Doctoral studies: Admission criteria
The instructions are valid during the 2025 admission rounds to doctoral programmes at JYU.
Doctoral student admission follows detailed admission requirements prepared by faculties based on the following general admission criteria:
- applicant's basic knowledge of an applicable discipline
- applicant's success in studies that provide eligibility to apply for doctoral studies
- research topic's suitability for the research area of the faculty or department
- the level and feasibility of the research and study plan
- the availability of expert supervision and the sufficiency of related resources
- applicant's commitment to complete the degree within the target completion time
See the detailed admission requirements prepared by the faculties below.
Applicant must contact the unit organising the doctoral education in the discipline in accordance with the faculty-specific guidelines before submitting the application. This is one of the criteria used to assess the application. Failure to do so may result in rejection of the application.
The Doctoral Programme in Information Technology doctoral education in the fields of science, business and engineering (ICT). Applicants are invited to apply for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Doctor of Science (Economics and Business Administration), or Doctor of Science (Technology) degree, focusing on one of the specialisations available. Please note that all degree options are not available in all specialisation options.
The planned dissertation topic must be in line with the field of study and doctoral degree you wish to pursue.
An applicant who has completed a higher education degree that provides eligibility to apply for doctoral studies and whose previous studies are deemed suitable as a basis for the planned doctoral studies may be admitted to the doctoral programme. A suitable background is generally considered to be a degree that provides eligibility to apply for doctoral studies which includes extensive studies in a field equivalent or close to the field of the intended doctoral degree.
Doctor of Science (Economics and Business Administration) degree is awarded to an applicant who has completed a higher education degree that provides eligibility to apply for doctoral studies and has completed a university-level basic studies or equivalent in business studies.
Doctor of Science (Technology) degree is awarded to an applicant with a Master of Engineering degree or Master of Philosophy degree, or an equivalent degree abroad, and in addition
- has a Master of Engineering degree in ICT; OR
- has completed at least 35 credits of studies corresponding to the courses in mathematics of technical education at the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ and in addition at least 150 ECTS credits of courses in information or software technology, corresponding to 70 ECTS credits in engineering bachelor's degrees and 80 ECTS credits in engineering master's programs at the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥.
See also Doctoral studies: Eligibility requirements.
The right to study can be applied before the completion of the higher education degree that provides eligibility to apply for doctoral studies, in which case the applicant can be accepted for doctoral studies with a conditional admission decision. With regard to conditional admission decisions, the conditions and schedules specified by the University are followed.
The JSBE Research Committee acts as the evaluation group for the applications. After the application period ends, the eligibility requirements of each applicant are checked. Only eligible applications are evaluated. In addition the disciplines are informed about the applications in their field, so that they can evaluate the availability of supervision. The final decision on student admission is made by the Dean.
Applicant's basic knowledge of an applicable discipline and applicant's success in studies that provide eligibility to apply for doctoral studies
The studies of the degree granting eligibility must be suitable as a basis for the planned doctoral degree. The applicant must have sufficient knowledge of the field, mastery of scientific methods, and understanding of research ethics. The applicant must have a thesis grade that meets the eligibility requirements (at least a grade of Good, (3/5), if the thesis has been graded). If the thesis does not have the required grade, equivalent competence can be demonstrated through a scientific publication or other research report.
The proposed supervisor-in-charge and the evaluation group assess whether the eligible applicant’s previous studies are suitable as a basis for the planned doctoral degree, as well as the suitability and level of any scientific publication or other research report submitted instead of a thesis grade.
Research topic's suitability for the research area of the faculty or department, the level and feasibility of the research and study plan, applicant's commitment to complete the degree within the target completion time
The research topic of the dissertation must align with the field of study and the doctoral degree the applicant wishes to pursue. The applicant must familiarize themselves in advance with the research conducted in the Faculty. The research plan plays a significant role in both the application process and its evaluation. The topic and content of the research are limited so that it is possible to defend the dissertation within 3–4 years of full-time study. More detailed requirements can be found on the Dissertation Requirements page. The doctoral study plan must comply with the curriculum, be realistic, and support the dissertation research. The plans must be prepared using the faculty’s templates. Templates and more detailed instructions can be found on the Required Attachments page.
