Welcome to the University of Eastern Finland as a doctoral researcher!
If you are still considering applying for doctoral education, you can find information on the Doctoral education at the University of Eastern Finland pages (link opens in new tab).
The aim of doctoral education is to train researchers and experts who are capable of independent work and have the skills to solve scientific problems and produce new scientific knowledge. We wish you all the best on your journey!
Doctoral student, doctoral candidate, PhD student, doctoral researcher – there are many names for someone pursuing postgraduate research studies. At the University of Eastern Finland, they are called doctoral researchers.
Doctoral education is organised in doctoral programmes
At the University of Eastern Finland, doctoral education is arranged in faculty-specific doctoral programmes. Each doctoral programme has its own degree requirements, which include completing coursework and writing a doctoral dissertation.
If you have any questions about your doctoral studies, contact the coordinator of your doctoral programme.
Degree structure
A doctoral degree consists of two parts:
- A doctoral dissertation, in which you present the results of your research.
- 30 credits of coursework that support your research and professional development.
If you work full-time as a doctoral researcher, the normative duration of the degree is 3–4 years.
Dissertation requirements
The purpose of the doctoral dissertation is to demonstrate that you:
- have an in-depth understanding of your research field and its societal impact
- can apply scientific research methods independently and critically
- are able to produce new scientific knowledge
You will publicly defend your completed dissertation at a public examination.
Forms of the dissertation
There are two main forms of a doctoral dissertation:
- A monograph is a scientific work published as a single, cohesive piece of independent research that advances knowledge in your field.
- An article-based dissertation typically consists of three peer-reviewed scientific publications on a related topic, accompanied by a summary.
Detailed dissertation requirements are described on the doctoral programme pages under the heading Dissertation requirements.
Studies included in the doctoral degree
The studies in your doctoral degree are divided into two components:
- Discipline-specific studies form the main focus of the coursework in all doctoral programmes.
- Researcher’s transferable skills studies include topics such as project management, research ethics, communication and interaction skills, and teamwork and workplace skills.
Researcher’s transferable skills studies are offered by UEF Researcher Training Services together with the UEF Library and the UEF Language Centre to doctoral researchers across all faculties.
The balance between these components depends on your doctoral programme. Check the degree requirements on your doctoral programme’s pages.
Stages of doctoral education
The image below will help you understand the different stages of doctoral education.
Read an accessible version of the image (link opens in new tab).