How it started
This is for the new PhD Students that started in the last year. DSA ran a survey in early 2025 and asked doctoral students what they thought of their employment. After receiving 501 responses across all KI departments, we shared the results with you and were planning on meeting up with the trade union SACO-S and various KI leadership figures. The response from KI was lukewarm at best, and refused to make adjustments based on what the doctoral students want. You can read the results of the survey by clicking the link below.
Where we left you off
After much discussion, primarily with the trade union, we came up with a plan and asked for your input. You can read more by clicking the link below.
Now
We have been hard at work, writing a proposal ahead of this year’s salary negotiations. We have done a lot of research and have the data to back up our motion. We have gathered statistics from universities all across Sweden and abroad. The external review of KI’s doctoral education has also been in line in our cause.
In short, we ask for:
- Raise all doctoral salary ladders from 2026-10-01 by at least 1,200 SEK/month on every step. This is no less than KI’s own increase on the starting step last year, and more than the 1,000 SEK already agreed at Uppsala and Umeå for the same date.
- Give the ladder for doctoral students without a medical or dental degree (“first ladder”) a larger increase: at least 2,000 SEK/month on every step, bringing the starting salary to 34,100 SEK (the level Umeå University pays from 2026-10-01).
- Agree a binding plan for 2027 to steepen the first ladder’s progression, so that the final step reaches the level of KTH, Uppsala and Umeå (currently 37,500–38,500 SEK, and rising).
Read the full proposal to get all the info.
Supporting material
Feel free to reach out
Please reach out to us by sending us an email at [email protected] if the form above does not appear on your screen.
