PhD Fellowship: SustainCare - Building Sustainable Care Systems for Older People in the Nordic–Baltic Region
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PhD Fellowship: SustainCare - Building Sustainable Care Systems for Older People in the Nordic–Baltic Region
The Department of Social Sciences and Business (ISE), Roskilde University, invites applications for a position as PhD fellow linked to the international research project SustainCare from June 1st, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter. The position as PhD is limited to a period of 3 years.
The SustainCare project
The PhD fellow will contribute to the aims of the NORDFORSK funded SustainCare project, which seeks to develop knowledge and solutions for more sustainable, equitable and community-based long-term care (LTC) for older people across Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Lithuania. SustainCare is theoretically and empirically concerned with how formal and informal care systems intersect, how inequalities in care access and outcomes emerge, and how new forms of collective support in the shape of Community Circles/Fællesskabscirkler might reshape the politics and practices of care for older people. In the project, we look specifically at how the need for care in old age will evolve in the four countries, the mix between formal and informal care provision and implications for care poverty, and the implications of community-based Community Circles/Fællesskabscirkler for equality in care provision.
The Phd project
The PhD project will contribute to the SustainCare project formulating an independent research project that contribute to the investigation of the dynamics of older people’s care needs, and care provision and policies. It is expected that the project draws on, to the extent possible, the SustainCare framework, while working in close collaboration with the project team, sharing research protocols and analysis.
Projects that address the SustainCare project special focus of how national policies problematize and seek to ensure sustainable LTC, and how these policy perspectives align with the perspectives of users and other stakeholders will be prioritised. Besides policy documents, the PhD will have the opportunity to draw on survey data and interviews with users and other stakeholders.
Potential approaches to this topic may (but does not need to) include activities such as:
The Doctoral School
You will be enrolled as a PhD fellow at the Doctoral School of Social Sciences and Business with approximately 47 PhD fellows from all over the world.
The Doctoral School of Social Sciences & Business provides PhD training and research within an interdisciplinary, international, and professional environment. It is part of a dynamic community of researchers who share a commitment to understanding society in diverse contexts of change and global engagement. Researchers come from all over the world and engage in topics that are geographically, theoretically and methodologically diverse. The Doctoral School has one PhD program. The program offers work-in-progress seminars, thematic professional development seminars, feedback and social activities for the enrolled PhD fellows. As a PhD fellow you will be associated with the research area of care and welfare, and can be involved in the research group Velci - Changing Societies: Welfare and Diversity.
Responsibilities and tasks
As a PhD fellow you are trained at an international level to undertake research. You are responsible for carrying out independent research under supervision and receiving constructive feedback in the PhD program to finish your PhD thesis. During your employment you are required to take 30 ECTS of coursework, and gain experience in teaching and supervision. You are also required to have a research environmental change during your PhD enrollment. The environment change can take place at foreign or local universities or research institutions.
For more information, see chapter 3, Ministerial Order on the PhD Programme at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions. Read more on what it entails to be a PhD Fellow at Roskilde University.
Qualifications
You must hold a master’s degree or equivalent within Social sciences (Sociology, Political science Anthropology, Economics, International development studies or Global and development studies). Qualifications within the following areas are required:
You are required to be enterprising and to possess good communication skills and to be a visible, involved participant in the Department’s daily activities, in addition to being willing to engage in disciplinary and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Applications are invited from both inside and outside Denmark.
Assessment
In the assessment regarding employment consideration will be given to:
In the application assessment, consideration will also be given to the following criteria:
Questions
For further information about the position, please contact Professor Tine Rostgaard. For technical or administrative questions, please contact the PhD Coordinator Hanne Vang Hansen (ise-phdadmin@ruc.dk).
Terms of employment
The employment is full time, 37 hours per week and you will refer to the Dean of Social Sciences.
The position will be filled according to the Agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC) and Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities.
Application procedure
After the deadline for applications the Dean will shortlist applicants for assessment with assistance from the recruitment committee including the chairperson of the assessment committee.
Shortly after the application deadline all applicants will be notified whether or not their application has been selected for assessment.
The shortlisted applicants will be informed about the composition of the assessment committee, and each applicant will be given the opportunity to comment on the composition of the committee and - later on - their assessment.
Once the recruitment process is completed, all applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application.
Application
To apply for the position go to www.ruc.dk/en/job/
Only applications in English are accepted.
Applications must include:
1. Cover letter
2. CV
3. Documentation of education including grades from Master’s programme or equivalent.
If you master degree is not awarded within the ECTS frame, please provide us with:
4. Your description of the PhD project (no more than 5 pages)
5. Your time schedule of the PhD project
6. If applicable: Documentation for any research experience, work experience or publications.
Please submit your application no later than January 25, 2026.
Material received after this date will not be taken into consideration.
Roskilde University wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.
The SustainCare project
The PhD fellow will contribute to the aims of the NORDFORSK funded SustainCare project, which seeks to develop knowledge and solutions for more sustainable, equitable and community-based long-term care (LTC) for older people across Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Lithuania. SustainCare is theoretically and empirically concerned with how formal and informal care systems intersect, how inequalities in care access and outcomes emerge, and how new forms of collective support in the shape of Community Circles/Fællesskabscirkler might reshape the politics and practices of care for older people. In the project, we look specifically at how the need for care in old age will evolve in the four countries, the mix between formal and informal care provision and implications for care poverty, and the implications of community-based Community Circles/Fællesskabscirkler for equality in care provision.
