In the beginning of the 1990’s the state invested in research institutes in the form of shorter, themed post-doctoral courses within the PhD programme. Later on the foundation for Strategic Research invested in regular graduate schools, i.e. investments into entire PhD programmes. In 1995 Riksbankens Jubileumsfond began providing programme grants from the new cultural science donation fund, which to a large extent, was intended for PhD students; in practice, being a kind of themed graduate school.


The foundation decided to grant funds to four larger graduate schools during the years 1998-2001. The first one was the Graduate School for Modern Languages (1999-2005), after that followed the Graduate School in Mathematics with a Subject Didactic Focus (2000-2006). During the year 2001, the Swedish School of Advanced Asia Pacific Studies (SSAAPS) was established with STINT, and in the following year, the Nordic Museum Graduate School for Museum Employees.


Due to a resolution by the Riksdag in 2000 whereby it was decided that PhD programmes are the responsibility of the state, RJ has decided to not set aside funds for graduate schools or to support the education of PhD students. After an evaluation of the results, RJ’s board of directors will decide whether they will finance a limited number of post-doctoral positions with a connection to the respective graduate schools.


Updated 11 September 2008.