Past, Space and Environment in Society Doctoral Programme explores the past, space as a concept of geography and the environment as a social phenomenon. The disciplines represented in the programme are history, geography and environmental policy. We conduct research into the use of natural resources, local relations to the environment, welfare and the encounters of cultures in border areas, fringe regions and peripheries, and their social, geographical and historical development dynamics.
The purpose of the programme is to encourage researchers to cross the boundaries between disciplines on the level of theory formulation, methodology and the themes to be studied. Past, Space and Environment in Society Doctoral Programme is organised by the Department of Geographical and Historical Studies. Our programme is bilingual; courses are either in English or in Finnish.
Research in Doctoral Programme
Research in the Department of Geographical and Historical Studies is focussed on the mutual impacts of space, time and the environment. We conduct research into a variety of topics, including: the use of natural resources, climate and environmental change and the various ways of the human-environment relationship, the well-being of border and peripheral regions and the encounter of cultures, and their social, geographical and historical dynamics of change. Our research is characterized by a strong interdisciplinary approach.
Among the department's subjects, geography has been ranked among the top 200 in the world in the QS World Rankings published in 2012-2015. You can learn more about our research fields and research projects on the website of the Department of History and Geography.
Focus areas in research
The research of changing physical and non-physical boundaries and areas perceived as peripheral perspectives in the current and historical perspective is a major area of research and a growing global interest. In research on borders and peripheral areas, we focus on governance systems, identities, and cross-border interactions.
Our research is based on the interconnections and resilience of human communities and natural processes in research fields such as mining industry, forestry, land-use, human-animal relations, climate change and renewable energy.
The historical and contemporary search for a sound society is at the centre of this research line. We question how well-being services health care, education and leisure time have been, are and should be organised in a society, critically examining the ever-increasing competition and benchmarking in this regard and encouraging the study of and comparisons with practices elsewhere and in different time periods.
How to apply?
A student admitted to the doctoral programme is expected to obtain the following degree according to their major subject:
- Finnish History, Doctor of Philosophy
- General History, Doctor of Philosophy
- Geography, Doctor of Philosophy
- Human Geography, Doctor of Social Sciences/ Doctor of Philosophy
- Environmental Policy, Doctor of Social Sciences/ Doctor of Philosophy
A candidate also may decide in agreement with their supervisor to complete the intermediate-stage Licentiate degree (Licentiate of Philosophy, Licentiate of Social Sciences). The Licentiate degree is voluntary and not an obligatory part of the doctoral degree studies.
As a human geography and environmental policy major student, you can also complete a doctorate in philosophy. You can choose the degree to be completed either during the application phase or during your studies, however, at the latest before submitting your dissertation research for pre-examination.
Scientific doctoral education leads to a doctoral degree. You can also complete a licentiate degree.
Eligibility
According to the Universities Act of Finland (558/2009, Chapter 5, Section 37), eligible for studies leading to a doctoral degree shall be
- a person who has completed an applicable higher university or polytechnic degree
- a person who has completed an applicable education abroad which in the awarding country gives eligibility for corresponding higher education
- a person whom the university judges otherwise to have sufficient knowledge and skills for the studies.
There is no term fee for doctoral education in the University of Eastern Finland.
If you are applying for a doctoral study right in a field of research which has not been the main field of you Master's degree, the faculty may require you to complete supplementary studies to ensure that you are qualified to take part in doctoral studies. Possible supplementary studies are specified when the right to doctoral studies is granted and cannot be included in the doctoral degree.
Admission criteria
In terms of proposed dissertation topics, the preference is for applications that concern the core areas of research defined in the research focus of the department. However, applications related to other areas of research may also be approved if a competent supervisor can be appointed from existing staff for the research work. The main supervisor must be a professor or adjunct professor (docent) of the Department of Geographical and Historical Studies.
