Academic positions at Lund University

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• Doctoral student
• Postdoc
• Associate senior lecturer (assistant professor)
• Teaching staff member in an artistic discipline
• Visiting professor
• Adjunct teaching staff
• Researchers and associate researchers
• Lecturer
• Senior lecturer
• Associate professor
• Professor

Doctoral student

The main task of a doctoral student is to complete a research studies programme. In case of full-time studies, this takes four years. The condition for employment as a doctoral student is admission to a research studies programme. The work duties of a doctoral student may include teaching and other departmental duties, although not exceeding 20 percent of working hours.

Departmental duties may be compensated with an extension of the doctoral studentship. Likewise, parental leave, illness or elected office may entail an extension of the employment period.

As a doctoral student, you are not entitled to vote or nominate candidates in elections to the Electoral College, as you are considered a student in this context. Otherwise, you are considered as an employee and entitled to support from the Occupational Health Service and to all benefits pursuant to the agreements on terms and conditions of employment.

More about doctoral studies

Postdoc

This is a career development position (fixed-term teaching position) which is mainly oriented towards research.

The position is intended as an introductory step in your academic career and is regulated by a central collective agreement.

In order to be employed as a postdoc, you are required to have completed a doctoral degree or to hold a degree deemed to be equivalent from another country. The position is to be offered primarily to those who have earned their PhD or acquired similar expertise no later than three years before the date of the decision on the appointment. 

Exceptions to this rule may be made if special circumstances apply (for example if you have been on parental leave or ill). In that case, it is important to state in your application the reason why you are applying later than three years from the completion of your doctoral degree.

Usually, a postdoc position entails two to three years of full-time work. The duration is specified in the vacancy announcement. A postdoc is mainly to conduct research but teaching may also be included in the work duties of the position, although not exceeding 20 percent of working hours.

The employment period may be extended if there are special circumstances, such as

• sick leave
• parental leave
• clinical duties
• elected office in union organisations
• serving in the armed forces,

or other similar circumstances, as well as for duties/assignments relevant to the subject area. 

At Lund University, the position of postdoc is a teaching position pursuant to the Appointment Rules, which means that you are covered by the local agreement on working hours for teaching staff.

Some postdoc positions within the University are financed through scholarships. If you receive a scholarship, you are not considered an employee and as such you are not covered by the agreed conditions of employment. 

As a teaching staff member qualified for research or artistic practice, you are eligible for various functions, for example a member of a university-wide board or organ, as well as the position of head of department, in accordance with the University’s Rules of Procedure.

Associate senior lecturer (assistant professor) 

This is a career development position (fixed-term teaching position) and the first step on a tenure track regulated by the Higher Education Ordinance. In the Swedish system, this position is usually referred to as 'associate senior lecturer', while 'assistant professor' is more common internationally. The period of employment is specified in the vacancy announcement and may vary between four and six years.

The vacancy announcement makes clear that you may also apply to be considered for permanent employment as a senior lecturer, as well as detailing the requirements for such a promotion.

In order to apply for a position as associate senior lecturer, you are required to have completed a doctoral degree or to demonstrate equivalent research expertise.

You should also have completed your doctoral degree no more than five – or seven – years before the application deadline. Please refer to the vacancy announcement for the exact time frame.

Exceptions to this rule may be made if special circumstances apply (for example if you have been on parental leave or ill). In that case, it is important to state in your application the reason why you are applying later than five years from the completion of your doctoral degree.

The employment period may be extended if there are special circumstances, such as

• sick leave
• parental leave
• clinical duties, or
• elected office in union organisations. 

At Lund University, an associate senior lectureship is a teaching position according to the Appointment Rules. This means that you are covered by the local agreement on working hours for teaching staff.

As a teaching staff member qualified for research or artistic practice, you are eligible for various functions, for example a member of a university-wide board or organ, as well as the position of head of department, in accordance with the University’s Rules of Procedure.

Teaching staff member in an artistic discipline

Those with artistic expertise can apply for this position. The period of employment is up to five years but may be renewed. However, the total period of employment is not to exceed ten years.  

At Lund University, a position as a teaching staff member in an artistic discipline is a teaching position pursuant to the Appointment Rules, which means that you are covered by the local agreement on working hours for teaching staff.  

As a teaching staff member qualified for research or artistic practice, you are eligible for various functions, for example a member of a university-wide board or organ, as well as the position of head of department, in accordance with the University’s Rules of Procedure.

Visiting professor

Those employed at another higher education institution and able to bring particular expertise to the University can apply for a position as a visiting professor. You can be a visiting professor for a maximum of five years.

At Lund University, a position as visiting professor is a teaching position pursuant to the Appointment Rules, which means that you are covered by the local agreement on working hours for teaching staff.  

