Doctoral center page of Faculty of Science and Technology

Arrival ABC

Here are the fundamentals for those students who are about to arrive or have already arrived at the University of Tartu.

Transferable skills training

Information for the 1st year doctoral students

To-do list in the first semester

•  Meet your supervisor for an introductory conversation and fill out the expectations management worksheet. Read more here. 

Expectations management worksheet - a list  of doctoral student’s and supervisor’s responsibilities

• Enter the period plan for the first semester into the Study Information system within one month of the matriculation of the doctoral student

Period plan

• The Supervision agreement 

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.

Supervision agreement

• The individual plan for the whole period of doctoral studies is submitted together with the first progress review report.

Doctoral students individual plan

• The first progress review takes place at the end of January. Besides the individual plan, the progress review report and period plan for the next semester must be submitted. Progress review procedure at the Faculty of Science and Technology

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

Document form

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.

Document form

Recognition of prior learning and experience, programmes opened before 2022/2023

Progress review procedure at the Faculty of Science and Technology