Call for Applications for Doctoral Researcher Positions at the University of Turku Graduate School, KEVEKO and OPPI Doctoral Programmes (Autumn 2024)

During the application period 28 August – 13 September 2024 (4 pm local time in Finland), you can apply for:

a) The right to study for a doctoral degree in the Faculty of Education of the University of Turku from 1 January 2025 onwards

b) A fixed-term doctoral researcher position with an employment contract

The position of a doctoral researcher is set to begin on 1 January 2025 at the earliest and for the duration of a maximum of four years (up to until 31 December 2028). The positions are intended for full-time doctoral dissertation research. Duties other than those related to doctoral dissertation research, such as teaching duties, must be proportioned so as not to compromise the completion of the doctoral dissertation within the planned schedule. As a rule, up to 5% (a maximum of about 80 hrs per academic year) of the annual working time of the doctoral researcher can consist of teaching.

When determining the length of the employment contract, the funding previously granted for doctoral degree is taken into account, as well as the timetable and the stage of completion of the degree. The maximum duration of doctoral researcher position is four years. A person already awarded with a doctoral degree may not be appointed to a position of doctoral researcher with an employment contract.

The position of doctoral researcher with employment contract requires working in Finland. A doctoral researcher works in a Department of Education or a Department of Teacher Education, depending on their doctoral programme. The place of employment is Turku (or Rauma). The University of Turku offers flexible possibilities for remote work.

The salary is based on the salary system of the University's teaching and research staff. Salaries will consist of a task-specific salary component and a personal performance salary component. The task-specific salary component of a doctoral researcher varies between levels 2 to 4, depending on the stage of the doctoral degree. In addition, a personal performance salary component is paid. The salary of a doctoral researcher varies between € 2 400 and € 3 300, depending on the progress of the doctoral research and the experience and skills of the person concerned. The probationary period of 6 months applies.

c) Both of the above (a ja b)

When applying for a right to study

• You are required to have completed a relevant Master’s degree awarded by a university or a university of applied sciences, or a relevant study programme abroad which in the awarding country gives eligibility for the corresponding level of higher education (Universities Act 558/2009, 37§). The degree that gives eligibility for admission must be completed by the end of the application period;
• You must fulfil the language requirements of the University of Turku. Link to the University of Turku Graduate School’s language requirements webpage;
• You must fulfil the requirements for the right to study for a doctoral degree at the Faculty of Education. For more information, see the section ‘Admission criteria for the right to study a doctoral degree’ in this call for application.

When applying for a doctoral researcher position with an employment contract

• You must have an active right to study for the doctoral degree in the KEVEKO or OPPI Doctoral Programme. In addition, when acquiring the degree or otherwise, you are required to have demonstrated the ability and motivation to undertake postgraduate studies and the capacity to complete a doctoral degree in accordance with the research plan (University of Turku Rules of Procedure 20.5.2022). If you have not yet been granted a right to study, you must apply for a right to study for a doctoral degree in the KEVEKO or OPPI Doctoral Programme in the Studyinfo system (see instructions in the section ‘How to apply for a right to study’). The right to study is a prerequisite for being selected for a position of a doctoral researcher;
• You are planning to pursue or pursuing your first doctoral degree;
• You have not previously received four years of full-time funding for a doctoral degree. 

Applications for the right to study for a doctoral degree are submitted in the Studyinfo system, and applications for the position of doctoral researcher are submitted in the University of Turku's recruitment system (Talentti) by filling in the electronic application form and attaching pdf attachments to the application. Please note that if you are applying for both the right to study and the doctoral researcher position with an employment contract, you must submit your application with attachments in both application systems (see below for details). The application attachments are described in more detail below.

How to apply for a right to study

To apply, fill in the electronic application form on Studyinfo and submit the required attachments (see the section 'Attachments to the application when applying for study rights'). The Studyinfo application form will open on 28 August 2024 and close on 13 September 2024 at 4 pm (local time in Finland). Link to the University of Turku Graduate School website where the application forms are published.

