How to start postgraduate (doctoral) studies

Transcription

1 Briefing for Master's Degree Students: How to start postgraduate (doctoral) studies Seija Oikarinen, planner Faculty of Forestry and Agriculture

2 2 The purpose of doctoral studies is for the student to / Tieteellisen jatkokoulutuksen tavoitteena on, että opiskelija: 1) become profoundly familiar with his or her field of research and its impact on society, and acquire the ability to independently and critically apply scientific research methods and contribute to new scientific knowledge within the field; 1)perehtyy syvällisesti omaan tutkimusalaansa ja sen yhteiskunnalliseen merkitykseen sekä saavuttaa valmiudet tutkimusalansa piirissä itsenäisesti ja kriittisesti soveltaa tieteellisen tutkimuksen menetelmiä ja luoda uutta tieteellistä tietoa; According to the Government Decree on University Degrees 794/2004

3 3 The purpose... 2) become well-versed in the development, basic problems and research methods of his or her discipline; 2) perehtyy hyvin oman alansa kehitykseen, perusongelmiin ja tutkimusmenetelmiin; 3) acquire a level of knowledge of general scientific theory, and of the disciplines related to his or her field of research, that permits him or her to follow future developments. 3) saavuttaa sellaisen yleisen tieteenteorian ja tutkimusalaansa liittyvien muiden tieteenalojen tuntemuksen, joka mahdollistaa niiden kehityksen seuraamisen. According to the Government Decree on University Degrees 794/2004

4 4 The structure of doctoral studies A postgraduate degree comprises theoretical studies and research work. The emphasis is on scientific research. A minimum of 60 credits* of postgraduate studies in accordance with the study plan: *The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, PhD, degree consists of 40 credits of postgraduate studies and a doctoral dissertation, which must be defended at a public examination

5 5 The outcome of the research work is an article-based dissertation (a compilation) or a monograph an article based dissertation contains a summary + articles: doctoral and licentiate degrees are granted by the faculties of HU (not graduate schools) Each faculty of the University of Helsinki has its own requirements (and traditions) for doctoral dissertation

6 6 How long does it take to get a doctoral degree? Table 1. Median duration times of Doctoral Studies in 2008 according to the Ministry of Education (Kota Online service) the target time for completing a doctoral degree and its studies is four years of full-time work (According to the general policy definitions approved by the Senate on 8 June 2006 regarding postgraduate degrees) target degree is PhD Field of Education Natural Sciences Agriculture and Forestry Veterinary Medicine No of Doctorates Median duration (y) years is the average time the to get a doctoral degree Pharmacy 17 7

7 7 What postgraduate students do during postgraduate period? n% of 121 postgraduate students of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry mentioned: 86% Postgraduate studies 84% Research work 63% Applying research funding 40% Teaching 37% Supervision of Bachelor's and Master's degree students 35% Acting as a person in charge (lab sciences) 27% Other studies 23% Studies and/or research work abroad 22% Other activities e.g. working in an associations 21% Acquisition of chemicals and equipments 19% Technical work (in a lab) 17% Supervision of visiting students + 34% PhD students have a job outside the UH

8 8 What you should do before you start to apply 1. Find information - Faculties' WebPages: Each faculty of the University of Helsinki has its own application procedure regarding postgraduate applicants. - Research - Guidelines to postgraduate (doctoral) studies - Doctoral dissertation - Forms - Grants - Graduate Schools

9 9 Find information

10 10 What should you do before you start to apply 2. Discuss with - your professor in charge in a major subject - your Master Degree's supervisor about research plan, study plan, funding of doctoral studies, future plans (post doc plans) Find your research subject and supervisors and discuss with them about Evaluate your motivation why do you want to start your doctoral studies?

11 11 Who is a postgraduate applicant? a person who currently has a higher academic degree from an institution of higher education (i.e. he/she is a Master's degree holder). The Master's degree's duration is usually five years of fulltime study. In general, the Master's degree includes an extensive Master's thesis. a person who is the holder or is pursuing the degree of Licentiate of Veterinary Medicine

12 12 Applying for the right to pursue doctoral studies In general, the application process varies slightly depending on the student s previous degree and where it was completed. For example in the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, applicants are divided in three groups: 1) Applicants who have graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry 2) Applicants who have graduated from another faculty at the University of Helsinki or from another Finnish university 3) Applicants who have completed their Master s degree abroad

13 13 18 Major subjects: Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Agricultural Economics, Animal Science, Biotechnology, Biology of Plant Production, Consumer, Economics, Environmental Economics, Food Chemistry, Food Economics, Food Technology, Forest Ecology, Forest Economics, Forest Resource Science and Technology, Forest Products Marketing, Marketing, Microbiology, Nutrition, Soil and Environmental Science Degrees are: Doctor of Food Sciences, Doctor of Science (Agriculture and Forestry), Doctor of Philosophy, and Licentiate of Food Sciences and Licentiate of Science (Agriculture and Forestry),