The proposed supervisor-in-charge and the evaluation group will assess the suitability of the dissertation topic and the level and feasibility of the plans.
The availability of expert supervision and the sufficiency of related resources
The supervisor-in-charge must be employed by the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥, be a member of the faculty’s teaching and research staff, hold a doctoral degree, and have sufficient scientific merits. If the applicant is selected, a follow-up group must be appointed for them. Instructions related to supervisors and the follow-up group can be found on the Main Stages in applying - Find out the availability of relevant supervision page.
The applicant must attach the supervisor-in-charge's endorsement to the application, confirming their support for the research and doctoral study plan and their commitment to supervision. Detailed instructions for the endorsement can be found on the Required Attachments page.
In assessing the availability and adequacy of supervision, the discipline’s opinion on the available supervision and the university’s policy is taken into account to ensure good and sufficient supervision. According to this policy, the number of doctoral students with active study rights under the supervision of the supervisor-in-charge should not exceed 10.
Conditional Admission Decision
In all doctoral programmes of the Faculty, a conditional admission decision can be made for an applicant who is otherwise eligible and meets the admission criteria, based on the fact that the degree granting eligibility is incomplete at the end of the application period or the applicant has not submitted the officially certified educational documents and their possible translations. To be accepted, the applicant must demonstrate by the given deadline that the basis for the conditional admission decision has been removed. More information and schedules can be found on the Conditional admission decision page.
Documents Related to Admission Criteria
The fulfilment of the admission criteria is assessed based on the application and the submitted educational documents and attachments. Therefore, the applicant must ensure that all required documents are submitted according to the instructions. Even if the applicant otherwise meets the eligibility requirements, but has not submitted the required attachments in the required manner, they do not meet the admission criteria and thus cannot be selected.
Transfer Application
At JSBE it is not possible to be admitted to the doctoral programmes through a transfer application. A doctoral student from another faculty of the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ or from another university must apply for the right to pursue postgraduate studies according to the application and selection procedures of the doctoral programmes at the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ during the application periods.
All doctoral programmes
Ensuring supervision before submitting an application is one of the selection criteria used to assess applications for doctoral studies in the doctoral programmes of the Faculty of Education and Psychology. Lacking supervision in accordance with the application guidelines may result in rejection of the application.
The postgraduate working group acts as the evaluation group for the applications. After the application period ends, the eligibility requirements of each applicant are checked. Only eligible applications are evaluated. The final decision on student admission is made by the Dean.
Applicant's basic knowledge of an applicable discipline and applicant's success in studies that provide eligibility to apply for doctoral studies
The studies of the degree granting eligibility must be suitable as a basis for the planned doctoral degree. The applicant must have sufficient knowledge of the field, mastery of scientific methods, and understanding of research ethics. The applicant must have a thesis grade that meets the eligibility requirements (at least a grade of Good, (3/5), if the thesis has been graded). If the thesis does not have the required grade, equivalent competence can be demonstrated through a scientific publication or other research report.
The proposed supervisor-in-charge and the evaluation group assess whether the eligible applicant’s previous studies are suitable as a basis for the planned doctoral degree, as well as the suitability and level of any scientific publication or other research report submitted instead of a thesis grade.
Research topic's suitability for the research area of the faculty or department, the level and feasibility of the research and study plan, applicant's commitment to complete the degree within the target completion time
The research topic of the dissertation must align with the research conducted in the Faculty; thus, the applicant must familiarize themselves in advance with the Faculty’s research areas. The research plan plays a significant role in both the application process and its evaluation. The topic and content of the research are limited so that it is possible to defend the dissertation within 3–4 years of full-time study. More detailed requirements can be found on the Dissertation Requirements page. The doctoral study plan must comply with the curriculum, be realistic, and support the dissertation research. The plans must be prepared using the faculty’s templates. Templates and more detailed instructions can be found on the Required Attachments page.