Eligibility for further education is generally based on a grade of cum laude approbatur for a master's degree or a similar qualification for further study, a grade of 3/5 on a numerical evaluation or a grade corresponding to a good reputation statement. The requirement can be deviated from based on the evaluation of the management team of the doctoral program, referring to the applicant's research plan. If necessary, the management team can request a separate confidential written evaluation of the applicant and the research plan from the person appointed as the supervisor. Exceptions may be made in instances whereby the applicant’s research plan is evaluated as exceptionally promising by a proposed supervisor and the Board of the Doctoral Programme.
The Board of the Doctoral Programme processes the applications after each application deadline.
Criteria for assessing the applications include:
- Quality of the research plan: innovativeness of the research topic, feasibility of the research plan and personal study plan, clarity and implementation methods of the research plan.
- Scientific and practical relevance of the research topic.
- Previous results from the Master’s or equivalent studies.
- International orientation and language skills required in the studies.
- Statement of support from the professor or adjunct professor who has been proposed as the applicant’s main supervisor (if not agreed upon in advance).
Eligible applicants for doctoral studies must have sufficient English skills in order to complete the doctoral studies. The applicant can verify her/his English skills with an attachment to the application. These attachments must include a degree diploma, transcript of studies and a Diploma Supplement if the applicant has:
- English as foreign language included in at least a Bachelor-level degree conducted in a Nordic country (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) or in an EU/EEA country.
- At least 20 ECTS university-level studies in the subject of English Studies completed in a Nordic or in an EU/EEA country
- Master's thesis written in English when Master's degree is completed in a Nordic country or in an EU/EEA country.
- Bachelor's or Master's degree completed in English language in a Nordic country or in an EU/EEA country or Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States.
- Doctoral Degree completed in a Nordic country or in an EU/EEA country or Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States.
- Secondary education and final examination completed in English (for example International Baccalaureate) in a Nordic country or in an EU/EEA country or Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States.
In other case, the applicant is to prove her/his language skills in English with an English language test:
- TOEFL paper-based: Total score 600 and Writing 4.0
- TOEFL Internet-based: Total Score 100 and Writing 22
- IELTS (Academic) on paper, on computer or online: Overall Score 6.5 and Writing 5.5
- PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English), min. 59 points
- C1 Advanced (CAE), pass levels A, B or C / C2 Proficiency (CPE), pass levels A, B, C or level C1 Certificate
- National Certificate of Language Proficiency (YKI). Skills level 5 or 6 in the reading comprehension, writing and speaking subtests.
Please note that a statement written by the applicant, prospective supervisor, English teacher, etc., is not an adequate proof of the applicant's sufficient English skills
For more information on the tests, please contact the language testing organizations.
The maximum number of the students in the doctoral programme or annual intake of students is not restricted.
When applying for doctoral degree studies, a research plan must be enclosed with the application. The student prepares the plan with his/her supervisors, and it must be approved by them. The research plan must cover the entire licentiate thesis or doctoral dissertation. If the research topic and materials change substantially, a new plan must be made. If the changes are significant, approval must be sought from the faculty. The research plan is usually drafted in Finnish or English. Maximum length for the research plan is six (6) pages and reference list.
The research plan must include the following information:
1. Title of the research and the name and contact information of the postgraduate student
2. Background
- A short summary of the background to the research with necessary sources (including the theoretical and methodological basis)
- A description of earlier research related to the topic
- A description of what remains unknown about the research topic and an explanation of the research’s relevance on a national and/or international scale
3. Aims
- The research hypotheses
- The aims of the research clearly defined and presented
4. Data and methods
- Description of the research methods and materials used, and the grounds for choosing the particular methods
- A description of how the materials will be handled and used (also after the research has been completed)
5. A description and a schedule for the different stages of the work
- A working plan, a plan for different stages of the work
- The funding plan and funding sources of the research
6. The ethical aspects of the research
- Whether the research requires statements from ethics committees or statutory research permits; possible permits should be attached to the research plan
7. Publication plan
- The means and mode of publishing and/or presenting the research results
8. An estimation of the applications and the social significance of the research results
9. References
- A list of the research field’s principal literature used for the research
10. The names of the persons and units participating in the research project
Visiting doctoral students who already has the right to study at a foreign university, can apply for a temporary study right from UEF. The study right can be admitted to visiting foreign doctoral students, who already have a permission for doctoral studies in their home university. The study right of a visiting doctoral student does not allow a student to complete doctoral degree at UEF, but can participate in teaching and complete studies (e.g. get rights to the study information system Peppi). There are no fees associated with the right to study.
