Doctoral programme in Engineering and Technology
From the academic year 2022/2023 starting a doctoral programme in Engineering and Technology, which includes five specialities:
1. Computer Engineering (Institute of Technology)
2. Sustainable Energetics (Institute of Chemistry)
3. Environmental Technology (Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences)
4. Materials Science (Institute of Physics)
5. Molecular Biotechnology (Institute of Technology)
The doctoral studies focus on the doctoral thesis and research-related activities. The doctoral student can make individual and purposeful choices in their study plan in collaboration with their supervisor(s).
The programme includes courses and training for 30 ETCS. The study module includes speciality-specific courses (15 ECTS) and transferrable skills training (15 ECTS).
The progress review committee assesses doctoral students' advancement about their study plan, the programme's learning outcomes, and required activities within the programme. In addition, specialities can have specific requirements and suggestions for their doctoral students.
Programme aims and requirements
The overall goal of the programme is to bring the doctoral student’s knowledge and skills to the level of an internationally-recognised, high-level professional. Doctoral studies prepare the student for employment as teaching or research staff at universities and other research institutions, or as leading professional specialists outside the academic sphere. Doctoral studies are research-based studies at the topmost level of higher education, during which the doctoral student acquires international-level research and development skills, an open scientific worldview, and competencies in management and pedagogical work. The professional specialist with a doctoral degree is an independent researcher who is able to analyse and solve any problems put before them, and is capable of working independently, as a team member or leading a working group as needs require.
On successful completion of the programme of doctoral studies, the doctoral student:
1. will excel at their field of research in terms of knowledge and skills, and will be up to date with the latest scientific and technological developments; 2. will understand, combine and develop their research field’s research methods, be able to pose hypotheses and plan and conduct experiments to test the validity of hypotheses, and be able to understand and generalise the content and scope of interdisciplinary knowledge and research methods; 3. will be able to analyse, synthesise and evaluate novel and knowledge-rich ideas, identify and formulate research questions, develop theories, and will be able to see how the results of their research could be applied;
4. will initiate, plan, apply and critically evaluate research and development work, as well as being able to give and receive constructive feedback;
5. will document and present the results of their research, present their speciality’s theoretical and applied aspects, both in writing and orally, in a way that is logical and understandable to the target audience, as well as explain and promote a scientific worldview more broadly;
6. will be ethical in their conduct, and observe good research practice and other best practice guidelines put forth by the university, good data management practice, and intellectual property rights and data protection policies;
7. will be capable of working independently or in a team, depending on the situation, including in an international work or study environment, and will apply their management and teamwork skills;
8. will systematically analyse their own competencies and needs for self-improvement, and work on their professional development; will recognise and promote the need for continuous development of knowledge and skills;
9. will pass on their knowledge through teaching, academic supervision or other means in an educational or research context as well as at a broader societal level;
10. will have a good understanding of how modern scientific research is organised.
Research, Development and Creative Activities (RDC) Module
The total scope of the doctoral study programme is 6240 hours (equivalent to 240 ECTS credits), of which the Research, Development and Creative Work module constitutes 5460 hours (equivalent to 210 ECTS credits) and the Study module constitutes 780 hours (equivalent to 30 ECTS credits).
The doctoral student will carry out research work with the support of a supervisor or supervisors approved by the council.
The aim of the doctoral student’s research and development work is for them to acquire the skills and techniques needed for planning and carrying out research, and for presenting its results, improving and deepening the knowledge required for this purpose. As the result of their research, the doctoral student will complete an independent study in which a reasoned, original solution is presented to an important problem or problems in their specific research field. The doctoral student will acquire experience in scientific communication as well as work experience teaching at a higher education institution.