In the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, the research plan is evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Convincing scientific justification of the research
- Realistic, clearly stated funding plan and timeline
- Logical flow between theoretical background, research questions, and methodology
- Description of research design, methods, study variables, and participant recruitment supports the feasibility of the plan
The proposed supervisor-in-charge and the evaluation group will assess the suitability of the dissertation topic and the level and feasibility of the plans.
The availability of expert supervision and the sufficiency of related resources
The supervisor-in-charge must be employed by the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥, be a member of the faculty’s teaching and research staff, hold a doctoral degree, and have sufficient scientific merits. In addition to the supervisor-in-charge, the applicant must have one or two other supervisors who do not need to be employed by the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥. Additionally, the application must include the details of a member of the follow-up group. The follow-up group includes at least one person with doctoral degree, who is not the supervisor of the student in question and is not closely linked to student's dissertation research, for example as a co-author, or in a role that enables the production of research-based information. Follow-up group members may be external to the University. Instructions related to supervisors and the follow-up group can be found on the Main Stages in applying - Find out the availability of relevant supervision page.
The applicant must attach the supervisors' approval form to their application, signed by all supervisors, members of the follow-up group, and the main representative of the subject. On the form, they confirm their support for the application and their commitment to their tasks. The form can be found on the Required Attachments page.
In assessing the availability and adequacy of supervision, the university’s policy is taken into account to ensure good and sufficient supervision. According to this policy, the number of doctoral students with active study rights under the supervision of the supervisor-in-charge should not exceed 10.
Conditional Admission Decision
In all doctoral programmes of the Faculty, a conditional admission decision can be made for an applicant who is otherwise eligible and meets the admission criteria, based on the fact that the degree granting eligibility is incomplete at the end of the application period or the applicant has not submitted the officially certified educational documents and their possible translations. To be accepted, the applicant must demonstrate by the given deadline that the basis for the conditional admission decision has been removed. More information and schedules can be found on the Conditional admission decision page.
Documents Related to Admission Criteria
The fulfillment of the admission criteria is assessed based on the application and the submitted educational documents and attachments. Therefore, the applicant must ensure that all required documents are submitted according to the instructions. Even if the applicant otherwise meets the eligibility requirements, but has not submitted the required attachments in the required manner, they do not meet the admission criteria and thus cannot be selected.
Transfer Application
At the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences it is not possible to be admitted to the doctoral programmes through a transfer application. A doctoral student from another faculty of the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ or from another university must apply for the right to pursue postgraduate studies according to the application and selection procedures of the doctoral programmes at the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ during the application periods.
In the Faculty of Mathematics and Science, the general admission criteria of the University are followed.
Applicants of the Doctoral Programme in Biological and Environmental Science, Specialisation in Clinical Cell Biology (please note: the Specialisation in Clinical Cell Biology (in Finnish, sairaalasolubiologin opintosuunta) is only offered in Finnish): Bio- ja ympäristötieteiden tohtoriohjelman sairaalasolubiologin opintosuunnassa noudatetaan yleisten valintakriteerien lisäksi seuraavia yksityiskohtaisia valintaperusteita:
- Soveltuva tutkinto: Sairaalasolubiologin opintosuuntaan hyväksymisen edellytyksenä on soveltuva FM tutkinto solu- ja molekyylibiologian tai biokemian alalta tai vastaavat muualla hankitut taidot.
- Kliinisen harjoittelun koulutuspaikka: Koulutukseen hyväksymiseksi hakijalla on oltava sovittuna kliinisen harjoittelun koulutuspaikka patologian alan laboratoriossa yliopistollisessa sairaalassa, keskussairaalassa tai niihin liittyvissä liikelaitoksissa, tai muussa soveltuvassa laboratoriossa.
Lisäksi bio- ja ympäristötieteiden tohtoriohjelman johtoryhmä pyytää hakemuksiin lausunnon sairaalasolubiologikoulutuksen pätevyyslautakunnalta ja toimittaa lausunnon edelleen tiedoksi tiedekuntaan, joka tekee lopulliset päätökset opiskeluoikeuksista.