If a change of major or doctoral programme requires a change of faculty, the student must make a new application for doctoral study rights in accordance with the application instructions and deadlines for the doctoral programme in question.
If a doctoral studen wishes to change his/her major within a doctoral programme or degree, he/she may apply for a change in his/her study right on a separate form. Where necessary, a new research plan, commitments of supervisors and certificates of previous studies must be attached to the application. It will be ascertained in conjunction with processing the application whether the applicant meets the selection criteria for the discipline in question. 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. In this case, it is not necessary to adhere to the doctoral programme application deadlines.
If a student wishes to change his/her doctoral programme without changing faculty or major, the recommendation of the main supervisor is sufficient.
Applicants must discuss their doctoral degree studies and the supervision of their doctoral dissertation with their prospective supervisor PRIOR to applying for the right to pursue studies. Only after having received the consent from the supervisor, the applicant can submit the application. For each doctoral candidate at least two supervisors are appointed. One of the supervisors must be a professor or docent at the University of Eastern Finland. Alternatively, a person who has equivalent scientific competence to a professor or a docent and is a member of the staff at the faculty can be appointed as a supervisor. Remember to contact your supervisors long before the application process.
Persons in the department able to work as main supervisors
History:
- Pieter Dhondt, Docent, university lecturer
- Kimmo Katajala, Professor
- Jukka Korpela, Professor
- Arto Nevala, Docent, senior university lecturer
- Kati Parppei, Docent, university lecturer
- Tuomas Räsänen, Associate professor
- Pasi Tuunainen, Docent, university lecturer
Geography:
- Moritz Albrecht, Docent, University researcher
- Alfred Colpaert, Professor
- Paul Fryer, Docent, university lecturer
- Jarmo Kortelainen, Professor
- Timo Kumpula, Professor
- Ari Lehtinen, Professor
- Ilkka Pyy, Docent, university lecturer
- Minna Tanskanen, Vice dean, senior university lecturer
Environmental policy:
- Simo Häyrynen, Docent, university lecturer
- Juha Kotilainen, Docent, university lecturer
- Tuija Mononen, Docent, university researcher
- Irmeli Mustalahti, Professor
- Taru Peltola, Assistant professor
- Lasse Peltonen, Professor
- Rauno Sairinen, Professor
Karelian Institute:
- Ismo Björn, Senior researcher
- Petri Kahila, Research Director
- Jussi Laine, Professor
- Maria Lähteenmäki, Professor
- Teemu Makkonen, Professor
- Maarit Sireni, Senior researcher
Roles and responsibilities of a doctoral student and supervisor (shared with the Philosophical Faculty/Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies)
At least two supervisors are appointed for a doctoral student. For a justifiable reason a supervisor can be changed or additional supervisors can be appointed. Examples of justified reasons are that the theme of the research project has been changed or readjusted or that the research project is not making satisfactory progress. The proposal for replacing a supervisor may be made by the student or by the supervisor.
Replacement of a supervisor is agreed on between the parties, and the final decision is made by the Dean.
