75133 Philosophical faculty Doctoral Dissertation evaluation 1 Jan 2026-

Here you will find information and instructions regarding the dissertation process. The stages of the dissertation process are:

1. Preliminary examination of the dissertation
2. Granting permission to defend
3. Decision on the public defense
4. Publication of the dissertation
5. Communication about the defense
6. Arranging the public defense
7. The defense itself
8. Evaluation of the dissertation

If you have questions about the assessment and examination process, you can contact Academic Affairs Specialist Salli Anttonen ([email protected]).

Preparing the Dissertation Manuscript for Preliminary Examination

Finalizing the Manuscript for Preliminary Examination

Before submitting for preliminary examination, the manuscript must be complete in content and carefully finalized in terms of language and appearance.

• Obtain verbal permission from your main supervisor to submit the manuscript for preliminary examination.
• Submit your manuscript for preliminary examination using the template:
  • When publishing your dissertation in the Philosophical Faculty’s publication series, make sure to use the faculty’s layout template. After August 1, 2026, manuscripts not in the faculty’s publication template will not be sent to preliminary examiners.
  • If you are not publishing your dissertation in the faculty’s series or are using an external publisher, you may use an accessible thesis template if you wish. If you are not publishing in the faculty’s series, you cannot use the faculty’s layout template.
• When the manuscript is ready for preliminary examination, finalize the language and layout:
  • Carefully check the headings, table of contents, and list of references.
  • Ensure the table of contents matches the numbering and headings of the main and subchapters, as well as the pagination of the manuscript.
  • Follow the referencing and citation conventions recommended in your field, and ensure the referencing style is logical and consistent throughout the manuscript.
• Language editing of a foreign-language dissertation manuscript is usually done after the preliminary examination. More details can be found in the section “Finalizing the Dissertation and Arranging the Public Defense.”
• For more on typesetting and printing, see Philosophical Faculty’s instructions for publishing and printing dissertations

Abstract

• The manuscript must include an abstract of about one page. At this stage, the abstract may be in either Finnish or English, or in both languages. The final dissertation must contain abstracts in both Finnish and English.

Parts of an Article-Based Dissertation Manuscript

• An article-based dissertation manuscript includes a summary chapter, a list of the articles included in the research, and the articles themselves.
• Articles are usually appended as published, retaining their original format, text, and page numbers.

Preliminary Examination and Permission to Defend

Before the preliminary examination:

Plagiarism check

• Conduct a plagiarism check of the thesis together with your main supervisor. Instructions are in the section “Plagiarism Check for Doctoral Dissertations and Licentiate Theses in the Philosophical Faculty.”

Submitting the manuscript and application for permission to defend:

• Apply for permission to defend by completing the application form.
• Email the following to the Academic Affairs Specialist at [email protected]:
  • The finalized dissertation manuscript in the template, as a PDF file, and
  • The completed permission to defend application form as a separate attachment

Nomination and Conflict of Interest of Preliminary Examiners:

• The Head of Department and main supervisor make a proposal for preliminary examiners to [email protected].
• The main supervisor cannot act as a preliminary examiner, nor can anyone who has had joint publications or research projects with the doctoral candidate during their doctoral studies or is otherwise disqualified. The university’s guidelines for conflicts of interest are on UEF Intranet (login required). If conflict-of-interest questions arise, the main supervisor should discuss them with the Head of Department.
• The Vice Dean makes the decision on preliminary examiners.

Submission of the manuscript to preliminary examiners:

• The Academic Affairs Specialist sends the Vice Dean’s decision, instructions for preliminary examiners, and the dissertation manuscript by email to the examiners.
• The faculty does not mail printed manuscripts to preliminary examiners.
• If a preliminary examiner requests a printed copy, the doctoral candidate must provide one as instructed by the Academic Affairs Specialist. The PDF file and the printed copy must be identical.

Contact with preliminary examiners:

• You may not contact the preliminary examiners during the process, except if you need to provide a printed copy.

Impact of university holidays:

• University Christmas and summer holidays affect the preliminary examination process. During the last two weeks of December and in July, dissertation evaluation processes do not proceed due to holidays.
  • If you want your manuscript to be sent for preliminary examination before Christmas holiday, submit it and all attachments by 15 December to [email protected].
  • If you want your manuscript to be sent for preliminary examination before summer holiday, submit it and all attachments by June 15 to [email protected].
• This ensures that the department and faculty leadership have time to approve the decision before the holidays.
• Manuscripts ready for preliminary examination can also be submitted during the holidays, but processing will begin after the holidays.