The doctoral student who successfully completes the module:
- will have a good understanding of their specialist field’s most important research methodologies;
- will have a deep knowledge of and be up to date with the latest research trends in their speciality;
- will be able to apply their knowledge to plan and carry out research in their speciality;
- will be able to identify and creatively formulate research questions, and will find opportunities to solve them;
- will initiate and plan research and development projects which deliver new knowledge and solutions, and will also associate the project’s tasks and results with potential applications;
- will be able to analyse and synthesise both information gained in the course of research and that known previously, and critically evaluate the potential outcome of research and development work in their speciality;
- will be able to evaluate their research field’s scientific results in a broader context and integrate them with other disciplines;
- will formulate and express the results of their research for publication at an international level. They will be able to analyse and critically evaluate research results, and give substantiated feedback on them. They will debate and present their research results at international scientific events;
- will be able to give evaluations concerning research ethics, and will understand the responsibility of creating and using research results;
- will be able to evaluate the impact of scientific achievements in the broader societal context;
- will be capable of taking strategic decisions independently;
- will be able to operate in complex situations and environments, including in an international work or academic environment;
- will systematically evaluate their own needs for self-improvement activities and plan them;
- will possess good communication, management and teamwork skills;
- will be able to prepare and conduct classroom studies at a university or supervise a bachelor’s or master’s thesis.
The doctoral student shall:
1. write a doctoral thesis that complies with the requirements set in the Regulations for Doctoral Studies, and comply with the progress review regulations set at their faculty;
2. give a presentation at a high- level international conference and take part in international discussions related to research work;
3. actively participate in their speciality’s doctoral seminars throughout the duration of their studies, and give at least four presentations at these seminars;
4. actively participate in their faculty or institute’s research and development work, including contributing to the organisation of activities and participating in events at the Centre for Doctoral Studies;
5.pass on their knowledge through teaching or supervising student work and by promoting their speciality;
6. analyse their progress and professional development in conjunction with their supervisor and report on the progress
of their research and other academic activities at a progress review appraisal in accordance with the relevant procedure.
Study Module
The aim of the module is to give the doctoral student the opportunity to develop transferable skills, including getting an overview of research ethics, learning to create interdisciplinary connections between different fields of research, and developing their ability at self-expression, management and teaching. A further aim is to deepen and broaden specialist knowledge and skills. Accordingly, the module consists of a general study part of the programme and a specialised knowledge part, the proportions of which are determined by the individual plan.
On successful completion of the module, the doctoral student:
- will possess an in-depth knowledge of their speciality and research field, and be able to critically evaluate and generalise ideas specific to their speciality;
- will be able to identify and critically evaluate various methods of scientific analysis;
- will possess the necessary skills for international academic publishing and academic writing;
- will analyse and develop their presentation skills, apply good practices relating to both verbal and written academic discussion, and apply recognised principles and methods of giving feedback;
- will be able to analyse and substantiate choices relating to research ethics, intellectual property rights, data protection and data maintenance;
- will be able to analyse and inter-relate different methods of teamwork and management (both on an organisational and personal level);
- will be able to analyse and inter-relate the knowledge necessary for teaching, supervising or promoting their speciality.
The doctoral student shall:
1. Pass the compulsory courses in the general study sub-module of the programme, including the course “Introduction to doctoral studies in science and technology” (78 hours, equivalent to 3 ECTS credits) during the first year;
Transferable skills Mandatory activities
The doctoral student shall:
1. Pass the compulsory courses in the general study sub-module of the programme, including the course LTLT.00.002 Introduction to doctoral studies in science and technology (78 hours, equivalent to 3 ECTS credits) during the first year.
●Philosophical Disagreements ∙ HVFI.01.0036 ECTS
●Intellectual Property ∙ LOTI.01.0013 ECTS
●Introduction to Doctoral Studies in Science and Technology ∙ LTLT.00.0023 ECTS
2. Acquire the transferable competencies and attitudes set out in the learning outcomes for the programme and module, both by way of self-analysis and by following the individual plan composed in collaboration with their supervisor(s).
The doctoral student shall, in collaboration with their supervisor, specify a detailed timeline of planned activities in their individual plan, which among other things needs to include the module’s compulsory activities. For the remaining content of the module, the doctoral student shall choose, together with their supervisor, the necessary choices of university subjects, events at the Centre for Doctoral Studies, local and international events, etc, for the completion of their doctoral thesis and professional development.