Doctoral Programme in Science, Forestry and Technology

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Licentiate of Philosophy (LicPhil) degree can be completed in the following major subjects:

• Biology
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Mathematics
• Forestry
• Applied Physics
• Technical Physics
• Computer Science
• Environmental Science

Doctor of Science (Agriculture and Forestry) (DSc (Agr & For)) or Licentiate of Science (Agriculture and Forestry) (LicSc (Agr & For)) degree can be completed in the following major subjects:

• Forestry

Doctor of Science (Technology) (DSc (Tech)) or Licentiate of Science (Technology) (LiSc (Tech)) degree can be completed in the following major subjects:

• Photonics
• Sustainable Technologies
• Technical Physics

Eligibility

According to the Universities Act (558/2009 Section 37), the applicant is eligible for education leading to an academic licentiate or doctoral degree if they have completed:

1. a relevant Master’s degree awarded by a university;
2. a relevant Master’s degree awarded by a university of applied sciences; or
3. a relevant applicable study programme abroad which in the awarding country gives eligibility for the corresponding level of higher education.

In the case of a degree completed abroad, eligibility is generally granted by a higher education degree completed in accordance with the principles of the Bologna Process (3+2 years). If the degree has been completed in a country that does not follow the Bologna Process, eligibility may also be granted by a higher education degree or a combination of degrees comprising at least four (4) years of studies and including a Master’s thesis or equivalent final project.

The Faculty shall assess the suitability of the applicant’s previous degree for education leading to an academic licentiate or doctoral degree.

Supplementary studies

The university may require a person admitted to for education leading to an academic licentiate or doctoral degree to complete supplementary studies in order to acquire the necessary skills required for the doctoral programme (Universities Act Section 37). Supplementary studies may be required from an applicant whose degree granting eligibility is in a field other than the major subject applied for, or when it is deemed appropriate for the implementation of the research plan. The content and scope of the supplementary studies (up to 30 ECTS) are defined in the admission decision. Supplementary studies are not included in the licentiate or doctoral degree.

Admission criteria

1. An applicant to the Doctoral Programme in Science, Forestry and Technology (LUMETO) must hold an applicable Finnish or foreign higher education degree. The applicant must also possess sufficient knowledge and methodological skills to complete an academic licentiate or doctoral degree in the chosen major subject.

In the LUMETO doctoral programme, it is possible to complete the following target degrees depending on the major subject: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Licentiate of Philosophy (LicPhil), Doctor of Science (Agriculture and Forestry) (DSc (Agr & For)), Licentiate of Science (Agriculture and Forestry) (LicSc (Agr & For)), Doctor of Science (Technology) (DSc (Tech)) and Licentiate of Science (Technology) (LiSc (Tech)).

The major subject and target degree of the doctoral programme, as well as the fields of previous higher education degrees applicable to the major subject:

• Biology (PhD, LicPhil): biology, environmental science, forestry, or other applicable field
• Photonics (DSc (Tech), LiSc (Tech)): physics, optics, photonics, engineering science, or other applicable field
• Physics (PhD, LicPhil): physics, applied physics, or other applicable field
• Chemistry (PhD, LicPhil): chemistry, chemical engineering, or other applicable field
• Sustainable Technologies (DSc (Tech), LiSc (Tech)): natural sciences, forestry, computer science, engineering, or other applicable field
• Mathematics (PhD, LicPhil): mathematics, applied mathematics, or other applicable field
• Forestry (PhD, LicPhil, DSc (Agr & For), LiSc (Agr & For)): forestry, or other applicable field
• Applied Physics (PhD, LicPhil): physics, mathematics, computer science, engineering, chemistry, or other applicable field
• Technical Physics (PhD, LicPhil, DSc (Tech), LiSc (Tech)): physics, mathematics, computer science, engineering, chemistry, or other applicable field
• Computer Science (PhD, LicPhil): computer science, technical sciences, mathematics, applied mathematics, or a degree suitable for doctoral studies in educational technology, statistics, or other applicable field
• Environmental Science (PhD, LicPhil): environmental science, biology, biosciences, physics, chemistry, or other applicable field

2. The applicant must have at least two supervisors for their doctoral dissertation or licentiate thesis, one of whom is the main supervisor and at least one of whom is a member of the UEF staff. All supervisors must hold a doctoral degree, in addition, the main supervisor must hold the title of docent or equivalent scientific qualification. If the main supervisor is not a member of the UEF staff, the UEF supervisor must also hold the title of docent or equivalent scientific qualification. If a person other than a member of the staff at the Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology is proposed as the main supervisor, their up-to-date list of publications must be attached to the study right application.

