Doctoral study requirements and personal study plan for doctoral studies

Studies required for the degree

The licentiate and doctoral degrees include a minimum of 30 ECTS of studies, as well as a licentiate thesis or doctoral dissertation.

The studies are divided as follows:

• Transferable skills studies: 5–10 ECTS
• Studies in the discipline and field of research: 20–25 ECTS

You can find information about the studies in the discipline and study requirements offered by the doctoral programme in the doctoral programme study guide (link opens in new tab).

Doctoral study plan

The doctoral study plan created in Peppi is a tool for planning your studies. Its purpose is to help you form an overview of your degree, the studies it includes and their schedule.

Create your study plan in Peppi as soon as you begin your doctoral studies. Instructions for using the PSP tool can be found in the Peppi handbook.

Once you have drawn up your study plan in Peppi:

1. Send it to Academic Affairs Specialist Maiju Parviainen for comments.
2. After receiving comments, send your PSP to your principal supervisor for approval.

If you have previously completed a licentiate or doctoral degree

If you have previously completed a licentiate degree in the same discipline or a closely related discipline, or a doctoral degree in a closely related discipline, you are generally not required to complete the 30 ECTS of studies included in the degree.

Doctoral studies consist of a minimum of 30 ECTS credits, including transferable skills studies (5–10 ECTS) and studies in the discipline and field of research (20–25 ECTS). The target is for full-time doctoral researchers to complete the required doctoral studies mainly within the first two years and to submit their dissertation for preliminary examination within three years of receiving their study right for doctoral studies.

Further information about courses and course descriptions can be found in the Peppi study guide (links opens in new tab).

Transferable skills studies (5–10 ECTS)

The Researcher Training Services at the University of Eastern Finland offer a set of transferable skills studies for all UEF doctoral researchers, in collaboration with the Library, the Language Centre, Communications and Media Relations as well as Innovation Services. The transferable skills studies cover researcher skills, communication skills, research management and career skills.

In addition to the compulsory studies for all doctoral researchers, the LUMETO doctoral programme recommends that you include the following in your transferable skills studies:

• participation in the course Orientation – First 100 Days (1 ECTS)
• studies in open science
• studies supporting research funding applications and/or research project management

Transferable skills studies may also include other studies that promote working life skills (incl. language studies) offered by the University of Eastern Finland.

Compulsory transferable skills studies in the LUMETO doctoral programme

• Supervision Plan, Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology (0 ECTS)
  • Compulsory for doctoral researchers who received their study right on or after 1 August 2026
• Research Ethics – Principles and Practices (2 ECTS)
  • Research Ethics (1 ECTS) completed before 1 August 2025 fulfils the requirements for the compulsory research ethics course
• Research Writing (2 ECTS), Scientific Writing for Doctoral Researchers (2 ECTS) or a corresponding course in scientific writing offered by the University of Eastern Finland

Elective transferable research skills studies in the LUMETO doctoral programme

• How to write a successful research grant proposal, Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology and Faculty of Health Sciences (2 ECTS)
• Transferable research skills studies offered by UEF Researcher Training Services
• Your principal supervisor or the UEF supervisor responsible for your doctoral studies may also approve other studies that promote working life skills (incl. language and communication studies) offered by the University of Eastern Finland as elective transferable skills studies.

Studies in the discipline and field of research (20–25 ECTS)

Studies in the discipline and field of research include courses that support your research work and are mainly at the level of advanced studies. Your principal supervisor or the UEF supervisor responsible for your doctoral studies assesses the suitability of courses for your studies.

In the LUMETO doctoral programme, courses organised by other faculties and doctoral programmes, as well as other studies that support your research work (such as summer schools and seminars), may also be approved as studies in the discipline and field of research. In addition, courses in the discipline and field of research organised by other Finnish or international higher education institutions or networks to which the University of Eastern Finland belongs (e.g., YUFE) may also be included.

