Briefing for Master's Degree Students: How to start postgraduate doctoral studies in the Faculty of

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Briefing for Master's Degree Students How to
start postgraduate (doctoral) studies in the
Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry

• Seija Oikarinen, Sari Mikkola 29.4.2008

Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry
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The purpose of doctoral studies is for the
student to

• 1) become profoundly familiar with his or her
  field of research and its impact on society, and
  acquire the ability to independently and
  critically apply scientific research methods and
  contribute to new scientific knowledge within the
  field
• 2) become well-versed in the development, basic
  problems and research methods of his or her
  discipline
• 3) acquire a level of knowledge of general
  scientific theory, and of the disciplines related
  to his or her field of research, that permits him
  or her to follow future developments.
• according to the Government Decree on
  University Degrees 794/2004

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The structure of doctoral studies in the Faculty
of Agriculture and forestry

• A postgraduate degree comprises theoretical
  studies and research work. The emphasis is on
  scientific research.
• A minimum of 60 credits of postgraduate studies
  in accordance with the study plan
• I GENERAL POSTGRADUATE STUDIES (min. 15 credits)
• -e.g. Language studies (max. 6 credits),
  Methodology (general), Applied ethics, Philosophy
  of science, The research process, Popularization
  of research data, Research policy and management,
  Research funding and planning, Studies in
  university-level teaching and practical training
  (max. 5 credits), Studies related to the
  commercial use of research results, Scientific
  publications (max. 5 credits)

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• II FIELD-SPECIFIC STUDIES (min. 45 credits)
• Major and minor subjects (10-35 credits)
• -e.g. Field-specific postgraduate studies, Major
  subject literature exam, Postgraduate seminars,
  Conference presentations and posters (max. 6
  credits), International expert assignments (max.
  3 credits)
• AND
• Field-specific methodology studies (10-35
  credits)

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The outcome of the research work is

• an article-based dissertation (a compilation) or
  a monograph
• an article based dissertation contains a summary
  articles
• -At least half of the articles included in a
  compilation dissertation should have been
  previously published or accepted for publication,
  and the rest should have been submitted for
  publication.
• - Compilation dissertations submitted to the
  Faculty typically contain four separate articles.

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How long does it take to get a doctoral degree?

• 4 years (a full-time work) a recommendation
• 7 years is the average time the to get a doctoral
  degree

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What you should do before you start to apply

• 1. Find information
• from the Faculty WebPages
• http//www.mm.helsinki.fi/english/studies.html
• Guidelines to postgraduate (doctoral) studies
• Postgraduate courses
• Doctoral dissertation
• Forms
• Grants
• Graduate Schools

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What should you do before you start to apply

• 2. Discuss with
• your professor in charge in a major subject
• your Master Degree's supervisor
• about research plan, study plan, funding of
  doctoral studies, future plans (post doc
  plans)...
• 3. Find your research subject and supervisor(s)
  and discuss
• with them about...
• 4. Evaluate your motivation why do you want to
  start your doctoral studies?

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Applying for the right to pursue doctoral studies

• Applicants must have completed a basic degree
• i.e. a Masters-level degree
• The application process varies slightly
  depending on the students previous degree and
  where it was completed.
• 1) Applicants who have graduated from the
  Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry
• 2) Applicants who have graduated from another
  faculty at the University of Helsinki or from
  another Finnish university
• 3) Applicants who have completed their Masters
  degree abroad

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1) Applicants who have graduated from the Faculty
of Agriculture and Forestry

• Application form
• http//www.mm.helsinki.fi/english/studies/forms/Ap
  plication_postgraduate_studies.rtf
• Grade of the major subject in the degree
  certificate
• a final grade of at least 3
• Grade of Master's degree
• a minimum grade of non sine laude approbatur
• Supervisor of the research work
• A brief description of future studies
• Statement of the professor in charge
• Possible supplementary studies (if your major
  subject is changing)

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2) Applicants who have graduated from another
faculty at the University of Helsinki or from
another Finnish university

• Estimation of your first university degree
• The professor in charge of the postgraduate
  major subject should write a well-founded
  statement on the applicants eligibility for
  studies in that subject. The student should have
  completed a minimum of 100 credits in the major
  subject of his or her postgraduate degree
  programme or in other equivalent studies.

