Doctoral Training at the Faculty of Social Sciences
The doctoral candidates in the Faculty of Social Sciences belong either to the Doctoral Programme of Social and Behavioural Sciences (DPSoc), Doctoral programme on Inequalities, Interventions and New Welfare State (DPInvest) or the Doctoral Programme in Clinical Research (DPCR). From this page you can find information common for all doctoral candidates and applicants in the Faculty of Social Sciences.
In the Faculty of Social Sciences it is possible to accomplish a doctoral degree in two different doctoral programmes. Both programmes follow the
Faculty of Social Sciences instructions on the applying for the right to study for doctoral degree.
All doctoral programmes have their own programme specific instructions and attachements, so it is important to read carefully the guidlines for admission.
Useful links
Funding
Information about funding is availabel on the page of the University of Turku Graduate School (UTUGS) and in the Intranet on the page of the Research Funding Unit.
Completing a doctoral degree requires
- a doctoral thesis (200 credits) and
- postgraduate/doctoral training studies in the main subject and other studies supporting the degree (40 credits).
If the student already has a licentiate degree, only the doctoral thesis is required for the doctoral degree.
Doctoral training studies 40 credits
The studies are aimed at supporting the thesis work and to prepare the student both for research positions and for other demanding expert tasks. All doctoral students must take an active part in the training that is organized at the faculty and to present their own research and its progress at least once per academic year.
Obligatory studies
- Active participation in the discipline’s or research group´s research seminars.
- Postgraduate studies exam or equivalent course (15 credits). The content and method of completion is agreed with the thesis supervisor or professor.
- Courses in the philosophy of science and research ethics provided by the University of Turku Graduate School or equivalent studies
Other studies
- Other studies organized by the Doctoral Programme or the University Graduate School
- Other academic studies belonging to national doctoral programmes or organized for doctoral degree studies
- Studies in a minor subject
- Studies can also include scientific publications, book reviews, teaching at a university, active participation in scientific conferences, university pedagogical studies, or professional specialization studies.
Requirements for main subjects are given in the curriculum of each individual discipline. The postgraduate studies must be completed before submitting the thesis for review.
For more information on the supervision of the doctoral thesis, the requirements of an article thesis and the process of reviewing, publishing and evaluation of the thesis see the regulations concerning postgraduate studies or the guidelines for doctoral candidates of the Doctoral Programme of Social and Behavioural Sciences.
Please read carefully the Guidelines for Dissertation Defence and the instructions given on the page `Dissertation process in the Faculty of Social Sciences`.
The doctoral degree certificate is awarded by the Dean. The degree certificate is electronic for those graduating 1 August 2024 and onwards.
Licentiate thesis 40 credits
A licentiate thesis must show the student’s familiarity with the field and the ability to independently and critically apply methods of scientific study.
The faculty may approve as a licentiate thesis also a group of peer-reviewed articles or articles accepted for publication on the same array of research questions alongside a summary of them with a presentation of the research goals, methods and results.
The articles may also include joint publications, if the author’s independent work in them can be shown. The thesis author must present to the faculty a declaration of the independent share of work in the joint publications. A declaration signed by the authors of the joint publication is considered acceptable in this case. The declaration must be submitted at the same time when the thesis is submitted for review.
Postgraduate studies 40 credits
The studies are aimed at supporting the thesis work and to prepare the student both for research positions as well as other demanding expert tasks. All doctoral students must take an active part in the training that is organized at the faculty and to present their own research and its progress at least once per academic year.
Obligatory studies
- Active participation in the discipline’s or research group´s research seminars.
- Postgraduate studies exam or equivalent course (15 credits). The content and method of completion is agreed with the thesis supervisor or professor.
- Courses in the philosophy of science and research ethics provided by the University of Turku Graduate School or equivalent studies
Other studies
- Other studies organized by the doctoral programme or the university graduate school
- Other academic studies belonging to national doctoral programmes or organized for postgraduate degree studies
- Studies in a minor subject
- Studies can also include scientific publications, book reviews, teaching at a university, active participation in scientific conferences, university pedagogical studies or professional specialization studies.
Licentiate degrees which include specialisation training
Students selected for licentiate degrees which include specialisation training are taken in through a special selection process which is determined separately each year. These degrees are given in the fields of psychology, social policy and social work.
A licentiate degree which includes specialisation training includes systematic theoretical and practical studies in the specialist field, a licentiate thesis and supervised specialist work training in the field.
The licentiate thesis is 40 credits in a licentiate degree with specialisation training.
Specialisation fields in psychology include developmental and educational psychology, neuropsychology, psychotherapy, health psychology and work and organizational psychology.
Specialisation fields in social work include social work with children and juveniles, rehabilitative social work, social work in questions of marginalisation, specialisation in welfare services and community social work.
In the field of social policy, students can complete a licentiate degree in the social insurance specialist expert training programme.
The studies required for professional specialist licentiate degrees are included in the disciplinary curricula.
For more information on the evaluation of the licenciate thesis, see the regulations concerning postgraduate studies.