Applying for the title of docent

Provisions which are relevant to the conferment of the title of docent include the  (558/2009, Section 89), University of Helsinki regulations and the regulations of the Swedish School of Social Science.

According to the Universities Act, a university may award the title of docent to a person who has comprehensive knowledge of his or her own field, an ability to produce independent research or artistic work as demonstrated through publication or in some other manner, and good teaching skills.

At the University of Helsinki the title of docent is granted by the Chancellor. If the Board of the School finds that an applicant for the title fulfils the requirements for the title of docent, the Board will submit a proposal of appointment to the Chancellor. Before deciding on the matter, the Board will request statements on the applicant’s academic qualifications from two assessors, unless, for special reasons, the Board considers the statements unnecessary. The Pedagogical Committee of the School will issue a statement on the applicant’s teaching skills.

Docents may provide teaching in their field, supervise students and examine theses and dissertations, as well as participate in other activities at the University in a manner separately agreed upon.

A person wishing to apply for the title of docent should initially contact the professor in the subject at the Swedish School of Social Science to obtain a preliminary understanding of whether the application is justified and to discuss the area of the docent position. The area of the docent position should be related to the fields of science or central research areas at the School. According to the chancellor's guidelines, docent positions should not be too narrowly defined, and the area should not be specified with terms such as 'in particular.' At this stage, the applicant submits their publication list and CV to the professor. Additionally, the applicant should prepare a report on which publications they consider to constitute the body of work on which they believe they have achieved docent competence.

Once the professor has endorsed the application for the docent position, the actual application can be submitted to the School via the recruitment system during the application periods in March and September. Applications are only accepted in electronic form via the recruitment system during the application periods. Clearly name the attachments to the application documents, for example, using the format lastname_firstname_CV.pdf.

The following documents are required for the application:

1. Application letter (freely formulated, should include a description of the area of the docent position, justification for the application, and the name of the doctoral dissertation supervisor).
2. CV in English. The Research Ethics Delegation’s  (The CV should include information about proficiency in Swedish/Finnish. If this information is not available, the applicant should submit a copy of a language certificate.)
3. Publication list that follows the Ministry of Education and Culture's classification of publications. It is important to particularly highlight international publications, articles included in the applicant's cumulative dissertation (article dissertation), and publications based on material from the applicant's monographic dissertation. The publications should be numbered according to the Ministry's classification of publication types.
4. A copy of the degree certificate if the applicant obtained their doctorate from a university other than the University of Helsinki.
5. Statement of teaching merits (e-form).
6. Five to ten publications (numbered in the publication list), as well as the doctoral dissertation (not assessed). The submitted publications should relate to the area of the docent position and demonstrate the quality of the applicant's research (both monographs and research articles are considered). The publications should document the applicant's ability to produce new scientific knowledge after the doctoral dissertation as an independent researcher. In research articles co-authored by multiple individuals, the applicant's own contribution should be specified as clearly as possible.

In their statement the external assessors, who are not active at the University of Helsinki, shall analyse and critically examine the main topics of the applicant’s scholarly publications, so that the assessment will clearly specify the grounds upon which the assessors have determined whether the applicant holds the required academic qualifications for the title of docent.

The general criterion for docent competence is that the applicant, after obtaining their doctorate, has achieved a higher scientific competence with a significant scientific production. In addition to the doctoral dissertation, the applicant should have published studies that, in scope and level, correspond to a doctoral dissertation. The recommendation is at least five peer-reviewed scientific articles or chapters in edited peer-reviewed books. Other scientific works, such as monographs, may also be considered. A requirement for obtaining a docent position is generally that the applicant has published their research in international forums as well. The assessment emphasizes quality and impact, with particular weight placed on the applicant's leading roles and responsibilities in the research process. In cases of extensive co-authorship, the applicant must clearly outline their independent contribution and role. The final decision regarding scientific competence is made by the Board of the School based on assessor statements.

A docent is expected to have the same language skills as employed teaching and research staff, meaning proficiency in the language of instruction and at least satisfactory oral and written skills in Swedish and Finnish. If a person of foreign origin or a Finnish citizen who is not of Finnish descent applies for the title of docent, the applicant may be granted an exemption from the requirements for knowledge of Swedish and Finnish without a separate application.

A docent must have good teaching skills. The Pedagogical Committee of the School will issue a statement on the applicant’s teaching skills. In assessing the applicant’s teaching qualifications, the Committee will consider teaching experience, pedagogical training, the ability to produce teaching material, other pedagogical qualifications and a teaching demonstration if necessary. Those applying for the title of docent shall, as a general rule, submit a public teaching demonstration, unless it is deemed unnecessary for specific reasons.

The application for the title of docent and its appendices is to be submitted to the Swedish School of Social Science via University of Helsinki recruitment system during the application periods in March and September. 

The application will be discussed by the Board of the School at two separate meetings. In the first meeting the Board will decide whether the applicant can be considered for the title of docent, and will appoint two assessors based on a proposal from the relevant professor. The assessors must have at least the qualifications of a docent. Persons appointed as assessors cannot participate in the processing of the application at a later stage.

After receiving the assessors’ statements the School will send them to the applicant. If the assessors find that the applicant fulfils the requirements for the title, the School will request that the applicant provide a topic for his or her demonstration of teaching skills (in a lecture). The Pedagogical Committee of the School will evaluate the teaching demonstration.

In the second meeting the Board will decide whether the applicant meets the requirements for the title of docent, and if so, will make a proposal to the University Chancellor for a nomination. The Chancellor grants the title of docent.

A docent contract can be made with the person who has been granted the title of docent. The contract does not constitute an employment relationship. The agreement provides the docent with a username in the University of Helsinki’s system and the right to use university’s email.