Doctoral Programme of Humans and Technologies

The aim of the Doctoral Programme of Humans and Technologies (DPHAT) is to educate researchers who study the relationships between people, knowledge and technology. This broad field often requires knowledge and expertise in areas ranging from computer science and information studies to human sciences, such as psychology and sociology.  

Doctoral Programme of Humans and Technologies prepares students for challenging research, R&D and specialist careers relating to human-driven approaches to technology. The field has a strong multidisciplinary dimension, and it requires an in-depth understanding of a broad range of research methodologies and approaches.   

There are three research fields in the programme:

Human-Technology Interaction

Doctoral research in Human-Technology Interaction can address a variety of perspectives related to novel technology-mediated systems and applications that shape people’s everyday life and work. This research field addresses topics such as:  

• Novel forms of human-technology interaction, including multimodal and multisensory interaction  
• Interaction and applications on new technology platforms such as Virtual Reality, social robots and autonomous vehicles 
• Human-Centered aspects of computing systems and Artificial Intelligence 
• User experience, cognition, motivation, emotion in information technology systems
• Societal impact, accessibility, and ethics of digital technology   

Information Studies  

Doctoral research in Information Studies addresses four areas. The student becomes an expert in either information practices, information management, information retrieval, or learning technologies. Those who complete the degree are employed, depending on their selected area, in libraries, archives or other information-intensive public sector or business organisations. Potential research themes include:  

• Information practices of individuals and organisations 
• Information searching and retrieval 
• Archives and registries in contemporary society and the future 
• Educational technologies 
• Information literacy 
• Library studies and reading studies 
• Knowledge management  

Games & Gamification  

Doctoral research in the Games and Gamification addresses the multifaceted challenges related to society, ecology, economy, well-being, culture, literacy, and technology as well as other areas of human-game/technology practice. Through the design and research of games, gamification, and game-related technologies, from several academic approaches, the research seeks to address ‘wicked problems’ facing humanity.  

The research topics include but are not limited to:  

• Gamification in application domains such as 
  Education: e.g., serious games, game-based learning; 
  Media: e.g., esports, social media, gamification in journalism; 
  Commerce: e.g., business models, gamification in marketing; 
  Work: e.g., gameful work, gamification in leadership; 
  Health: e.g., quantified self, gamification for health and well-being 
• Gamification for societal phenomena such as environment/climate, culture, governance: e.g., human-forest interaction, climate-change engagement, democracy, participation, justice, urban planning, smart and playable cities
• Gamification design principles and methods, designing gamification artefacts, playful and speculative design 
• Critical approach to gamification: e.g., detrimental effects of gamification, extrinsic control, and de-gamification  

Find a prospective supervisor!

Application rounds for the research fields mentioned above (Human-Technology Interaction, Information Studies and Games & Gamification) in the academic year 2025-2026

• Application round: 1 August – 26 August 2025 15:00 Finnish time (UTC +3). Results: 30 September 2025 and study right starts 1 October 2025.
• Application round: 27 August – 24 October 2025 15:00 Finnish time (UTC +3). Results: 28 November 2025 and study right starts 1 December 2025.
• Application round: 25 October 2025 – 23 January 2026 15:00 Finnish time (UTC +2). Results: 27 February 2026 and study right starts 2 March 2026.
• Application round: 24 January 2026 – 30 April 2026 15:00 Finnish time (UTC +3). Results: 9 June 2026 and study right starts 1 August 2026. 

Please note! The application round ends at 15.00 Finnish time.