In this application round, you can apply for admission to up to two doctoral programmes at the University of Turku. You can only have one valid doctoral degree study right at the University of Turku at a time.

Late applications will not be considered. You cannot change the study programme (doctoral programme) or the application after the application deadline.

Only the right to study for a doctoral degree is applied for in the Studyinfo system. If you also wish to apply for a doctoral researcher position with employment contract, you must apply for the position separately (see the section 'How to apply for a doctoral researcher position').

How to apply for a doctoral researcher position

To apply for a doctoral researcher position with an employment contract, fill in the electronic application form in the University of Turku's recruitment system (Talentti) and submit the required attachments (see section 'Attachments to the application when applying for a doctoral researcher position'). The application form will open on 28 August 2024 and close on 13 September 2024 at 4 pm (local time in Finland).

The positions will be advertised in the Open Positions of the University of Turku and on the website of the University of Turku Graduate School at the beginning of the application period. Link to the University of Turku Graduate School’s website where the application forms will be published. Late applications will not be considered. It is not possible to change the doctoral programme or the application after the deadline.

To be eligible for the postition of the doctoral researcher, candidates must have an active right to study for a doctoral degree in KEVEKO or OPPI Doctoral Programme. If you have not yet been granted a study right for a doctoral degree, you must apply for a right to study from KEVEKO or OPPI Doctoral Programme in the Studyinfo system (see the section ‘How to apply for a right to study’).

The attachments listed below are submitted as part of the electronic application form in the Studyinfo system. Please ensure that all attachments are good-quality, easy to read, full colour scans or photographs of the complete document required. Attachments should be submitted in PDF format. Attachments that do not meet these requirements may be rejected.

A. Curriculum Vitae (in Finnish or in English)

A list of publications is required to be included in the CV. We recommend that you prepare your CV based on the TENK researcher CV template: Link to the template for researcher’s Curriculum Vitae.

B. Research plan

Link to the research plan guidelines of doctoral programme on the Faculty's website (see section Research plan). The research plan must be written according to the guidelines of the doctoral programme. The length of the research plan must not exceed 12 pages (including all tables and references).

The research plan must be written in accordance with the principles of responsible conduct of research (link to TENK's guidelines). The research plan can be checked using Turnitin’s OriginalityCheck plagiarism detection system. The use of artificial intelligence in the research plan should be clearly stated in the application.

C. Motivation letter

A motivation letter is a one-page-long freeform document, in which you are expected to describe your motivation in pursuing doctoral studies and in conducting research.

D. Degree certificates and transcript of study records

1. If you have completed your former degree(s) that make you eligible for doctoral studies at a higher education institution in Finland, you must attach your scanned original degree certificates, transcripts of study records and other educational documents which may be of relevance in the selection to the electronic application form.
2. If you have completed your former degree(s) that make you eligible for doctoral studies at a higher education institution abroad (i.e. outside of Finland), you must attach the following items to the electronic application form:
   1.  scanned original degree certificates (in the language that the degree was completed in)
   2. scanned original transcripts of study records (in the language that the degree was completed in)
   3. scanned other original educational documents which may be of relevance in the selection and that you are applying based on.

If the original degree certificates or transcripts of study records are not written in English, Finnish or Swedish, official translations to one of these languages must also be submitted. An official translation here refers to a translation of the educational documents issued by the awarding institution and a translation made by an authorised translator. A transcript in English can be replaced by a Diploma Supplement (DS) awarded by a European educational institution, provided that it contains the information about completed courses and other study attainments.

E. Verification of language profience

The University of Turku follows the Rector’s decision (15.8.2019, supplemented 21.12.2023) on the means of verifying one’s language proficiency. You should carefully read the University of Turku’s guidelines on language profiency. Link to the website of the language requirements. You must attach a scanned certificate of language test approved by the University of Turku to your application, unless otherwise stated in the guidelines.

F. Copy of a valid passport

Attach a copy of your valid passport or official identification card with photo and information on citizenship. If you have a Finnish personal identity code and you have entered it on the application form, you do not need to attach a copy of your passport.

