Doctoral theses

Requirements for Doctoral Dissertation Evaluation Criteria of Doctoral Dissertation Requirements for Licentiate Theses Evaluation Criteria of Licentiate Theses Procedure concerning the evaluation Licentiate Thesis Doctoral Dissertation

Requirements for the doctoral dissertation

One of the following can be accepted as a doctoral dissertation
a) a separate piece of research (monograph)
b) at least three articles dealing with a same set of problems published or accepted for publication in scientific journals applying referee procedure. At least two (2) of the articles have to be published and one (1) accepted for publication. Rest of the articles may be manuscripts published or accepted for publication in other scientific journals. In case the articles are joint publications, a doctoral student must be the first writer at least in two of them.

In business also an essay-based dissertation can be approved. The essay-based dissertation comprises published or unpublished independent entities dealing with the same set of research problems. Part of these entities may be scientific articles or other publications and unpublished essays.

In addition to articles or essays a dissertation must include introduction and summary which compiles the contents of the articles. They may be placed in the beginning of the dissertation, or the introduction may be placed in the beginning and the summary in the end of the dissertation.

If the articles or essays are joint publications a doctoral candidate must present a written account of his/hers own contribution in those publications when requesting public defense. The account must also include signatures of the other writers. A joint publication may be included in two different dissertations maximum.

The dissertation can be published in the series "Publications of the University of Eastern Finland. Dissertations in Social Sciences and Business Studies". There are instructions for publishing in this series in Intranet of the university. When the doctoral candidate plans to publish his/hers dissertation in this series he/she must contact the responsible editor, Professor Kimmo Katajala.

Evaluation criteria of doctoral dissertations

The main criteria for evaluation of doctoral dissertations are 1) scientific significance of the research results as well as 2) contribution of the candidate to the research. Additionally the following specific criteria are used:

Starting point of the research:
• scientific level, formulation and motivation of the research problem
• theoretical basis of the research and connection to the previous research
• scientific, societal and practical relevance of the research

Research process:
• command of the research field, knowledge and use of the literature
• command, definition and clarity of the concepts
• success of the choices and solutions during the research process and possibility to evaluate them
• command and suitability of the methods
• quality and carefulness of the researchResearch results:
• new knowledge and the results gained in the research work
• sufficiency of the research contribution of the candidate
• consistent foundation of the results on the data
• significance of the research results in the own research field
• in an article-based dissertation: level and forums of the publications
• coherence, stylistic and linguistic form of the presentation
• defence in the public examinationAlso the compliance of good scientific practice in the research process and documentation will be taken
into account in the evaluation.

The doctoral dissertations are graded as follows:

Requirements for the licentiate theses

One of the following can be accepted as a licentiate theses:

a) a separate piece of research (monograph)
b) at least two (2) articles dealing with a same set of problems published or accepted for publication in scientific journals applying referee procedure. At least one (1) of the articles have to be published and one (1) accepted for publication. Rest of the articles may be manuscripts published or accepted for publication in other scientific journals. In case the articles are joint publications, a doctoral student must be the first writer at least in two of them.

In business also an essay-based licentiate theses can be approved. The essay-based licentiate theses comprises published or unpublished independent entities dealing with the same set of research problems. Part of these entities may be scientific articles or other publications and unpublished essays.

In addition to articles or essays a licentiate theses must include introduction and summary which compiles the contents of the articles. They may be placed in the beginning of the theses, or the introduction may be placed in the beginning and the summary in the end of the licentiate theses.

If the articles or essays are joint publications a doctoral candidate must present a written account of his/hers own contribution in those publications when leaving his/her theses for evaluation. The account must also include signatures of the other writers. A joint publication may be included in two different licentiate theses maximum.

Evaluation criteria of licentiate theses

The main criteria for evaluation of licentiate theses are 1) scientific significance of the research results as well as 2) contribution of the candidate to the research. Additionally the following specific criteria are used:

Starting point of the research:
• scientific level, formulation and motivation of the research problem
• theoretical basis of the research and connection to the previous research
• scientific, societal and practical relevance of the research

Research process:
• command of the research field, knowledge and use of the literature
• command, definition and clarity of the concepts
• success of the choices and solutions during the research process and possibility to evaluate them
• command and suitability of the methods
• quality and carefulness of the research

Research results:
• new knowledge and the results gained in the research work
• sufficiency of the research contribution of the candidate
• consistent foundation of the results on the data
• significance of the research results in the own research field
• in an article-based dissertation: level and forums of the publications
• coherence, stylistic and linguistic form of the presentation
• defence in the public examination

Also the compliance of good scientific practice in the research process and documentation will be taken
into account in the evaluation.

