Advance notice for Doctoral Programme of Turku School Finland

The Doctoral Programme of Turku School of Economics (TSE) invites applications for doctoral candidate positions (fixed-term) starting from 1 January 2016 AND applications for the study rights of Doctor of Science in Economics and Business Administration, Doctor of Social Sciences and Doctor of Philosophy at Turku School of Economics.

  1. The Doctoral Programme of Turku School of Economics

The Doctoral Programme of Turku School of Economics is a part of the University of Turku Graduate School. The programme aims at training of experts for the needs of business, society, and academic community. It offers scientific researcher training to solve relevant, current and anticipated problems related to business, economy and society.

In its research and teaching portfolio, the programme covers a multitude of disciplines related to business and economy. Instruction is offered in the following subject areas:

 Accounting and Finance

Management and Organization

 Entrepreneurship

 Marketing

 International Business

 Operations & Supply Chain Management

 Economic Geography

 Economics

 Business Law

 Quantitative Methods in Management

 Information Systems Science

 Futures Studies

The doctoral candidates will follow a four-year doctoral programme, conducting research in an international, multidisciplinary and widely networked environment. Turku School of Economics is known of four distinctive profile areas in research: entrepreneurship, management control, networks in business, and economic policy and markets. A strong emphasis is on the themes of innovation, foresight and responsibility.

For additional information on the profile areas in research at Turku School of Economics, please visit the web pages of each subject and unit at TSE.

Doctor of Science in Economics and Business Administration, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees can be completed in all majors. In addition, Doctor of Social Sciences degree can be taken in the major of Economics.

  1. Application period The application period is 1–18 September, 2015.
  1. Options you may apply for
  2. a) fixed-term doctoral candidate position (starting 1 January, 2016) or
  3. b) a study right for a doctoral degree at Turku School of Economics or
  4. c) both above-mentioned at the same time (a and b)
  1. a) fixed-term doctoral candidate positions

Fixed-term doctoral candidate positions (doctoral training positions) are primarily intended for full-time doctoral dissertation research and doctoral studies with the aim of completing the doctoral degree. Other duties than those related to doctoral dissertation research must not compromise the full-time doctoral dissertation research. As a rule, teaching and other duties than those related to doctoral dissertation can be at most 5% (80 h) of the annual working time of the doctoral candidate. The right to pursue a doctoral degree is a precondition to get an appointment to a fixed-term doctoral candidate position. The position may be granted for a maximum of four years based on the stage of the applicant’s doctoral dissertation and postgraduate studies.

The salary is defined in accordance with the University salary system for teaching and research personnel, levels 2–4, in which the task-specific salary component is 1 972,55–2 462,01 euros per month. In addition, there is a component based on personal performance, which is at most 46,3% of the task-specific salary. The task-specific salary component for a new doctoral candidate is typically on level 2. There will be a trial period of 4 months. The funded doctoral candidate positions are located at the departments and other units of TSE.

  1. b) a study right for a doctoral degree at Turku School of Economics

Turku School of Economics offers the degrees of Doctor of Science in Economics and Business Administration, Doctor of Social Sciences and Doctor of Philosophy. Selection criteria for postgraduate studies at TSE depend on the educational background of the applicant. In general, the applicants are required to have at least 60 ECTS of previous studies in the major of the doctoral degree, of which 18 ECTS must be advanced studies, a minimum grade “good” for the Master’s thesis, and at least a grade of “good” for the major subject. In addition, applicants with an applicable higher polytechnic degree are required to complete supplementary studies in the major of the doctoral degree. The selection criteria are presented in detail on the website of the Doctoral Programme of Turku School of Economics.

For those who apply for the right to pursue a doctoral degree, TSE will evaluate the suitability of the research topic in relation to the research profile and expertise of the major subject and its faculty. To receive the right, the applicant needs to have a higher university degree and an approved research plan.

  1. c) both above-mentioned at the same time (a and b)
  2. Who may apply

4.1 Fixed-term doctoral candidate position

 Those who already have an active right to pursue a doctoral degree at Turku School of Economics.

