Faculty of Social Sciences Postgraduate Studies

The right to study for a licentiate’s or doctor’s degree in the faculty of social sciences can be granted to a person who has a Master’s degree or a corresponding Finnish or foreign degree and who has completed advanced studies or corresponding studies in the major subject of the postgraduate degree that the person is applying for.

You must deliver a written application to the faculty to obtain the right to complete a licentiate's or doctor's degree. Use the accompanying form to apply for the right to study for a postgraduate degree. The form is also available at the faculty office. Attach to the application a certified copy of the degree certificate, transcript of records, a research plan and other required documents mentioned in the selection criteria.

The application periods in 2011 - 2013 are as follows:
The autumn application period of 2011 will end on 15 November 2011 at 16.00.
The spring application period of 2012 will end on 15 May 2012 at 16.00.
The autumn application period of 2011 will end on 15 November 2012 at 16.00.
The spring application period of 2012 will end of 15 May 2013 at 16.00.
 
All those selected to study for a postgraduate degree must make a personal and confirmed postgraduate study plan together with the professor of the subject.

The appended postgraduate study guide of the faculty contains the curricula and regulations concerning postgraduate degrees. It also has detailed instructions on the thesis and its public examination. For further information on postgraduate degrees, refer to Chief Administrative Officer Tarmo Körkkö by email.


Application form.rtf (88 KB)
Personal Study Plan_ Progress Report.rtf (392 KB)
Postgraduate_Study_Guide_2011-2013[2].pdf (609 KB)
Structure of the Research Plan.rtf (36 KB)
Supervision Agreement.rtf (335 KB)

Faculty of Law Postgraduate Studies

The faculty of Law offers the possibility to pursue two types of postgraduate degrees:

• Licentiate in Laws
• Doctor of Laws

According to the Act on Law Degrees, the postgraduate degrees available in the field of Law are the Licentiate in Laws and the Doctor of Laws. The two are separate academic degrees, with the scientific goals of the licentiate degree being less extensive than those of the doctorate. The purpose of the licentiate degree is to give the student the academic expertise he or she needs in legal practice or to serve as an intermediate step in completing the doctorate.

The Faculty offers a program of postgraduate studies which degree candidates pursue in a manner prescribed by the Faculty. The program involves supervised and guided work. During their postgraduate studies, students take part in lectures and seminars, and complete other assignments required by the Faculty or accepted as parts of their degree; in addition, they write the licentiate or doctoral thesis. In the case of both degrees, the postgraduate studies are intended to promote scientific thinking and the ability to do research independently. The content of the program of postgraduate studies is partially the same for both degree programs. In principle, the duration of the postgraduate studies program is the same as the suggested completion time for the respective degrees, that is, two years for the licentiate and four years for the doctorate.

Eligibility
Students who have completed a Master of Laws degree may register for the Faculty’s program of postgraduate studies as candidates for the licentiate degree.

Students seeking admission to the doctoral program must submit an application to the Faculty of Law. The right to pursue the doctorate is granted to holders of either a Master of Laws or Licentiate in Laws degree. Students who have completed the foreign equivalent of a Master of Laws degree and whom the Faculty deems capable of successfully pursuing a postgraduate degree are eligible for admission to either the licentiate or doctoral program. Given sufficient reasons and provided they are deemed to have the requisite preparedness for postgraduate study in Law, students with a master’s degree in a field other than Law may be granted the right to pursue a postgraduate degree.

Students who have completed the Finnish LL.M. degree (OTK) at another institution must apply for the right to pursue postgraduate studies at the University of Lapland.

Students applying for postgraduate status on the basis of a degree completed abroad must demonstrate that they fulfill the requirements for completing postgraduate studies and that they have a good command of Finnish, Swedish or English. Language skills must be demonstrated through a satisfactory score on a language test, as stipulated by the Dean, or in some other manner approved by him/her. Applicants who have completed a master’s degree in a Finnish-, Swedish- or English-medium program need not take a language proficiency test. Under special circumstances, the Dean may decide that applicants who have a good command of a language other than the three mentioned above, or who have completed a master’s degree in a program taught in a language other than these three, meet the language proficiency requirement.

Students applying for postgraduate status on the basis of a degree completed abroad are to attach to their applications certified copies of their diplomas and transcripts and any other documents they wish to present in support of their application. If the diploma or transcript has been issued in a language other than Finnish, Swedish or English, an official translation in one of these three languages must be provided. Under special circumstances, the Dean may accept documents in a language other than the three mentioned above. Unless the Dean decides otherwise, applicants must also attach a tentative plan of their studies, an account of how they intend to finance their studies, a curriculum vitae, and statements from at least two experts on their readiness to undertake postgraduate study.

Students applying for postgraduate status on the basis of a degree completed abroad may be granted the right to study in the Faculty only if they fulfill the requirements for undertaking postgraduate study and if the Faculty is able to designate an adviser who agrees to supervise their postgraduate work.

Faculty of Art and Design Postgraduate Studies

The Faculty of Art and Design is one of the two university-level units of art and design In Finland. Its research concentrates on the development of ecologically and culturally sustainable design, art activities, and art education taking place in northern environments and communities. The artistic activity of the faculty combines the global perspective with northern orientation and cultural heritage.
It is possible to complete a Doctor of Arts degree in the faculty. The postgraduate studies of the faculty are scientifically oriented. The doctoral thesis may also include an artistic production.
Postgraduate studies can be taken in the faculty’s educational areas, which are:

• audiovisual media culture
• graphic design
• art education
• textile design
• industrial design
• clothing design
• other area of art and design

Researcher education is offered by the Graduate School of the University of Lapland. Its updated curriculum is on the school’s web pages. Researcher studies can also be completed at other universities.

For further information

If you have questions concerning the studies, the admission requirements and the application process, feel free to Contact Us