Doctoral programme in Forests and Bioresources (FORES) of the University of Eastern Finland is a multidisciplinary and international Doctoral programme, which covers all fields of forest science and based on them the postgraduate education in the forest-based bioeconomy. The Doctoral programme has a distinctive and unique profile with a focus on forests, wood and land use. We have about 80 students and every year about 10 students complete their doctoral studies.
The degree of Doctor or Licentiate requires a doctoral dissertation or licentiate thesis and studies in transferable skills and in the discipline and field of research, according to the guidelines of the Doctoral programme. The main language of the programme is English.
The director of the programme is Professor Heli Peltola, and the coordinator is Marjoriitta Möttönen (contact information below).
Research
Doctoral education in forest sciences is multidisciplinary. In our doctoral programme you familiarize yourself with advanced and systematic studies and with your own research to the scientific research methods and applications in the area of forest sciences.
Our programme covers all fields of forest sciences. Forest sciences also have close relations with e.g. biology, environmental sciences, physics, chemistry, statistics, economics, social sciences and technological sciences.
In our doctoral programme, you can develop and apply different research methods on questions related to the forests and on the renewable resources provided by the forests.
How to apply?
The degrees available in our programme are Doctor of Science (Agriculture and Forestry), Licentiate of Science (Agriculture and Forestry) with Forest Sciences as the major subject and Doctor of Philosophy with Forest Sciences as the major subject.
According to the Universities Act of Finland (558/2009, Chapter 5, Section 37), eligible for studies leading to a doctoral degree shall be:
- a person who has completed an applicable higher university or polytechnic degree,
- a person who has completed an applicable education abroad which in the awarding country gives eligibility for corresponding higher education,
- a person whom the university judges otherwise to have sufficient knowledge and skills for the studies.
There is no term fee for doctoral education in the University of Eastern Finland.
If you are applying for a doctoral study right in a field of research which has not been the main field of you Master's degree, the faculty may require you to complete supplementary studies to ensure that you are qualified to take part in doctoral studies. Possible supplementary studies are specified when the right to doctoral studies is granted and cannot be included in the doctoral degree.
Applicants who can apply for the doctoral programme in Forests and Bioresources must have: (1) completed a applicable Finnish or foreign basic degree, (2) adequate knowledge and methodological basic skills for pursuing the doctoral or licentiate degree in Forest Sciences, (3) a research plan, and (4) at least two supervisors for the planned research project with doctoral degree on applicable discipline. At least one of the supervisors must belong to the teaching staff either as a professor, associate professor, assistant professor/university researcher or lecturer (docentship level), at the School of Forest Sciences. If the proposed main or other supervisor does not belong to the teaching staff of the School of Forest Sciences, his or her up-to-date Curriculum Vitae (CV) and list of publications must accompany the application.
To be eligible for pursuing the doctoral programme applicants must have completed:
- a Master’s degree or an equivalent foreign degree in the field of agriculture and forestry, or
- a relevant other Finnish or foreign degree equal to a Master’s degree, or
- a relevant polytechnic Master’s degree and they are able to demonstrate adequate knowledge and methodological skills for pursuing the doctoral programme, or
- an applicable education abroad which, in the awarding country, confers eligibility for corresponding doctoral or licentiate studies.
Applicants need to have sufficient English language skills. In case the applicant is non-Finnish, he/she must demonstrate sufficient proficiency in English when submitting his/her application:
- PTE (Academic) passed with at least 59 points, or
- TOEFL with PBT passed with at least 580 and writing passed with at least 4/IBT 90 and writing passed with at least 2, or
- IELTS (Academic) with an overall score of at least 6.5 and writing passed with at least 5.5, or
- applicant has completed all prior studies in English. If applicant has completed his/her prior studies in English, he/she must attach to the application a statement from the educational institution indicating that the language of instruction was English, or
- applicant has completed the English test of the Finnish matriculation examination (IB Diploma or English as A1 language), or
- applicant has completed primary education in English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States.