The applicant must attach a written consent from the supervisors to their application. This consent is given by filling in and signing the Webropol form used in the LUMETO doctoral programme. By signing the form, the supervisor undertakes to supervise the applicant if the applicant is granted the doctoral study right.

3. The applicant must submit a research plan either in Finnish or English, including a schedule and funding plan for the project. The LUMETO doctoral programme recommends that the research plan be written in English. The research plan shall be prepared in collaboration with the supervisors, furthermore, the plan must be approved by all supervisors and signed by the main supervisor. The research topic must be related to one of the fields represented in the LUMETO doctoral programme, and the structure of the research plan must follow the programme’s research plan guidelines. As a rule, the research plan template provided by the LUMETO doctoral programme should be used. The aim is that full-time doctoral researchers complete the required studies primarily during the first two years and submit their dissertations for preliminary examination within three years of receiving the doctoral study right at University of Eastern Finland. The target time to complete a doctoral degree while working full-time is 3–4 years.

4. The applicant must demonstrate sufficient academic language proficiency in either Finnish or English. Language proficiency must be demonstrated at the time of applying for the doctoral study right. A previous higher education degree completed in Finnish at a Finnish university or university of applied sciences is considered proof of sufficient proficiency in Finnish. Instructions for demonstrating academic English language proficiency are provided below. The applicant may demonstrate their language proficiency in either language, regardless of the language in which the doctoral dissertation or licentiate thesis will be written.

To prove their English language skills when applying, the applicant must either (a) meet the language proficiency criteria (see below), (b) reach the minimum required language test results, or c) have sufficient English language skills proven in an interview with the main supervisor or UEF supervisor to be considered eligible to the University of Eastern Finland. No exceptions will be made and no waivers regarding the language proficiency requirements are given.

a) Applicants who meet the language proficiency criteria

• English test completed in the Finnish matriculation examination (IB Diploma or English as A1 language).
• Secondary education completed in English language in EU/EEA countries, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand or in Switzerland.  
• A Bachelor’s, Master’s or higher degree completed in English language in EU/EEA countries, or in one of the following countries: Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Canada, Dominica, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Hong Kong, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Philippines, Ruanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South-Africa, Switzerland, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, the United Kingdom, the United States, Zambia, Zimbabwe. / The degree/programme must be taught and assessed entirely in English. If the applicant verifies language skills with the education degree, the language of instruction must be clearly indicated on the educational documents. Online studies or studies completed on offshore campuses outside the accepted countries/area cannot be used to indicate language skills, even if the degree-awarding institution is in one of the accepted countries. Applicable degree certificate, Diploma Supplement, and the transcript of the academic record must be attached to the application.

b) Applicants who have taken one of the following language tests and reach the minimum required language test results

• TOEFL iBT, overall score 92, minimum 22 in writing  
• IELTS (academic) overall score 6.5, minimum 6.0 in writing
• PTE (academic), overall score 62, minimum 54 in writing
• C1 Advanced overall score C or 180, with minimum 162 in writing  
• C2 Proficiency overall score level C1 or 180, with minimum 162 in writing
• National Certificate of Language Proficiency (YKI): level 5 in all different subtests (reading comprehension, writing, and speaking). It is possible to combine different examinations.

TOEFL, IELTS and PTE certificates are valid for two years from the day they are issued. The language test results have to be valid when submitting the application during the application period. The language test results must be verifiable from the online verification service of the organizer.  

c) Sufficient English language skills proven in an interview with the main supervisor or UEF supervisor, if the main supervisor is not employed by the University of Eastern Finland

• The main supervisor or UEF supervisor must confirm sufficient English language proficiency by a signed document, which must be attached to the application.

Limiting the study right

A person may hold only one valid doctoral study right at the University of Eastern Finland leading to a scientific or professional postgraduate degree of the same level at a time. A new doctoral study right shall not be granted for a degree or training of the same field of education or a corresponding field if the applicant has already completed such a degree within the national higher education system, unless otherwise specified in the Faculty’s admission criteria. 
 

Before applying

Applicants must carefully review the admission criteria of the LUMETO doctoral programme and ensure that they meet the eligibility requirements. The admission criteria apply to all applicants. It is also recommended that applicants familiarise themselves with the disciplines included in the doctoral programme, which are presented on the website of the LUMETO doctoral programme. This may help applicants identify potential supervisors with whom they can discuss the opportunities for writing a doctoral dissertation or licentiate thesis. The applicant must prepare all required attachments (described below) carefully and well in advance before filling in the online application in Studyinfo. 