After the Preliminary Examination

Preliminary examiners’ statements

• Preliminary examiners provide statements either supporting permission to defend or noting deficiencies so serious that permission cannot be granted.

Schedule and handling of statements:

• Preliminary examiners must provide their statements within thirty (30) days of receiving the manuscript. Note that holidays may extend this period.
• The Academic Affairs Specialist emails the statements to you.
• Read the statements carefully and inform the Academic Affairs Specialist if you have any comments.

Decision on permission to defend:

• The Dean decides on permission to defend based on the examiners’ statements and the doctoral candidate’s notification and possible response.

Interrupting the preliminary examination:

• If the examiners do not support permission to defend, it is recommended to interrupt the preliminary examination.
• The process may be interrupted at the doctoral candidate’s written request.
• The examination of the thesis can be interrupted once.

Checklist for Doctoral Candidates for the Preliminary Examination Process

• Verbal permission from the main supervisor to submit the manuscript for preliminary examination.
• Finalization of the manuscript in the template (content, language, and appearance).
• Plagiarism check.
• Application for permission to defend and submission of the finalized manuscript to the Academic Affairs Specialist.
• The Academic Affairs Specialist sends the manuscript and instructions to the preliminary examiners.
• Preliminary examiners’ statements within 30 days (unless otherwise agreed).
• Commenting on the statements: notify the Academic Affairs Specialist if you have comments.
• Decision on permission to defend if the examiners support it.
• Interruption of the preliminary examination if the examiners do not support permission to defend.

If you wish, you may use Microsoft Planner or another planning tool to manage the preliminary examination process. Such tools help you visualize the process steps, schedule tasks, and monitor progress.

Finalizing the Dissertation and Arranging the Public Defense

Once permission to defend has been granted, finalize the dissertation for publication. Agree with the main supervisor on the opponent and the date for the defense. It is advisable to reserve at least three months for the finalisation of the manuscript and the smooth implementation of the publication process. Please take this into account when planning the date of the public examination with your main supervisor.

Finalizing the Manuscript and Language Editing for Publication

• Finalize the manuscript in terms of content and language for printing:
  • Make the necessary corrections to the manuscript,
  • Carefully check headings, table of contents, and list of references.
  • Prepare abstracts in Finnish and English, if you have not already done them at the pre-examination stage. The completed dissertation must include an abstract in both Finnish and English.
• Obtain republication permissions for articles included in the article-based dissertation for both print and e-version, unless already done during the original publication.
• Prepare the manuscript for black-and-white printing. Printing is done in black-and-white by default. Even a single-color page makes the entire publication color and significantly increases the cost. Color printing is only accepted for justified reasons—contact the Academic Affairs Specialist if needed.
• Foreign-language dissertations and abstracts must be checked by a language expert.
• Only the parts that require language checking (not e.g., reference lists or irrelevant appendices) are sent for checking. Request more detailed instructions from the Academic Affairs Specialist.
• Reserve at least 1–2 weeks for language checking, depending on the length of the texts.
• The faculty pays for one round of language checking.
  • For monographs, this covers the entire manuscript.
  • For article-based dissertations, language checking is paid once for each article included in the dissertation and for the summary chapter.
• The faculty does not pay for translation costs or for language checking of texts written in the author’s native language. These services can be purchased at your own expense from a provider of your choice.

Planning the Publication Schedule

• Familiarize yourself with the publication and distribution process of the dissertation.
• The editor of the faculty’s publication series will provide instructions after you have received permission to defend.
• Plan the publication schedule together with your main supervisor and the faculty series editor or external publisher.
• When planning, allow at least two months for typesetting, proofreading, printing, and distribution.
• The dissertation must be complete and published at least seven days before the defense.

Agreeing on the Date and Place of the Defense

• Discuss the date of the defense with your main supervisor.
• Negotiate the date also with the responsible editor of the publication series or external publisher, to ensure the schedule is realistic for the publication process.
• Once the opponent and defense date are agreed upon, decide with your main supervisor who will book the defense hall.
• Room reservations are made through Academic Secretary Iida Räsänen (from 1/1/2026: Riikka Hujanen).
• Philosophical Faculty defenses are held on the Joensuu campus.
• If you wish to have your defense live-streamed, submit a service request to the university’s technical support via the electronic service portal. More information about live streaming is available in Kamu’s instructions for technical preparations for the defense.

