Completing a doctoral degree requires systematic and persistent effort. The work entails writing a dissertation and completing other studies. The objective of a doctoral degree is to generate a scientifically significant dissertation and, more broadly, research-based expertise which can be applied to education. Only some doctors are able to continue their careers as postdoctoral researchers. For this reason, students planning their studies should note that they may eventually need to continue on to challenging duties outside the University.

Doctoral graduates from the Faculty of Educational Sciences are academic experts who have completed a diverse degree programme and have the qualifications to perform demanding research and teaching duties at universities and serve in expert positions which require academic competence.

The University of Helsinki has four doctoral schools, which offer a total of 32 doctoral programmes. The schools and programmes cooperate in research and doctoral education, and the structure of doctoral education encompasses all of the University’s disciplines and doctoral students.

The objectives of postgraduate education are as follows

• The students become profoundly familiar with their research field and its social significance.
• The students acquire, within their field, the ability to apply scientific research methods critically and independently and to contribute to scientific knowledge.
• The students become familiar with the historical development, fundamental issues and research methods of their field.
• The students acquire sufficient understanding of general scientific theory and the disciplines related to their research field so as to be able to follow future developments.

A student admitted into a doctoral programme must complete postgraduate studies, demonstrate independent and critical thinking in his or her field, complete a doctoral dissertation and  defend it in a public examination.

The objective is to complete a doctoral degree in four years. Postgraduate students must show initiative and make a systematic effort to complete a dissertation. A doctoral degree comprises a dissertation and other studies (40 cr). A doctoral degree provides the qualifications to work in demanding academic positions and as experts in the public sector.