TIES2 - Detailed Instructions for the Application Documents

All attachments must be in PDF format. The maximum file size for the attachments is 10 MB.

All the documents must be written in English with Times New Roman, font size 12. This font size must be used throughout including in the Bibliography. Footnotes and tables must be font size 10. Any words within maps, pictures etc. must be at least font size 9. Any words within maps, pictures, tables, footnotes etc. must be included in the character count.

Name all the attachment documents using your last name and the document title (e.g. Smith_Doctoral certificate). Upload attachments 5–7 as ‘Other attachments’ in the application form in the given order and name them accordingly (e.g. Smith_Secondment plan).

Applicants should upload a copy of their doctoral certificate. If the original degree certificate is not written in English, Finnish or Swedish an official translation in English must also be submitted. Lack of a translation will result in exclusion. 

In cases where the PhD has been successfully completed but the degree certificate has not yet been issued, applicants should provide confirmation from the University where the PhD was undertaken that the PhD has been successfully completed (including public defence/viva) and that no additional work is required.

Please note that by the time the employment contract is signed, the original doctoral certificate or electronically verifiable certificate must be delivered to the University. 

Applicants must have completed their doctoral degree by the end of the application period.

The curriculum vitae must be no more than two pages in length and must follow the TIES2 CV template. 

Applicants wishing to claim exemption to rules regarding the length of time which has elapsed since passing their PhD should note this in their CV.

Applicants are required to clearly indicate the 5 most important publications in relation to the research plan. Any non-English titles must be translated into English.

Research plan (maximum 25 000 characters, without spaces). Please note that this limit will be strictly enforced.

The research plan must follow the TIES2 research plan template including the given headings of sections. 

Any words within maps, pictures, tables, footnotes, bibliography etc. must be included in the character count.

Research ethics

The University of Turku is committed to complying with the guidelines on responsible conduct of research and procedures for handling allegations of misconduct, issued by the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity. Consequently, TIAS requires that applicants commit to complying with responsible conduct of research and adhere to the Advisory Board’s guidelines. Please see The Finnish Code of Conduct for Research Integrity and Procedures for Handling Alleged Violations of Research Integrity in Finland 2023 (PDF). In addition, applicants must comply with the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity. 

In addition to committing to the codes, applicants should briefly identify in their research plan the elements of the plan which may raise ethical issues and how they intend to deal with these. Please see guidance on how to assess the ethical aspects of your application: How to Complete Your Ethics Self-Assessment (PDF).

For further advice on research ethical issues applicants may send questions to the address ties@utu.fi. Questions will be forwarded to TIAS Ethics Advisor.

The secondment plan must be no more than one page in length and must follow the TIES2 secondment plan template. 

TIES2 is based on principles of knowledge exchange and a vital part of the programme is a secondment to an external organisation for a total period of between three and twelve months. In consultation with the TIAS Director, TIES2 Fellows may themselves select the organisation to which they wish to be seconded. 

Applicants may contact proposed secondment organisations themselves and can refer to the information on the TIES programme for external organisations on the TIES website. Secondment organisations can be inside or outside Finland and they can be from any sector outside of higher education sector. TIES2 Fellows will continue to receive their full University salary during their secondment. Please see further information on the secondment. 

Questions concerning a proposed secondment which falls within the subject areas of one of the TIAS constituent faculties may be sent to one of the faculty TIES representatives:

• Education: Anu Kröger, anu.kroger@utu.fi
• Humanities: Charlotta Wolff, charlotta.wolff@utu.fi
• Law: Kirsi Tuohela, kirsi.tuohela@utu.fi
• Social Sciences: Marika Jalovaara, marika.jalovaara@utu.fi
• Turku School of Economics: Antti Saurama, antti.saurama@utu.fi

Questions may also be sent to the general TIES enquiry email: ties@utu.fi Please send any questions well before the application deadline.

Please note that we are unable to guarantee secondments with particular organisations.

Letters of support

While it is not a requirement of the application process, applicants may also attach letters of support from proposed secondment partners. If you wish to do this, you must use the TIES letter of support template. Letters of support which do not use this format will be ignored. Letters of support are for information purposes only and do not form part of the reviews process.

The data management plan must be no more than one page in length and must follow the TIES2 data management plan template.

The TIES2 data management plan is based on the data management plan instructions of the Research Council of Finland. Under MSCA rules the Data Management Plan should accord to the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles.

The motivation letter must be no more than two pages in length and must follow the TIES2 motivation letter template.