Doctoral student's well-being

Conducting research for the doctoral dissertation presents interesting challenges and problems to solve, opens up new opportunities for building your future, provides interesting national and international networks, opens up opportunities for sharing knowledge, and has an impact on issues that are important to you and society. You'll develop a variety of skills and knowledge along the way to becoming an expert. Writing a doctoral dissertation is a process that takes several years, during which you should pay special attention to your general well-being.

Challenges

When you are conducting your doctoral study, there may be periods and factors that test your well-being. The amount of work is not necessarily evenly distributed at different times. The nature of research work also means that not everything can be predicted, which requires flexibility and ability to adapt to uncertainties. Competition for research funding, uncertainty about funding, and lack of time can mean unforeseen extra pressures. Doing postgraduate studies and research part-time requires different time-use and planning compared to full-time work.

Ways to support well-being

It is important for a doctoral researcher to take good care of  your general well-being. Social relationships, hobbies and a good physical condition give you strength to withstand the stress. Sufficient rest, healthy food, and taking care of one’s overall health also maintain work ability. In addition to the postgraduate studies and dissertation, it is also important to do things that you enjoy. It is important to seek a balance between the different areas of life.

Supervision

Our university supports the well-being of doctoral researchers. Well-being is based on good teaching and supervision, which is assured in different ways. For example, each doctoral researcher must have at least two supervisors or a supervisor and a monitoring group. It is important that the doctoral researcher does their own part in maintaining the supervisory relationship. If you need support, you can also always get in touch with, for example, the coordinator of your doctoral programme.

Read more about the rights and responsibilities of the student and the supervisor in the supervisory process.

Peer support

Peer support, meeting other doctoral researchers and discussions with them, are also important resources that support the research and writing process. The courses and other activities organised by Tampere University’s Doctoral School provide good opportunities for networking with doctoral researchers from other disciplines. The courses and meetings discuss the challenges of research and the dissertation process, which also directly supports your coping and well-being. One of the important goals is to support open discussion among doctoral researchers on how to grow into being a researcher and the doctoral research process as part of life. Sharing one’s experiences with other doctoral researchers also supports spreading good practices in the promotion of well-being throughout the University.

In addition, many doctoral programmes have regular development days where experiences may be shared. Futhermore, some faculties already have peer groups that were started by the doctoral researchers themselves.

Take a look at the courses and services offered by the Doctoral School

Mentoring

The doctoral researchers’ mentoring programme is also an opportunity to reflect on one’s future goals. Tampere University organises mentoring programmes.

Read more on the page Mentoring for doctoral researchers

Joint guidance and counselling services

The joint guidance and counselling services offer supplementary support and guidance for the guidance given in the faculties. You may get guidance from the joint counselling services no matter in which doctoral programme you study. In the joint guidance services you will find support for example: well-being, career planning, study skills and individual study arrangements. Services of study counselling psychologists are not available for doctoral students at the moment.

Read more on the page: Joint guidance and counselling services: contact information | Tampere University (tuni.fi)

The Student’s Compass

The Student’s Compass is a research-based virtual well-being and life skills programme that is also available for doctoral researchers. The Student’s Compass (Opiskelijan Kompassi in Finnish) offers new perspectives and practical tools to everyday problems. The web-based programme consists of various themes and exercises that are available as both text and voice or video recordings. The programme is based on value-, acceptance- and mindfulness-related methods.

You can study the course Student's well-being and life skills, 1 ects, also or use the programme as a self-help.

SportUni supports well-being

Doctoral reseachers at Tampere University can use the sports facilities as long as they are members of the Student Union. All degree students present at Tampere University and TAMK, and staff members are entitled to use the sports services with one affordable fee for as long as the study right or employment relationship is ongoing.

Take a look at Sportuni’s offerings: https://sites.tuni.fi/sportuni-en/

TREY: the Student Union of Tampere University

Doctoral reserchers may join Trey - the Student Union of Tampere University. Postgraduate student members are entitled to the Student Union’s services and some of the student discounts and other benefits. The Student Union also monitors and promotes the interests of postgraduate students, especially as regards teaching and supervision issues and the position of postgraduate students at the University. Postgraduate students also have access to the Student Union’s counselling services.

Read more: Joining TREY

Read more: Trey: Services for members

For Internationals - International House Tampere

As an international doctoral researcher, it is worth checking the International House Tampere pages. International House can offer support for integration, learning the language and many other questions you may have if you are for example new to Finland.

Where to get help in a crisis?

In serious and urgent situations when you need immediate treatment, contact Tampere University Hospital’s accidents and emergencies department Acuta, which is open round the clock, telephone 03 311 611 or the emergency number 112. More information

In non-urgent situations: Please be aware that, as a doctoral researcher, different rules may apply depending on your status. For example, in some cases you may be able to access Kela services, in other cases occupational health. If you need assistance, please contact your supervisor if you are employed or studentservices.tau [at] tau.fi (studentservices[dot]tau[at]tau[dot]fi).

The Osviitta Crisis Center in Tampere has a national crisis telephone number 010 195 202. Osviitta is an affiliate of the national Mental Health Finland association. It is a place where anyone in need of support can come in matters related to family or personal relationships, stressful work or study situations, and after traumatic experiences.

Harassment

Sexual and gender-based harassment and other forms of discrimination, abuse and harassment are strictly prohibited in our community.

Contact persons in harassment situations/further information:

Contact information for employees: hairintailmoitus.tau [at] tuni.fi (hairintailmoitus[dot]tau[at]tuni[dot]fi) 

Contact information for students: hairintailmoitus-opiskelu.tau [at] tuni.fi (hairintailmoitus-opiskelu[dot]tau[at]tuni[dot]fi) 

Please read the pages: 

• Inappropriate conduct, harassment and bullying – help for students
• Dealing with harassment, hate speech and controversy on social media 
• Sexual and gender-based harassment
• Inappropriate conduct, harassment and bullying in work community

TREY’s harassment contact person: Read more from Trey webpage

The page is updated by opiskelijanohjaus.tau [at] tuni.fi (opiskelijanohjaus[dot]tau[at]tuni[dot]fi)