Here are the fundamentals for those students who are about to arrive or have already arrived at the University of Tartu.
To-do list in the first semester
Expectations management worksheet - a list of doctoral student’s and supervisor’s responsibilities
The individual plan is the doctoral student's research and study plan for the entire period of study. A period plan is a part of the individual plan, in which the specified plan of studies and research is agreed upon for the following progress review period. The individual plan is compiled in cooperation with the supervisor(s).
The individual plan for the whole period of doctoral studies is submitted together with the first progress review report of the first year.
The period plan of the first semester must be submitted within one month after matriculation. The doctoral student submits the following period plans together with each progress review report.
A supervision agreement is concluded between the doctoral student, the supervisor(s) and the university within one month of the matriculation. The same obligation applies to external students.
The agreement indicates the division of responsibility and tasks between the supervisors. In addition, the agreement states basic conditions of the ownership of intellectual property rights and confidentiality of personal data.
The signed supervision agreement has to be sent to the Institute before the deadline. In the Faculty of Science and Technology, the Director/Head of Institute signs the contract on behalf of the University of Tartu. The agreement is registered on the document management information system.
Doctoral students’ self-analysis
For learners in programmes opened from 2022/2023
Self-analysis contributes to your professional development and well-planned doctoral studies. It helps you become aware of and assess your personal development needs and opportunities.
The doctoral students’ self-analysis form is a tool that helps you prepare your individual plan, annual period plans and progress review reports. You can also use the completed form to plan meetings with the supervisor. The self-analysis materials are not part of the mandatory progress review documents, but the progress review committee may ask questions about your self-analysis.
https://ut.ee/en/doctoral-students-self-analysis
RPL in doctoral studies
For learners in programmes opened from 2022/2023
For learners in doctoral programmes opened from 2022/2023, RPL is no longer applied in the traditional way.
For recognition of prior learning and professional experience, the learner should present the learning outcomes recognition form. The application is coordinated with the representative of the specialisation of the doctoral programme and submitted with the competencies self-analysis for the second-semester progress review of the first year.
Based on prior learning and work experience, it is possible to consider specific competencies as acquired to the extent that they do not need to be focused on during the studies. The recognition of prior learning and work experience does not reduce the required volume of studies and research in the programme but allows for a greater focus on the acquisition or enhancement of other skills and knowledge.
Exceptions are doctoral students studying under a joint supervision agreement in two universities or matriculated to a vacant student place, as well as persons applying for the status of an external student. In such cases, it is possible to reduce the programme’s volume of studies and research by recognising prior learning and work experience.
Recognition of prior learning and experience, programmes opened before 2022/2023
Progress review procedure at the Faculty of Science and Technology
The Faculty of Science and Technology is an international research environment: one-third of our doctoral students are international students. Completing a doctoral degree in English is possible in all our doctoral programmes. From the 2022 year, doctoral students will be hired as junior researchers. No tuition fees are charged to doctoral students.
Doctoral studies are organised by the the Regulations for Doctoral Studies (RDS) at the University of Tartu. The regulations include general rules of supervision, individual plan, progress review and degree application procedure. The University good practices are a recommended reading for all doctoral students, especially Good Practice of Doctoral Studies. You can also find out more about course registration, recognition of prior learning, and related instructions and guidelines.
Regulations