G. Certificate of right to use the research material

If you have the right to study for a doctoral degree at another university or in another doctoral programme at the University of Turku, and you wish to transfer to KEVEKO or OPPI Doctoral Programme, you must state the reasons for transferring to a doctoral programme in the application form. If you intend to use research material collected during your previous supervision for your doctoral dissertation, you must submit a certificate stating that you are entitled to use the material.

Fill in the electronic application form. Unless otherwise instructed, the attachments listed below are to be submitted as part of the electronic application form in the Talentti system. Please ensure that all attachments are good-quality, easy to read, full colour scans or photographs of the complete document required. Attachments should be submitted in pdf format. Attachments that do not meet these requirements may be rejected.

A. Curriculum Vitae (in Finnish or in English)

A list of publications is required to be included in the CV. We recommend that you prepare your CV based on the TENK researcher CV template: Link to the template for researcher’s Curriculum Vitae.

B. Research plan

The research plan must be up-to-date.

Link to the research plan guidelines of doctoral programme on the Faculty's website (see section Research plan).

The research plan must be written in accordance with the principles of responsible conduct of research (link to TENK's guidelines). The research plan can be checked using Turnitin’s OriginalityCheck plagiarism detection system. The use of artificial intelligence in the research plan should be clearly stated in the application.

C. Motivation letter

A motivation letter is a one-page-long freeform document, in which you are expected to describe your motivation in pursuing doctoral studies and in conducting research.

D. Description of the progress of the doctoral research and studies

If you already have a right to study for a doctoral degree in KEVEKO or OPPI Doctoral Programme, you must attach a freeform document maximum 2 pages to your application describing the progress of your doctoral research and studies and presenting a realistic plan for the completion of your research and degree. 

Applications will be assessed by the Doctoral Programme Steering Committee after the deadline. For all applications for study rights a supervisor's statement is requested, indicating the supervisor's commitment to supervising the doctoral research, the supervisor's assessment of the applicant, the quality and feasibility of the research plan, and the realism of the time schedule. The supervisor will submit the statement directly to the Doctoral Programme Coordinator. For applicants who have already been granted the right to study, the coordinator will ask the supervisor for an opinion on the realism of the applicant’s assessment of the progress of the dissertation research and studies and the timetable. In addition, national and/or international experts may be asked to give their statement on the application.

Admission criteria for the right to study a doctoral degree

In addition to the eligibility requirements for doctoral studies (Universities Act 558/2009, 37§) and the required language skills, the following criteria apply to the granting of the right to study:

• Your previous studies must include sufficient amount of studies in education or in another field relevant to the doctoral programme. The adequacy of the applicant's previous studies in education or the suitability of previous studies will be assessed by the Steering Committee of the Doctoral Programme when evaluating the applications;
• Applicants must have a minimum grade of 3 (on a scale of 1-5) or cum laude approbatur in their Master's thesis[1]. This requirement does not apply to those with a higher university degree abroad;
• In their application, applicants must provide a supervisor (professor, associate professor, assistant professor or docent) who has approved the applicant's research plan and agreed to be the first supervisor of the research. If the first supervisor is not employed by the Faculty’s department, the applicant must identify a second supervisor employed by the Faculty’s department. If the applicant does not provide a supervisor(s) for their research who meets the Faculty’s supervisor requirements in their application, the application will be rejected and will not be considered by the Steering Committee of the Doctoral Programme.

When assessing applications for study rights, particular attention is paid to the quality and feasibility of the research plan:

• The theoretical level of the research plan; knowledge of the theoretical background and its relevance to the research task
• Methodological feasibility of the study; precision and description of the methods in relation to the research task
• Consideration of research ethical issues in the research design
• Innovation, novelty, scientific and practical impact of the research
• Feasibility of the study; realistic time schedule, plan for resourcing and funding of the studies
• Clarity of the research plan; the research plan should represent good scientific writing

In addition, the applicant’s previous academic performance, possible research experience and motivation to complete a doctoral degree will be taken into account in the evaluation of the applications. The applicant’s research theme should fit in the profile of the doctoral programme.

