Social Work and Social Policy
Fribourg profile
The Department of Social Work, Social Policy and Global Development supervises doctoral theses in Social Work and Social Policy on various topics and various methods. Doctoral theses at the Department of Social Work, Social Policy and Global Development encompass both basic research and applied research. Supervision takes place individually and/or within a doctoral programme.
Individual supervision includes regular colloquia where doctoral students present their work and receive feedback from their supervisors.
The doctoral programme PROWEL (Social Problems and Social Welfare; see link below) is offered in English in the field of Social Work and Social Policy. Doctoral students present their work at regular intervals throughout the doctoral programme. They receive comments and feedback on their work from colleagues, professors and international experts. Doctoral students are motivated to and supported when presenting their results at national and international conferences. They are also given national and international networking opportunities. PROWEL does not dispose of grants for doctoral students.
Content, methods and language of the thesis work are agreed with the supervising professor, supervising assistant professor.
Professors who are eligible to supervise theses
- Prof. Monica Budowski
Areas of specialisation:
– Social inequalities and cultural differences; poverty; precariousness; vulnerability
– Welfare regimes; social policy and social security in countries of the Global South
– Families, households and gender; life events and life course
– Health and social support; quality of life; social quality
– Qualitative and quantitative methods; longitudinal analyses; comparative methods
Theses can be supervised in German, English, Spanish or French.
- Prof. Michael Nollert
Areas of specialisation:
– Welfare production, social state, social security, social networks
– Economic sociology, labour market, voluntary work, interest intermediation
– Social conflicts, cultural differences, delinquency, self-injurious behaviour
– Quantitative methods; qualitative comparison analysis (QCA); network analysis
Theses can be supervised in German or English.
- Prof. Marc-Henry Soulet
Areas of specialisation:
– Social work
– Social problems
– Social policy
Theses can be supervised in French.
Studies organisation
Structure of studies
No ECTS credits can be earned.
Doctoral school
http://studies.unifr.ch/go/phd-prowel
Admission
In order to be admitted to a doctorate the candidate must have been awarded an academic Bachelor's and Master's degree or an equivalent qualification by a university recognised by the University of Fribourg.
Before applying for a doctorate the candidate must contact a professor who would be willing to supervise the thesis work.
There is no general right to be admitted to a doctorate.
The respective conditions of admission for each doctoral study programme are reserved.