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Requirements of doctoral studies and study plan
Last modified: 15.10.2024
PrintPersonal study plan
Your doctoral studies will be specified in the personal study plan (PSP). The PSP must be created within three months after receiving the right to study. Create the plan in co-operation with your main supervisor in Peppi system or by using the doctoral study plan -form, depending on the instructions of your own doctoral programme.
The personal study plan must follow the requirements of your doctoral programme. You can find the requirements from the drop-down menu below. In the PSP, the doctoral studies must be specified on a level of individual courses. When creating a PSP, you should consider your previous education as well as the theme and methodology of your dissertation.
You may also consider your personal goals related to your future career when making your PSP. Those doctoral researchers who aim for an academic career benefit from, for example, strengthening their competencies in research methods and supervision. Business and leadership skills are particularly useful for those who plan a career within the R&D-sector. Project management skills and communication competence are useful for everyone. Discuss your goals with others and your main supervisor.
You can update the plan during your doctoral studies. Before you start the preparation to submit your dissertation for pre-examination, please make sure that your completed coursework matches your accepted personal study plan.
Requirements of doctoral studies
For a doctoral degree, you must complete 30 credits of studies that include discipline-specific studies and transferable skills courses. Please see further details below.
Effective from 1 January 2025
Studies Required for the Doctoral Degree
The doctoral studies comprise at least 30 ECTS, of studies in research and professional skills as well as a doctoral dissertation. Information about the study requirements and the curriculum can be found in the Peppi: study guide for doctoral researchers at the Philosophical Faculty.
If a doctoral student has previously completed a licentiate degree in his/her current subject or a neighbouring discipline or a doctorate in a neighbouring discipline, studies in research and professional skills are, in most cases, not required. If necessary, the student may be expected to complete supplementary studies as specified in the curriculum of the doctoral programme.
Change of the Target Degree or Major Subject
Doctoral researchers can apply for a change of major subject or target degree within the doctoral programme and faculty using a separate form. The application must be accompanied by a new research plan, supervisors' consents and certificates of previous studies. When processing the application, it is checked whether the applicant's background studies are suitable for the new major. The applicant must have completed 30 ECTS credits of studies in the major subject of the doctoral degree or an applicable related subject. Changes to the right to study are granted by decision of the Dean. If a doctoral researcher is granted a completely new right to study, e.g. when the field of study changes, the old right to study is terminated by the same decision. If the organizational unit of the right to study changes within the faculty, this is also recorded in the dean's decision. If a doctoral researcher wishes to change faculty, he or she must apply for the right to study again. In that case, the old right to study will be terminated when the new one begins. Apply for a change of the target degree or the major subject within the doctoral programme with this form.
Information about the study requirements and the curriculum can be found in the webpages of the Doctoral programme. A personal study plan (PSP) is made using the doctoral study plan form.
Degree requirements and structure
In order to get the post graduate degree, studies defined in the degree structure (transferable skills studies and studies in the discipline and field of research) and an approved thesis are required. You must obtain altogether 30 ECTS of which
- 5- 15 ECTS Transferable skills studies, and
- 15-25 ECTS Studies in the discipline and field of research
You can find information about the studies and study requirements in the doctoral programme's study guide under the 'Show description' tab.
The balance between transferable skills studies and discipline- and research field-specific studies shall be determined collaboratively by the doctoral researcher and the supervisors during the preparation of the personal study plan. This balance is informed by the researcher’s prior educational background and the research plan. The personal study plan has to be submitted to the Faculty of health Sciences within 3 months from the admission date by electronic form. Please remember to update your personal study plan during your studies if any changes occur. However, the final PSP, which corresponds to your completed studies, must be submitted before graduation.
Studies
All credit registration requests, with the exception of doctoral courses organised by UEF, are registered using the Webropol form.