In points (2), (3) and (4), the eligibility of the content of previous degree and the adequately of the knowledge and methodological basic skills for pursuing the doctoral or licentiate degree in forest sciences, are verified and approved by both the supervising teacher (main supervisor) of the School of Forest Sciences and the board of the doctoral programme or the head of the doctoral programme.
Applicant may be admitted onto the doctoral programme only if his/her proposed doctoral dissertation or licentiate thesis is based on the proposed research plan relevant to the theme of the doctoral programme and if it is feasible, which is verified and approved by at least two supervisors, of which at least one belongs to the teaching staff of the School of Forest Sciences either as a professor, associate professor, assistant professor/university researcher or lecturer. The applicant must him- or herself agree directly with the supervisors for the supervising arrangements for the planning and performing the doctoral/licentiate research.
1. Study the instructions, study requirements and guidelines concerning the doctoral programme issued by the university, the faculty and the programme, which can be found on these web pages and in Kamu.
2. Discuss the possibility to pursue doctoral studies at the School of Forest Sciences with the potential supervisors or with the coordinator/head of the doctoral programme.
3. Discuss the research topic, doctoral studies and their completion, as well as other supervisors with the future main supervisor. Each doctoral student must have at least two supervisors. You and your supervisors must negotiate and agree on responsibilities and commitment to supervising your research project. The supervisors must give their written consent on the application form. Draw up a preliminary research plan. You must indicate in the application the doctoral programme for which you are applying the right to study.
4. The prospective doctoral student applies for the right to pursue doctoral studies using an application form at the Studyinfo.fi. The required application attachments:
- A copy of the basic university degree certificate, and other documents which may affect the granting of a study right.
- A transcript of earlier academic records.
- A preliminary research plan approved by the main supervisor. See the detailed instructions for writing a research plan.
- A supervisors' agreement (a link to the form).
- If necessary, a statement from the Committee on Research Ethics and a permission for the use of laboratory animals (more information about ethical issues here).
All required enclosures need to be submitted within one month after submitting the electronic application form.
5. The application for pursuing doctoral studies is processed by the relevant doctoral programme.
6. The faculty decides whether the right to pursue doctoral studies should be granted on the basis of a proposal made by the doctoral programme. 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 and the personal doctoral study plans. The faculty communicates its decision to the applicant, the supervisors, the Student and Learning Services and the doctoral programme in question. 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.
7. After having been granted the right to pursue doctoral studies, you must immediately register as a doctoral student as will be instructed upon the admission. In subsequent academic years, the registration must be carried out by mid-September.
8. You must submit a personal doctoral study plan to the coordinator of the Doctoral programme (Marjoriitta Möttönen) within 3 months after receiving the study right. Please use the provided study plan template that will be sent to you after you have been accepted to the doctoral programme.
Application periods
Our doctoral programme is open for admissions throughout the year. You will be notified about the admission results usually in approximately one month from submitting the application.
Accepting the Study Right and Registration
According to the one-place-per-student provision, a student may accept only one study place per academic year in a degree programme leading to a higher education degree. In practice, this means that a student accepted to a doctoral programme is required to notify the university of whether he or she will accept the offered study place or not. This notification should be made by filling out and returning a form that is included in the university's letter of acceptance. A student accepted to a doctoral programme is required to return the form to the university's Admissions Office by the deadline indicated. If the student fails to return the form by the deadline, he or she will lose the study place. A new study place can be obtained by re-applying for admission only.
New doctoral students must accept the study right and then register as a student in the university's Student Services. You can find instructions for registration in Kamu. Registration for the next academic year must be completed before 15 September. Please note that in order to maintain your study right you must register to the university each year.
A student who fails to register annually during the registration period will be removed from the university registers and he or she will need to re-apply for admission as a student using a separate form. The student will also be charged a re-registration fee.