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3) Applicants who have completed their Masters
degree abroad

• Apply for postgraduate studies using the
  application form for international students which
  is available from Student Information and
  Counselling or from http//www.helsinki.fi/admissi
  ons/ .
• - Your degree certificate from a higher
  education institution
• - Your transcript indicating the grading system
  of the institution
• - The test score of a language test you have
  taken
• - A statement of purpose in your own words
• - The title and summary of your Masters thesis,
  in Finnish, Swedish or English
• - Your research/study plan
• - Some clarification of how you intend to
  finance your studies at the University of
  Helsinki.
• The professor in charge for the postgraduate
  major subject should write a statement on the
  applicants eligibility for studies in that
  subject.

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When to apply

• Applications for postgraduate (PhD) studies are
  processed throughout the year.
• All applications and enclosures are reviewed by
  the Committee for Research and Postgraduate
  Education (meetings around once a month).
• The right to pursue postgraduate studies is
  granted by the Dean.
• The student must present a detailed postgraduate
  study plan within a year of being accepted for
  postgraduate studies.
• http//www.mm.helsinki.fi/english/studies/forms/Po
  stgraduate_study_plan.rtf

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Registration

• Accepted students will be enrolled for the
  ongoing academic year.
• Students must remember to enrol every year no
  later than August 31, to keep the status as a
  postgraduate student.
• You can join the Student Union but it is not
  obligatory for postgraduate students. In case you
  want to join the Student Union, please pay the
  student union membership fee.

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Rights and services for postgraduate student

• Postgraduate students can enjoy most of the same
  benefits as undergraduate and graduate students.
• Exceptions for postgraduate students are
• Students do not get a discount on bus and train
  fares
• All the health services of the Finnish Student
  Health Services (YTHS) are at your disposal,
  except dental care (will be changed June 1st)
• Student restaurants have a special price for
  post-graduate students.
• In order to obtain the Lyyra student card, you
  have to be a registered student in a university
  and a member of HYY.

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Where to find postgraduate courses

• Literature Examination on Research process,
  Philosophy of science and Methodology
• Postgraduate courses available spring 2008
  (mostly in Finnish) offered by the Faculty of
  Agriculture and forestry
• Doctoral studies in Viikki - CourseRaKe
• Courses in English - University of Helsinki
•  

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Graduate Schools operating in Viikki campus

• Agrobiotechnology focused on root-microbe systems
  (AB-RMS)
• Biological Interactions Graduate School
• Eläinten hyvinvoinnin tutkijakoulu
• EnSTe - Finnish Graduate School in Environmental
  Science and Technology
• Finnish Graduate School on Applied Bioscience
  Bioengineering, Food Nutrition, Environment
  (ABS)
• Finnish Graduate School of Neuroscience (FGSN)
• Finnish Graduate School in Plant Biology (FGSPB)
• Glykoscience Graduate School (GGS)

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Graduate Schools operating in Viikki campus

• Graduate School in Forest Sciences
• Graduate School in Pharmaceutical Research
• Graduate School Natural Resources and Environment
  (NatuRe)
• Helsinki Graduate School in Biotechnology and
  Molecular Biology (GSBM)
• LUOVA - Finnish School in Wildlife Biology,
  Conservation and Management
• National Graduate School of Muskuloskeletal
  Disorders and Biomaterials (TBGS)
• Viikki Graduate School in Biosciences (VGSB)
• Yhteiskunnallisen ympäristöalan valtakunnallinen
  tutkijakoulu YHTYMÄ