As a teaching staff member qualified for research or artistic practice, you are eligible for various functions, for example a member of a university-wide board or organ, as well as the position of head of department, in accordance with the University’s Rules of Procedure.

Adjunct teaching staff

This position is intended for those with employment outside the higher education sector. The scope of the employment is not to exceed 50 percent of full time and the position is intended to bridge the gap between industry or clinical applications and academia. You can be an adjunct professor for a maximum of 12 years and an adjunct senior lecturer or adjunct lecturer for a maximum of two years with the possibility of renewal with no upper limit. 

At Lund University, adjunct teaching staff positions are teaching positions pursuant to the Appointment Rules, which means that you are covered by the local agreement on working hours for teaching staff.  

As a teaching staff member qualified for research or artistic practice, you are eligible for various functions, for example a member of a university-wide board or organ, as well as the position of head of department, in accordance with the University’s Rules of Procedure.

Agreement on fixed-term employment of adjunct teaching staff – Swedish Agency for Government Employers website (in Swedish, new tab)

Researchers and associate researchers

As a researcher or associate researcher, you are employed either for a fixed term or for an indefinite term. 

Fixed-term employment

Fixed-term employment is primarily intended for those wishing to increase their research qualifications. 

As this position is not covered by Lund University’s Appointment Rules, you cannot apply for promotion to an indefinite term teaching position but must instead apply for these positions in competition. Likewise, you do not have the possibility to act as an examiner or be elected to certain functions pursuant to the University’s Rules of Procedure. 

You are normally covered by the flexitime agreement for technical and administrative staff and are to register your working hours and apply for annual leave according to the procedure for TA staff. The period of employment is limited pursuant to the Employment Protection Act (LAS) and cannot be extended beyond two years.

Indefinite term employment

As a researcher or associate researcher employed for an indefinite term, you have great opportunities for research. Some teaching may be included in your position, usually up to 20 per cent of full time. 

The position is not covered by Lund University’s Appointment Rules or agreement on working hours for teaching staff. This means, among other things, that you cannot apply for promotion to a higher position, but you can still engage in professional development and increase your research qualifications within the framework of your position and apply for other teaching positions in competition.

As you are not considered a teaching staff member pursuant to Lund University’s Appointment Rules, you cannot act as an examiner or be elected to various functions according to the University’s Rules of Procedure.

You are normally covered by the flexitime agreement for technical and administrative staff and are to register your working hours and apply for annual leave according to the procedure for TA staff.

Lecturer

This position is for those wishing to teach, who do not have a doctoral degree but hold a Master’s degree or equivalent.

At Lund University, the position of lecturer is a teaching position pursuant to the Appointment Rules, which means that you are covered by the local agreement on working hours for teaching staff. The position may be for a fixed term or for an indefinite term.

You have the possibility of applying for promotion to senior lecturer if the faculty allows it. 

Senior lecturer

This position is for those wishing both to teach and to conduct research; applicants must have a doctoral degree or a degree from another country that is deemed to be equivalent. In artistic subjects, research expertise may be replaced by artistic expertise depending on the requirements of the vacancy announcement. 

At Lund University, the position of senior lecturer is a teaching position pursuant to the Appointment Rules, which means that you are covered by the local agreement on working hours for teaching staff.

The position may be for a fixed term or an indefinite term. Sometimes, a position may be combined with employment at a healthcare unit used for medical training and research. In that case, you are required to meet the conditions for employment in both positions.

As a teaching staff member qualified for research or artistic practice, you are eligible for various functions, for example a member of a university-wide board or organ, as well as the position of head of department, in accordance with the University’s Rules of Procedure.

You have the possibility of applying for promotion to professor if the faculty allows it.

Associate professor

Associate professor is not a position, but rather an academic title denoting higher competence than a doctoral degree. In some circumstances, having the qualifications of an associate professor or equivalent is a prerequisite for conducting certain tasks – acting as the principal supervisor for doctoral students, for example.

Guidelines for applying to be recognised as having the qualifications of an associate professor vary between different faculties and fields of study. One thing all subjects and faculties have in common, however, is that you may be accepted as an associate professor after a special application and examination by your own faculty.

Professor

This is the top academic position and requires high teaching and research expertise. The position mainly comprises research and supervision of doctoral students. Teaching is also included and is encouraged.

At Lund University, the position of professor is a teaching position pursuant to the Appointment Rules, which means that you are covered by the local agreement on working hours for teaching staff.  

The position is always for an indefinite term. Sometimes, the position may be combined with a position at a healthcare unit used for medical training and research. In that case, you are required to meet the conditions for employment in both positions.

As a teaching staff member qualified for research or artistic practice, you are eligible for various functions, for example a member of a university-wide board or organ, as well as the position of head of department, in accordance with the University’s Rules of Procedure.