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