How to get started PhD 28.9.2011 Maija Tiippana Faculty of Pharmacy Faculty of Pharmacy www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto 28.9.2011 1 The Faculties of Viikki Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences - Research and postgraduate studies coordinator Jussi Alho - http://www.helsinki.fi/bio/faculty/research/phd_studies/index.html - http://www.helsinki.fi/bio/tutkimus/jatkokoulutus/index.html Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry - Research and postgraduate studies coordinator Seija Oikarinen - http://www.helsinki.fi/af-faculty/studies/applying/postgraduate_applicants.html - http://www.helsinki.fi/mmtdk/opiskelu/jatkotutkinto-opiskelijat/index.html Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - Planning officer Terttu Virri - http://www.vetmed.helsinki.fi/english/research/phd.html - http://www.vetmed.helsinki.fi/tutkimus/tutkijankoulutus.html Faculty of Pharmacy - Planing officer Maija Tiippana - http://www.helsinki.fi/pharmacy/research/postagraduate/index.htm - http://www.helsinki.fi/farmasia/tutkimus/jatkokoulutus/index.htm Faculty of Pharmacy www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto 28.9.2011 2 Content of this show Why to start PhD studies - Purpose of doctoral studies - Motivation and career scenario How to start PhD studies - Applying - Studying - Support services Faculty of Pharmacy www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto 28.9.2011 3 The purpose of doctoral studies 1) to become profoundly familiar with his/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) to become well-versed in the development, basic problems and research methods of his or her discipline; 3) to 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. The Government Decree on University Degrees 794/2004 Faculty of Pharmacy www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto 28.9.2011 4 The question is: Should I apply for doctoral studies? Evaluate your motivation – why do you want to become a doctor? What research question(s) interests you? Discuss your research plan, funding with your professor/supervisor Faculty of Pharmacy What is your career plan? What do you want/don’t want to do when you grow up? www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto 28.9.2011 5 Motivation - Reasons for undertaking doctoral training - Interest in research work – career as a researcher - Natural continuation of previous studies - Interest in a particular topic Also - No other career prospect in sight - Coincidence International evaluation of research and doctoral education at the University of Helsinki 2011, Response rates: 28% doc.students and 29% PIs Faculty of Pharmacy www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto 28.9.2011 6 Key to success Supervision - High-quality supervision and community (43% of doctoral students, 23% of PI:s) - Supervisors are mostly needed to give practical help and advice in planning the research and reporting on it Resources - structures and resources (39% of PI:s) - funding (both) International evaluation of research and doctoral education at the University of Helsinki 2011, Response rates: 28% doc.students and 29% PIs Faculty of Pharmacy www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto 28.9.2011 7 Career - Majority of UH PhD holders have a job (91%) - researchers 42% - client/patient work 21% - training and development 18% - Management 7% - administration 4% - other 7% 2010 Sainio National Career and Employmen Survey, UH career and recruitment services Faculty of Pharmacy www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto 28.9.2011 8 Applying for doctoral studies - the faculties in Viikki recieve applications round the year - the process differs between the faculties: in Biological and Environmental Sciences applications are accepted 4 times a year in other faculties applications are accepted once a month except for during the summer months (8 -10 times/year) - applicant must have a master’s degree (or equal degree) - language skills (Finnish, Swedish or English) - application form and personal study plan - research plan - funding (expected in Biol. and Environ. Sciences for 1 year unless you are a part-time student) Faculty of Pharmacy www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto 28.9.2011 9 Application process in the faculties of Viikki Biological and Environmental Sciences - Continuous (processed 4 times / year) - Faculty office -> Research Committee - The Dean grants the right to pursue PhD studies Veterinary Medicine - Continuous - Committee for research-oriented postgraduate Education (meetings once a month) - Faculty Council grants the right to pursue PhD studies Pharmacy - Continuous - Faculty office/Planning officer -> Vice Dean (research) - The Research Committee grants the right to pursue PhD studies Agriculture and Forestry - Continuous - Faculty office -> Committee for Research and Postgraduate Education - The Dean grants the right