The Phd project
The PhD project will contribute to the SustainCare project formulating an independent research project that contribute to the investigation of the dynamics of older people’s care needs, and care provision and policies. It is expected that the project draws on, to the extent possible, the SustainCare framework, while working in close collaboration with the project team, sharing research protocols and analysis.
Projects that address the SustainCare project special focus of how national policies problematize and seek to ensure sustainable LTC, and how these policy perspectives align with the perspectives of users and other stakeholders will be prioritised. Besides policy documents, the PhD will have the opportunity to draw on survey data and interviews with users and other stakeholders.
Potential approaches to this topic may (but does not need to) include activities such as:
- Work comparatively across at least 2 countries but preferable across all four countries;
- Combine quantitative and qualitative approaches to explore the projects’ questions;
- Contributing to comparative and interdisciplinary analysis in cohort with the wider project team.
The Doctoral School
You will be enrolled as a PhD fellow at the Doctoral School of Social Sciences and Business with approximately 47 PhD fellows from all over the world.
The Doctoral School of Social Sciences & Business provides PhD training and research within an interdisciplinary, international, and professional environment. It is part of a dynamic community of researchers who share a commitment to understanding society in diverse contexts of change and global engagement. Researchers come from all over the world and engage in topics that are geographically, theoretically and methodologically diverse. The Doctoral School has one PhD program. The program offers work-in-progress seminars, thematic professional development seminars, feedback and social activities for the enrolled PhD fellows. As a PhD fellow you will be associated with the research area of care and welfare, and can be involved in the research group Velci - Changing Societies: Welfare and Diversity.
Responsibilities and tasks
As a PhD fellow you are trained at an international level to undertake research. You are responsible for carrying out independent research under supervision and receiving constructive feedback in the PhD program to finish your PhD thesis. During your employment you are required to take 30 ECTS of coursework, and gain experience in teaching and supervision. You are also required to have a research environmental change during your PhD enrollment. The environment change can take place at foreign or local universities or research institutions.
For more information, see chapter 3, Ministerial Order on the PhD Programme at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions. Read more on what it entails to be a PhD Fellow at Roskilde University.
Qualifications
You must hold a master’s degree or equivalent within Social sciences (Sociology, Political science Anthropology, Economics, International development studies or Global and development studies). Qualifications within the following areas are required:
- Experience working with qualitative methods, such as interviews and policy documents, and as a minimum training in quantitative methods (e.g., regression, multivariate analysis, survey analysis)
- Interest in comparative analysis and the relevant theoretical approaches and empirical data
- Excellent communication skills in both written and oral English
You are required to be enterprising and to possess good communication skills and to be a visible, involved participant in the Department’s daily activities, in addition to being willing to engage in disciplinary and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Applications are invited from both inside and outside Denmark.
Assessment
In the assessment regarding employment consideration will be given to:
- Relevant master’s degree or equivalent (according to Danish Qualifications Framework for Higher Education).
- Any additional academic requirements stated in the job advertisement.
In the application assessment, consideration will also be given to the following criteria:
- Educational skills and any further professional qualifications.
- Grades at Master’s program or equivalent.
- Quality and relevance of the project description.
- Considerations regarding ethical aspects and access to the field.
- The quality and relevance of the methodological and theoretical choices.
- The consistency and coherence between the problem and the choice of method and theory.
- Ideas for dissemination plan (seminar, workshop and intended publications).
- The realistic and feasible scope of the PhD project.
- Ability to complete the PhD project.
- Relevance of the project to the profile of the Doctoral School and the research project SustainCare
- Your project description shall be no more than 5 pages.
Questions
For further information about the position, please contact Professor Tine Rostgaard. For technical or administrative questions, please contact the PhD Coordinator Hanne Vang Hansen (ise-phdadmin@ruc.dk).
Terms of employment
The employment is full time, 37 hours per week and you will refer to the Dean of Social Sciences.
The position will be filled according to the Agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC) and Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities.
Application procedure
After the deadline for applications the Dean will shortlist applicants for assessment with assistance from the recruitment committee including the chairperson of the assessment committee.
Shortly after the application deadline all applicants will be notified whether or not their application has been selected for assessment.
The shortlisted applicants will be informed about the composition of the assessment committee, and each applicant will be given the opportunity to comment on the composition of the committee and - later on - their assessment.
Once the recruitment process is completed, all applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application.
Application
To apply for the position go to www.ruc.dk/en/job/
Only applications in English are accepted.
Applications must include:
1. Cover letter
2. CV
3. Documentation of education including grades from Master’s programme or equivalent.
If you master degree is not awarded within the ECTS frame, please provide us with:
- Your bachelor diploma and grades.
- An official English translation of diplomas
- A description of the master programme including the official duration (in years).
4. Your description of the PhD project (no more than 5 pages)
5. Your time schedule of the PhD project
6. If applicable: Documentation for any research experience, work experience or publications.
Please submit your application no later than January 25, 2026.
Material received after this date will not be taken into consideration.
Roskilde University wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.