14 14 For example in the Faculty of Biosciences, applicants are divided in three groups: 1) Applicants who have graduated from the Faculty of Biosciences 2) Applicants who have graduated from another Finnish university 3) Applicants who have completed their Master s degree abroad Doctor of Philosophy and Licentiate of Philosophy Major subjects: Aquatic Sciences, Biochemistry, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Environmental Sciences, Genetics, General Microbiology, Physiology, Plant Biology, Ecological and Environmental Sciences (offered in the city of Lahti )

15 15 In the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, applicants are divided in two groups 1) Holders of the Licentiate of Veterinary Medicine degree (or equivalent) DVM, PhD (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, PhD) 2) Holders of a Master's degree (or equivalent) main subject e.g. microbiology, biochemistry, physiology... PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) Main Fields of research: -Host response and Host-microbe interaction -Food safety and Human health -Animal Health and Welfare -More info:

16 16 In the Faculty of Pharmacy, applicants are divided in two groups depending on their master degree: 1) Doctor of Pharmacy and Licentiate of Pharmacy for the pharmacists 2) PhD for the ones who have masters from other than pharmaceutical e.g. biosciences, chemistry, Master of Science (Technology), Master of Science (Agriculture and Forestry) Major subjects: biopharmaceutics, pharmacognosy, pharmacology, pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmaceutical technology and social pharmacy

17 17 Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry: 1) Applicants who have graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry: the application form - Grade of the major subject in the degree certificate a final grade of at least 3 - Grade of Master's degree a minimum grade of non sine laude approbatur - Supervisor of the research work - A brief description of future studies - Statement of the professor in charge - Possible supplementary studies (if your major subject is changing)

18 18 Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry: 2) Applicants who have graduated from another faculty at the University of Helsinki or from another Finnish university An officially certified copy of the student s diploma and a transcript of completed studies. Estimation of your first university degree: The professor in charge of the postgraduate major subject should write a well-founded statement on the applicant s eligibility for studies in that subject. The student should have completed a minimum of 100 credits in the major subject of his or her postgraduate degree programme or in other equivalent studies.

19 Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry: 3) Applicants who have completed their Master s degree abroad Apply for postgraduate studies using the application form for international students which is available from Student Information and Counselling or from - Your degree certificate from a higher education institution - Your transcript indicating the grading system of the institution - The test score of a language test you have taken (communication level scores) - A statement of purpose in your own words - The title and summary of your Master s thesis, in Finnish, Swedish or English - Your research/study plan - Some clarification of how you intend to finance your studies at the University of Helsinki. The professor in charge for the postgraduate major subject should write a statement on the applicant s eligibility for studies in that subject. 19

20 20 Faculty of Biosciences the application form Appendices: - Tentative plan for studies to be included in the degree (minimum 60 ECTS credits) - Research plan (or its summary, max 3 pages) - Officially certified copies of the original certificate of a completed Master's degree (or equivalent) and transcript of studies (applicants graduated outside the University of Helsinki) - Certificate of the applicant's knowledge of English, Finnish or Swedish (applicants graduated outside Finland) -communication level scores

21 21 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Research plan Postgraduate application form: The permit for the use of laboratory animals in research (if necessary) A certified copy of the degree diploma or of other documents with which the applicants demonstrate their qualifications (not if the person is pursuing or has completed the Licentiate of Veterinary Medicine degree in Finland)

22 22 Faculty of Pharmacy: more information about the doctoral studies in the faculty of Pharmacy: a research and study plan together with the director of studies and the supervisor(s).

23 Application process Faculty of When to apply Who reviews your application? The right to pursue PhD studies is granted by the Biosciences continuous Main subject -> Dean (processed 4 times / administration -> year Faculty Council Veterinary Medicine continuous Committee for researchoriented postgraduate Education (meetings once a month Pharmacy continuous Research Committee Research Committee Agriculture and continuous Committee for Research Dean Forestry and Postgraduate Education 23

24 24 Registration Accepted students will be enrolled for the ongoing academic year. after that Students must remember to enrol every year no later than August 31, to keep the status as a postgraduate student. You can join the Student Union but it is not obligatory for postgraduate students. In case you want to join the Student Union, please pay the student union membership fee.

25 25 Rights and services for postgraduate students Postgraduate students can enjoy most of the same benefits as undergraduate and graduate students. Exceptions for postgraduate students are: Students do not get a discount on bus and train fares licentiate or doctoral students can not use the FSHS services (starting from August 1 st, 2009) Student restaurants have a special price for post-graduate students. In order to obtain the Lyyra student card, you have to be a registered student in a university and a member of HYY (the student Union of the UH).

