Profile & activities

Want to know what we're all about? On this page, we've gathered information on our research profile and the disciplines involved in the programme. Here, you will also find information on the studies and the type of activities and networks that await if you join the doctoral programme.
Key research areas

Geosciences have a significant role in solving global problems and challenges, such as energy and raw material sufficiency, climate change, and chemicalization of the environment which has led to an increased demand of geoscientists in all sectors nationally and internationally. Finland is located on the edge of the Arctic region which has significant natural resources but is also highly vulnerable to climate change impacts. In addition, Finland's bedrock has exceptional discovery potential for many hi-tech metals and critical minerals which provide excellent circumstances for geoscientific research and innovations.

Disciplines represented in GeoDoc also make a decisive contribution to the understanding of and anticipation to natural hazards, such as earthquakes, volcanic activities and extreme climatic events. International scientific collaboration networks, high-class infrastructure, multidisciplinary and high quality supervision practice of GeoDoc will support postgraduate research and help develop the researcher identity of doctoral students, and develop their competence for demanding international expert positions in geosciences.

GeoDoc offers high quality doctoral studies, research infrastructure, facilities, and supervision in Geology, Physical Geography, Solid Earth Geophysics, and parts of Archaeology. Research focal areas are Biogeography, Economic Geology, Geochemistry, Geomorphology, Global Change, Hydrogeography, Hydrogeology, Isotope Geology, Paleoclimatology, Paleoecology, Petrology, Quaternary Geology, Raw materials of Earth's crust, Remote Sensing, Sedimentology, Seismology, and Spatial Modelling. GeoDoc is a joint programme of the Department of Geosciences and Geography, the Department of Physics, and the Department of Philosophy, History, Culture and Art Studies.

Courses and stydying

A doctoral degree in the programme comprises of a doctoral thesis and 40 credits of additional studies. The studies are divided into discipline-specific studies, aimed to support your research project, and transferable skills training.

Part of the studies are completed flexibly through means other than traditional coursework: conference presentations, essays, scientific and popular articles, editing work etc. Want to know more? Visit our study planning instructions for current doctoral students.

The programme organizes intensive discpline-specific courses and our Master's programmes have a wide selection of courses which you can complete. You can also complete courses, which support your research work, even outside our university.

Courses in research ethics and transferable skills are offered throughout the academic year by the Doctoral School in Natural Sciences.

Events and activities

The programme organizes an annual writing retreat called From Draft to Publication. At the three to four-day retreats, you will polish your article manuscript with the help from senior scholars and peers.

The programme also organizes informal get-togethers for its students.