to pursue PhD studies Faculty of Pharmacy www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto 28.9.2011 10 Language skills The applicant must have sufficient (minimum of communication - level proficiency) language skills in English, Finnish or Swedish Accepted tests: - University of Helsinki Language Services Test - National Certificate of Language Proficiency - Proficiency Examination by the Finnish National Board of Education - TISUS (Test in Swedish for Universities) - TOEFL1 pBT and TOEFL iBT - IELTS2 (International English Language Testing System) - CAE/CPE (University of Cambridge Advanced Examination/Proficiency Examination) Test not needed, if a person has - Secondary education OR a Polytechnic, a Bachelors or a Master’s degree in English in one of the Nordic Countries: in Great Britain, Ireland, the U.S.A., Canada, Australia, or New Zealand. - English as the A1 language (grade 2) or as A2 language (grade 5) in IB; or as the LI language (grade 4) or LII language (grade 7) in EB Faculty of Pharmacy www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto 28.9.2011 11 Registration to the UH - After the Faculty has admitted the doctoral student they have to register to UH - Registration for attendance (or non-attendance) is obligatory for all students: undergraduates, graduates and postgraduates. - registration has to be done every year by August 31st - Doctoral students may join the Student Union of the University of Helsinki (http://hyy.fi/) Lyyra student card - Doctoral students have access to the UH’s intra and library databases Faculty of Pharmacy www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto 28.9.2011 12 The structure of doctoral studies 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 - Exception of this is the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, which consists of 40 credits of postgraduate studies - Doctoral dissertation, which must be defended at a public examination Faculty of Pharmacy www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto 28.9.2011 13 The Duties of a PhD student - Registration for attendance (or non-attendance) is obligatory for all students: undergraduates, graduates and postgraduates - Research ethics : good scientific practise & knowledge of laws and regulations (human, animal and gene manipulation studies) - Rights and responsibilities of supervisors and postgraduate students (every faculty has its own version of it) - Students funded by graduate schools – follow up group & annual monitoring Faculty of Pharmacy www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto 28.9.2011 14 Funding - Lack of funding is not a reason to give up postgraduate studies but it might severely hinder the progress - How to fund your studies: - working in a project - grants - a position in a graduate school - working in UH - working outside UH - no outside funding Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry survey Faculty of Pharmacy www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto 28.9.2011 15 Benefits of doctoral students - There are not that many benefits, e.g. - Doctoral Students do not get a discount on bus and train fares - Doctoral students are not entitled to use the services of Finnish student health service (FSHS) - Student union’s (HYY) benefits for doctoral students (with Lyyra –student card: - Gaudeamus – research and course books in student prices - lunch for doctoral student price at Unicafe - temporary childcare in the Center Campus - UniSpor services - Faculty office services - The recipients of Finnish grants or scholarships must take out insurance if they work uninterruptedly for at least four months if the amount of grant is at least € 1 093,49 -> For further information on the insurance for grant and scholarship recipients see www.mela.fi -> English Faculty of Pharmacy www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto 28.9.2011 16 Support services - Supervisor - Research and postgraduate studies coordinator of the faculty - Coordinator of the graduate school - Office of the faculty - Study Psychologist - University Chaplain Faculty of Pharmacy www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto 28.9.2011 17 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) 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 Faculty of Pharmacy www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto 28.9.2011 18 Information technology (programmes used at UH) Alma: UH intra, will turn to Flamma later this year Helpdesk: IT-services helpdesk [email protected] or tel. 55555 Moodle: e-learning environment Oodi: student register SAP traveller: travel management application Sole TM: the allocation of working time Tuhat: Research database Faculty of Pharmacy www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto 28.9.2011 19 Questions? Faculty of Pharmacy www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto 28.9.2011 20
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