DEGREE REGULATIONS ON LICENTIATE AND DOCTORATE DEGREES IN THE DOCTORAL PROGRAMME IN TECHNICAL SCIENCES Description of the Doctoral Programme http://www.uva.fi/en/research/researcher/graduate_school/programmes/technical_sciences Admissions Students are admitted to the Doctoral Programme in Technical Sciences, and through the admission, they are also registered at the Graduate School of the University of Vaasa. The application instructions and information about the eligibility for doctoral studies is available at the website of the Graduate School of the University of Vaasa at http://www.uva.fi/en/research/researcher/graduate_school/admissions/. In addition to general eligibility for doctoral studies, doctoral candidates are expected to have adequate basic knowledge and research capabilities in the study field of their dissertation. The university may require a student admitted to study for an academic postgraduate degree to complete the necessary supplementary studies in order to acquire the knowledge and skills needed for the studies. If the amount of required supplementary studies exceeds 30 ECTS when evaluating the applicant s eligibility for postgraduate studies, the study right for a doctoral degree cannot be granted to the applicant. Degrees The primary target degree in the Doctoral Programme in Technical Sciences is a doctorate degree. It takes approximately four years to complete a doctorate degree with full-time studies. Doctor of Science in Technology [D.Sc. (Tech.)], Doctor of Science in Economics and Business Administration [D.Sc. (Econ. & Bus. Adm.)], and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees are awarded in the Doctoral Programme in Technical Sciences. Postgraduate degrees in the field of technology can be completed in the following research fields (major subjects): Automation Technology, Energy Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Telecommunication Engineering, and Industrial Management. Postgraduate degrees in the field of business studies can be completed in the following research fields (major subjects): Computer Science, Industrial Management, Statistics, and Business Mathematics. The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree can be completed also in other major subjects offered by the faculty, if the student is eligible for doctoral studies in the major subject in question, and the faculty can provide competent and sufficient guidance for the studies. As the student is granted a study right for a Doctor of Philosophy degree, the structure to be followed in the degree is confirmed. The structure of a Ph.D. degree equals either the degree structure approved for the field of technology or for the field of business studies. The doctorate degree consists of doctoral dissertation and scientific postgraduate studies supporting the research work. The total scope of a doctorate degree is 240 ECTS. The structure of the degree is as follows: 1
Doctor of Science in Technology General Scientific Studies 5-10 ECTS Studies in the Research Field 30-35 ECTS Total 40 ECTS Doctoral Dissertation Doctor of Science in Economics and Business Administration General Scientific Studies 25-30 ECTS Studies in the Research Field 30-35 ECTS Total 60 ECTS Doctoral Dissertation Doctoral candidates have the possibility to complete a licentiate degree before the doctorate degree. The licentiate degree consists of doctoral studies and licentiate thesis. The studies required for the degree are the same as for the doctorate degree in the field (please see section Licentiate Degree). Doctoral Studies Doctoral studies consist of general scientific studies and studies in the research field. The doctoral candidate and the supervisor agree on the studies to be included in the doctorate or licentiate degree in the study plan for doctoral studies. The studies are planned in a way that they support both the research work and the career plans of the student. Studies included in doctorate or licentiate degrees are assessed as Pass or Fail. Passed studies may also be assessed with a five-step grading scale from 1 to 5 in which grade 1 equals sufficient, 2 equals satisfactory, 3 equals good, 4 equals very good, and 5 equals excellent. The use of five-step grading scale is acceptable in a doctoral course if the assessment is based on an examination or personally prepared written work. It is possible to include also other forms of study attainments in the doctoral studies. These other forms are described in more detail in the following sections, and they are assessed always only as Pass/Fail. When evaluating the scope of study attainments, the work load is converted into ECTS credits in which one ECTS equals 27 hours of work by the student. Scientific doctoral studies are specified in personal study plan which is created and agreed on together with the supervisor. Progress in studies is followed regularly each year. Doctoral studies must be completed by the time the dissertation is submitted for pre-examination. General Scientific Studies The aim of general scientific studies is to prepare students for research work and develop their skills e.g. in scientific writing. The Graduate School of the University of Vaasa offers general scientific and method courses, and students may select the ones supporting their own research work in the best possible way. At least two courses offered by the Graduate School must be included in the general scientific studies. Recommended courses include, for example, Research Ethics, Better Research in English, and Managing Doctoral Research. 2