Compulsory studies in the discipline and field of research in the LUMETO doctoral programme

The compulsory course in studies in the discipline and field of research is the research seminar in your own discipline (2 ECTS; in computer science 1–5 ECTS). Completing the research seminar involves giving a scientific presentation related to your doctoral dissertation research and attending other presentations in accordance with the requirements of your department. The departments of the faculty organise research seminars annually.

Elective studies in the discipline and field of research in the LUMETO doctoral programme

Participation in international scientific conferences may be approved as studies in the discipline and field of research if you have presented a poster or given an oral presentation. You can receive 1 ECTS per presentation (poster or oral), up to a maximum of 3 ECTS from scientific conferences in total.

Examination of scientific literature or theory and methodology in the field of your dissertation or licentiate thesis may be approved as studies in the discipline and field of research. The methods of completion are an essay/essays or a book exam. You must agree on the method of completion, the essay topic and scope, and the book to be examined with your principal supervisor or the UEF supervisor responsible for your doctoral studies. You can receive 1–5 ECTS total from scientific literature or theory and methodology.

• Courses offered by UEF departments/units (link opens in new tab)
• National co-operation in doctoral education
• Doctoral courses in Finland (link opens in new tab)
• YUFE courses (link opens in new tab)

Doctoral study plan

As a doctoral researcher, you must prepare a personal study plan for your doctoral studies in collaboration with the principal supervisor of your dissertation. If your principal supervisor is not a member of UEF staff, the UEF supervisor is responsible for your doctoral study plan and matters related to your doctoral studies. If you have more than one UEF supervisor, you must agree on which of them will be responsible.

Your doctoral study plan must follow the study requirements of your doctoral programme. Your principal supervisor or the UEF supervisor responsible for your doctoral studies approves and signs the plan.

Submit your doctoral study plan to the contact person for your discipline within three (3) months of the start of your study right. In the LUMETO doctoral programme, the doctoral study plan is completed using a Webropol form (link opens in new tab).

As you approach graduation, you must have the eligibility of your completed doctoral studies verified by the contact person for your discipline and update your study plan to reflect the courses you have actually completed, if any changes have been made. It is recommended that you have your doctoral studies verified no later than when you submit your dissertation for preliminary examination.

Expiry of studies and recognition of prior learning

In the LUMETO doctoral programme, courses that are no more than 10 years old may, as a rule, be included in your doctoral studies. Decisions on the recognition of prior learning and the expiry of studies completed at the University of Eastern Finland are made by the unit where the studies were completed. The UEF Language Centre does not grant recognition of prior learning for doctoral education courses it has organised. Decisions on the recognition of studies completed elsewhere as doctoral studies are made by the principal supervisor of your dissertation or the UEF supervisor responsible for your doctoral studies.

Recognition of prior learning requires that the studies or otherwise acquired competence to be recognised correspond to the learning outcomes set for the degree and its components. A thesis cannot be recognised through RPL. Courses from the degree that qualified you to apply for doctoral studies cannot be recognised either. Further information about recognition of prior learning is available on the Intranet (links opens in new tab, UEF login required).

Transitional provisions

If you received your study right for a doctoral degree at the Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology before 1 August 2023, you may complete your degree in accordance with the study requirements of the Doctoral Programme in Environmental Physics, Health and Biology (EPHB), the Doctoral Programme in Forests and Forest Bioresources (FORES), the Doctoral Programme in Science, Technology and Computing (SCITECO) or the study requirements of earlier doctoral programmes until 31 July 2027. Alternatively, you may transfer to complete your degree in accordance with the study requirements of the LUMETO doctoral programme.

If you have completed your doctoral studies and the study modules (transferable skills studies and studies in the discipline and field of research) have been compiled and locked in the student and study register before 31 July 2027, they will remain valid even if your degree is still in progress.

Planned studies included in your doctoral study plan that have not been recorded as completed by 31 July 2023 will no longer be accepted as completed studies if they are no longer acceptable under the study requirements that entered into force on 1 August 2023.

A degree of Doctor of Technology or Licentiate of Technology can only be completed in accordance with the study requirements of the LUMETO doctoral programme. The study requirements of the EPHB, FORES and SCITECO doctoral programmes or earlier doctoral programmes cannot be applied to target degrees in the field of technology.

