Transition instructions for already-admitted students

Curriculum Guide for Doctoral Studies 2012–2015

The following postgraduate degrees are offered at the School of Information Sciences (in accordance with Government Decree on University Degrees 794/2004):

• Doctor of Philosophy
• Licentiate of Philosophy (an optional intermediate step towards the doctoral degree)

Doctoral studies are pursued in one of the School's doctoral programmes. The doctoral programmes and major subjects available at the School of Information Sciences are:

• Doctoral programme in Information and Systems
  Majors: Mathematics, Statistics or Computer Science
• Doctoral programme in Information Studies and Interactive Media
  Major: Information Studies and Interactive Media
• Doctoral programme in Interactive Technology
  Major: Interactive Technology

According to the Decree, the objective of doctoral education is that the student

1. becomes well-versed in his/her own field of research and its social significance and gains knowledge and skills needed to apply scientific research methods independently and critically and to produce new scientific knowledge within his/her field of research;
2. becomes conversant with the development, basic problems and research methods of his/her own field of research; and
3. gains such knowledge of the general theory of science and of other disciplines relating to his/her own field of research as enables him/her to follow developments in them.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

1. Research-related Doctoral Studies, 40 ECTS credits

These studies consist of research methodology, studies deepening the student's knowledge of his/her major subject and research field, and other studies. These studies may include intermediate courses in the major subject or some other subject, a thesis and other advanced courses in a minor subject, and research-related studies which exceed the minimum requirements of a Master's degree. Credit can also be given for courses taken at Doctoral Schools or abroad and for articles and other publications, conference papers and other scientific activities. The types of study that fall into the category of research-related studies are described below.

a) Courses expanding on the Master's degree
The supervisor and the doctoral student will plan these courses on a case-by-case basis. They may entail studies in the main topics of the student's major subject as well as intermediate, advanced or doctoral studies in the major subject or other subjects as agreed with the supervisor. All courses must be relevant for the student's degree. Courses in university pedagogy may also be included.

b) Studies in the field of the dissertation
The doctoral student and his/her supervisor agree on these on a case-by-case basis.

c) Research seminar in major subject
The purpose of the research seminar is to train the student to conduct independent scientific research and write research reports. The doctoral student may fulfil the seminar's requirements in some other way than the seminar if the supervisor approves.

Each doctoral programme may provide more detailed instructions concerning the required extent, content and modes of these three categories of study.

2. Doctoral Dissertation, 180 ECTS credits

Separate instructions are provided on the doctoral dissertation.

LICENTIATE OF PHILOSOPHY

If a student wishes to earn a licentiate degree as an intermediate step towards the doctoral degree, he/she must complete the following:

Research-related Doctoral Studies, 40 ECTS credits

See above and

Licentiate Thesis, 90 ECTS credits

A dissertation manuscript with permission to publish from the School’s Management Board may be submitted as a licentiate thesis.
Separate instructions are given for the licentiate thesis.

Transition instructions for doctoral students who started their studies before 1 August 2012

Students taking doctoral studies at the School of Information Sciences are transferred to the new doctoral programmes as they enrol for the academic year 2012-2013. The transfer to a doctoral programme is made corresponding to the student's major subject.

In the Curriculum Guide for Doctoral Studies 2012-2015 the extent of research-related studies has been changed from 60 ECTS to 40 ECTS. An old doctoral student (i.e. one who has started studies before 1 August 2012) may update his/her detailed study plan with the supervisor following the new curriculum as the autumn term 2012 starts. The study plan is to be updated yearly as agreed with the supervisor and as the studies progress.