Selection and Disqualification of the Opponent

• The opponent must be an external person to the University of Eastern Finland, with at least the qualification of docent or equivalent scientific competence.
• The main supervisor and the Head of Department are responsible for selecting the opponent.
• The doctoral candidate has no authority in the selection but may be asked for suggestions or comments regarding possible conflicts of interest.
• The opponent must not have joint publications or research projects with the candidate during the dissertation project or be otherwise disqualified. The university’s conflict-of-interest guidelines are on UEF Intranet (login required).
• If there is uncertainty about the opponent’s qualifications or possible disqualification, the main supervisor should discuss it with the Head of Department.

Decision on the Opponent and Defense Arrangements

• The main supervisor and Head of Department make a proposal for:
  • The opponent(s)
  • The defense date
  • The defense hall
  • The custos
• The Dean makes the decision on the defense. The final title of the dissertation is also recorded in the decision.

Publication of the Dissertation

The dissertation may be published in the faculty’s own series, by an external publisher, or not published at all (self-publishing). The doctoral candidate is responsible for the publication process and distribution of printed copies. More information about the publication process is available in the instructions for publishing and printing dissertations.

Preparing for the Defense and Defense Day

Communicating about the defense: The university’s communications services disseminate information about the dissertation on the university’s website, social media, and to the media. Complete the electronic defense form at least two weeks before the defense. See the instructions on media communication and dissertation news releases.

Defense photograph: A photo of the doctoral candidate may be distributed to the media with the defense notice. Photos are optional. If you wish to have your photo included, arrange to be photographed at least two weeks before the defense. See the instructions on photography in Kamu.

Defense coffee reception: After the defense, you offer coffee to the audience. You are responsible for ordering and paying for the catering. More information is in the doctoral candidate’s checklist.

Karonkka (post-defense celebration): The karonkka is an academic celebration, usually held on the evening of the defense day to honor the opponent. You are responsible for organizing, hosting, and paying for the karonkka. More information is available in Kamu: Doctoral Candidate’s Checklist and Karonkka.

Support for defense communications: Familiarize yourself with the support materials available on the “Support for Doctoral Candidate's Communication” eLearn Moodle platform. These materials—videos, instructions, and examples—help you prepare your lectio, that is, your introductory lecture, and practice interaction with the opponent during the defense, as well as prepare for media interviews and speeches at the karonkka. Materials are available in both Finnish and English.

The Defense

The defense is a public event in which the doctoral candidate defends their research under the guidance of the opponent. The purpose is to evaluate the scientific quality of the dissertation and the candidate’s ability to justify their research decisions. The defense also provides an opportunity for scientific discussion and for a wider audience to learn about the research. More information about the proceedings and academic practices of the defense is provided in the section "Public defence procedures in the Philosophical Faculty.”

After the Defense

Statements of the opponent and custos, and the candidate’s response

• The opponent prepares a statement with a grade proposal.
• The custos writes a statement on the defense.
• Both statements are submitted to the Academic Affairs Specialist within two weeks of the defense.
• The Academic Affairs Specialist forwards the statements to the candidate.
• The candidate notifies in writing whether they have comments on the statements.

Faculty Council’s review and evaluation of the dissertation

• The Faculty Council evaluates the dissertation based on the statements and assigns a grade: failed – accepted – accepted with distinction.
• The Council meets once a month (not in July); meeting dates are available on UEF Intra (login required).
• The agenda is prepared one week before the meeting. To be included, the following must be submitted to the Academic Affairs Specialist at least one week before the meeting: the opponent’s statement, the custos’s statement, and the candidate’s notification regarding the statements.
• In June and December, dissertations may exceptionally be considered with a shorter preparation period.
• Please note that the evaluation of the dissertation may take several weeks depending on the Council’s meeting schedule. Plan your graduation schedule accordingly.

Applying for a Doctoral Degree

You may apply for the degree once the dissertation has been graded and all required postgraduate studies have been completed. The application form is available in Kamu.

The main supervisor of the dissertation plays a central role in the preliminary examination process, the preparation for the public examination, and the public defense itself.

If you have any questions regarding the dissertation examination and evaluation process, you may contact Academic Affairs Specialist Salli Anttonen ([email protected]), who manages the process administration in the Philosophical Faculty.

Preliminary Examination Stage

There is typically about a three-month interval between the completion of the preliminary examination and the public defense—often even longer. As a general scheduling guideline, if the public defense is to be held in the spring semester, the manuscript must be submitted for preliminary examination by January–February at the latest. If the defense is to be held in the autumn semester, the manuscript must be submitted for preliminary examination by August at the latest.

