Eligibility for application for doctoral studies and general assessment criteria

General eligibility

Under the Finnish legislation (Universities Act 558/2009 37 §) those students can be accepted for studies leading to a doctoral degree, artistic or scientific, who have completed

1) a higher university degree in an appropriate field
2) a higher polytechnic (AMK) degree in an appropriate field; or
3) appropriate studies taken abroad which in the country in question would confer eligibility for equivalent studies

Also a student of whom the University deems to possess sufficient knowledge and skills for studies can be accepted.

Language Requirements for Doctoral Studies

Please consult the doctoral student admission web pages of respective School to see detailed language requirements.

General assessment criteria

Prospective doctoral candidates and their academic abilities will be assessed based on the following principles:

• The scientific quality of the research and study plan and their relevance to the academic field in question
• The Master's degree, prior studies taken, and the research topic’s appropriateness concerning the research subject to the doctoral programme
• The possibilities of completing the research plan in time-span stipulated
• Availability of expert supervision
• The applicant’s skills and knowledge, the grade of previous Master's thesis and the language proficiency necessary to complete the doctoral programme
• The level of promise and motivation the applicant demonstrates.

Interviews may be used as to aid selection. The applicants’ ability and suitability will be assessed. Assessments of individual doctoral students are not made public.

Yearly enrolment

Each student at the University of Tampere is required to enrol at the University annually in order to make use of his/her right to study. If a student does not enrol by the deadline given, he/she will lose his/her right to study (please see http://www.uta.fi/studies/registration.html#enrolment_requirement).