The doctoral programme of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies is based on research conducted within the faculty’s disciplines. Research topics arise from the surrounding society and nature, the university’s strategic research areas, and the researchers’ own interests.
The doctoral programme provides the skills for scientific work and the production of new scientific knowledge. While studying, doctoral researchers can also develop their communication and interaction skills, pedagogical abilities, as well as leadership and business expertise according to their personal study plan.
Graduates with a doctoral degree find positions in research and teaching at universities or research institutes, in educational and development roles, and in other demanding expert positions in expert organisations, companies, and the third sector.
Research areas in the doctoral programme
You can explore the research areas in the doctoral programme and potential supervisors via the links below.
How to apply?
A Licentiate of Philosophy or Doctor of Philosophy (Humanities and Natural Sciences) degree can be completed in the following major subjects:
- History
- Geography
A Licentiate of Science in Economics and Business Administration, Doctor of Science in Economics and Business Administration, or Doctor of Philosophy (Economics and Business Administration) degree can be completed in the following major subjects:
- Marketing
- Management
- Accounting and Finance
A Licentiate of Laws, Doctor of Laws, or Doctor of Philosophy (in the field of law) degree can be completed in the following major subjects:
- European law
- Financial law
- Administrative law
- Welfare law
- International law
- Labour law
- Criminology
- Constitutional law
- Family and inheritance law
- Procedural law
- Criminal law
- Social law
- Legislative studies
- Constitutional law
- Property law
- General jurisprudential studies
- Environmental law
A Licentiate of Health Sciences, Doctor of Health Sciences, or Doctor of Philosophy (in the field of health sciences) degree can be completed in the following major subjects:
- Health and Human Services Informatics
- Health Management Science
- Health Economics
A Licentiate of Social Sciences, Doctor of Social Sciences, or Doctor of Philosophy (in the field of social sciences) degree can be completed in the following major subjects:
- Health and Human Services Informatics
- Social Management Science
- Social Pedagogy
- Social Psychology
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Social Policy
- Human Geography
- Environmental Policy
A Doctor of Philosophy (in the field of social sciences) degree can be completed in the following major subjects:
- Border studies
A person who has completed a relevant Master's degree awarded by a university, a relevant Master’s degree awarded by a university of applied sciences, or relevant international education that provides eligibility for equivalent higher education studies in the respective country can be admitted to studies leading to a scientific or artistic postgraduate degree. (University Act 558/2009, Section 37)
A person can be selected for a doctoral programme if they have
- a Master's degree, a Master’s degree awarded by a university of applied sciences, or equivalent international education, as well as university-level studies relevant to the doctoral research subject, which may be included in or outside the degree
- two supervisors agreed upon before submitting the application
- a research plan meeting the criteria presented below and
- English language skills according to the criteria presented below
Applications from eligible applicants are evaluated based on the following components:
- primarily the research plan; as well as
- other experience that supports the research: previous research work or scientific publications, international orientation and language skills required for research, work as a researcher, acquired funding or funding plan
- success in previous studies.
Research plan
The scientific quality of the research plan is evaluated based on the following criteria:
- The scientific level and research objectives of the research plan (research problem, research tasks)
- The scientific and/or societal significance of the research topic
- The connection between the research framework, research questions, and research methods, as well as the mastery of concepts and research literature
- The plan for data collection and analysis methods
- The scope, realism, and feasibility of the research plan, including the schedule, publication, and funding plans. Consideration of the dissertation phase in relation to the target time (pre-examination phase in three years).
- Consideration of ethical aspects related to the research and its implementation; for example, good scientific practice, data protection impact assessment, and ethical considerations in data management and collection.
Length of the research plan: 5–10 pages, plus references.
Create a research plan using this faculty template. NOTE! Save the template to your own computer before filling it out.
English language proficiency
Applicants must prove their English language skills when applying. They must either (1) meet the language proficiency criteria (see below), or (2) reach the minimum required language test results to be considered eligible to the University of Eastern Finland. No exceptions will be made and no waivers regarding the language proficiency requirements are given.
(1) Applicants who hold one of the following do not have to take an English language test
- English as foreign language included in at least a Bachelor-level degree conducted in Nordic country (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) or in an EU/EEA country;
- At least 20 ECTS university-level studies in the subject of English Studies completed in a Nordic or in an EU/EEA country;
- Master's thesis written in English when Master's degree is completed in a Nordic country or in an EU/EEA country;
- Secondary education completed in English language in EU/EEA -countries, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand or in Switzerland.
- A Bachelor’s, Master’s or higher degree in English language completed in EU/EEA -countries, or in one of the following countries: Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Canada, Dominica, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Hong Kong, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Philippines, Ruanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South-Africa, Switzerland, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, the United Kingdom, the United States, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
The degree/programme must be taught and assessed entirely in English. If you verify your language skills with your education degree, the language of instruction must be clearly indicated on the educational documents.