Permission for Preliminary Examination and Plagiarism Check of the Manuscript

• Postgraduate studies must be completed at the stage when the dissertation manuscript is sent for preliminary examination.
• Give the doctoral researcher verbal permission to submit the manuscript for preliminary examination when it is ready in terms of content.
• Conduct a plagiarism check together with the doctoral researcher using the Turnitin system.
• Inform the doctoral researcher of the name of the Moodle course and the course key needed to use Turnitin. Instructions for teachers can be found on the eLearn Moodle course "Turnitin – Plagiarism Detection System" (opens in a new tab, requires login), the course key is turnitin.
• Check the Turnitin report within two weeks of its completion and review it with the doctoral researcher if necessary.
• Notify the Academic Affairs Specialist when the manuscript is, based on the Turnitin report, ready for preliminary examination. The notification is sent to [email protected].
• Keep the report for one year.

Proposal for Preliminary Examiners

• Make the proposal for preliminary examiners together with the head of the department. A preliminary examiner may later also act as the opponent in the public defense.
• Contact the preliminary examiners well in advance so they can prepare for the task and schedule their work. The preliminary examination period is 30 days starting from 31 August 2025 (UEF Education Regulations section 36).
• Ensure that the preliminary examiners are impartial and external experts.
• Discuss with the head of the department if there are any questions about the impartiality or qualifications of the preliminary examiners. The university's guidelines on impartiality are available on UEF Intranet (login with UEF credentials required).
• Send the details of the proposed preliminary examiners (title, name, email address, and affiliation) to the Academic Affairs Specialist at [email protected]. The Academic Affairs Specialist will request confirmation from the head of the department.
• The decision on the preliminary examiners is made by the Vice Dean.

Effect of University Holidays on the Preliminary Examination Process

• The university's Christmas and summer holidays affect the initiation of the preliminary examination process. During the last two weeks of December and in July, dissertation examination processes do not progress due to holidays.
• To ensure the dissertation manuscript is handled before the university holidays, the supervisor must observe the following deadlines:
  • Christmas break: Ensure that the doctoral researcher submits the final manuscript and the defense permit application to the faculty by 15 December at the latest by email to [email protected].
  • Summer break: Ensure that the doctoral researcher submits all materials required for preliminary examination by 15 June to the same address.
• This ensures that the department and faculty management have time to process the preliminary examination decision before the holidays begin.
• A manuscript ready for preliminary examination can also be submitted to the Academic Affairs Specialist during the summer and Christmas holidays, but the process will not start until after the holidays.

Preliminary Examination Statements and Defense Permit

• The preliminary examiners provide statements in which they either support granting the defense permit or state that the deficiencies in the manuscript are so serious that the permit cannot be supported.
• The preliminary examiners must provide their statements within thirty (30) days of receiving the dissertation manuscript. Holiday periods, such as summer and Christmas, may extend the examination period.
• The Academic Affairs Specialist sends the preliminary examination statements by email to you and the doctoral researcher.
• Familiarize yourself with the statements provided by the preliminary examiners and guide the doctoral researcher in finalizing the manuscript.
• The Vice Dean makes the decision on the defense permit based on the statements of the preliminary examiners, as well as the notification and any response from the doctoral researcher.
• If the preliminary examiners do not support granting the defense permit, it is recommended to interrupt the preliminary examination. The preliminary examination can be interrupted at the written request of the doctoral researcher. The examination of the thesis can be interrupted once.

Preliminary Examiner Fee

• At the University of Eastern Finland, the fee for acting as a preliminary examiner of a dissertation is €450 (1.1.2026-).
• The payment is managed by HR Controller Lea Pulli ([email protected]), who will contact the preliminary examiners after the Vice Dean's decision and provide instructions on the process.

Preparation for the Public Defense

• Once the doctoral researcher has received the defense permit, discuss the date of the public defense with them. Preparations for the public examination usually take at least three months from the date on which the permission to defend has been granted.
• Negotiate the defence date also with the series editor of the faculty's publication series or an external publisher to ensure a realistic schedule.
• Series editors:
  • Department of Education and Psychology: Associate Professor Noora Heiskanen
  • Department of Applied Education and Teacher Training: Professor Katriina Maaranen and Postdoctoral Researcher Juho Kahila
  • Department of Theology: University Lecturer Harri Huovinen
  • Department of Humanities: Associate Professor Marja Sorvari
• Discuss the date and practical arrangements of the public defense with the future opponent.
• The opponent will receive instructions for travel and accommodation arrangements once the decision on public defense has been made.