In our programme you will do your research under supervision. You need to have at least two personal supervisors who need to have a doctoral degree and at least one of them has to be a professor, associate professor or senior researcher/assistant professor of the School of Forest Sciences (see the list below). You will often make your research in research groups which include several doctoral students under the same research area and supervisors, which supports efficient and quality doctoral education.
The list of teaching staff of the School of Forest Sciences
Email: firstname.lastname@uef.fi, unless indicated otherwise. You can also search for more information them at https://uefconnect.uef.fi/en/
Professors (specialisation):
- Haapala, Antti (wood materials science)
- Hujala, Teppo (forest bioeconomy foresight)
- Kangas Jyrki (forest bioeconomy)
- Kouki, Jari (forest ecology)
- Kärenlampi, Petri (wood technology)
- Kärhä, Kalle (forest technology)
- Maltamo, Matti (forest mensuration)
- Palander, Teijo S. (forest technology; Email. teijo.s.palander(at)uef.fi)
- Pappinen, Ari (forest health)
- Peltola, Heli (silvicultural sciences)
- Pukkala, Timo (forest planning and inventory)
- Pykäläinen, Jouni (forest economy and policy)
- Tokola, Timo (forest information systems)
- Turunen, Ossi (wood materials science)
- Tuittila, Eeva-Stiina (forest soil science)
- Vastaranta, Mikko (digitalization and knowledge leadership in forest-based bioeconomy)
- Vauhkonen, Jari (forest management planning)
Senior researchers and associate professors (specialisation):
- Aakala, Tuomas (disturbance ecology of forests)
- Heinonen, Tero (silviculture and forest management)
- Kilpeläinen, Antti (silvicultural sciences)
- Korhonen, Lauri (forest mensuration science)
- Mola, Blas (biomass and bioenergy)
- Tikkanen, Jukka (forest policy, research director)
- Tikkanen, Olli-Pekka (forest pathology and entomology)
The right to pursue doctoral studies does not include funding or a contract of employment or teaching tasks at the University. However, full-time doctoral students need funding to cover their costs of living and potential research costs (travel costs, research material etc.). Funding options should be discussed with the supervisor already when planning to apply for a doctoral study right and creating a research plan.
Doctoral studies can be funded for example by a scholarship, by working as a researcher in a research project, by working as a doctoral candidate at the University of Eastern Finland (doctoral student position), or by studying part-time while at work. Doctoral students apply for funding themselves.
Read more about funding options of doctoral studies on Kamu Student handbook.
Application period
Our doctoral programme is open for admissions throughout the year. You will be notified about the admission results usually in approximately one month from submitting the application.
What is Studyinfo.fi?
Studyinfo.fi is the official national admissions portal with all the up-to-date information about study programmes leading to a degree in Finland.
Studies
A doctoral dissertation can be a scientific account based on independent research, which is deemed to increase knowledge in the field in question (a monograph).
A doctoral dissertation can consist of a sufficient number, determined by the university, of scientific publications discussing the same set of problems (article-based or compiled dissertation). They can be either published or intended/accepted for publication, and are outlined in a separate summary.
In the Faculty of Science and Forestry, an article based dissertation
- is typically composed of 3 to 4 peer-reviewed scientific articles
- in composition of three scientific articles at least two and in composition of four (or more) scientific articles at least 50 % are required to be published or accepted for publication in international scientific journals using the peer-reviewing process.
- the doctoral candidate should be the main writer in at least two of the scientific articles. In the doctoral dissertation, the doctoral candidate must write a clarification on her/his part in each of the joint publications.
Degree structure
A licentiate or a doctoral degree consists of the following elements:
- A doctoral dissertation or licentiate thesis
- Postgraduate studies (30 ECTs): Transferable skills studies (5 ECTs) and Studies in the discipline and field of research (25 ECTs)
A doctoral dissertation (or licentiate thesis) can be described as a scientific presentation based on independent research that promotes knowledge in the discipline in question (monography). A doctoral dissertation may also be composed of several scientific publications or manuscripts concerning the same research problem that have been accepted for publication or are intended to be published, and a conclusion based on these (article-based dissertation). The university determines the sufficiency of the articles for an article-based dissertation.