Doctoral student’s roles and responsibilities
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register each year as being present or absent,
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ensure that his/her research plan is updated and to commit to undertaking research
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prepare a doctoral study plan on the basis of the research topic, the scientific objectives of the degree and his/her personal aims, e.g. career goals, and ensure that it is updated when necessary
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submit to the supervisor, without undue delay, documentation concerning study attainments based on scientific activities
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familiarise himself/herself with good scientific practice and research ethics principles (UEF's Ethical Guidelines for Teaching and Studying; Responsible Conducting of Research, TENK), and comply with these principles in carrying out studies and conducting research for the thesis
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utilise guidance and take into account feedback received from the supervisor
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participate during his/her studies in the activities of the scientific community and in scientific discussion and postgraduate education
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bear responsibility for obtaining financing (e.g. foundations, funding by a company and other supplementary financing, UEF doctoral school) and request, where necessary, a statement by the supervisor in good time, before the deadline for applications
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submit the manuscript of the doctoral dissertation for scrutiny by the plagiarism detection system prior to pre-review, apply for permission to defend her/his doctoral dissertation, , publish the doctoral dissertation and apply for the degree certificate
Supervisor’s roles and responsibilities
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supervise the student’s doctoral research and assist him/her in structuring the various stages of the research work
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provide guidance in preparing a personal plan for doctoral studies in such a way that the plan meets the objectives of the degree, the personal aims of the student and the doctoral programme’s curriculum
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submit, without undue delay, the student’s study attainments for registration
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familiarise the doctoral student with the ethical issues of conducting research, good scientific practice and the principles of managing research data
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commit to supervision: address the elements and principles of the doctoral research, provide the student with feedback and monitor and support the progress of the student’s doctoral studies
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facilitate the doctoral student’s integration in the national and international scientific community and encourage him/her to create a peer support network
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support the doctoral student in applying for funding, and write recommendations and statements in accordance with the possibilities, ensure that the research fills the context- and form-based criteria required of the thesis in question before it is submitted for review or pre-review
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go through and evaluate the comparative results provided by the plagiarism detection system on the manuscript of the doctoral dissertation
The right to pursue doctoral studies does not include funding or a contract of employment or teaching tasks at the University. However, full-time doctoral students need funding to cover their costs of living and potential research costs (travel costs, research material etc.). Funding options should be discussed with the supervisor already when planning to apply for a doctoral study right and creating a research plan.
Doctoral studies can be funded for example by a scholarship, by working as a researcher in a research project, by working as a doctoral candidate at the University of Eastern Finland (doctoral student position), or by studying part-time while at work. Doctoral students apply for funding themselves.
Read more about funding options of doctoral studies on Kamu Student handbook.
Application period
In the academic year 2024-2025, you can apply to the doctoral programme in continuous application period starting 1.8.2024. The application form for the Doctoral Programme on Studyinfo.fi is open during the spring semester from the beginning of January until the last weekday of May, and during the autumn semester from the beginning of August until the last weekday of November. Always check the exact application deadlines from Studyinfo.fi. Prepare the attachments required for the application carefully before submitting the application. Applications are processed as needed during the semester, and the granted study right begins in the same semester.
What is Studyinfo.fi?
Studyinfo.fi is the official national admissions portal with all the up-to-date information about study programmes leading to a degree in Finland.
Completing the degree
Thesis
The main part of the postgraduate studies is the thesis, licentiate thesis or doctoral dissertation. The licentiate thesis is voluntary and not an obligatory part of the doctoral degree studies.
Requirements for the doctoral dissertation:
One of the following can be accepted as a doctoral dissertation
- a separate piece of research (monograph)
- at least three articles dealing with a same set of problems published or accepted for publication in scientific journals applying referee procedure. At least one of the articles has to be published and two accepted for publication. Rest of the articles may be manuscripts to be published. In case the articles are joint publications, a doctoral student must be the correspondent writer at least in two of them. An article electronically pre-published by a scientific series is regarded as published.
In addition to the articles or essays the dissertation must include introduction and summary which compiles the contents of the articles. They may be placed in the beginning of the dissertation, or the introduction may be placed in the beginning and the summary in the end of the dissertation.
If the articles are joint publications a doctoral candidate must present a written account of his/hers own contribution in those publications when requesting public defense. A joint publication may be included in two different dissertations maximum.
There is a separate instruction on publishing the dissertation.
All dissertations should be checked for plagiarism. The faculty’s instructions for the process is found here.
