PhD Programme in Leadership and Command & Control

The aim of the PhD programme is to enable students to conduct high quality research in leadership and command & control. The central task is to write an academic dissertation.

Leadership and command & control is the scientific study of leadership, which refers to the actions taken to direct, coordinate resources, and influence an individual or a group to achieve a common goal. The subject focuses on the individual, organizational, and interorganizational factors that contribute to the process of achieving these goals.

The field is empirically based on the needs and challenges that are typical, and to some extent common, among actors and operations within defense, crisis management, and security.

Leadership and command & control is a social science that draws and develops knowledge from behavioral science and design science among others. The subject explores issues related to leadership and command & control theory, leadership development, collaboration, crisis management, the design of management systems, team issues, stress, selection, and the impact of stressful conditions. The field also has a significant interest in gender and methodological issues.

Four years of full-time study

The PhD programme consists of four years of full-time studies (240 ECTS credits). The central task is to write a doctoral thesis in leadership and command & control under supervision (165 ECTS credits), but coursework (75 ECTS credits) is also part of the programme.

Doctoral position

As a PhD student at the Swedish Defence University you are employed as a university employee during your PhD studies. You will not have to pay any tuition fees, and you will receive salary, social security and an office space. Since you are also a state employee, you are also entitled to several benefits and insurances.

The PhD student position is fully funded throughout the four years. The position may include teaching and other departmental duties up to 20 percent of full time if you and the department so wishes, resulting in the extension of the employment period for a corresponding length of time (to a maximum of five years in total).

The doctoral salaries are fixed by local agreements at the Swedish Defence University. The doctoral salaries increases once the PhD student completes 25 percent and 50 percent of the programme. According to special regulations, Swedish officers are placed with the same starting salary as they have in the Swedish Armed Forces or the Swedish Defence University. The salary for Swedish officers increases in accordance with the local agreement for PhD students.