Doctoral degrees

General requirements

In the LUMETO doctoral programme, a doctoral dissertation may consist of a number of scientific articles or manuscripts accepted for publication, deemed sufficient by the faculty, together with a summary section. These articles must address the same research problem. Doctoral dissertation may also be another work that meets equivalent scientific criteria. The articles may include co-authored articles, provided that the independent contribution of doctoral researcher can be demonstrated.

The summary section of an article-based dissertation and a monograph-based dissertation must comprehensively present the research background, objectives, the research data and methods used, the results, the discussion and the overall conclusions. The summary section of an article-based dissertation should not unnecessarily repeat content presented in the individual articles. The length of the summary of an article-based dissertation and of a monograph-based dissertation may vary across disciplines.

Article-based dissertation

An article-based dissertation typically consists of three (3) individual articles and a summary section based on them. At least one (1) of the individual articles must be published or accepted for publication in an international peer-reviewed scientific journal. If any of the individual articles is a manuscript, it must have been submitted for review to an international peer-reviewed scientific journal before the dissertation is submitted for preliminary examination. In exceptional cases, a dissertation consisting of two (2) individual articles may be accepted, provided that both articles have been published or accepted for publication.

The doctoral researcher must be the first author or principal author of at least two (2) of the individual articles in the article-based dissertation. Shared first authorship is considered equivalent to first authorship. The doctoral researcher must include in the dissertation a statement specifying their own contribution to any co-authored articles.

For justified reasons, the same individual article may be used as part of two dissertations, provided that both doctoral researchers can demonstrate a sufficient role and contribution in the article in question. If a dissertation includes an individual article that is used as part of two dissertations, a free-form statement must also be appended, specifying the role and contribution of both doctoral researchers in the article in question. The statement must also indicate that both doctoral researchers consent to the use of the individual article in the respective dissertations, and it must be signed by both doctoral researchers and their main supervisor or UEF supervisor.

Monograph-based dissertation

A monograph-based dissertation is a coherent work independently written by the doctoral researcher. The doctoral researcher must have contributed to the production of all results presented in the results sections of the monograph. The doctoral researcher may publish articles related to their research topic before the completion of the monograph-based dissertation and discuss the results of these previously published studies in the results section. The text, tables, figures or structure of previously published articles or manuscripts must not be used as such as part of the monograph. Previously published material must be referenced in accordance with responsible conduct of research. The monograph-based dissertation must not be divided into chapters or sections based on any previously published articles. Published articles or manuscripts on which the work may partly be based are not appended to the monograph-based dissertation.

The scope of postgraduate studies in the LUMETO doctoral programme is 30 ECTS, and the structure is as follows.

Transferable skills studies (5-10 ECTS)

The transferable skills studies include courses related to research skills, language and communication skills, research management and career skills. In addition, the transferable skills studies may include other courses that promote working life skills.

The compulsory transferable skills studies in the LUMETO doctoral progrmme are:

• Supervision Plan, Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology (0 ECTS)
• Research Ethics – Principles and Practices (2 ECTS)
  • Research Ethics (1 ECTS) completed before 1 August 2025 meets the requirements of the compulsory research ethics course
• Copyediting Research Writing (2 ECTS) or a corresponding scientific writing course organised by the University of Eastern Finland

Studies in the discipline and field of research (20–25 ECTS)