Degree requirements and degree structure

Your doctoral degree consists of two parts: doctoral studies in accordance with the degree structure and an approved doctoral dissertation.

You complete a total of 30 ECTS of doctoral studies:

• 5–15 ECTS of transferable skills studies
• 15–25 ECTS of studies in the discipline and field of research

You can find more detailed information about the studies and study requirements in the doctoral programme study guide (links opens in new tab).

Doctoral Study Plan

You prepare your doctoral study plan together with your supervisors. The division of your doctoral studies into transferable skills studies and studies in the discipline and field of research is assessed when preparing the plan together with your supervisors, based on your educational background and research plan.

How to proceed:

1. Complete the electronic form (link opens in new tab) within 3 months of being granted your study right.
2. Update your plan during your studies if any changes occur.
3. Update the final doctoral study plan to reflect the studies you have completed, no later than before graduation.

Studies

You can request the recording of study attainments using a Webropol form (open link in new tab). The exception is doctoral education courses organised by UEF, which are not covered by this form.

Studies in the discipline and field of research

You compile studies in your own field of research and in supporting disciplines so that they cover the knowledge essential to your research work. The scope and content of these studies depend on your research topic and the goals of your doctoral education, so doctoral study plans may vary between students. However, make sure that the study modules are sufficiently comprehensive.

Transferable skills studies

You can find more information about transferable skills studies in the study guide (link opens in new tab).

Studies offered through collaborative networks

You may also include courses offered by the NorDoc network (links opens in new tab) in your doctoral degree studies.

For further information about studies and the doctoral study plan, contact your doctoral programme coordinator or the academic affairs specialist responsible for doctoral education in your faculty.

Degree requirements and degree structure

Your doctoral degree consists of two parts: doctoral studies in accordance with the degree structure and an approved doctoral dissertation.

You complete a total of 30 ECTS of doctoral studies:

• 5–10 ECTS of transferable skills studies
• 20–25 ECTS of studies in the discipline and field of research

You can find more detailed information about the studies and study requirements in the doctoral programme study guide (link opens in new tab).

Doctoral Study Plan

You prepare your doctoral study plan together with your supervisors. The division of your doctoral studies into transferable skills studies and studies in the discipline and field of research is assessed when preparing the plan together with your supervisors, based on your educational background and research plan.

How to proceed:

1. Complete the electronic form (link opens in new tab) within 3 months of being granted your study right.
2. Update your plan during your studies if any changes occur.
3. Update the final doctoral study plan to reflect the studies you have completed, no later than before graduation.

Studies

You can request the recording of study attainments using a Webropol form (link opens in new tab). The exception is doctoral education courses organised by UEF, which are not covered by this form.

Studies in the discipline and field of research

You compile studies in your own field of research and in supporting disciplines so that they cover the knowledge essential to your research work. The scope and content of these studies depend on your research topic and the goals of your doctoral education, so doctoral study plans may vary between students. However, make sure that the study modules are sufficiently comprehensive.

Transferable skills studies

You can find more information about transferable skills studies in the study guide (link opens in new tab).

Studies offered through collaborative networks

You may also include courses offered by the NorDoc network (links opens in new tab) in your doctoral degree studies.

For further information about studies and the doctoral study plan, contact your doctoral programme coordinator or the academic affairs specialist responsible for doctoral education in your faculty.

Degree requirements and degree structure

Your doctoral degree consists of two parts: doctoral studies in accordance with the degree structure and an approved doctoral dissertation.

You complete a total of 30 ECTS of doctoral studies:

• 5–10 ECTS of transferable skills studies
• 20–25 ECTS of studies in the discipline and field of research

You can find more detailed information about the studies and study requirements in the doctoral programme study guide.

Doctoral Study Plan

You prepare your doctoral study plan together with your supervisors. The division of your doctoral studies into transferable skills studies and studies in the discipline and field of research is assessed when preparing the plan together with your supervisors, based on your educational background and research plan.

