Doctoral Researcher at Tampere University
When you start working towards a doctoral degree at Tampere University, the first step for you is to familiarise yourself with Tampere University as a research and learning environment.
Orientation boosts your journey as doctoral researcher
We encourage you to read through the doctoral studies material available on the University’s intranet and attend the orientation events offered at the beginning of each semester. The Orientation Day is organised by the Doctoral School of Tampere University in collaboration with the university’s support services. Please visit the intrapage for more information on the schedule and registration for the event.
In addition, the staff of your doctoral programme can organise a range of events at the beginning of your studies to support your orientation process. You will receive more information about these events from the administrative staff of your own doctoral programme. Online orientation may also be available.
Your doctoral studies in the doctoral programme and the Doctoral School
When you are admitted to Tampere University as a doctoral researcher, you are admitted to join one of our university’s doctoral programmes. You receive support for your studies, supervision and graduation from your own doctoral programme.
Your right to study towards a doctoral degree also includes the right to study towards a licentiate degree. To maintain your student status, you will be expected to register as attending or non-attending each academic year. The degree programmes that lead to a scientific or artistic doctoral degree are organised at Tampere University in the form of doctoral programmes. The speciality training offered to physicians is provided in the form of specialist programmes.
Tampere University Doctoral School is a service provider of several courses for doctoral researchers. The Doctoral School also hosts an active Teams group for doctoral researchers. The group already has more than 1300 members so join the open TG-Doctoral School group today to receive up-to-date information on open lectures, newsletter and more!
Funding for doctoral studies
Doctoral researchers are either employed by their university, receive a grant to do research, or pursue a doctoral degree alongside work outside academia. The funded positions available for doctoral researchers are advertised for example, on the university’s website. When you receive outside funding such as a grant, get to know the resource agreement at the university.
A number of national and international scientific foundations give out grants to support doctoral research. The Research.fi (the link opens to another website) offers information on the foundations and their grant cycles. For more information about grant opportunities, please see the intranet theme Research and project funding.
Writing grant proposals is an integral part of a researcher's skillset. The Doctoral School offers a course on writing grant proposals. Keep an eye out also for open calls for grant proposals and relevant training opportunities advertised by Research and Innovation services and your doctoral programme.
Innovation activities for doctoral researchers
As a doctoral researcher, you stand at the interface between education, research and innovations. Our university has a vision to train all doctoral researchers as world-class experts, develop their global understanding, gain international success, and pursue lifelong learning. As stated in our research strategy, university community brings scientific knowledge and novel inventions effectively into practice through close collaboration, networking and a well-functioning innovation ecosystem. We are committed to openness, the sharing of information, sustainable development, fairness, and equality.
Questions about intellectual property rights, the university’s invention policy and transfer of rights agreements are closely connected to innovation activities. All doctoral researchers are advised to consider the protection and commercial potential of their research results.
See the theme Utilising the results of research and development.
Library’s services for doctoral researchers
The Tampere University Library provides a broad range of support for research and researchers. Look into the services offered by the Library as early on as possible, as these services will help you, for example, find relevant publications and databases and prepare your data management plan. In addition, the Library offers trainings that cover topical themes from which all researchers will greatly benefit. Up-to-date information on the courses is available on the Library’s website (opens to outside webpage).
See also the theme Open science and sustainable research.
Mobility and international exposure of doctoral researchers
All doctoral researchers are recommended to study and conduct research abroad during their doctoral studies. International experiences will strengthen your competencies and help you expand your network of contacts and gain new perspectives on your research. By attending, for example, language courses, lectures delivered by visiting scholars, and the international summer schools and intensive courses offered by Tampere University, you will be able to develop your international competencies on your home campus.
If you are interested in completing courses or conducting research abroad while working towards your doctoral degree, please discuss potential options with your supervisor.
If you notice a need for update on the page that has slipped from our perception, please, let us know at doctoralschool [at] tuni.fi (doctoralschool[at]tuni[dot]fi) Thank you!