Proposal for the Public Defense

• Ensure that the opponent is qualified and impartial (at least docent level, no close collaboration with the doctoral candidate). The preliminary examiner may also act as the opponent.
• Discuss with the head of the department if any questions arise regarding the opponent's impartiality or qualifications. The university's guidelines on impartiality are available on UEF Intranet (login with UEF credentials required).
• The doctoral researcher does not have the authority to choose the opponent but may be asked for suggestions or comments regarding possible conflicts of interest.
• Make the proposal for the opponent, defense date, defense venue, and custos together with the head of the department. Send the details of the public defense to the Doctoral Education Specialist at [email protected], who will request confirmation from the head of department:
  • date, time, location,
  • final title of the dissertation,
  • custos,
  • opponent (title and affiliation)
• Agree on reserving the defense hall with the doctoral researcher—either of you can handle the reservation. Bookings are made through Academic Secretary Iida Räsänen (from 1 Jan 2026: Riikka Hujanen).

Opponent's Fee

• At the University of Eastern Finland, the fee for acting as an opponent for a dissertation is €550 (1.1.2026-).
• The payment is managed by HR Controller Lea Pulli ([email protected]), who will contact the opponent after the Vice Dean's decision and provide instructions on the process.

Public Defense

See also the university's general instructions on UEF Intranet ("Supervisor's Preparation for the Defense").

• The main supervisor of the dissertation usually acts as the custos. The custos represents the university and is responsible for guiding the proceedings of the defense.
• The tasks of the custos include:
  1. Leading the proceedings: opening the event, introducing participants, supervising the discussion, and closing the event. More information on the duties of the custos is available under "Public Defense Procedures and Academic Practices in the Philosophical Faculty"
  2. Writing a statement about the defense and delivering it to the Academic Affairs Specialist ([email protected]) within two weeks of the defense.

Faculty Council Processing and Grading of the Dissertation

• The Faculty Council evaluates the dissertation based on the opponent’s statement, assigning the grade: fail – pass – pass with distinction.
• The Council meets once a month (not in July), and meeting dates can be found on UEF Intranet (login with UEF credentials required).
• The agenda is prepared one week before the meeting. To be included, the following documents must be submitted to the Academic Affairs Specialist before the agenda is prepared: opponent’s statement, custos’s statement, and the candidate’s notification regarding the statements.
• In June and December, dissertations may exceptionally be considered with a shorter preparation time.
• Approval of the dissertation may take several weeks depending on the Council’s meeting schedule.
• The doctoral researcher may apply for the doctoral degree once the dissertation has been graded and all required postgraduate studies have been completed and recorded in the study register.

Purpose and Tools of the Plagiarism Check

Checking theses in a plagiarism detection system is mandatory before the work is sent for preliminary examination. If significant changes are made to the dissertation after preliminary examination, it is recommended to check the originality again before publication.

The system used at the University of Eastern Finland is Turnitin, which operates in eLearn Moodle. Turnitin is used not only for verifying originality but also as a supervisory tool, for example, to ensure correct use of quotations and references.

Turnitin Plagiarism Detection before Preliminary Examination

• Before submitting your manuscript for preliminary examination, you must check it with the Turnitin tool.
• Your main supervisor will inform you of the name of the Moodle course and the course key, enabling you to find the Turnitin tool.
• Submit the manuscript to Turnitin as a single doc or docx file.
• If it is an article-based dissertation, only the previously unpublished parts are checked: the summary and unpublished articles. Submit these as a single file to Turnitin.
• Note that there are two Turnitin tools in Moodle:
  • One saves the text to the Turnitin database
  • The other does not save the text to the database
• You may, if you wish, archive the manuscript in the Turnitin database at this stage.

Report Review and Feedback

• Inform your supervisor when the Turnitin report is ready.
• The main supervisor reviews the report and, if necessary, goes through it with you. The report must be checked within two weeks of you notifying that it is ready.
• Make the necessary corrections to the manuscript based on the feedback received.
• Note that the revised manuscript may only be resubmitted to Turnitin once.

Notification to the Faculty

• When the manuscript is, based on the Turnitin report, ready for preliminary examination, the main supervisor notifies the faculty administration. The notification is sent by email to: [email protected].

Storing the Report

• The main supervisor keeps the Turnitin report for one year.

Independent Checking with Turnitin

• You may, if you wish, check your texts independently with Turnitin at different stages of your work.
• It is recommended to check the articles included in the dissertation with Turnitin before submitting them to a publisher.

