stage, you have developed strong expertise in both research and teaching. You are an established academic and work independently within your field.
This level includes both senior lecturers and researchers. These roles offer different conditions for your academic career, so it is important to understand the differences between them.
As a senior lecturer at Lund University, you typically hold a permanent position and divide your time between research, teaching, and collaboration. You are often responsible for linking education and research within your subject area.
Senior lecturer positions are usually advertised through open competition. However, they may also be offered to associate senior lecturers who apply for promotion through the tenure track process, provided they meet the required standards in teaching and either research or artistic work. Some positions may also require qualifications equivalent to an associate professorship.
Researchers are usually funded through external grants. This can mean less job security and fewer opportunities to gain teaching experience.
At Lund University, researcher roles are not considered teaching positions. Researchers are not permitted to assess students or apply for promotion to professor.
For these and other reasons, Lund University aims to gradually reduce the number of researcher-only positions.
Professor
The fourth and final stage is employment as a professor. At this level, you are a research leader or recognised expert in your field, with advanced skills in both research and teaching.
At Lund University, professor is the most senior academic teaching position. It offers broad opportunities for both research and teaching activities.
Professor roles are permanent. Vacancies are usually advertised through open competition to promote quality, mobility, diversity, and transparency.
In some cases, a senior lecturer may be promoted to professor. This depends on whether the relevant faculty considers that both the strategic need and the formal criteria for a professorship are met.
Please note that opportunities for promotion to professor may be limited in certain faculties.
Contact
Human Resources
webbansvarig [at] hr [dot] lu [dot] se (webbansvarig[at]hr[dot]lu[dot]se)
Postal address
Box 117
221 00 Lund
Sweden