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Benefits of internationalisation

It is recommended that all doctoral students gain experience in international research cooperation. Internationality is often part of full-time doctoral students’ daily work: faculties employ international teaching and research staff, and an increasing number of doctoral students come from outside of Finland. Dissertation work is often carried out in an international research group. Experience in international cooperation gained at home is ideally complemented by visits abroad supporting research, dissertation work or postgraduate studies. International mobility is worth considering already when devising your doctoral study plan. 

Advantages of internationalisation include:

• improved language skills
• improved interaction skills
• increased self-confidence
• increased professional competence and ambition
• increased maturity and merits
• learning new work methods and approaches
• experience in working in a multinational environment
• improved employment prospects: employers appreciate international experience

Please also note that you may get credits from, for example, conference presentations or international researcher mobility. Please check your own curriculum for more detailed instructions. 

The forms of international mobility recommended for doctoral students include:

Researcher mobility

Visit to a foreign research group

Visiting a research group or laboratory in your field abroad can give you the opportunity to learn new methods or use equipment that is not available at home, for example. At the same time, you can experience the culture and working methods of the country you are visiting. To get the most out of your visit, choose your destination carefully and in consultation with your supervisor. For example, you can plan your visit to work on an international joint publication to be included in your dissertation or on its research plan. For guidance on travel and international staff issues, please consult the HR staff handbook on the Intranet Uno. The Staff HR Handbook also contains guidance for grant researchers.

Conference trips

Participation in scientific conferences provides you with valuable presentation experience and the opportunity to introduce yourself and your research to international experts in your field. Preparing and presenting a talk or a poster as well as feedback on the presentation, contribute to the progress of your research. Conference journeys are also excellent opportunities to create international contacts and even map postdoctoral opportunities. It is useful to reflect on the objectives of the conference trip in advance and compile a list of interesting presentations and participants whom you would like to meet and discuss. The Centre for Multilingual Academic Communication offers training modules in conference skills for doctoral researchers.

Participation in doctoral training courses and summer schools outside of Finland

You can complement your doctoral study plan with the doctoral training courses and programmes provided by foreign universities, doctoral programmes or research institutes. Dissertation topics are often very narrow, and the educational offerings related to them may be insufficient in Finland. You may find additional training opportunities abroad that will advance your dissertation work, as well as offer special expertise that will distinguish you from other doctors in the field.