26 26 Duties of postgraduate students? to whom? Registration for attendance (or non-attendance) is obligatory for all students: undergraduates, graduates and postgraduates Research ethics : good scientific practise & knowledge of laws and regulations (human, animal and gene manipulation studies) Alma->Support for teaching and research->: Research services Rights and responsibilities of supervisors and postgraduate students Students funded by graduate schools follow up group & annual monitoring

27 27 Where to find postgraduate courses Faculties' homepages Doctoral studies in Viikki campus CourseRake Integrated studies: scientific articles or project work not related to your PhD work, teaching or supervision of students, popularization of research (e.g. articles), conference presentations and posters Graduate Schools' homepages:

28 28 Graduate Schools operating in Viikki campus Agrobiotechnology focused on root-microbe systems (AB-RMS) Biological Interactions Graduate School Eläinten hyvinvoinnin tutkijakoulu EnSTe - Finnish Graduate School in Environmental Science and Technology Finnish Graduate School on Applied Bioscience: Bioengineering, Food & Nutrition, Environment (ABS) Finnish Graduate School of Neuroscience (FGSN) Finnish Graduate School in Plant Biology (FGSPB) Glykoscience Graduate School (GGS)

29 29 Graduate Schools operating in Viikki campus Graduate School in Forest Sciences Graduate School in Pharmaceutical Research Graduate School Natural Resources and Environment (NatuRe) Helsinki Graduate School in Biotechnology and Molecular Biology (GSBM) LUOVA - Finnish School in Wildlife Biology, Conservation and Management National Graduate School of Muskuloskeletal Disorders and Biomaterials (TBGS) Viikki Graduate School in Biosciences (VGSB) Yhteiskunnallisen ympäristöalan valtakunnallinen tutkijakoulu YHTYMÄ

30 Funding? Lack of funding is not a reason to give up postgraduate studies but it severely hinders your progression Where? 55% working in a project 50% grants: TURA - a funding database Alma->Support for teaching and research->: Research services 34% a position outside the UH 20% a position in a graduate school 10% a position at the UH 12% no funding (answers of 121 postgraduate students of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry) 50% of answers have more than one funding source 30

31 31 Other useful links also for doctoral students Career Services of UH /Urapalvelut Curriculum for Career Self-Assessment Skills Career Opportunities From Decision Making to Action Planning Job Hunting Skills - Application Documents Job Hunting Skills - Interview Process Opinnot ja ura: taidolla työelämään Itsetuntemus: opi analysoimaan itseäsi Työelämätuntemus:löydä mahdollisuutesi työmarkkinoilla Päätöksenteko: vaihtoehdoista valintoihin Työnhakutaidot: työnhakuasiakirjat Työnhakutaidot: työhaastattelu

32 32 Health care for international postgraduate students Postgraduate students will no longer have access to the services of the Finnish Student Health Service (YTHS) as of 1 August The right of international postgraduate and doctoral students to use Finnish health care services is based on factors such as the following: *Is the person covered by the social security legislation or health insurance of the EU/EEA countries or Switzerland *the agreement on medical treatment with Australia or the social security arrangement with the Province of Quebec, Canada *Does the person receive a salary from the University of Helsinki or another Finnish organization and what is the duration of his or her employment relationship *Does the person receive a salary (income from employment or self-employment) from outside Finland *Does the person receive a grant from Finland and what is the duration of his or her grant period *Does the person receive a grant from outside Finland and what is the duration of his or her grant period *Has a local register office registered the person as having right of residence in a Finnish municipality

33 33 If the person is employed by the University of Helsinki, he or she can use the University's occupational health services during regular working hours. For further information, please contact the Occupational Well-being Unit of the Department of Human Resources and Legal Affairs: If a local register office has registered the person as having right of residence in a Finnish municipality, he or she can use municipal health services. Additional information about right of residence in a Finnish municipality can be obtained from the local register office ( Additional information about coverage by and/or access to Finnish social security and/or health insurance can be obtained from Kela, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (

34 34 Mela insurance for recipients of grants or scholarships The Farmers' Social Insurance Institution Mela is responsible for the statutory pension (MYEL) and occupational accident insurance (MATA) of the persons who have a grant or a scholarship and who have to be insured in Finland as of the beginning of This insurance is mandatory. The insurance secure, for the work on grant or scholarship, offered by Mela is available also for the foreign recipients of grants or scholarships if they are covered by the Finnish social security. This insurance cover is mandatory and all recipients of this insurance must be active in the application.

35 35 The recipients of grants or scholarships must take out insurance if they work uninterruptedly for at least four months with a grant or scholarship awarded from Finland after 1st of Jan. 2009, and the amount of grant is at least 1 093,49. The premiums are determined on the basis of the earnings. The recipient pays the pension and occupational accident insurance premiums, amounting to percent of the adopted annual earnings. For further information on the insurance for grant and scholarship recipients, please refer to -> English