The Procedure concerning the evaluation of doctoral dissertations
The doctoral candidate applies for permission to defend his/hers doctoral dissertation in public by filling a form and issues it and the dissertation manuscript in pdf-format to the address: jatko-opinnaytteet.yhka@uef.fi.
Faculty's instructions for defending dissertation
Please make sure, that your dissertation has checked for plagiarism before leaving it to the Faculty.
The main supervisor and the head of the department propose two pre-examiners for the review of the dissertation who are appointed by the Dean. Ms. Venäläläinen delivers the thesis to the pre-examiners who should give their statements within two months of the appointment.
After the statements have come the doctoral candidate is reserved an opportunity to reply to them and he/she should inform whether he/she accepts the statements or wants to interrupt the procedure. If the candidate accepts the statements the Dean awards the permission to public defense.
The opponent should give his/hers statement within two weeks of the public defense. Also in this stage the doctoral candidate is reserved an opportunity to reply to the statement. The faculty council evaluates the dissertation on the basis of the statement(s) by the opponent(s).
Publishing the dissertation
After the Faculty Council has given the doctoral candidate permission to defend the dissertation in a public examination, the dissertation can be published. Dissertations can be published in the series of "Publications of the University of Eastern Finland. Dissertations in Social Sciences and Business Studies" or in other series (for example commercial publisher). Please contact the editor of the series in this point at the latest. The dissertation must be published at least 10 days before the public examination. The dissertation is published both in printed and electronic version.
You can enter your dissertation in the series by filling out a publishing agreement (same agreement for both printed and e-version). Please send agreement form in two pieces and possible permissions for reprinting to the editor of the faculty's dissertation series, who will apply the isbn-numbers for your book. Please notice that that the date of public examination should be agreed before applying the isbn-numbers. Also the title of the book should be final at this point.
Please reserve enough time for finalizing your thesis! The recommended time between faculty council's permission for public examination and public examination date is at least 2 months.
Ask further advice from the editor at any time of the process.
Permissions for re-printing
In the case of an article based thesis containing published articles, articles in or accepted to press or is based on published articles, the candidate is responsible for aquiring the reprinting permissions from the original publisher. In the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies all articles are published as a part of the dissertation, if they haven't got any legal obstacles. So please, ask permission to both printed and e-version at the same time. The model for the request is found from library's websites.
The same principles are followed with essay-based dissertations.
Printing
In the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies the candidate must handle the printing process with the printing office. The candidate can choose the printing house independently, the competetive tendering is recommended. The candidate can apply support from the faculty afterwards towards the receipts. The application should be made within 2 months after the public examination date. The maximum support from the faculty is 1500 euros. Further information about delivery and printing process in whole are found from the Faculty's instructions (above). Before the dissertation can be printed, the layout/proof must be approved by the editor and the candidate. The editor should see also the last version of the layout, but it is recommended that it has been sent to the editor for check up also before sending it to the printing house.
Distribution
We have a tradition in the Faculty, that all candidates will give their dissertation personnally (if possible) to the Rector of their Campus and to the Dean of the Faculty. Please reserve time for visit from Rector's and Dean's secretaries.
Graduation
Degree certificates
After the student has completed all the required studies for the degree (study modules and theses), he/she may apply for the degree certificate. Please, fill in the electronic application form in e-services (requires UEF-login).
With the degree certificate the student also receives Diploma Supplement and transcript of academic records. Delivery time for the certificate is three (3) weeks from the point when the last study performance has been registered or from the date the application has been returned. NB! In rush hour, e.g. at the end of the autumn and spring terms, the delivery time may be longer.
Please, note that you are entitled to use the title of a doctor after you have been awarded the doctor’s degree.
Transcript of academic records
Transcript of academic records is an official document issued by the university. The transcript includes information on e.g. completed and recognised study modules, completed study blocks as well as grades given.
Information for the doctoral candidate
Read more information for graduating students here
The degree includes licentiate and/or doctoral dissertation research as well as 50 ECTS credits (30 ECTS credits from 1.8.2024 onwards) of studies supporting research and professional qualifications. These studies comprise subject specific studies and transferable skills studies. Information on the studies required for the degree and the teaching offered can be found in the Peppi system's study guide.
