Doctoral Education Reforms Are Progressing at the University of Helsinki with New Rector Decisions

The University of Helsinki is developing researcher education as one of its strategic measures. The aim is that more and more doctoral researchers will have the opportunity to graduate within the four-year target time. The reforms aim to support the career development and smooth transition of young researchers from one career stage to another, without forgetting well-being.  

One concrete measure is to update the credit requirements for doctoral degrees and dissertation requirements. The decisions take into account the University of Helsinki's goal of smooth progress in studies and the national recommendations of the Council of Rectors (UNIFI). 

The rector's decisions HY/11925/00.00.06.00/2024 and HY/11928/00.00.06.00/2024 bring the following changes: article-based dissertations typically contain 2-3 articles; one article may be enough if it is of exceptionally high quality; the maximum length of the monograph shall be 250 pages, including annexes and references; The new credit requirement is 30 ECTS credits, which includes both discipline-specific studies and transferable skills studies. 

Although the rector's decisions take effect immediately, current doctoral researchers can follow the guidelines in force at the beginning of their studies. Doctoral researchers may choose to transfer to the new 30 ECTS degree structure and/or change the research and publication plan of the dissertation after discussion with their supervisors. An updated research and publication plan does not need to be approved in doctoral programmes. The scientific criteria and learning outcomes of doctoral dissertations and doctoral degrees have not changed. The dissertation must always contain new scientific information and demonstrate the doctoral researcher's critical thinking and in-depth knowledge of his/her own field of science.  

Faculties and doctoral programmes will provide more detailed instructions during the autumn on dissertation requirements and updating personal study plans in Sisu. 

If you have planned to submit your doctoral dissertation for preliminary examination in autumn 2024 or early 2025, you can still follow your previous study and research plan. If you plan to graduate with the new requirements during 2024 or early 2025, you should wait for the guidelines to be published later in the autumn, and you can always turn to doctoral training services.  

The Doctoral School will organise a Zoom-webinar open to all on the reforms of doctoral education on Wednesday 2.10.2024 at 10:15–11:30. The event will discuss the latest rector's decisions and new operating models for doctoral education. 

Questions about doctoral education reforms can be sent to the event in advance.