In addition to courses, general scientific studies may contain other scientific work supporting the research field, the scope of which is assessed case specifically. In addition to other scientific work, general scientific studies may include teaching assignments and supervision of Bachelor s and Master s theses. The following principles are applied to the work and supervision: Teaching assignments in a single course are worth maximum 3 ECTS. Supervision of a Bachelor s thesis gives 1 ECTS, and supervision of a Master s thesis gives 2 ECTS. A degree can contain maximum 10 ECTS of study attainments completed by teaching or supervising theses. In addition to the aforementioned, general scientific studies may include other study attainments enhancing the students scientific abilities and skills. Studies in the Research Field Studies in the research field consist of theoretical studies in the field of the dissertation. Studies in the research field may be completed by attending doctoral courses at the University of Vaasa or at other Finnish or foreign university, or by taking an examination based on literature only, i.e. a book exam. Studies in the research field may also include Master s degree courses which are evaluated to be on a doctoral level with or without completing supplementary assignments for them, and which are not included in any previous degree of the student. In the doctorate degree in the field of business studies, studies in the research field may also include a minor subject. Book exams can be completed as a traditional written examination, preparing a summary of the book, or oral examination. The scope is determined with the following principles when assessing the study attainment: Very demanding scientific text (for example, containing various formulae): 70 pages equal 1 ECTS. Difficult text: 100 pages equal 1 ECTS. Easy text: 120 pages equal 1 ECTS. Studies in the research field may include also other study attainments agreed upon with the supervisor if the following principles are taken into consideration: Scientific publications which are not included in the dissertation can be accepted to the studies in a way that a conference articles equals 1 3 ECTS and journal article equals 3 5 ECTS. Poster or oral presentation in a conference, seminar or similar equals 1 2 ECTS if the presentation is not based on a publication included in the dissertation. However, the degree may contain maximum 10 ECTS of such study attainments as described above. 3
Additional study points can also be granted with the following criteria: Project-based research which is directly related to the research field but the contents of which will not be included in the dissertation. Attendance in courses in the research field which are organised by companies or similar and are targeted to the experts in the field. Attendance in seminars and other similar scientific events. The scope of the abovementioned study attainments is defined by the supervising Professor based on the length of the task or course and its demands level. It is also recommended that the studies in the research field include researcher exchange in a foreign university. In this case, a five-day visit equals 1 ECTS. Additional instructions for studies in the research field are presented in the sections for major subjects. Doctoral Dissertation For a doctorate degree, the candidate must complete the required doctoral studies, take an independent and critical approach to the research field, as well as prepare a doctoral dissertation and defend it in public. The doctoral dissertation is a research based on independent scientific work, and it is examined in the public defence of a doctoral dissertation. In the Doctoral Programme in Technical Sciences, a doctoral dissertation may either be a monograph or a so-called compilation dissertation. A monograph is a product of independent research work, and it is written by the researcher. The compilation dissertation may consist of articles or essays. An article-based doctoral dissertation consists of at least three (3) independent scientific publications or manuscripts accepted for publication covering the same research problem or problems, and their summary. The articles must be published or accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed, i.e. refereed journal or conference. If necessary, also other articles without peer review can be included in the dissertation if they support the overall aim of the work. The summary must present the objectives, methods and results of the research. The summary may also contain new results and discussion not included in the original articles. The articles constitute the material for the summary, and the material is commented, supplemented, and evaluated from the perspective of the time the summary is written. In the conclusions, a more thorough analysis of the topic may be given through the results of the articles. The aim is to create a summary section which is more than merely a repetition of the included articles. An essay-based doctorate dissertation consists of an introduction and at least four scientific manuscripts presenting and discussing the joint research question or questions. The manuscripts must be independent unities which can be published and may be submitted to a distinguished refereed publication. The essays must have been presented in applicable conferences or workshops of the discipline. The publication intended to be an essay-based doctorate dissertation must contain a summary of the articles presenting the research problem, objectives, methods, material, and results, as well the position in and contribution to the research area. Both the article-based doctorate dissertation and the essay-based doctorate dissertation may consist of joint publications if the independent contribution of the doctoral candidate can be clearly indicated in 4