The structure of the postgraduate degree and course descriptions are available in Peppi guide.
Subject Specific Studies
The required volume of subject specific studies is from 1.8.2024 onwards 20–25 ECTS. These studies consist of several modules.
You can include in your studies further education and research seminars, courses and other study courses organized by doctoral programs, as well as teaching offered by the doctoral school as prescribed in the curricula. You can use the studies of graduate schools and national networks to the extent that participation in them is not restricted.
It is recommended that courses supporting the student’s research project are chosen from the courses provided by the University of Eastern Finland’s Doctoral School and other courses provided by the university and approved by the supervisor or from the studies provided by national doctoral training networks. We recommend for example courses in qualitative and quantitative research methods organized by Philosophical Faculty and Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies.
Studies completed at other universities can be included in the licentiate and doctoral degrees, if they are suitable for the goals of the doctoral program and they have been approved in the student's personal postgraduate study plan. Studies can be included to the extent that the degree structure allows.
Courses can be replaced, if the completed course corresponds in terms of goals and content to the course of the doctoral program.
If you have previously completed a licentiate degree in the discipline you studied or a related science or a doctorate in a related science, studies supporting research work and professional qualifications are generally not required. If necessary, it may be required to complete supplementary studies in accordance with the curriculum of the doctoral program.
Transferable Skills Studies
The UEF Doctoral School organises transferable skills courses which are common to all doctoral students at UEF.
The aim of transferable skills courses is that the postgraduate student
- familiarises him/herself with the theory and philosophy of science and research ethics and assumes a good scientific practice
- is able to plan a scientific research project, including problematization, methods, resources and scheduling
- acquires good communication skills: general and scientific oral and writing skills and popularization of science.
- learns management and teamwork skills
- can give education and is able to work in various expert tasks.
The transferable skills studies can be found in the doctoral school's study guide Peppi. The scope of general preparedness studies is from 1.8.2024 onwards 5–10 credits. We recommend completing the general preparatory skills studies during the first and second postgraduate study years. The research ethics course and orientation to doctoral studies is a mandatory course in the degree structure of our doctoral program.
You can include teaching tasks in the general preparedness studies by teaching university-level courses in the disciplines represented by the doctoral program. The scope of the performance is assessed by the principal supervisor or the director of the doctoral program on a case-by-case basis.
We recommend including scientific writing and grammar courses in your studies. In addition to the studies organized by our university's doctoral school, you can complete other studies suitable for general preparatory skills studies.
Subject Specific Studies
We recommend to complete the general transferable skills studies during the first and second year of doctoral studies. A course in research ethics must be included in the studies. We recommend that studies should also include courses in scientific writing and languages.
A maximum of 5 ECTS of this module may be completed by teaching university-level courses in the student’s discipline. The number of ECTS awarded for this activity is assessed by the main supervisor or the head of the doctoral programme on a case-by-case basis.
Guidance
Orientation for postgraduate students
Orientation for doctoral studies
Informing
Past, Space and Environment in the Society doctoral programme inform current activities and issues in Yammer. Go to the Kamu main page and click the Viva Engage link, sign in with your UEF account. On the left corner there is a “search” box , write PSES and click the group. To join a group, just click on the Join button. We recommend also to follow Yammer group Doctoral education.
Please contact your own supervisor or officer at the faculty.
You can find information for different phases in the doctoral education on Kamu Student handbook:
- Doctoral education at the University of Eastern Finland
- Starting doctoral education
- Doctoral curriculum and study requirements
- Internationalisation in doctoral education
- Guidance and support in doctoral education
- Support for doctoral research
- Funding of doctoral education
- Wellbeing of doctoral researcher
- Permission for public examination and pre-examination of doctoral dissertation
- Publishing of doctoral dissertation
News and events
Dissertation press releases
Upcoming examinations of doctoral dissertations
If you have questions, please contact our applicant guidance services: info-yhkaphd@uef.fi.