Upon successful completion of the course unit, the student will be able to conduct independent academic study. The student will have a deep understanding of their own field of research and the ability to follow the current academic discussions in this field. They will have an extensive grasp on the theories, scientific approaches, research methods, and analytical conventions of their field and be able to adapt and develop this knowledge into new theories and methods in their area of specialty. The student will be able to express and justify their own view of the societal and scientific impact of the research conducted in their field. The student will understand the requirements of being a professional researcher and be capable of taking an active part in the international academic community. The student will know their own field of research intimately in order to understand and follow new developments in this field and act as an expert in their field in a variety of different and changing environments. The student will be able to communicate both orally and in writing in the languages that are central to their research and be familiar with the language areas in question along with their cultural dimensions. The student will have a good command of scientific conventions, be familiar with the philosophy of science and its central questions, and be able to apply these in their research. They will be able to identify and source reliable information for the purposes of their research. The student will be able to partake in academic discussion independently, argue both critically and constructively, and convey researched information both orally and in writing. The student will have a general level of knowledge of the various fields of research in language, translation, and literary studies.

The target time for completing a doctoral degree in the doctoral degree programme is 4 years / 240 ECTS (1 year / 1600 hours / 60 ECTS). These studies include 1) a dissertation (200 ECTS) and 2)
other research- and expertise-related studies. The student can also complete a licentiate degree as an intermediary degree, which includes a licentiate’s thesis (100 ECTS) and other studies (40 ECTS).

According to the Universities Act 558/2009 section 37, for a person to be eligible to attend studies leading to an academic or artistic postgraduate degree, they must either have completed an applicable higher university degree, have completed an applicable higher polytechnic degree, have an applicable education completed abroad which, in the country the studies have been completed in, makes one eligible for corresponding higher education, or is otherwise deemed to have sufficient knowledge and experience by the university.