Welcome and thank you for serving as a pre-examiner! These instructions are intended for pre-examiners participating in the pre-examination of a doctoral dissertation at the Philosophical Faculty of the University of Eastern Finland. The instructions outline the pre-examination process, the duties of the pre-examiner, as well as the requirements and evaluation criteria for the dissertation.

If you have any questions related to the dissertation evaluation process, you may contact Academic Affairs Specialist Salli Anttonen, who is responsible for the administration of the process in the Philosophical Faculty. Email: [email protected], phone: +358 50 367 0127.

Pre-examination Process and Duties of the Pre-Examiner

• The doctoral dissertation is examined in two stages: the pre-examination is the first stage, followed by the public defense as the second stage.
• Before the public defense, the dissertation undergoes pre-examination, during which two experts external to the University of Eastern Finland and familiar with the dissertation’s field evaluate the manuscript’s scientific quality and its fulfillment of the required standards.
• The purpose of the pre-examination is to assess whether the manuscript meets the minimum requirements set for doctoral dissertations by the Philosophical Faculty.

Pre-examiners provide statements in which they either

1. 1. recommend that permission for a public defense be granted to the manuscript as it stands or with minor corrections, or
   2. state that the manuscript has such significant shortcomings that permission to defend cannot be recommended.

• The pre-examination statement cannot be conditional. That is, the statement cannot say that permission to defend will be granted only after certain corrections are made.

Submission of the Pre-Examination Statement

• The preliminary examiner’s statement is submitted using the statement form. The statement includes both the assessment items on the form and written rationales, in which the preliminary examiner explains their evaluation and outlines any possible requirements for revision.
• Each area evaluated (1–9) is assessed using a three-tier scale:
  • Adequate: The manuscript meets the minimum requirements for a doctoral dissertation.
  • Recommended actions: Deficiencies do not lead to rejection, but significant improvements are desirable.
  • Inadequate: The manuscript does not meet the minimum requirements and is seriously deficient or flawed.
• The final assessment of whether to recommend granting permission for a public examination is not based on the average of the areas, but on the pre-examiner’s overall evaluation.
• A manuscript may be considered recommendable for defense even if one area is still inadequate, as long as the overall work meets the minimum requirements.

Deadline for the Pre-Examination Statement: 30 Days

• According to the University of Eastern Finland’s education regulations, pre-examination of a doctoral dissertation must not, without special reason, take longer than 30 days from the date the manuscript is delivered to the pre-examiner.

Statement Supporting Permission to Defend

• A manuscript that meets the minimum requirements qualifies for a supporting statement.
• Problems that can be corrected with simple editing or that require reasonable further study of research literature or other materials are not considered obstacles to a supporting statement.
• The pre-examiner is not required to describe the contents of the manuscript or to provide suggestions for improvement, although such feedback can be useful for the doctoral researcher.
• Language editing and finalization of the manuscript’s language can be done after pre-examination. Therefore, pre-examiners do not need to make or list corrections related to language. However, if the language quality affects the evaluation, it is advisable to mention this in the statement. The doctoral researcher is responsible for ensuring that the manuscript’s language is properly checked after pre-examination.
• A supporting statement should include a brief rationale.

Statement recommending against approval

• Refusing permission to defend the dissertation is rare but necessary if the manuscript does not meet the minimum requirements set by the faculty.
• The pre-examiner should not recommend permission to defend if it becomes apparent that the manuscript is not an independent, unified work based on research that presents new scientific knowledge.
• A statement refusing permission to defend should also be considered if there are other very serious deficiencies or issues in the work, such as:
  • The research does not adhere to good scientific ethical principles
  • The research task is not clearly defined or lacks scientific relevance.
  • The methods used are not at all suitable for the research topic.
  • The theoretical framework is seriously deficient.
  • The research material is too limited to answer the research questions, or overly broad generalizations are made from the material.
  • There are serious deficiencies in the knowledge of relevant research literature.
• If the pre-examiner does not recommend granting permission to defend, they must provide a rationale for their decision and illustrate the observed problems.

Interruption and Restarting the Pre-Examination Process

• A statement refusing permission to defend usually leads to the pre-examination being interrupted at the request of the doctoral researcher.
• Once the doctoral researcher has revised the manuscript and the main supervisor supports restarting the pre-examination, the vice dean will appoint the same or different pre-examiners at their discretion.
• The examination process can be interrupted once.

