The Doctoral Programme in Psychology and Logopaedics

The aim of the degree  |  The structure of the degree  |  Practices in Supervision/Agreement on Supervision

Professor in charge: Jari Hietanen

The Aim of the Degree

A person who earns a doctoral degree in Psychology at the University of Tampere has a profound understanding of psychology as a discipline and of its development, basic problems, research methods and social significance. A graduate of the programme can independently and critically apply scientific research methods and discover new psychological knowledge. Not only is a holder of this doctoral degree thoroughly familiar with the general and psychological theory of science; he or she is able to find new areas of application as well. A doctoral degree also provides the skills to supervise students and lead research groups.

A person who holds a PhD in Logopaedics has a profound understanding of logopaedics as a discipline and can conduct research independently, producing information on the interaction and communication between people in Finland – especially the impairment of communication, the prevention of such impairment and the effects of rehabilitation. A person with this doctoral degree is well versed in the general and logopaedical theory of science and is able to create new applications. Research in logopaedics at the University of Tampere is currently focused on impairments in speech, language, voice and swallowing in the adult population. The information produced by the basic research conducted is applied in improving the rehabilitation process.

Number of students: There are currently 46 doctoral students. Five new students are accepted into the programme every year.

Degrees: The goal is to award two or three doctoral degrees a year.

Resources. There are 4,5 tasks of Professors in the discipline of Psychology, and four Docents it can draw upon, all of whom participate in the postgraduate degree programme. In Logopaedics, there is one Professor and one Docent participating in the postgraduate programme, but in both disciplines the other researchers with a doctoral degree can also contribute. The discipline of Psychology collaborates closely with the National Doctoral Programme of Psychology and with the Nordic-Baltic Doctoral Network in Psychology. The discipline of Logopaedics collaborates closely with the Logonet network and the Langnet national doctoral programme in linguistics.

The structure of the studies 

Studies in the doctoral programme in Psychology and Logopaedics consist of three modules:

1. Joint doctoral studies 20 – 30 ECTS
2. Broad and profound knowledge of the student’s own discipline and research subject 30-40 ECTS
3. Dissertation 180 ECTS

 1. Joint doctoral studies 20 – 30 ECTS

Joint doctoral studies consist of a) general postgraduate studies offered by University of Tampere Doctoral School and b) attendance at the joint postgraduate seminar of the School. The students are required to take the courses entitled ‘Research Ethics’ (5 ECTS) and ‘Philosophy of Science’ (5 ECTS).

2. Broad and profound knowledge of the student’s own discipline and research subject 30-40 ECTS

Broad and profound knowledge of the student’s own discipline and research subject is attained by

a) attending courses in various disciplines offered by the School (or the other Schools)
b) studying advanced literature within the student’s own discipline
c) participating in national or international postgraduate education of the student’s own discipline
d) publishing and participating in conferences
e) participating regularly in the postgraduate seminar or in a research group
f) participating in teaching and working life

The student’s personal study plan is drawn up and updated regularly in collaboration with his or her main supervisor. 

3. Dissertation 180 ECTS 

The Board of the School decides on whether to grant permission to hold a public defence of a student’s dissertation based on statements given by the examiners and an assessment of the dissertation based on the recommendation given by the Evaluation Board. 

Supervision Practices and Supervision Agreement

Each doctoral student has two to three supervisors, at least one of whom is a Professor of the discipline. The other supervisors may be Docents or people with corresponding qualifications.