Recruitment process for teaching positions
This page describes the recruitment process for the researching and teaching staff positions of
• assistant professor
• associate professor and
• professor.
Application
To ensure your application is complete, it is important that you follow all the steps on the form in the recruitment system Varbi. Your application may be eliminated if you do not include all the requested information and documents.
Read more about the CV template for employment and instructions for your application:
CV template for employment and promotion of teachers at KTH
Read more about how to log in or create an account in Varbi:
Selection
The selection process begins once the deadline for applications has passed. As KTH is a public authority, a position is only to be offered to the person who has the highest expertise and is most qualified.
The assessment of expertise and qualifications is based on the vacancy announcement and the person specification, which in turn are based on the University’s appointment rules and the qualification requirements stated in the Higher Education Ordinance.
Each school's Recruitment Committee appoints recruitment boards and experts for each case who review the applications received.
Assessment by external experts
The applications are sent to external experts for review. In most cases these are experts on the subject at higher education institutions other than KTH. The external experts read the applications and assess the expertise and qualifications of the applicants. This part of the recruitment process is time-consuming and may take several months.
In-depth assessment
After the external experts’ review, the recruitment board assesses whether more selection methods are required. The recruitment board calls the shortlisted candidates for interviews, trial lectures, tests or other selection methods.
The external experts participate in the interviews. The academic appointments board then makes an overall assessment and proposes their selected candidate. In most cases references are sought for the selected candidate.
The duration of the selection period may vary depending on how many of the applicants are qualified.
Offer of employment
If you are the selected candidate, you receive an offer of employment from the recruiting manager. You discuss the salary and other terms of employment, such the starting date and introduction, with the manager.
Decision on employment
Once you have accepted the offer of employment and any required residence permit has been granted, the University takes a decision on employment.
Appealing against a decision on employment
As KTH is a public authority, a decision on employment can be appealed. If someone other than you has been employed, you can appeal against the decision. The appeal period against the decision is three weeks from the time the decision is posted on the public authority’s notice board.
Only those who have applied for the position and not been employed may appeal against the decision.
Applicants from outside the EU/Nordic countries
If you are from a country outside the EU/Nordic countries, you need to check whether you must have a residence permit for the period you are in Sweden.
Once you have accepted the offer of employment, you and the relevant department must work on the application to the Swedish Migration Agency for a residence permit. The process may take several months. Learn more on the Migration Agency's website:
The Recruitment Committees are responsible for the recruitment procedure
The Recruitment Committee is the body of the Faculty Board in matters relating to the employment of teachers. The Committee consists of the Chair (who is also the Faculty renewal responsible of the school), the Vice-Chair, teacher members and alternates.
For each individual recruitment case, a recruitment board is appointed to examine applicants and make proposals for decisions on teaching posts. The recruitment boards consist of a chair, two teacher members from the recruitment committee and an organisational representative. Students have the right to be represented by two student members.
The Recruitment Committee at each school is responsible for the recruitment process when the University recruits assistant professors, associate professors and professors.
The head of school takes decisions on the employment of assistant professors and associate professors. The President of the University takes decisions on the employment of professors.