Doctoral education

The Doctoral School at our university supports the Faculties in implementing doctoral education, while the supervisors are based in the Faculties. The Faculties also grant doctoral study rights and degrees.

Responsibilities of the doctoral school

The Doctoral School supports by organising courses for the Philosophy of Science and General Research Skills. The courses are open to all doctoral researchers at the University of Lapland. We also coordinate the thematic studies (15 ECTS) in the multidisciplinary doctoral programme the Arctic in a Changing World.

Through the Doctoral School, you will also find guidelines that we put together to benefit the whole academic community. Currently, there are guidelines about, e.g. applying for a doctoral study right, good supervising practices, funding, career planning, and preparing for your public defence. We also organise workshops focused on these topics.

Organisation of doctoral education

At the University of Lapland, doctoral studies can be completed in four faculties in the fields of education, law, social sciences, and art and design. Faculties grant doctoral study rights and doctoral degrees. Doctoral researchers at the University of Lapland belong to one of the faculties, and in addition, to one of the two doctoral programs.

The doctoral school of the University of Lapland supports the university’s faculties in organizing researcher training. The doctoral school is led by the vice-rector responsible for research, according to the division of duties between the rectors. Researcher education at the University of Lapland, including doctoral programs and doctoral school, operate under the guidance of the steering board for the university’s doctoral education.

The members of the steering board of doctoral education 1.6.2023 – 31.12.2025

Open accordion Close accordion

The members of the steering board
Chair: Vice rector for research Sari Lindblom

Jaana Erkkilä-Hill, professor (Faculty of Art and Design)
Pigga Keskitalo, professor (Faculty of Education)
Tomi Tuominen, univ. lecturer (Faculty of Law)
Anu Valtonen, vice-dean (Faculty of Social Sciences)
Florian Stammler, research professor (Arctic Centre)

representative of doctoral researchers: Jaana Kovalainen (2025)

Deputy members

Ilkka Ratinen, dean (Faculty of Education)
Jukka Kiviniemi, university lecturer (Faculty of Art and Design)
Sirja-Leena Penttinen, associate professor (Faculty of Law)
Janne Autto, associate professor (Faculty of Social Sciences)
Kamrul Hossain, research professor (Arctic Centre)
Cristina Obae, doctoral researchers

The University of Lapland is involved in various national doctoral training networks. The Doctoral School of the University of Lapland is part of the national doctoral education network. The doctoral education network is part of the Finn-ARMA network – an extensive co-operation network established by universities in the field of research administration, research support and research services. The University of Lapland is also a member of the EUA-CDE network.