Following postgraduate courses are recommended for the students of Doctoral Programme in Clinical Research:
- Introduction to Clinical Research, 1 ECTS
- Basic Course of Clinical Research Practices, 5 ECTS
- Introduction to Research Ethics Evaluation, 2 ECTS
- Research Ethics, 1 ECTS
Courses in discipline and field of research
Subject specific and studies in supporting disciplines must cover information relevant for the research project in question. The amount of studies in different fields included in the studies depends on the research topic and the student’s postgraduate study aims. However, the scope of subject-related postgraduate studies must be sufficiently wide.
Courses of the co-operative networks
You can also include courses offered by NorDoc- network in your doctoral studies.
Transferable Skills Studies
More information about researcher's transferable skills courses can be found on the study guide.
Change in target degree, doctoral programme or major
If you need to change the target degree, the doctoral programme, or the major, you can do it by filling in the following forms.
Degree requirements and structure
In order to get the post graduate degree, studies defined in the degree structure (transferable skills studies and studies in the discipline and field of research) and an approved thesis are required.
You must obtain altogether 30 ECTS of which
- 5- 10 ECTS Transferable skills studies, and
- 20-25 ECTS Studies in the discipline and field of research
You can find information about the studies and study requirements in the doctoral programme's study guide under the 'Show description' tab.
The balance between transferable skills studies and discipline- and research field-specific studies shall be determined collaboratively by the doctoral researcher and the supervisors during the preparation of the personal study plan. This balance is informed by the researcher’s prior educational background and the research plan. The personal study plan has to be submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences within 3 months from the admission date by electronic form. Please remember to update your personal study plan during your studies if any changes occur. However, the final PSP, which corresponds to your completed studies, must be submitted before graduation.
Studies
All credit registration requests, with the exception of doctoral courses organised by UEF, are registered using the Webropol form.
Research Ethics and Practices -course (2 ECTS) is mandatory course for all doctoral researchers who are granted the study right for doctoral studies in the Doctoral Programme in Drug Research on 1.8.2024 or after.
Following post graduate courses are recommended for the students of Doctoral Programme in Drug research:
- Entrance examination (5 ECTS), 4212111, to be completed within six months after granting of the PhD study right
- Defense of the research plan (3 ECTS), 4212112, must be completed by the end of the third year of studies
- Instructions (word document)
- Evaluation form for the board members (word document)
Courses in discipline and field of research
Subject specific and studies in supporting disciplines must cover information relevant for the research project in question. The amount of studies in different fields included in the studies depends on the research topic and the student’s postgraduate study aims. However, the scope of subject-related postgraduate studies must be sufficiently wide.
Courses of the co-operative networks
You can also include
in the doctoral studies.
Transferable Skills Studies
More information about researcher's transferable skills courses can be found in study guide.
Change of target degree, doctoral programme or major
If you need to change the target degree, the doctoral programme, or the major, you can do it by filling in the following forms.
Degree requirements and structure
In order to get the post graduate degree, studies defined in the degree structure (transferable skills studies and studies in the discipline and field of research) and an approved thesis are required.
You must obtain altogether 30 ECTS of which
- 5- 15 ECTS Transferable skills studies, and
- 15-25 ECTS Studies in the discipline and field of research
You can find information about the studies and study requirements in the doctoral programme's study guide under the 'Show description' tab.
The balance of transferable skills courses and discipline and field of research doctoral studies shall be determined jointly by the doctoral researcher and the supervisors at the time when the personal study plan is being prepared and depends on the researcher's educational background and research plan. The personal study plan has to be submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences within 3 months from the admission date by electronic form. Please remember to update your personal study plan during your studies if any changes occur. However, the final PSP, which corresponds to your completed studies, must be submitted before graduation.
Studies
All credit registration requests, with the exception of doctoral courses organised by UEF, are registered using the Webropol form.
Research Ethics and Practices -course (2 ECTS) is mandatory course for all doctoral researchers who have been granted the study right for doctoral studies in the Doctoral Programme in Molecular Medicine on 1.8.2024 or after.
Courses in discipline and field of research
Subject specific and studies in supporting disciplines must cover information relevant for the research project in question. The amount of studies in different fields included in the studies depends on the research topic and the student’s postgraduate study aims. However, the scope of subject-related postgraduate studies must be sufficiently wide.
