Description of the Doctoral Degree Process at the Faculty of Medicine

Applying for the right to study for doctoral degree is done by applying to a doctoral programme. At the Faculty of Medicine, a doctoral degree can be pursued in six doctoral programmes:

• Doctoral Programme in Nursing Science (DPNurs)
• Finnish Doctoral Programme in Oral Sciences (FINDOS Turku)
• Drug Research Doctoral Programme (DRDP)
• Turku Doctoral Programme of Molecular Medicine (TuDMM)
• Doctoral Programme in Clinical Research (DPCR)
• Doctoral programme on Inequalities, Interventions and New Welfare State (DPInvest) / Child Psychiatry

> Application times of doctoral programmes

• the doctoral programme prepares a proposal of accepted applicants, and Dean of the Faculty grants the right to study for doctoral degree
• the right to study begins at the start of the next semester

• registration of the doctoral researcher for the semester in question is recorded in the study register in connection to granting the study right
• in the following years, the doctoral researcher must register with the university every academic year
• NOTE: In order to maintain an active study right, the doctoral researcher is required to register every year with the University, either as an attending or a non-attending student.

> Instructions on registration with the University and study rights

• the doctoral researcher carries out their postgraduate studies and doctoral thesis research with guidance and support from their supervisors
• the follow-up committee for doctoral training convenes on the doctoral researcher’s initiative at least once a year, and the supervision plan is updated on the same occasion if necessary
• the doctoral researcher delivers an annual progress report to the doctoral programme in January

> Getting the completed doctoral studies approved

The doctoral researcher submits to the Faculty the following electronic forms which are available and with instructions on the UGIS portal:

• The doctoral researcher fills in the form 'Send in your dissertation manuscript and attachments' and includs a completed doctoral thesis manuscript (checked with the Turnitin system), the original publications in PDF format and other attachments. Attachments should be prepared well in advance. The templates for the attachments with instructions can be found on the UGIS portal under 'Instructions: Attachments to submitting the thesis manuscript'
• The doctoral researcher fills in the form ‘Proposal of people involved in the dissertation process’ [people involved include preliminary examiners, opponent and custos (chairperson of the defence)] and includs a Turnitin check certificate signed by a supervisor. The last step of the form is 'Verify and lock information'. The form is then forwarded in the system to the head of the doctoral subject, who receives an automatic email about the matter. Only after the head of the doctoral subject has approved the electronic form, it is forwarded to the faculty for processing. The doctoral researcher should therefore complete this form in good time and inform the head of the doctoral subject of the incoming form.

> UGIS portal

> Meeting schedule of the Faculty Council of the Faculty of Medicine

• the Doctoral Committee of the Faculty grants permission to send the doctoral thesis manuscript to preliminary examination and the Dean/Vice-Dean appoints the preliminary examiners
• the doctoral researcher delivers the manuscript to the preliminary examiners
• the doctoral researcher edits the manuscript on the basis of any comments received from the preliminary examiners and submits the final revised version of the manuscript to the preliminary examiners

• the preliminary examiners write their statements on the final, possibly revised, doctoral thesis manuscript and deliver them to the faculty together with an attachment form within two months of their appointment at the latest
• the Faculty sends these to the doctoral researcher, who has the option of giving a written rebuttal regarding the statements
• the doctoral researcher delivers the final version of the manuscript, corrected according to the preliminary examiners' comments, and the publications included in the doctoral thesis to the Faculty in PDF format
• if the opponent and custos have not been already proposed, the doctoral researcher now delivers a proposal with the form ‘Proposal of people involved in the dissertation process’ (instructions in UGIS)
• the Doctoral Committee considers the permission to defend the doctoral thesis based on the examiners' statements

> UGIS portal

> Meeting schedule of the Faculty Council of the Faculty of Medicine

• after the Doctoral Committee has endorsed the permission to defend the doctoral thesis, the Faculty Council grants the permission for a public defence
• Dean appoints the opponent and custos on the same day that the permission to defend the thesis is granted
• the doctoral researcher contacts the University’s publication services and University Communications and publishes their doctoral thesis
  > Guidelines for Dissertation Defence -> Publishing and printing doctoral dissertation
• the doctoral researcher sends their doctoral thesis to the opponent
• the doctoral researcher distributes copies of the doctoral thesis according to instructions at least 10 days before the public defence
  > Guidelines for Dissertation Defence -> Distribution and release

• the doctoral researcher books the defence premises, takes care of the opponent's travel and accommodation arrangements, and deals with other practical arrangements
  > Arranging the Opponent’s Travel and Accommodation
  > Practical arrangements for the dissertation defence

• the opponent delivers their statement to the Faculty together with an attachment form within one month after the public defence of the thesis
• the Faculty delivers the statement to the doctoral researcher, who has the option to give a written rebuttal regarding the statement

• the Faculty Council approves the doctoral thesis based on the opponent's statement

> Meeting schedule of the Faculty Council of the Faculty of Medicine

• when the doctoral thesis is approved, the doctoral degree is completed
• the degree certificate is issued with the date of the thesis' approval without a separate application

> Graduating as a Doctor from the Faculty of Medicine