Doctoral Programme in Clinical Research

Following post graduate degrees can be completed in the Doctoral Programme in Clinical Research:

• Doctor of Medical Science
• Doctor of Odontology
• Doctor of Philosophy
• Doctor of Philosophy (Pharmacy)
• Doctor of Health Sciences

In compliance with the Universities Act 558/2009, persons who have completed the following shall be eligible for studies leading to an academic postgraduate degree

1. an applicable Master’s degree awarded by a university; or
2. an applicable Master’s degree awarded by a university of applied sciences; or
3. an applicable education completed abroad which in the awarding country qualifies for equivalent higher education studies.
    

A person whom the faculty judges to otherwise have sufficient knowledge and skills for the studies can also be admitted to postgraduate studies. For a special reason, postgraduate studies can be started before the student has completed their previous degree.
 

The faculty may require students admitted to study for a scientific postgraduate degree to complete the necessary supplementary studies in order to acquire the knowledge and skills required by the studies.

Applicable degrees for doctoral degrees: 

Doctor of Medical Science

Licentiate of Medicine completed in Finland, Master of Science in Medicine completed in EU or EEC, or Master of Science in Medicine completed elsewhere and recognised by Valvira.

Doctor of Odontology

Licentiate of Odontology completed in Finland, Master of Science in Odontology completed in EU or EEC or Master of Science on Odontology completed elsewhere and recognised by Valvira.

Doctor of Philosophy

An applicable Master’s degree awarded by a Finnish university; or an applicable Master’s degree awarded by a Finnish university of applied sciences; or an applicable education completed abroad which in the awarding country qualifies for equivalent higher education studies.

Doctor of Philosophy (Pharmacy)

Master of Science (Pharmacy) completed in Finland; or an equivalent degree completed in another EU or EEA country, on the basis of which a document indicating formal qualifications has been issued in that country, as referred to in the Union's recognition regulations, which is required in that country for the right to practise as a pharmacist independently; or a degree completed outside the EU or EEA, which has been recognized by an EU or EEA country and has granted the right to practise as a pharmacist or the right to use the title in that country.

Doctor of Health Sciences

An applicable Master’s degree awarded by a Finnish university; or an applicable Master’s degree awarded by a Finnish university of applied sciences; or an applicable education completed abroad which in the awarding country qualifies for equivalent higher education studies.

Eligible applicants for the Doctoral Programme in Clinical Research have either completed or currently ongoing studies in applicable field of science. The applicant must have an ongoing or planned research project suitable for doctoral dissertation with a research plan approved by all eligible supervisors and the head of the academic subject. Olease, see further information on Faculty of Health Sciences' instructions on requirements of a doctoral dissertation in Kamu. 

The skills of eligible applicants of the Doctoral Programme in Clinical Research and their commitment to a successful completion of their doctoral studies are assessed according to the following criteria:

• the innovativeness, scientific and practical importance of the research subject and its suitability to the research profile of the research site and the doctoral programme
• quality, clarity and feasibility of the research plan
• the applicant's evidence of previous research work, e.g. working as a researcher, scientific publications
• research funding
• success in MSc studies or corresponding studies
• the language skills required for the studies

The adequacy of supervision, the expertise and commitment of supervisors are also taken into account in the selection process. An applicant should have at least two supervisors. One of whom is the main supervisor and at least one of whom is a university staff member. All supervisors must hold a doctoral degree. The main supervisor must hold, at the minimum, the qualification of a docent or have a corresponding scientific qualification. If the main supervisor is not a university staff member, one supervisor being university staff member must hold, at the minimum, the qualification of a docent or have a corresponding scientific qualification. Applicant's ability, motivation and commitment to doctoral studies can also be assessed through interviews.