In addition to licentiate/doctoral studies, applicants may, if necessary, be required to complete supplementary studies depending on the basic degree and knowledge and methodological basic skills of the student for pursuing the doctoral or licentiate degree in Forest Sciences. They may also be required in case the previous degree was not related to forest sciences, and the target degree will be the Doctor of Science (Agriculture and Forestry) or Licentiate of Science (Agriculture and Forestry).
Transferable skills studies (5 ECTs)
The general transferable skills studies must include (1) ethics of science (min. 1 ECT) and (2) management of a research project (min. 2 ETCs) studies. Other transferable skills studies recommenced, include e.g. courses on scientific writing and communication, immaterial rights or other general transferable skills courses (see courses provided by the UEF Doctoral School in the Curricula of the UEF Doctoral School, e.g. Research ethics (1-2 ECTs), and Research project management, 2 ECTs).
After completing the transferable skills studies, the student can
- understand and apply the principles and good practices for ethics of science, management of research project and scientific writing (reporting) and communication,
- ably his/her knowledge and knowhow in reporting and communication of scientific research findings for the scientific research community and for the society, and
- ably his/her knowledge and knowhow in working life, in different specific expert, development and education duties.
Studies in the discipline and field of research (25 ECTs)
Studies in the discipline and field of research are largely elective. However, they must support the implementation of the doctoral dissertation or licentiate thesis and include mainly scientific level studies. Course on “Postgraduate Research Seminar, Forest science" is obligatory for all students. At minimum 12 ECTs of the studies in the discipline and field of research should be courses organized by the University of Eastern Finland. In addition to courses by the University of Eastern Finland, also corresponding studies arranged by other Finnish and foreign universities and institutes of higher education can be approved for the studies in the discipline and field of research (see below for more details).
Courses organized by UEF (min. 12 ECTs):
- Postgraduate Research Seminar, Forest Science (2-4 ECTs)
- Studies in the theory of science and methodology (min. 8-10 ECTs)
Other optional forms of studies in the discipline and field of research (max. 13 ECTs):
- Studies in the discipline and field of research organized by other Finnish and foreign universities and institutes of higher education or their networks, into which UEF belongs as a partner (e.g. Nordic university network NOVA: http://www.nova-university.org/) (max. 13 ECTs)
- Literature on scientific research and methodology in the field of the doctoral dissertation or licentiate thesis (exam/essays on agreed topics by the UEF supervisor) (max. 4 ECTs)
- Participation in the international scientific conferences (a poster or oral presentation, 1 ECT/presentation) (max. 3 ECTs)
- At the national or international research or other organization as a visiting researcher/ traineeship, which supports the implementation of Doctoral dissertation and/or Licentiate thesis (max. 4 ECTs)
- Publication in the international scientific peer-reviewed journal related to doctoral dissertation or licentiate thesis, which are not included in own doctoral dissertation/licentiate thesis (max. 4 ECTs)
- Preparing and teaching courses organized by UEF and/or other Finnish and foreign universities and institutes of higher education related to the research field of the doctoral dissertation or licentiate thesis (max. 4 ECTs)
If the studies in the discipline and field of research planned to be included in the study plan are not organized by the University of Eastern Finland, the student must provide together with his/her supervisor (main supervisor) of the School of Forest Sciences a written statement about the applied activity (guidelines for the statement, see below), and submit it to the coordinator of the doctoral programme, after which the head of the doctoral programme may approve it to be included in the postgraduate studies.
The jointly written application/statement by the student and supervisor for applied study activity must include following:
(1) For the studies in the discipline and field of research organized by other Finnish and foreign universities and institutes of higher education or their networks, the statement must include the level and name of the course, objectives / learning outcomes, content, teaching/study methods and evaluation criteria (passed/ numerical), the course certificate and written statement by supervisor (main supervisor) of the School of Forest Sciences on how the course is related to the research field of Doctoral dissertation or Licentiate thesis.
