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After completion of the PhD degree, the doctor has a strong knowledge of the field of science, demonstrated ability to search, critically evaluate, produce, present and apply knowledge, versatile skills in problem-solving and skills to further develop methodologies. The doctor has experience in working in groups and projects, teaching experience and practical proficiency to work as a professional in research institutions, industry and elsewhere in society.

Discipline-specific skills

• deep understanding of one’s own field of science

• understanding of one’s own subject of research and its significance

• knowledge of other fields related to one’s own research

Research skills of the field

• theoretical and experimental methods

• publishing of research results

• project management and collaboration skills

• research ethics and open science

Communication skills

• scientific written and oral communication

• strong language skills related to one’s own field of science

Teaching skills

• supervised teaching and teaching development

• guidance and instruction of younger students

For the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy the doctoral student must produce an article dissertation or a monograph dissertation, and complete doctoral studies (40 cr) consisting of the following:

1. Discipline-related coursework and exams (min 17 cr)

2. Supervised university teaching (max 10 cr)

3. Practical research and project work (max 10 cr)

4. Scientific conferences and summer schools etc. (max 10 cr)

5. Research ethics and open science (2 cr) and communication skills (2 cr)

Form for the coursework plan (study plan), Doctoral Programme in Physics

What can I study - teaching schedules for doctoral studies

For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, the doctoral candidate must write a dissertation. A dissertation is a comprehensive, research-based scientific presentation in the doctoral candidate’s field of study. It represents the candidate’s ability to independently and critically apply the methods of scientific research and create new scientific knowledge. A dissertation can take the form of an article-based dissertation or a monograph.

See more about dissertation requirements from 1.1.2025 onwards: /en/for-students/instructions-for-doctoral-students/dissertation-and-dissertation-research/dissertation-requirements-from-112025

Our PhD graduates find excellent employment opportunities in many different areas such as in industry, research institutions and academia.

The department is very international. We collaborate daily with numerous foreign universities and research institutes.

The department conducts cross-disciplinary research in cooperation with various stakeholders, including corporations, educational institutions and research institutions (e.g. VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority STUK).

At the Department of Physics, we investigate the basic phenomena of nature and educate future physicists and physics teachers. The department’s strengths are theoretical and experimental research in the fields of particle, nuclear and material physics.

The department is the most important research unit in Finland in the fields of particle and nuclear physics, and our Accelerator Laboratory is the largest set of research infrastructure in Finland. Our aim is to for example understand the origin of elements, shapes and structure of atomic nuclei, the growth of thin films. Our research utilizes the four particle accelerators in the Accelerator Laboratory. The Department of Physics is also specialized in studying materials at the nanoscale, for applications in quantum technology, for example. Research in this area is carried out at the Nanoscience Center, which is equipped with the latest fabrication and characterization infrastructure in the field. The department also hosts the Centre of Excellence on Quark Matter and many activities of the Finnish Quantum Flagship, both funded by the Research Council of Finland.

See more: /science/en/physics/research