Pre-Examiner’s Fee

• At the University of Eastern Finland, the pre-examination fee for a doctoral dissertation is €450 (1.1.2026-).
• HR Controller Lea Pulli ([email protected]) handles fee invoicing and will contact pre-examiners to provide instructions concerning payment.

See the definition, requirements, and recommendations for the dissertation, as well as the evaluation criteria and grading scale, in other parts of this page.

Welcome and thank you for serving as an opponent! This guide is intended for the opponent participating in the evaluation of a doctoral dissertation at the Philosophical Faculty of the University of Eastern Finland. The guide describes the evaluation process, the tasks of the opponent, practical arrangements for the day of the public defense, as well as the definition and assessment criteria of a doctoral dissertation.

If you wish, you may familiarize yourself with the University of Eastern Finland’s instructions on doctoral defenses and the post-defense celebration (karonkka). You may agree on the practical arrangements for the day of the defense with the custos.

If you have any questions regarding the dissertation evaluation process, please contact Academic Affairs Specialist Salli Anttonen, who is responsible for the academic administration of the process in the Philosophical Faculty. Email: [email protected], phone: +358 50 367 0127.

Examination and Evaluation of the Doctoral Dissertation

The dissertation is examined in two phases: the preliminary examination is the first phase, and the public defense is the second phase. The Vice Dean of the Faculty decides on granting permission for the defense based on the preliminary examiners’ statements and determines the time, place, opponents, and custos for the defense.

Familiarize yourself with the course of the public defense and the academic practices of the Philosophical Faculty.

Eligibility and Disqualification of the Opponent

• The opponent must be an individual from outside the University of Eastern Finland who holds at least the qualification of docent or an equivalent scientific qualification (Education Regulations, Section 36).
• A person who has had joint publications or research projects with the doctoral candidate during the dissertation project, or who is otherwise disqualified (UEF disqualification guidelines), cannot act as an opponent.

Duties of the Custos

• The custos is usually the main supervisor of the doctoral candidate.
• The custos represents the university and is responsible for directing the course of the public defense.
• After the defense, the custos submits a written statement on the proceedings of the public defense.

Opponent’s Statement

• After the public defense, provide a written statement on the dissertation and the defense, in which you propose a grade for the dissertation: fail, pass, or pass with distinction. The opponent’s statement is usually 3–5 pages in length.
• To protect the rights of the doctoral candidate, the opponent’s statement cannot include any new criticisms, but only comments to which the doctoral candidate has been able to respond in the public examination.
• Submit the signed statement to the Philosophical Faculty within two weeks of the public defense by email to [email protected].

Candidate’s Response and Final Evaluation

• Before the dissertation is evaluated by the Faculty Council, the candidate has an opportunity to respond to the statements.
• The Faculty Council evaluates the dissertation based on the statements of the opponent(s).

The Public Defense and the Opponent’s Travel and Accommodation Arrangements

• Public defenses of the Philosophical Faculty are held at the Joensuu campus.
• You will receive instructions for making travel and accommodation arrangements once the decision on the public defense has been made.

Opponent’s Fee

• At the University of Eastern Finland, the opponent’s fee for examining a dissertation is €550 (1.1.2026-).
• The fee is managed by HR Controller Lea Pulli ([email protected]), who will contact you and provide instructions for the process.

Please see the definition, requirements, and recommendations for the dissertation, as well as the evaluation criteria and grading scale, in other parts of this page.

Stages of the Public Defense

1. Opening. The custos opens the event and introduces the participants.
2. Lectio praecursoria ("the lectio"). The doctoral candidate presents the background, objectives, and main results of their research.
3. Defense. The opponent discusses the content of the dissertation with the candidate and poses questions.
4. Conclusion. The custos ends the event after the discussion is completed.

The event usually lasts about 2–3 hours, but duration may vary depending on the field and extent of the discussion. If the event lasts more than three hours, the custos announces a break. The opponent may use up to four (4) hours for the examination.

Public Defense Procedures and Academic Practices

Dress and Academic Insignia

• The candidate, custos, and opponent dress in accordance with traditional academic tradition: tailcoat and dark vest (or official uniform without decorations), dark suit, or other dark attire. The parties agree on the dress code among themselves.

Event Schedule and Arrival

• The public defense begins 15 minutes past the hour of the announced start time.
• The participants enter in the following order: first the candidate, then the custos, and finally the opponent.
• The custos and opponent carry the doctoral hat in their hand when entering and leaving the hall. During the event, the hat is placed on the table with the lyre facing the hall.