(2) For the literature exam/essays on agreed topics on scientific research and methodology, the statement must include the tittle of the book or books, authors, number of pages, and the written statement by the supervisor (main supervisor) of the School of Forest Sciences on how the literature exam/essays is/are related to the field of the doctoral dissertation or licentiate thesis, and the study method and suggestion on evaluation of the activity (number of ECTs, passed/numerical).
(3) For the participation in the international scientific conferences, the statement must include the name, date and place of the international conference and the name of oral presentation/poster, its presenter and other authors, and the role of applicant in it, and the written statement by supervisor (main supervisor) of the School of Forest Sciences on how the conference and presentation is related to the field of the doctoral dissertation or licentiate thesis, and the suggestion on evaluation of the activity (number of ECTs, passed).
(4) For the visiting researcher position/traineeship, the statement must include certificate or statement on activities as a visiting researcher/traineeship from the host organization of the activity, a report by student on the content of the activity, and the written statement by the supervisor (main supervisor) of the School of Forest Sciences on how the activity is related to the field of the doctoral dissertation or licentiate thesis, and the suggestion on evaluation of the activity (number of ECTs, passed).
(5) For the other publications in the international scientific peer-reviewed journal, the statement must include the name of the article, authors and the name of international scientific peer-reviewed journal, and the written statement by supervisor (main supervisor) of the School of Forest Sciences on the role of student in it and how the activity is related to the field of the doctoral dissertation or licentiate thesis, and the suggestion on evaluation of the activity (number of ECTs, passed).
(6) For the preparing and teaching courses, the statement must include the place (organization), date, level and name of the course, objectives / learning outcomes, content, teaching methods and number of contact teaching hours, a certificate for the activity, and written statement by supervisor (main supervisor) of the School of Forest Sciences on how the teaching activity is related to the research field of Doctoral dissertation or Licentiate thesis, and the suggestion on evaluation of the activity (number of ECTs, passed).
After completing studies in the discipline and field of research, the student can
- understand scientific questioning and the most important scientific reasoning and research methodology in the study field,
- ably his/her knowledge and knowhow in solving of different research problems,
- contribute to providing science based and holistic knowledge and knowhow for the decision support, and
- ably his/her knowledge and knowhow in working life, in different expert, development and education duties.
Supplementary studies
In addition to licentiate/doctoral studies (30 ECTs), the student may be required to complete supplementary studies at maximum 60 ECTs, depending on the previous degree, and knowledge and methodological basic skills of student, for pursuing the doctoral or licentiate degree in Forest Sciences and/or in case the previous degree was not related to forest sciences, and the target degree will be the Doctor of Science (Agriculture and Forestry) or Licentiate of Science (Agriculture and Forestry).
Supplementary studies are listed separately in the doctoral study plan, which is approved both by the supervising teacher (main supervisor) of the School of Forest Sciences and the head of the doctoral programme and its coordinator.
After completing the supplementary studies, the student has
- preparedness to conduct doctoral dissertation/licentiate thesis and required post graduate studies and in the field of forest science.
RPL practices in postgraduate education
The Doctoral Programme in Forests and Bioresources applies the recognition and accreditation of prior learning (RPL) practices. Studies to be recognised as RPL units and included in the studies in the discipline and field of research must be: (1) mainly scientific -level courses completed in a Finnish or a foreign university or (2) skills and abilities acquired in scientific research projects. RPL units can also be approved as supplementary studies. However, earlier studies already included in the previous qualifications cannot be approved as RPL units. Approved RPL units need to be included separately in the doctoral/licentiate study plan. The supervising (main supervisor) teacher of the School of Forest Sciences and the head of the doctoral programme and its coordinator will together approve any RPL units that can be included into Postdoctoral studies.
