Doctoral Programme in Psychology, autumn 2025

Language of instruction

Finnish

English

Teaching time

Daytime and evening teaching

Irrespective of time

Planned duration

4 years

Form of teaching

Contact teaching

Independent learning

Blended teaching

Education description

In the Doctoral Programme in Psychology, you will thoroughly familiarize yourself with the chosen research topic of the dissertation, as well as the main theories, research knowledge and research methods in the field of study. Doctoral research conducted in the doctoral programme is focused on one or several of the priorities of psychological research at the Ģ��ֱ��: 1) Clinical psychology and psychotherapy, 2) Motivation, learning and environment for learning, 3) Family research, 4) Methodology studies, 5) Work and organizational psychology, and 6) Brain and psychophysiological research. During your doctoral studies, you will learn to apply the methods of psychological research and to generate new scientific knowledge in the field of research. You will develop skills to work in research and other demanding professional tasks in the field of psychology and learn to profoundly understand psychological phenomena at the individual, organizational and societal levels.

A doctoral degree consists of a doctoral dissertation and other doctoral studies. In the Doctoral Programme in Psychology, you can graduate either as a Doctor of Philosophy (Psychology) or Doctor of Philosophy depending on your previous studies.

The aim of the Doctoral Programme in Psychology is to provide doctoral students with a deep understanding of the theories, research methods, and social and international significance of their own discipline, as well as to develop versatile research skills, thus producing a strong competence for independent research and scholarly publication. The training provided in the doctoral programme develops the interaction and networking skills necessary for scientific communication and collaboration, as well as other professional skills, and thus provides the ability to work in diverse and demanding professional roles.

To be awarded a doctorate, the doctoral student must complete the required doctoral studies, demonstrate independent and critical thinking in one’s field of research and write a doctoral dissertation and defend it in public.

The degree consists of a doctoral dissertation and other doctoral studies. The curriculum of the Doctoral Programme in Psychology can be found at /en/for-students/instructions-for-doctoral-students/doctoral-studies/curricula-of-doctoral-programmes.

The doctoral dissertation must be an independent piece of research in the field of psychology. It may an article/compilation dissertation or a monograph. The topic of the doctoral dissertation must fall within the research priorities in psychology that re listed at: /en/edupsy/research-at-the-faculty-of-education-and-psychology. Dissertation requirements of the Ģ��ֱ��, /en/for-students/instructions-for-doctoral-students/dissertation-and-dissertation-research/dissertation-requirements-from-112025. In the doctoral programmes of the Faculty of Education and Psychology, an article dissertation typically consists of three peer-reviewed articles. At least one article must have been supervised at the Ģ��ֱ�� during the doctoral studies.

Application options

Doctoral Programme in Psychology, Doctor of Philosophy / Doctor of Philosophy (Psychology) (4 yrs)

Application starts

1.4.2025 08:00

Application ends

30.4.2025 15:00

Application procedure

Separate application

Prior education

Foreign Master's degree

University of applied sciences Master's degree

University Master's degree

Admission criteria

Eligibility criteria

You can apply to a doctoral programme if you have completed

a relevant master’s degree awarded by a university;
a relevant master’s degree awarded by a university of applied sciences; or
a relevant study programme abroad which in the awarding country gives eligibility for the corresponding level of higher education.

The higher education institution that granted the foreign degree must be an acknowledged part of the country’s official national education system. The institution must be on the list of higher education institutions that are entitled to grant degrees in the country or listed as an acknowledged higher education institution by an international organisation (e.g. UNESCO).

The Ģ��ֱ�� requires that a student selected for doctoral studies has at least a grade of Good (3/5) or equivalent for the master’s thesis if the thesis is evaluated. Please read more at /en/doctoral-education/apply-to-doctoral-studies/eligibility-requirements.

The Ģ��ֱ�� requires that the applicants for doctoral studies have proficiency in Finnish or English at the admission stage. The language proficiency requirements are described in detail at /en/doctoral-education/apply-to-doctoral-studies.

Doctoral programme in Psychology

Applicants who have completed a Master of Psychology or an equivalent degree obtained abroad can have the target degree of PhD (Psych.).

The target degree of PhD can be received by an applicant who has completed a suitable master’s degree, a higher degree from a university of applied sciences, or an equivalent degree completed abroad that gives eligibility for doctoral studies in that country. An eligible background degree for the target degree of PhD is a degree or a degree with complementary higher academic studies that give preparedness for a doctoral dissertation project in the field of psychology or cross-disciplinary psychology. Eligibility given by suitable background studies will be evaluated in the board of the doctoral programme after the application period.

Selection criteria description

Doctoral student admission is based in the following 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 strategy 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
the applicant's commitment to completing the degree

Doctoral programme in psychology

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.

Admissions procedure

Haku tohtorikoulutukseen

Attachments

All applicants must submit a research plan and a doctoral study plan in the doctoral programme template as attachments to the application. For instructions on writing the research plan and the doctoral study plan can be found in guidelines for applying for doctoral training. Please read more at /en/doctoral-education/apply-to-doctoral-studies/required-attachments.

Please also attach your degree certificate, a transcript of records, translations, a language proficiency certificate and other necessary documents to the application, if the application guidelines so require.

For detailed document requirements and instructions for submitting the documents, see the application guidelines /en/doctoral-education/apply-to-doctoral-studies.

Attachment is uploaded on the application form

Must be submitted by
Apr. 30, 2025 at 03:00 PM UTC+3

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