Opening and Introductions

• Once everyone is seated, the custos opens the event by stating: "Having been appointed by the Philosophical Faculty custos of these proceedings, I now declare the examination open”.
• After this, the custos introduces the candidate, the dissertation under examination, and the opponent(s).

Lectio praecursoria ("lectio")

• The candidate stands and gives the lectio praecursoria, which may last up to 20 minutes. The audience is greeted by stating: "Madam/Mr Custos, Madam/Mr Examiner, Ladies and Gentlemen."
• If necessary, a translation is provided for a foreign opponent.
• After completing the lectio praecursoria, the candidate states: "I now ask you, Professor X (Doctor X, etc.), as the opponent appointed by the Philosophical Faculty to present those criticisms which you feel is justified concerning my dissertation."

Defense

• The opponent stands and gives a brief opening statement discussing the subject and significance of the dissertation in scientific research.
• The candidate listens to the statement standing at the lectern, facing the opponent.
• After the statement, both sit down.
• The examination usually begins with general questions such as the choice of research topic, methods, and data, and then proceeds to details.
• Correction of typographical errors is avoided during the event. The candidate may provide a written list of errors, which the opponent will attach to the statement.
• The opponent may use up to four hours for the examination.

Conclusion of the Event

• After the examination, the opponent stands and gives a final statement, which the candidate listens to standing and facing the opponent. If the opponent considers that the dissertation fulfils the requirements, s/he should conclude his/her final statement with the following words: “I will be happy to recommend to the Philosophical Faculty that this dissertation be accepted with respect to the fulfillment of the requirements of the doctoral degree”.
• After the final statement, the opponent sits down.
• Following this, the candidate thanks the opponent. The candidate then turns to the audience and says: "I now invite those members of the audience who wish to question the content of my dissertation to ask the custos for the floor.”
• The custos manages the requests for the floor and ensures that the candidate can respond to each remark and that the discussion stays relevant.
• The custos stands and ends the event by stating: "I now declare the examination concluded."

Leaving the Hall

• The event ends in the reverse order of entry: first the opponent, then the custos, and lastly the candidate.

Evaluation Criteria for the Doctoral Dissertation

1. Compliance with the principles and practices of research ethics:
   The research follows the principles and practices recognized by the scientific community: honesty, general diligence, and accuracy in conducting research, recording and presenting results, and in evaluating research and their results. (https://tenk.fi/en/research-integrity-ri)
2. Selection of the topic, definition of the research problem and research task, and formulation of the research questions:
   The topic is significant in terms of information value, and the research produces new knowledge in the field or opens up a new line of research. The research task and questions are appropriately defined. The research task is meaningfully related to previous research.
3. Conceptual clarity:
   The concepts used in the research are clear and justified. They have been critically and comprehensively analyzed and assessed using high-quality scholarly literature.
4. Selection and management of research methods:
   The research is methodologically justified. The researcher demonstrates knowledge of prior theoretical and methodological discussions. The methods used are presented and justified. The researcher demonstrates that the methods enable the research questions to be answered.
5. Data:
   The data used in the research is of high quality, relevant to the topic, and sufficient.
6. Knowledge of research literature:
   The doctoral researcher demonstrates command of previous scientific discussion on the research topic and can position their work within it.
7. Presentation and conclusions of the results, and their scientific novelty and significance:
   The research results are presented logically and comprehensively in relation to the research task, and their significance for the field is evaluated appropriately. The research assesses the societal and international significance of the results and presents key suggestions for further research.
8. Style and Formal Aspects:
   The language is clear. The style, presentation, and language are polished. The table of contents corresponds to the numbering and headings of main and subchapters as well as pagination. Citation practices for data and literature are consistent and uniform throughout the dissertation.
9. The work as a whole:
   The research has been done independently and demonstrates critical and original thinking in relation to previous research, research methods, and concepts. The work’s structure and argumentation are logical. The text focuses on essential points. In evaluating article-based dissertations, attention should be paid to whether the parts form a sufficiently unified and broad entity as defined for a dissertation. Repetition and overlap in articles closely related in topic due to the publication format should not be considered significant deficiencies in the assessment.

Grading Scale for Approved Doctoral Dissertations

Pass: The dissertation satisfactorily meets the evaluation criteria and adheres to research ethics practices.

Pass with Distinction: An exceptionally high-quality and meritorious dissertation may receive the grade “pass with distinction.” The research is ambitious in its topic and, considering the evaluation criteria, particularly meritorious and adheres to research ethics practices.