Supervisors, preliminary examiners, opponent and custos
The Faculty has described the competence of post graduate student supervisors, preliminary examiners, opponent and custos as follows at https://kamu.uef.fi/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/KAMU-Patevyys-eng-Lumet-vaitoskirjaprosessissa-2019.pdf
Doctoral thesis and graduation
Doctoral theses are published in Dissertationes Forestales
Author guidelines: https://www.dissertationesforestales.fi/?lang=en
Guidelines for references (Zotero): https://www.uef.fi/en/library/references
Template (doc)*
*Please always check the possible updates from the author guidelines of Dissertationes Forestales, however.
When the thesis is ready and all required courses have been completed, it is time for public dissertation and graduation. Before graduation a printing permission for the thesis needs to be applied for. With the same form, the supervisors will propose pre-examiners for the thesis. Instructions for applying the permission and publishing and instructions for organizing the dissertation can be found in the doctoral education at https://kamu.uef.fi/en/tools/doctoral-studies/
Distribution guidelines (Dissertationes Forestales)
In questions regarding postgraduate education, please consult:
- Head of the administration (student affairs) Kaisa Laitinen, room Natura 348, tel. +358 (0) 50 432 7573, kaisa.laitinen@uef.fi
- Coordinator Marjoriitta Möttönen, room Borealis 365, tel. +358 (0) 50 442 3031, marjoriitta.mottonen@uef.fi
In addition, the Doctoral School of the University of Eastern Finland organises "1145018 Doctoral Studies, Career and Networking Skills" throughout the year. It consists of independent Moodle-assignment and a series of seminars. The exact timetable and description can be found in WebOodi (UEF Doctoral School > Doctoral School of the University of Eastern Finland > 1145018 Doctoral Studies, Career and Networking Skills (1 ECTS)).
Technical advisor for Dissertationes Forestales and distribution of doctoral dissertations:
Marjoriitta Möttönen, tel. +358 (0) 50 442 3031, marjoriitta.mottonen@uef.fi
Student representatives of the board of the doctoral programme:
- Representatives: Olga Shromova, olga.shromova@uef.fi) and Satu Helenius, satu.helenius@uef.fi
- Vice representative: Katri Rusanen, katri.rusanen@uef.fi
Contact persons at the Faculty of Science and Forestry
Head of Academic Affairs Kaisa Laitinen, kaisa.laitinen@uef.fi, tel. 050 432 7573, room Natura 348, Joensuu campus
- general doctoral student counselling (Joensuu and Kuopio)
- application for doctoral studies (Joensuu)
- update of research plan and supervisors (Joensuu)
- appointment of opponent and custos (Joensuu)
- specialization in medical physics, Hospital Physicist (Joensuu and Kuopio)
Coordinator Riikka Levänen, riikka.levanen@uef.fi, tel. 050 478 6176, room Natura, Joensuu campus
- application for doctoral studies (Kuopio)
- update of research plan and supervisors (Kuopio)
- permission to proceed to public examination of doctoral thesis (Joensuu and Kuopio)
- appointment of opponent and custos (Kuopio)
- acceptance of doctoral thesis (Joensuu and Kuopio)
Executive Assistant Satu Turunen, satu.turunen@uef.fi, tel. 040 355 3698, room Snellmania 2145/2, Kuopio campus
- appointment of preliminary examiners (Joensuu and Kuopio)
Study Secretary Taru Nylund, taru.nylund@uef.fi, tel. 040 355 3042, room Technopolis G5-019, Kuopio campus
- degree certificate (Joensuu and Kuopio)
You can find information for different phases in the doctoral education on Kamu Student handbook:
- Doctoral education at the University of Eastern Finland
- Starting doctoral education
- Doctoral curriculum and study requirements
- Internationalisation in doctoral education
- Guidance and support in doctoral education
- Support for doctoral research
- Funding of doctoral education
- Wellbeing of doctoral researcher
- Permission for public examination and pre-examination of doctoral dissertation
- Publishing of doctoral dissertation