The licentiate theses are graded as follows:

The Procedure concerning the evaluation of licentiate theses and doctoral dissertations

Licentiate Thesis

The student should issue three printed copies of his/hers licentiate thesis to

- Ms. Taru Kontkanen(Joensuu campus; visiting address: Aurora building, office number 2102)
- Ms. Sari Hakaoja (Kuopio campus; visiting address: Tietoteknia building, office number 2753a)

Two of the copies must be stapled and one copy loose-leaf. Additionally the student shall send his/hers thesis in pdf-format to either of the persons above. The student is responsible for that all the copies are identical.

The officials ask the supervisors to propose two examiners for the inspection of the thesis and prepares the decision of assignment. The examiners are appointed by the dean and the student is notified of the decision.

The faculty's officials delivers the thesis to the examiners who should give their statements within two months of the appointment. The licentiate thesis can be examined also in public.

Before the approval of the thesis the student is reserved an opportunity to reply to the statements: He/she should inform whether he/she accepts the statements or wants to interrupt the procedure. If the student accepts the statements the faculty council decides on the approval of the thesis. If the student does not approve the statements the procedure is interrupted and the student continues to work on the thesis.

See the evaluation criteria of the licentiate theses above.

The student dissatisfied with the decision may seek rectification of it according to the instructions attached to the letter of decision. The instructions are also available in Intranet of the university >>.

The licentiate theses will be archived by the University/Faculty. Licentiate Thesis are also published in web, if the author gives permission for publishing. Please fill the e-publication agreement and return it to the faculty officials.

Doctoral Dissertation

The doctoral candidate applies for permission to defend his/hers doctoral dissertation in public (link to form: application for public defense of the doctoral thesis) and issues three printed copies of his/hers manuscript to Ms. Taru Kontkanen (Joensuu campus).

Contacts
Ms Taru Kontkanen
Aurora building, office 2102, Joensuu campus
tel. (013) 251 4218
email: taru.kontkanen(at)uef.fi

Postal address:
University of Eastern Finland
Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies
Administration Service Centre
P.O. Box 111
80101 Joensuu

Mailing from Kuopio campus to Joensuu campus:
Ms Taru Kontkanen
Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies
Administration Service Centre
Aurora-building, office 2102, Joensuu campus

The copies must be stapled or in folders. The student is responsible for that all the copies are identical.

Ms. Kontkanen asks the main supervisor to propose two pre-examiners for the inspection of the thesis and prepares the decision of appointment. The pre-examiners are appointed by the faculty council and the doctoral candidate is notified of the decision. Ms. Kontkanen delivers the thesis to the pre-examiners who should give their statements within two months of the appointment.

After the statements have come the doctoral candidate is reserved an opportunity to reply to them and he/she should inform whether he/she accepts the statements or wants to interrupt the procedure. If the candidate accepts the statements the faculty council awards the permission to public defense.

Application form for public defense >>

See the publishing instructions >> 

Look also the finalizing process of dissertations in nutshell here >>

For the public defense of the doctoral dissertation the dean appoints an opponent (opponents) and a custos. Ms. Tuula Honkanen (Joensuu campus) or Ms. Hakaoja (Kuopio campus) asks the main supervisor to propose an opponent/opponents and a custos and prepares the decision of appointment. The doctoral candidate is notified of the decision.

See the instructions for public defense >>

The opponent should give his/hers statement within two weeks of the public defense. Also in this stage the doctoral candidate is reserved an opportunity to reply to the statement. The faculty council evaluates the dissertation on the basis of the statement(s) by the opponent(s).

See the requirements for the doctoral dissertation above.

The student dissatisfied with the decision may seek rectification of it according to the instructions attached to the letter of decision. The instructions are also available in Intranet of the university >>