Doctoral Programme in Information and Systems, 240 cr

According to the Government Decree on University Degrees the objectives of scientific postgraduate education are that the student

1. Becomes thoroughly acquainted with her/his own field of research and its social significance

2. Gains the knowledge and skills needed to apply scientific research methods independently and critically and to produce new scientific knowledge within her/his field of research

3. Becomes acquainted with the development, basic problems and research methods of her/his field of research

4. Gains such knowledge of the general theory of science and of other disciplines relating to her/his own field of research as enables her/him to follow developments in them

5. Achieves sufficient communication and language skills and other abilities to work as an expert or a developer in demanding jobs and in international cooperation.

The doctoral programme offers the following postgraduate degrees: Licentiate of Philosophy, and Doctor of Philosophy.

The major subject alternatives are: Computer Science, Mathematics, and Statistics.

To be awarded a doctoral degree (240 ECTS credits), the student must complete

1. the doctoral studies promoting research or professional competence (40 credits).

2. a doctoral dissertation, approved by the Faculty Council after a public defence. In general, 200 credits are awarded for a successful doctoral dissertation.

The doctoral studies consist of research methodology, studies deepening the student's knowledge of his/her major subject and research field, and other studies. These studies may include intermediate courses in the major subject or some other subject, a thesis and other advanced courses in a minor subject, and research-related studies which exceed the minimum requirements of a Master's degree. Credit can also be given for courses taken at Doctoral Schools or abroad and for articles and other publications, conference papers and other scientific activities. Research-related doctoral studies must include some research ethics studies.

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If a student wishes to earn a licentiate degree as an intermediate step towards the doctoral degree, he/she must complete the following:

1. Research-related Doctoral Studies, 40 ECTS credits (see above) and

2. Licentiate Thesis, 90 ECTS credits

A dissertation manuscript with permission to publish from the Faculty Council may be submitted as a licentiate thesis. Separate instructions are given for the licentiate thesis.

A licentiate thesis must demonstrate a profound knowledge of the field and its methods, along with the ability to apply these methods independently and critically. It can be a unified study (a monograph) or an integrated entity of scientific publications or manuscripts approved for publication paired with a summary article (an article-based thesis). The objectives, methods and results of the study must be presented in the summary article. Publications may also include co-authored publications if the doctoral student's independent contribution can be shown. If the publications include co-authored articles, the doctoral student must generally be responsible for significant contributions in them. The doctoral student must also submit to the Faculty a written account of his/her contribution to the publications. This account must be submitted when submitting the thesis for evaluation. The doctoral student can even apply to have his/her dissertation manuscript accepted as a licentiate thesis after having received permission to publish it.