Evaluation of the applications for the position of doctoral researcher

In addition to the eligibility requirements for doctoral researchers as set out in the University of Turku Rules of Procedure (16.10.2022), the following are taken into account in the selection of doctoral researchers with an employment contract:

• The quality and feasibility of the research plan within the target timetable;
• The motivation of the applicant to carry out the planned research;
• The applicant's qualifications, which may include (depending on the applicant) the grade of the Master's degree or equivalent, the doctoral studies completed, work experience, ability to carry out the planned research successfully, scientific publications and international activities;
• Research environment, which will be assessed taking into account the commitment of the supervisor and the suitability of the doctoral research theme for the profile of the KEVEKO or OPPI Doctoral Programme.

The evaluation of applications for the position of doctoral researcher will be carried out as an overall assessment, taking into account the stage of the research career, e.g. completed doctoral studies or scientific publications are not required for applicants at an early stage of their research career. For applicants who have already been awarded a right to study, the progress of their doctoral research and doctoral studies will be assessed.

The position of doctoral researcher is intended to cover the four-year financial needs of the doctoral degree. Other funding received by the candidate for the doctoral studies will be taken into account when determining the length of the position of doctoral researcher.

In the OPPI Doctoral Programme, candidates for a doctoral researcher position with an employment contract is required to have an article-based dissertation (not a monograph).

Decisions on the study rights

The Vice Dean of the Faculty of Education decides whether to award a study right for a doctoral degree to an applicant. The decision is based on the proposal of the Doctoral Programme Steering Committee. All applicants will be informed of the decisions personally by 30.11.2024 at the latest.

An admitted applicant has to notify the University of Turku of their acceptance of the study place by 3 pm (local time in Finland) on 13 December 2024 according to the instructions given in the admission notification. If the admitted applicant does not give the notification by the end of the allotted time period mentioned above, the applicant forfeits the study place. A person admitted to more than one university or polytechnic degree programme only notifies the one educational institution at which they choose to accept the study place. Notification, i.e. accepting a study place, is binding and may not be cancelled or changed later. According to Finnish university legislation, an applicant may accept only one study place leading to a higher education degree in Finland during one academic term (autumn term 1 Aug – 31 Dec or spring term 1 Jan – 31 Jul). This rule applies to all higher education, i.e. Bachelor’s and Master’s level degrees awarded by Finnish universities of applied sciences, Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees awarded by Finnish universities, and Licentiate and Doctoral degrees awarded by Finnish universities. This regulation is not applied to study rights received in transfer student selections, from the Åland University of Applied Sciences, from the Police University College, and from institutions of higher education outside Finland.

The applicants who have completed their prior degree in a country other than Finland and who are granted a study right in this call, need to deliver either the original degree certificates or certified copies of the original degree certificates and their translations to the University of Turku, as instructed in the admission notification, on 7 March 2025 at the latest. If the admitted applicant does not deliver the required certificates by the deadline, they forfeit the study right. Link to the instructions on delivering certificates and country-specific requirements.

Decisions on the doctoral researcher positions

The appointment is decided by the Head of the relevant department (Department of Education or Department of Teacher Education) on the recommendation of the Doctoral Programme Steering Committee. All applicants will be informed personally of the decision. The names of those selected for the position of doctoral researcher will be published on the website of the doctoral programme. Candidates selected for the position will be required to notify their acceptance of the position in accordance with the instructions given in the selection decision.

Link to the website of KEVEKO (www.utu.fi/keveko)

Link to the website of OPPI (www.utu.fi/oppi)

Doctoral Programme Coordinator Sanna Niukko, sanna.niukko@utu.fi.

Contact information of the Faculty : edupostgraduate@utu.fi, Chief Academic Officer Anne Niemimäki, Faculty of Education, Educarium, Assistentinkatu 5, 20014 University of Turku.

Call for applications (pdf)