Processing of applications and requests for additional information

The processing of study right applications is based on eligibility under the Universities Act (558/2009, Section 37) and the admission criteria of the LUMETO doctoral programme. If necessary, the doctoral programme may request supplementary documents for the application. All documents requested must be submitted no later than fourteen (14) days after the request has been communicated via Studyinfo. If the applicant fails to submit the required documents, the application will be rejected. Applications are processed by the doctoral programme after the deadline for submitting supplementary documents has passed.

Admission decision

The Dean of the Faculty makes a decision on granting the doctoral study right based on a proposal by the Director of the doctoral programme. When granting the doctoral study right, the Dean confirms the topic of the doctoral dissertation or licentiate thesis, the major subject, the target degree, as well as appoints the supervisors. The decision may also include any required supplementary studies. The doctoral study right becomes effective on the date the study right is granted. The admission result is published in the My Studyinfo -service, and the study place must be accepted within seven (7) days of the publication of the results. Applicants will also receive the decision on their study place by email. An applicant may accept only one study place leading to a higher education degree in programmes starting in the same academic semester. Accepting a study place is binding and cannot be cancelled or changed later. In addition to accepting the study place, the applicant must also register as present at the University of Eastern Finland in accordance with the instructions provided by the Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology.  

Applicants will also be informed of a negative decision and its justifications. An applicant who is dissatisfied with the negative admission decision may submit a written request for rectification to the Dean who made the decision within fourteen (14) days of the publication of the admission results following the instructions for appeal provided by the Faculty.

After being granted the doctoral study right

Within three (3) months after receiving the doctoral study right, the person who has accepted the study place must prepare a personal study plan for doctoral studies in collaboration with their main supervisor of the doctoral dissertation or licentiate thesis. If the main supervisor is not employed by the University of Eastern Finland, the UEF supervisor will be responsible for the study plan and matters related to doctoral studies. If there are several UEF supervisors, it must be agreed which of them is responsible. The personal study plan must follow the study requirements of the doctoral programme. In addition, the person who has accepted the study place must prepare a supervision plan together with their supervisors. 

 

The application must include the following attachments:

• Copy of the Master’s degree certificate and transcript of academic record. If the applicant wishes to demonstrate eligibility with more than one degree, certificates and transcripts for all relevant degrees must be included.
• An engagement to act as a supervisor signed by the supervisors.
• A research plan in Finnish or English signed by the main supervisor (including a schedule and a funding plan).
• A certificate or statement demonstrating academic language proficiency in Finnish or English.
• If applicable, the necessary permits and statements required for the research, such as an animal test permit or a statement from the research ethics committee.
• If applicable, the main supervisor’s list of publications, in cases where the proposed main supervisor is not a member of the Faculty of Science, Forestry and Techology.

Official translations

If the degree certificate and the transcript of records are issued in a language other than English, Finnish or Swedish, an official translation into one of these languages is required. A translation is considered official if it is done by the higher education institution that awarded the degree, or by an authorised translator. Translations by an authorised translator must bear the translator’s original stamp and signature. Translations made by the applicants themselves are not accepted. In addition to the translations, the applicant must also submit copies of the original documents in the original language; translations alone are not sufficient.

Provisional degree certificate

A provisional degree certificate may be accepted at the application stage. A provisional degree certificate is a document issued by a higher education institution to a student who has graduated and has been awarded a degree. A provisional degree certificate serves as a substitute for the official degree certificate in cases where, for technical or administrative reasons, the official certificate cannot be issued immediately after the completion of studies. The provisional degree certificate must include the following information:

• the name of the awarding higher education institution
• the date the degree was awarded
• the name of the degree holder
• the awarded degree (e.g. Master of Science)

The certificate must explicitly state that the degree has been awarded. A document that merely states that the student has completed all required courses or that the degree will be awarded in the future is not sufficient.
 

Doctoral study right at University of Eastern Finland does not automatically include funding for the completion of a doctoral dissertation or licentiate thesis. The applicant must discuss the funding opportunities with their prospective supervisors already when planning the doctoral dissertation or licentiate thesis, as the research plan must also include a funding plan. There are various funding options available, such as doctoral researcher positions funded by the university’s strategic research funding, doctoral researcher and project researcher positions funded by competitive research project funding, grants applied for from foundations, and combining studies and other paid work. 

More information on funding opportunities is available in Kamu. Open calls for salaried doctoral researcher positions at the University of Eastern Finland can be found on the university’s website.