Assistant Professor in English with a Specialisation in Literary Studies

The University of Gothenburg offers a research environment where internationally recognised excellence meets an open and collaborative culture. Here, early-career researchers are given the conditions to grow, build networks, and contribute to research with global relevance.

This position is part of the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment initiative Gothenburg Global Scholars. Learn more about the initiative and the University here: Gothenburg Global Scholars.

The Department of Languages and Literatures is the largest department within the Faculty of Humanities, comprising 16 different languages, approximately 90 employees, around 1,090 full-time equivalent students, and an annual turnover of just over SEK 110 million. The department operates in modern facilities centrally located near Götaplatsen

Subject area

English with a specialisation in Literary Studies

Subject area description

English encompasses both language studies and literary studies and has degree-awarding powers at all levels, including doctoral education. In addition to stand-alone courses, English is included in several degree programmes at the department, such as the Bachelor’s Programme in English with a focus on working life, the Master’s Programme in Languages and Intercultural Communication, the Teacher Education Programme, and the Nordic Master’s Programme for Language Teachers. The subject offers both campus-based and online courses.

Research spans both language studies and literary studies and includes applied research projects focusing, for example, on language learning and digital humanities. In addition, research in the discipline is conducted through interdisciplinary research environments.

Duties

An Assistant Professor will be given the opportunity to develop their independence as a researcher and teacher and to strengthen both their research and teaching qualifications in order to meet the eligibility requirements for appointment as Senior Lecturer. The duties include research amounting to at least 50% in accordance with an established research plan in English Literary Studies, and teaching and administration amounting to no more than 50%.

The successful candidate is expected to follow developments within their own subject area, actively apply for external research funding, and contribute to the development of the department’s teaching and research environment. Applicants should therefore describe in their application how their own research can promote and contribute to the department’s research areas.

The position also includes teaching, supervision and examination in English with a specialisation in Literary Studies at first- and second-cycle levels, both on campus and online, and both on stand-alone courses (for example, literary theory and method, literary and cultural history, and academic communication) and within the Teacher Education Programme (for example, school-based education/VFU and literature teaching methodology). Course development and administrative duties are also included, such as course coordination and work with the University’s learning platform.

Evening teaching may occur. Teaching on interdisciplinary courses and programmes at the department may also be included, and the successful candidate is expected to be prepared to contribute to teaching in Swedish within two years.

The main part of the work is to be carried out at the department at the University of Gothenburg, and the person appointed is expected to be present and to participate actively in the department’s development and working environment, including staff meetings and other internal meetings and conferences. Work in close dialogue with colleagues is an integral part of the role, and the person appointed is expected to contribute constructively and collegially both to the discipline and to the department as a whole.

Eligibility

Eligibility for appointment as Assistant Professor is governed by the Higher Education Ordinance and the Appointments Procedure for Teachers at the University of Gothenburg.

Qualification requirements for employment as an Assistant Professor are fulfilled by someone who has been awarded a doctorate in the subject area of the position or has corresponding research competence. Primary consideration should be given to someone who has been awarded a doctorate or achieved equivalent competence within seven years of the deadline for application for employment as an Assistant Professor. However, someone who has been awarded a doctorate or achieved equivalent competence at an earlier date may also be considered if there are special grounds. Special grounds include sick leave, parental leave or other similar circumstances. The reason, dates, and extent of the absence must be clearly specified in the application and supported by documentation/certificates.

The ability to teach in English is a requirement.

Assessment criteria

The assessment criteria for appointment as Assistant Professor are governed by the Higher Education Ordinance and the Appointments Procedure for Teachers at the University of Gothenburg.

We are seeking candidates who have demonstrated the ability to independently initiate, develop, and conduct high-quality research within the subject area of the position.

Assessment will be based primarily on research expertise, secondly on teaching expertise, and thirdly on collaborative and administrative competence.

Research expertise

Research expertise is demonstrated through scholarly publications and current participation in national and international research collaborations. In the assessment of research expertise, particular emphasis is placed on high-quality publications with prestigious international publishers and in respected international peer-reviewed journals. The quality, originality, and impact of publications are given greater emphasis than the total number of publications. The ability to obtain external research funding in competition is highly meritorious.

Teaching expertise

Teaching expertise is demonstrated through documented experience of having planned and implemented teaching in various forms (lectures, seminars, supervision and examination) at first-cycle, second-cycle and/or doctoral level within the subject area of the position. When assessing teaching expertise, particular emphasis is placed on documented teaching work that has contributed to the development of a course or study programme and its teaching, and consequently improved quality.

Collaboration with the community at large and Administrative Competence

Expertise in collaboration with the wider community is demonstrated, for example, through the ability to develop existing collaborative relationships or to establish new collaborations between academia and relevant societal stakeholders, as well as through the ability to communicate research findings to the public.

Administrative competence refers to experience of academic leadership, such as coordinating research or educational activities, as well as contributing to the development of the department or faculty.

Overall Assessment

A position as Assistant Professor is a career-development position targeting researchers and teachers who defended their doctoral thesis relatively recently. The position will be offered to the candidate who, based on an overall assessment of expertise and development potential, is deemed suitable and to have the best prospects for carrying out the duties required in the position, collaborating and cooperating with other staff, and contributing positively to the development of activities.