How to proceed:

1. Complete the electronic form (link opens in new tab) within 3 months of being granted your study right.
2. Update your plan during your studies if any changes occur.
3. Update the final doctoral study plan to reflect the studies you have completed, no later than before graduation.

Studies

You can request the recording of study attainments using a Webropol form (links opens in new tab). The exception is doctoral education courses organised by UEF, which are not covered by this form.

Studies in the discipline and field of research

You compile studies in your own field of research and in supporting disciplines so that they cover the knowledge essential to your research work. The scope and content of these studies depend on your research topic and the goals of your doctoral education, so doctoral study plans may vary between students. However, make sure that the study modules are sufficiently comprehensive.

Transferable skills studies

You can find more information about transferable skills studies in the study guide (link opens in new tab).

Studies offered through collaborative networks

You may also include courses offered by the NorDoc network (link opens in new tab) in your doctoral degree studies.

For further information about studies and the doctoral study plan, contact your doctoral programme coordinator or the academic affairs specialist responsible for doctoral education in your faculty.

Degree requirements and degree structure

Your doctoral degree consists of two parts: doctoral studies in accordance with the degree structure and an approved doctoral dissertation.

You complete a total of 30 ECTS of doctoral studies:

• 5–10 ECTS of transferable skills studies
• 20–25 ECTS of studies in the discipline and field of research

You can find more detailed information about the studies and study requirements in the doctoral programme study guide.

Doctoral Study Plan

You prepare your doctoral study plan together with your supervisors. The division of your doctoral studies into transferable skills studies and studies in the discipline and field of research is assessed when preparing the plan together with your supervisors, based on your educational background and research plan.

Please note: Check the study guide for the requirements specific to the academic year in which you started your studies, such as compulsory courses.

How to proceed:

1. Complete the electronic form (link opens in new tab) within 3 months of being granted your study right.
2. Update your plan during your studies if any changes occur.
3. Update the final doctoral study plan to reflect the studies you have completed, no later than before graduation.

Studies

You can request the recording of study attainments using a Webropol form (link opens in new tab). The exception is doctoral education courses organised by UEF, which are not covered by this form.

Studies in the discipline and field of research

You compile studies in your own field of research and in supporting disciplines so that they cover the knowledge essential to your research work. The scope and content of these studies depend on your research topic and the goals of your doctoral education, so doctoral study plans may vary between students. However, make sure that the study modules are sufficiently comprehensive.

Transferable skills studies

You can find more information about transferable skills studies in the study guide (link opens in new tab).

Studies offered through collaborative networks

You may also include courses offered by the Finnish Doctoral Education Network in Nursing Science (link opens in new tab) or the NorDoc network (link opens in new tab) in your doctoral degree studies.

For further information about studies and the doctoral study plan, contact your doctoral programme coordinator or the academic affairs specialist responsible for doctoral education in your faculty.

Studies required for the doctoral degree

The licentiate and doctoral degrees include a minimum of 30 ECTS credits of studies supporting research work and professional competence, as well as a licentiate thesis and/or doctoral dissertation. The studies supporting research work and professional competence are further divided into 1) studies in the discipline and field of research and 2) transferable skills studies. You can find information about the discipline-specific studies and study requirements offered by the doctoral programme in the doctoral programme study guide (link opens in new tab).

Studies completed at other universities may be included in the licentiate and doctoral degrees, provided that they are compatible with the objectives of the doctoral programme and have been approved in your doctoral study plan. Studies may be included to the extent that the degree structure allows.

Courses may be substituted if the completed course corresponds to a course in the doctoral programme in terms of its objectives and content.

A licentiate thesis or doctoral dissertation completed at another university cannot be recognised through RPL.

If you have previously completed a licentiate degree in the same discipline or a closely related discipline, or a doctoral degree in a closely related discipline, you are generally not required to complete the studies supporting research work and professional competence. If necessary, you may be required to complete supplementary studies in accordance with the doctoral programme curriculum. Supplementary studies are not included in the degree.