PhD studies and follow-up
Supervision and mentoring
Each PhD student has one (or more) supervisor(s). The supervisor is typically a professor at the department or a docent closely connected to the department. In addition, the student may have one or several postdoc-level instructors. Most importantly the supervisors and instructors should have expertise and competence in the sub-field of research of the student and they should be committed to supervise the student.
The student has the right to receive regular supervision but also the obligation to update his or her personal study plan regularly, to report on the progress of the research and studies, to participate in the activities of the department (teaching and departmental duties) and to inform the supervisor if the studies will be delayed.
The supervisor must provide supervision for both research and studies regularly, and also follow up the student's progress, ensure the continuity of the supervision if he or she is unable to provide supervision. The supervisor has the right to resign from the supervision relationship if the student does not fulfil the obligations specified in his or her study plan.
For complete lists of rights and duties, please see the web pages of the Faculty.
The mentors support the student in his or her studies and research. The mentors must meet the student at least twice annually, e.g., at a PhD poster session. The mentors are supposed to encourage the students, not review them. The mentors should have PhD degrees and may work at the department or at other departments or universities. Each student should have two mentors (or fewer if the student has several supervisors).
Studies and research
The PhD studies include both passing a certain amount of courses and doing research, usually in a research group.
The formal requirements of the PhD studies are given in the curriculum of the department.
For available courses, please see the current teaching programme of the department. See also the general courses listed on the pages of the Faculty. Note that the graduate schools also organise their own teaching and events.
PhD student seminar
The PhD student seminar is an ongoing seminar that is obligatory to PhD students who have started their studies after 1 August 2008. The seminar meets twice per semester and the students are supposed to attend all through their PhD studies. Both students and supervisors as well as external speakers give talks in the seminar.Follow-up
Student should update their research and study plan annually and submit it in electronic form to the PhD studies committee. The updated plan should specify which results have been achieved so far and possibly a detailed plan of the next phase in the research and studies. (The same plan is used for the purpose of any possible graduate school the student is involved in.
After two years of studies, the plan should include a clear description of the PhD thesis specifying how and when the student will finish the thesis.
Students should meet with their supervisors and mentors annually to discuss the progress of the student.
Also the Faculty follows the progress of the students and will require updates and formal approval by the PhD student committee if the student takes to long to finish his or her studies.