Faculty of Social Sciences instructions on the applying for the right to study for doctoral degree
The University of Turku Graduate School (https://www.utu.fi/en/research/utugs) was founded in autumn 2011, and all students pursuing a doctoral degree are members of the graduate school via the faculty-specific doctoral programmes.
Doctoral students at the faculty of social sciences belong to the Doctoral Programme in Social and Behavioural Sciences, the Doctoral programme on Inequalities, Interventions and New Welfare State or the Doctoral Programme of Clinical Research. The student’s research topic and supervisor define their respective doctoral programme and the field in which the degree is completed.
The right to study for a doctoral degree can be applied for twice a year: in the spring and in the autumn. In the autumn call it is also possible to apply for a fixed-term funded doctoral candidate position. The electronic application form is open during the application period. More information how to apply for doctoral studies are available on the webside of the programmes:
Doctoral Programme of Social and Behavioural Sciences
Doctoral programme on Inequalities, Interventions and New Welfare State
A general prerequisite for the right to pursue postgraduate studies is an applicable higher academic degree, or a relevant degree from abroad which in the country in question provides eligibility for corresponding postgraduate studies.
To gain admission to pursue a licentiate or doctoral degree in social sciences, the applicant must either have a higher academic degree (master’s degree) in the field of social sciences, or be one whom the faculty considers otherwise to have gained sufficient knowledge and skills.
To gain admission to pursue a licentiate or doctoral degree in psychology, the applicant must have a higher academic degree (master’s degree) in psychology, or be one whom the faculty considers otherwise to have gained sufficient knowledge and skills.
To gain admission to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy degree, the faculty must find the applicant eligible for doctoral studies in philosophy, speech-language pathology or psychology.
The selection criteria are as follows:
- a sufficient grade in the advanced studies stage of a master’s degree - usually at least a good evaluation is required
- a sufficient grade for the master’s thesis – usually at least cum laude approbatur
- the level and feasibility of the applicant’s research plan
- availability of resources for supervision
More information on how to apply for doctoral studies and possible other criteria are available on the webside of the programmes (links above to each Doctoral programme).