Following documents should be attached to the application:

• Research plan, approved by supervisors and the person in charge of the subject
• Funding plan approved by the main supervisor
• Copy of the basic university degree certificate and a transcript of earlier academic records. In case applicant’s MSc, or equivalent, degree is not completed the applicant should submit a transcript of academic records and a personal study plan for completing the remaining studies of that degree as well as state the estimated time of master’s graduation in the application form.
• CV, including the list of publications if any
• Copies of licenses and permits required to conduct the research. In addition to these attachments, it should be clearly stated in the research plan what licenses the study requires, what licenses have been applied and/or what licenses are planned to be applied. In case the applicant is added to a previously applied license, the date of amendments should be stated in the research plan.
• Statement by the Main Supervisor on the applicant's ability based on their degree to complete a doctoral degree and the need to undertake any supplementary studies. (Download a template.)
• Proof of sufficient English proficiency (applies to foreign applicants)

Study right to doctoral studies in Finland does not include scholarship or funding.

1. The applicant discusses the possibility to pursue doctoral studies in the department or school with the potential supervisor and with the person in charge of the academic subject. Further information may also be asked from the contact person of the doctoral programme.
2. The applicant discusses the research topic, doctoral studies and their completion, funding, as well as other supervisors with the main supervisor. The applicant and the supervisors must negotiate and agree on responsibilities and commitment to supervising the student's research project. The PhD project should also be agreed with the person in charge of the academic subject.
3. The applicant should have at least two supervisors. In case the applicant has more than three supervisors, the need for more than three supervisors and their roles should be justified in the research plan. One of whom is the main supervisor and at least one of whom is a university staff member. All supervisors must hold a doctoral degree. The main supervisor must hold, at the minimum, the qualification of a docent or have a corresponding scientific qualification. If the main supervisor is not a university staff member, one supervisor being university staff member must hold, at the minimum, the qualification of a docent or have a corresponding scientific. All supervisors and the person in charge of the subject must give their written consent on the research plan.
4. In the Doctoral Programme in Clinical Research an applicant should have a steering group, which has a task to look after that a dissertation project proceeds as planned. A steering group consists of two persons having at least a doctoral degree. Members of a steering group do not need to be from the same field of science as the applicant, but they should know the practices of the applicant's field of science.  Persons in the steering group should not have any conflicts of interests, which means they should no have research projects with the applicant or her/his supervisors during past three years, or other relationship which could form a conflict of interest. Steering group should be nominated in the application form as well as in the research plan.
5. The applivant draws up a research plan. Please, see further instructions in ‘Research plan’
6. The right to pursue doctoral studies is applied at Studyinfo site. Please note: Partially filled application form cannot be saved. You have to have all the obligatory attachments ready once you start filling the application form. Following documents should be attached to the application:

• Research plan, which consist of a cover page + four pages (including the list of references). The supervisors must give their written consent on the research plan in the cover page. Please, see the instructions
• Funding plan approved by the main supervisor
• Copy of the basic university degree certificate and a transcript of earlier academic records. In case applicant’s MSc, or equivalent, degree is not completed the applicant should submit a transcript of academic records and a personal study plan for completing the remaining studies in the previous degree as well as state the estimated time of master’s graduation in the application form.
• CV, including the list of publications if any.
• Copies of permits and equivalent required to conduct the research. In addition to these attachments, it should be clearly stated in the research plan what permits or equivalent the study requires, what permits have been applied, and/or what permits are planned to be applied. In addition, the date when the applicant has been added to the permit should be stated in the research plan, or an estimation when the permit or equivalent will be applied for.
• Statement by the Main Supervisor on the applicant's ability based on their degree to complete a doctoral degree and the need to undertake any supplementary studies (Download a template.)
• Certificate or proof of English language skills (foreign applicants)

Processing of the application

The Faculty reguests amendments to the application if needed. All amendments (information/attachments) requested must be submitted within two weeks from the date of the amendment request on the StudyInfo. Incomplete applications will not be processed. The Dean decides whether the right to pursue doctoral studies should be granted on the basis of a proposal made by the doctoral programme within approximately three months from submitting the application. When the right to study is granted, the faculty decides on any supplementary studies required, confirms the research topic, appoints the supervisors and approves the research plan. The faculty communicates its decision to the applicant, the supervisors, the Student and Learning Services and the doctoral programme. The applicant must confirm the right to study in the Studyinfo site within seven days from the decision being sent. Similarly, negative decisions and their justifications are communicated to the applicant, the supervisors and the doctoral programme. In addition, the applicant is provided with instructions on how to appeal the decision.