Extensive experience in academic environments outside Sweden is highly meritorious. A research background in postcolonial and/or decolonial studies is also highly meritorious.

Employment

Type of employment: Fixed-term employment for five years Extent: Full-time (100%)

Location: the Department of Languages and Literatures, the Faculty of Humanities, Gothenburg

Starting date: By agreement

An appointment as Assistant Professor is a fixed-term career-development position. The purpose of the position is to provide the successful candidate with the opportunity to develop their independence as a researcher and to strengthen their research and teaching qualifications in order to meet the requirements for eligibility for appointment as Senior Lecturer.

The appointment may be extended, but for no more than a total of two years, if additional time is required to fulfil the purpose of the appointment due to sick leave, parental leave, or other special circumstances.

Promotion to Senior Lecturer

An Assistant Professor is entitled to be considered for promotion to a permanent position as Senior Lecturer in the same subject area as the Assistant Professorship, provided that the individual is qualified for such an appointment and is deemed suitable following an assessment based on the established criteria for promotion to Senior Lecturer.

An Assistant Professor employed under Chapter 4 of the Higher Education Ordinance shall, upon application, be promoted to Senior Lecturer if they are eligible for such an appointment and, following assessment, are deemed suitable for such an appointment in accordance with the assessment criteria established by the University in connection with the recruitment.

Promotion also requires completion of supervisor training and higher education teaching and learning training as determined by the Vice-Chancellor, as well as fulfilment of the Swedish-language requirement determined by the Vice-Chancellor. The assessment criteria for promotion to Senior Lecturer must be stated in the vacancy announcement for the Assistant Professorship. An application for promotion entails permanent employment as Senior Lecturer.

For more information, see “Guidelines for applications for appointment as, or promotion to, Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Humanities, 2026”, available at: https://www.gu.se/en/humanities/about-us/application-for-position.

Moving to Gothenburg

Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden, beautifully situated on the west coast. The city is well known for its friendly atmosphere and high quality of life. Choosing a career in a new country is a major step. Gothenburg offers a welcoming environment and strong support for international talent relocating to the region.

Internationally recruited staff are offered a contracted relocation package and tax advisory services (Global Mobility support).

Move to Gothenburg - a guide for international talents

Welcome Services - support for international staff relocating to Gothenburg

Other information

The position of Assistant Professor is a career-development appointment and constitutes a step in an academic career path designed to enable researchers to develop their independence and establish their own research profile, with the right to be assessed for promotion to a permanent position as Senior Lecturer. At the University of Gothenburg, Senior Lecturers are also eligible to be assessed for promotion to a permanent position as Full Professor.

To support a healthy work-life balance, we offer academic freedom, flexible working arrangements, and generous annual leave. Employees are also entitled to a range of benefits, including a wellness allowance, supplementary parental benefits, and an occupational pension scheme. For more information about employment benefits at the University of Gothenburg, please visit: Employment benefits | University of Gothenburg

If you do not have formal training in academic teaching, you will be given the opportunity to undertake such training as part of your employment. Participation in these courses is mandatory.

If you do not have proficiency in Swedish at a minimum of level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), you will be offered language courses as part of your employment. Participation in these courses is mandatory.

Selection process

Eligibility screening of applicants will take place after the application deadline. The application documents of eligible candidates will subsequently be submitted to external reviewers for assessment.

In addition to external expert review, interviews, a trial lecture and reference checks will form part of the assessment. The trial lecture will be delivered in English and the subsequent interview will be conducted in English. Particular emphasis will be placed on the applicant’s ability to deliver a trial lecture in English within the advertised subject area and to participate in an interview in English, including an oral discussion of their research and teaching experience.

Interviews and trial lectures will be conducted via Zoom and are planned for week 50. Trial lecture topic:

The Societal Relevance of Literary Studies: How Can Your Research Profile Advance Knowledge in English Literary Studies and Contribute to Our Understanding of Pressing Societal Issues? Based on a field related to your own research, discuss and exemplify how English literary studies can contribute to the understanding of current societal challenges. The lecture should demonstrate how theoretical, methodological and/or historical perspectives within the subject can generate new knowledge, while simultaneously relating your own research focus to broader research questions within English literary studies.

Applicants are responsible for ensuring that the application is complete when the application period closes. An incomplete application will be assessed on the basis of the documents submitted.

The following documents must be attached to the application:

For further information about the application, see “Guidelines for applications for appointment as Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Humanities, 2026” (PDF), available at: https://www.gu.se/en/humanities/about-us/application-for-position

Contact information

If you have any questions regarding the position, please contact Head of Department Petra Platen (prefektSPL@sprak.gu.se) or Director of Studies Anna-Lena Fredriksson (anna-lena.fredriksson@sprak.gu.se).

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact the HR Officer at personalhandlaggare@sprak.gu.se.

Unions

Information about union representatives at the University of Gothenburg is available here.

Applications

You apply for the position through the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal by clicking the “Apply” button. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their application is complete in accordance with the advertisement and that it is submitted no later than the application deadline.

Please submit your application in English, as it will be reviewed by external reviewers whose working language is English.

Application deadline: 30 October 2026

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

Salaries are set individually at the University.

In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden’s regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.

In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.