Online studies or studies completed on offshore campuses outside the accepted countries/area cannot be used to indicate language skills, even if the degree-awarding institution is in one of the accepted countries.
Attach to the application applicable degree certificate, Diploma Supplement and the transcript of the academic record.
(2) All other applicants have to take one of the following language tests
- TOEFL iBT, overall score 92, min. 22 in writing
- IELTS (academic) overall score 6.5, min. 6.0 in writing
- PTE (academic), overall score 62, min 54 in writing
- C1 Advanced overall score C or 180, with min. 162 in writing
- C2 Proficiency overall score level C1 or 180, with min. 162 in writing
- National Certificate of Language Proficiency YKI-test: level 5 in all different subtests (reading comprehension, writing and speaking). It is possible to combine different examinations.
No other degrees or statements of language proficiency will be accepted.
TOEFL, IELTS and PTE certificates are valid for two years from the day they are issued. The language test results must be verifiable from the online verification service of the organizer.
Supplementary studies
Supplementary studies may be required for a student whose prior education is in a field other than the intended major or when it is deemed appropriate for implementation of the research plan. The supplementary studies are defined in the admission decision and their scope is up to 30 ECTS credits. They are completed in addition to the degree studies and cannot be included in the doctoral degree.
The applicant must discuss their doctoral studies and doctoral thesis supervision with their prospective supervisor well in advance of applying for study right. The applicant must obtain the supervisor's consent to act as a supervisor before submitting the application. At least two supervisors will be appointed for the doctoral candidate. One of the supervisors must be a professor, associate professor, docent, or a person with equivalent qualifications from the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies. The other supervisor must hold a doctoral degree.
Start preparing to apply for the doctoral studies well in advance. Familiarise yourself with the admission criteria of the doctoral programme. Contact the potential supervisors at an early stage and discuss your planned research with them. The research plan is the most important part of the application for doctoral study right, so we recommend that you start preparing for it early. The research plan is independent work, but the persons who have agreed to be your supervisors will guide you in its preparation. Contact your supervisors in good time so that they can provide feedback on your research plan. If you have any questions, for example, about the admission criteria of the doctoral programme, please contact the doctoral programme’s applicant advisory service well in advance. See the contact information at the bottom of the page.
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 already be discussed with the supervisor when planning to apply for a doctoral study right and creating a research plan.
Doctoral studies can be funded, for example, by a scholarship, working as a researcher in a research project, working as a doctoral candidate at the University of Eastern Finland (doctoral researcher position), or studying part-time while at work. Doctoral researchers apply for funding themselves.
Read more about funding options for doctoral studies in the Kamu Student Databank.
Application period
The application form for the Doctoral Programme on Studyinfo.fi is open during the spring semester from the beginning of January until the last day of May, and during the autumn semester from the beginning of August until the last day of November. Always check the exact application deadlines from Studyinfo.fi. Prepare the attachments required for the application carefully before submitting the application. Applications are processed as needed during the semester, and the granted study right begins in the same semester.
What is Studyinfo.fi?
Studyinfo.fi is the official national admissions portal containing all the up-to-date information about study programmes leading to a degree in Finland.
Studies
A degree in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies doctoral programme includes a licentiate thesis and/or doctoral dissertation, as well as 30 credits of studies supporting research work and professional competence. Doctoral researchers are encouraged to actively contribute to the scientific community by participating in internal and external academic events, such as conferences.
Doctoral researchers must prepare a personal study plan and a supervision plan together with their supervisor within three months of receiving their study right. Doctoral candidates receive support and guidance for their studies and research work from the teaching and research staff as well as from university services.
Information about the required studies and course offerings is available in the Peppi Study Guide.
A doctoral thesis demonstrates that the doctoral researcher’s deep understanding of their own research field, related disciplines, and general scientific theory. Additionally, the thesis must show the author’s ability to independently and critically apply scientific research methods in their field and independently produce new knowledge.
A doctoral dissertation or licentiate thesis can be accepted as:
- A single study (monograph): A monograph is a work created by the doctoral researcher based on their own research. It is a cohesive and independent publication that must describe the materials, methods, and results used in the research in their entirety.
- An article-based dissertation: The requirements for an article-based dissertation are available in Kamu: Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies requirements
- In business studies, an essay-based dissertation: The requirements for an essay-based dissertation are available in Kamu: Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies requirements
The review, evaluation, and publication processes are described on the Kamu pages mentioned above.
You can find information for different phases of doctoral education in the Kamu Student Databank:
- 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
News and events
Dissertation press releases
Further information on the doctoral programme
If you have questions, please contact our applicant guidance services: info-yhkaphd@uef.fi.