When applying to the Doctoral Programme in Clinical Research the applicant chooses an academic subject and negotiates with the person in charge of the subject about initiating a research project. The person in charge of the subject agrees the research project by signing the cover page of applicant’s research plan.

Academic subjects and persons in charge in Clinical medicine

Academic subjects and persons in charge in Dental sciences

When applying for doctoral degree studies, a research plan must be attached to the application. The applicant prepares the plan with their supervisors, and it must be approved by the supervisors. The research plan must cover the entire doctoral dissertation. The research plan is drafted in English. The research plan consists of a coverpage with the signatures of supervisors and the head of the academic subject, and a research plan with a maximum length of four pages.

Coverpage Includes name of the applicant, title of the research plan, information of the supervisors and the head of the academic subject and their signatures. We recommend to use UEF Sign, the electronic signature system.

Research plan: The maximum length of the research plan is four pages including the list of references. The research plan can include the following information, for example:

1. Background
   • a short summary of the background to the research with necessary sources (including the theoretical and methodological basis)
   • a description of earlier research related to the topic
   • a description of what remains unknown about the research topic and an explanation of the research’s relevance on a national and/or international scale
2. Aims
   • the research hypotheses
   • the aims of the research clearly defined and presented
3. Materials and methods
   • a description of the research methods and materials used, and the grounds for choosing the particular methods
   • a description of how the materials will be handled and used (also after the research has been completed)
   • a working plan, a plan for different stages of the work
4.  Schedule plan
   • a description and a schedule for the different stages of the work
5. The ethical aspects of the research
   • the ethical aspects of the research incl. whether the research requires statements from ethics committees or statutory research permits. Possible permits and statements should be attached to the research plan. In addition to these attachments, it should be clearly stated in the research plan what permits or equivalent the study requires, what permits or equivalent have been applied and/or what permits or equivalent are planned to be applied. The date when the applicant has been added to the permit or equivalent should be stated in the research plan.
6. Publication plan
   • the means and mode of publishing and/or presenting the research results
7. Applications of research results
   • an estimation of the applications and the social significance of the research results
8. References
   • a list of the research field’s principal literature used for the research
9. The names of the persons and units participating in the research project

When applying to the Doctoral Programme in Clinical Research, the research plan (1+4 pages) consists of a cover page, which includes signatures of all supervisors and and the person in charge of subject, and a research plan which maximum length is four pages, including list of references. 

Funding plan is a compulsory attachment to the application. Funding should be planned with the supervisors. Funding for own salary and for research costs should be described in the funding plan. 

Research funding can be applied from various foundations as grants or from the University as paid doctoral research positions. Funding may also be available from established research projects.

More information on different funding options in Kamu.

In the Doctoral Programme in Clinical Research an applicant should have a follow-up group which has a task to look after that the dissertation project proceeds as planned. A follow-up group consists of two persons having at least a doctoral degree. Members of a follow-up group do not need to be from the same field of science as the applicant, but they should know the practices of the applicant's field of science.  Persons in the follow-up group should not have any conflicts of interests which means they should no have research projects with the applicant or her/his supervisors during past three years, or other relationship which could form a conflict of interest. Follow-up group should be nominated in the application form as well as in the research plan.

The responsibilities of the follow-up group are:

• to provide feedback on the progress of the research work and doctoral studies
• to support graduation in the target duration and to monitor that other duties are not hampering the scheduled progress of the dissertation
• to support the doctoral researcher in career planning, and assure that personal study plan includes studies which support their career plan
• to help resolve possible conflicts between doctoral researcher and supervisors
• to contact Doctoral Programme if there are any challenges in the dissertation project which cannot be resolved among the doctoral researcher, supervisors and follow-up group