Courses of the co-operative networks
You can also include courses offered by NorDoc- network in your doctoral studies.
Transferable Skills Studies
More information about researcher's transferable skills courses can be found from the study guide.
Change of target degree, doctoral programme or major
If you need to change the target degree, the doctoral programme, or the major, you can do it by filling in the following forms.
Degree requirements and structure
In order to get the post graduate degree, studies defined in the degree structure (transferable skills studies and studies in the discipline and field of research) and an approved thesis are required.
- Doctoral researchers who were granted the right to pursue doctoral studies before 1 August 2015 must complete their degree according to either the 2015–2016 curriculum or the curriculum in effect at the time.
- Doctoral researchers who were granted the right to pursue doctoral studies before 1 August 2023 may complete their degree according to the previous 40 ECTS structure or transfer to the current 30 ECTS structure. If a doctoral researcher chooses to transfer to the current 30 ECTS structure, they must complete the compulsory courses included in that structure.
- The degree structure can be changed by updating the personal study plan.
If you complete your degree according to the structure of 30 ECTS, you must complete your studies as follows:
- 5- 15 ECTS Transferable skills studies, and
- 15-25 ECTS Studies in the discipline and field of research
If you complete your degree according to the structure of 40 ECTS, you must complete studies as follows:
- 5- 15 ECTS Transferable skills studies, and
- 25-35 ECTS Studies in the discipline and field of research
You can find information about the studies and study requirements in the doctoral programme's study guide under the 'Show description' tab.
The balance of transferable skills courses and discipline and field of research doctoral studies shall be determined jointly by the doctoral researcher and the supervisors at the time when the personal study plan is being prepared and depends on the researcher's educational background and research plan. The personal post graduate study plan has to be submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences within 3 months of the admission date by electronic form. Please remember to update your personal study plan during your studies if any changes occur. However, the final PSP, which corresponds to your completed studies, must be submitted before graduation.
Studies
All credit registration requests, with the exception of doctoral courses organised by UEF, are registered using the Webropol form.
Following courses are obligatory for the students of Doctoral programme in Health sciences:
Transferable skills studies:
- Research Ethics - Principles and Practices (2 ECTS)
- Orientation - First 100 Days (1 ECTS)
Studies in the discipline and field of research:
- Doctoral Seminars in Doctoral Programme in Health Sciences – Genius (2 ECTS)
Courses in discipline and field of research
Subject specific and studies in supporting disciplines must cover information relevant for the research project in question. The amount of studies in different fields included in the studies depends on the research topic and the student’s postgraduate study aims. However, the scope of subject-related postgraduate studies must be sufficiently wide.
Courses of the co-operative networks
You can also include
Transferable Skills Studies
More information about researcher's transferable skills courses can be found from the study guide.
Change of target degree, doctoral programme or major
If you need to change the target degree, the doctoral programme, or the major, you can do it by filling in the following forms.
Studies required for the doctoral degree
The doctoral studies comprise at least 30 ECTS, of studies in research and professional skills as well as a doctoral dissertation. Information about the study requirements and the curriculum can be found in the Peppi.
If a doctoral researcher has previously completed a licentiate degree in their current subject or a neighbouring discipline or a doctorate in a neighbouring discipline, studies in research and professional skills are, in most cases, not required. If necessary, the they may be expected to complete supplementary studies as specified in the curriculum of the doctoral programme.
Choice and change of the target degree
The degree is chosen by the student either when applying for or during doctoral studies (change of the target degree). It is possible to change the degree; however, at the latest, before submitting a doctoral dissertation for pre-examination.
Apply for change of the target degree with the form available in Kamu: Form for changing the target degree (docx)
Change of the major within a doctoral programme
A doctoral researcher can change their major within a doctoral programme using a separate form. A new research plan, commitments of supervisors and certificates of previous studies must be attached to the application. The new study right will be granted on the decision of the Dean and, under the same decision, the old study right will be revoked.
Apply for change of the doctoral programme or the major with the form available in Kamu: Form for changing the doctoral programme or the major (docx)