Politics, Economy and the Organisation of Society

Doctoral studies

Information about doctoral courses is available here. The syllabus is in English when the language of instruction is English.

Governing documents for doctoral education

Doctoral education at Södertörn University is governed by the Swedish Higher Education Act and Ordinance, as well as by internal steering documents. These documents can be found under Governing documents for doctoral education External link. and the Employee web. External link.

General syllabuses for doctoral students

Each subject that has degree-awarding powers at doctoral level has a general syllabus that must be followed during the programme. The courses and number of credits included in a doctoral (third-cycle) degree must comply with general syllabus for the subject to which the doctoral student was admitted. The general syllabus also states the entry requirements when applying for a doctoral studentship.

PESO organises the following doctoral courses:

Research Design (usually every second autumn term, autumn 2024, autumn 2026 etc)
Organizations and Institutions (usually every second autumn term, autumn 2024, autumn 2026 etc)
Advanced Qualitative Methods in the Social Sciences (usually every second spring term, spring 2025, spring 2027 etc)
Advanced Quantitative Research Methods in the Social Sciences (usually every second spring term, spring 2025, spring 2027 etc)

Doctoral students from other universities are welcome to participate in our doctoral courses.

For more information, please contact: forskarutbildning.isv@sh.se

Autumn term 2025

Social movements, political protests and civil society, 7.5 credits

The course is organised by the Sociology department at the School of Social Sciences, Södertörn University – but we welcome PhD students from other subjects and universities.

The course provides an overview of central theories and concepts within the contemporary field of social movement studies, focusing on social movements’ role in society, how movements emerge and develop, who takes part in them, how they are organised, the methods they use to influence politics and society, how the political context affects movements, and that role that emotions and collective identity play within them.

The course is intended for doctoral students in sociology, political science and other disciplines to which the study of social movements and civil society is relevant.

The course is taught at 100% pace, December 4 – January 16. The course is taught in English and is free of charge for doctoral students. Attendance at seminars is mandatory.

For more information on the structure of the course, timetable and reading list, please see “Course description”. More information can also be found in the course syllabus.

If you are interested in attending the course, please email the course coordinator, Magnus Wennerhag (magnus.wennerhag@sh.se).

In your application, please write a few lines about your thesis project, as well as about why you want to take the course. Also specify your discipline, your department and the university at which you are a doctoral student.

Application deadline: October 10. Places are limited.

If you have questions about the course, you are welcome to email the course coordinator.

Course syllabus: Social movements, political protests and civil society External link, opens in new window..