them. In this case, the doctoral candidate must submit a written statement of his/her independent contribution when the manuscript intended to be a doctorate dissertation is submitted for preexamination. The statement must contain an approval from the other authors. In addition, the independent contribution of the doctoral candidate must be presented in a reasonable way in the Introduction of the doctoral dissertation. In justified cases, it is possible to include maximum one article/manuscript used in another dissertation to the doctoral dissertation in question. It is recommended that all articles/manuscripts are prepared jointly with at least one Professor supervising doctoral studies or a researcher with a doctorate degree. Grading Scale of Doctoral Dissertations and Application The dissertations are assessed with the following scale: Pass with Distinction, Pass, or Fail. Regardless of the form, the dissertation is always evaluated based on the entire dissertation. Pass with Distinction The work contributes to the research area significantly. In his/her doctoral dissertation as well as in the public defence of the dissertation, the doctoral candidate has proven that s/he has become well-versed in his/her own field of research and its social significance and has gained knowledge and skills needed to apply scientific research methods independently and critically and to produce new scientific knowledge within his/her field of research. In case of a compilation dissertation, all the articles included in the dissertation are also of high quality, and at least one them is published or accepted for publication in a distinguished international publication (e.g. level 2 or 3 in the Publication Forum classification). Pass The work s contribution to the research area meets the requirements of an acceptable doctoral dissertation. In his/her doctoral dissertation as well as in the public defence of the dissertation, the doctoral candidate has proven that s/he has become well-versed in his/her own field of research and its social significance and has gained knowledge and skills needed to apply scientific research methods independently and critically and to produce new scientific knowledge within his/her field of research. Fail Shortcomings are evident in most of the following areas: Objective and limitations are unclear, Contribution of the work is not evident, There are serious shortcomings or problems both in the theoretical framework and in the empirical part of the work, Critical analysis by the author is missing or is very limited, Definition of the main concepts in the work is very limited or problematic, Justifications for the main choices made in the work are either not presented at all or are very limited or problematic. Students are reserved the right to request for rectification of the assessment of their study attainments, theses, or dissertations. The request for rectification process is defined and explained in more detail in the University of Vaasa Degree Ordinance. 5
Licentiate Degree A licentiate degree consists of the same theoretical studies as the doctorate degree. In addition to the studies, a licentiate thesis is required. The total scope of a licentiate degree is 150 ECTS, and the estimated length of the degree is approximately two and a half years. The licentiate thesis must show that the student is conversant with the theories in the relevant field of research and is able to apply the scientific methods to the work independently and critically. An acceptable licentiate thesis may either be a one single research (monograph) or a so-called compilation licentiate thesis. A compilation licentiate thesis consists of at least two scientific publications or manuscripts accepted for publication with a relevant subject matter and a summary of these publications (article-based licentiate thesis) or at least three scientific manuscripts with a similar topic and a summary of these manuscripts (essay-based licentiate thesis). As for other instructions and regulations, the instructions for compilation dissertations are applied also to the compilation licentiate theses. Students accepted for a Doctor of Philosophy degree cannot complete a Licentiate of Philosophy degree. Licentiate thesis is assessed with the scale Pass or Fail. Writing guidelines of the Faculty of Technology are to be applied to the licentiate thesis. The licentiate thesis is bound in marble blue hard covers. For more information, please contact the study administration. Transfer Regulations The new structures and curricula of doctorate and licentiate degrees come into force as of 1 August 2013. Doctoral students enrolled before 1 August 2013 may comply with the previous Degree Regulations until 31 July 2014. However, the grading scale shall be applied to all doctoral students as of 1 August 2013. Doctoral students who enrolled before 1 August 2013 and who prefer following the degree requirements consisting of 40 ECTS of studies shall update their study plan with their supervisors to meet the new degree requirements. 6