 Those who want to be appointed for a fixed-term doctoral candidate position but do not yet have the right to pursue a doctoral degree at TSE. The right to pursue a doctoral degree is a precondition to get an appointment to a doctoral training position. Therefore those who do not yet have a study right for a doctoral degree at Turku School of Economics have to apply for the right in the same application period (1–18 September, 2015), in order to be taken into account in the selection process for the fixed-term doctoral candidate positions.

The fixed-term doctoral candidate positions are not intended for persons who already hold a doctoral degree, or who have received funding equivalent to the amount of 4 years of full-time research for completing a doctoral degree.

According to Section 40 of the University of Turku Rules of Procedure a person selected for the post of doctoral candidate is required to have a higher university degree and must have an accepted research plan. In addition, when acquiring his or her degree or otherwise, he or she is required to have demonstrated the ability and motivation to undertake postgraduate studies and the capacity to complete a doctoral degree in accordance with the research plan.

4.2 a study right for a doctoral degree at Turku School of Economics

 Those who meet conditions for eligibility stated in the Universities Act (558/2009, 37 §) for studies leading to a higher university degree and who meet the eligibility criteria for postgraduate studies at Turku School of Economics.

  1. Applying

You can apply for the fixed-term doctoral candidate position and/or the study right for a doctoral degree at Turku School of Economics:

1) by filling in the electronic application form (in an electronic system for applying doctoral candidate positions at University of Turku) and

2) by including all required attachments to the electronic application form and

3) if you apply for the study right for a doctoral degree and have not finished your previous studies in University of Turku/Turku School of Economics: by sending all required enclosures by mail before the deadline.

The required application documents are stated in the end of this call for applications (Appendix 1).

The link to the application form as well as instructions for applying and filling in the application form in the application system is activated on 1 September, 2015. The link will be available on the web site of the Doctoral Programme of Turku School of Economics (www.utu.fi/tsedoctoralprogramme) on 1 September, 2015. The instructions on applying will be added also here.

The application and the additional attachments and enclosures must be written in English when applying for a fixed-term doctoral candidate position and a study right for a doctoral degree related to the fixed-term position, because international experts are involved in the assessment of the applications. If you apply solely the right to pursue a doctoral degree, the application and additional documents may be written in Finnish.

Application must be submitted online no later than Friday 18th September, 2015. The application form in the application system will close at 23:59. Submitting the application after that is not possible.

The enclosures required (see appendix 1) for the study right of a doctoral degree must arrive by regular mail no later than 18th September, 2015 at 15:45 (GMT +2) to the Records Office of Turku School of Economics. The postal address is: Records Office (asiakirjapiste) of the Turku School of Economics, FI-20014 TURUN YLIOPISTO (visiting address during office hours: Turku School of Economics, Rehtorinpellonkatu 3, Turku, 2nd floor). Mark the envelope with: “Doctoral Programme of TSE”. Applicants for a study right of a doctoral degree at TSE who do not send the required enclosures by mail in time will not be taken into consideration. The application documents will not be returned.

  1. Assessment of the applications

6.1 Fixed-term doctoral candidate positions

After a screening based on the eligibility and selection criteria related to the right to pursue a doctoral degree, responsible professors from the major subjects assess all applications. They may also interview the applicants. Based on the assessment, the best applications are evaluated by a board consisting of national and international experts from TSE and other universities. Before this, research proposals will be checked by using Turnitin Originality Check (system for electrical plagiarism detection).

The evaluation and selection criteria are as follows:

  1. The right to pursue a doctoral degree at Turku School of Economics, that is meeting the eligibility and selection criteria at issue
  2. The quality of the research plan
  3. Other complementary criteria
  4. academic performance and scientific merits
  5. the progress of studies and research to this date

The final selection will be based on a comprehensive evaluation of applications (not on a single criterion) since the applicants can be at very different stages of their doctoral dissertation process.

The Dean of Turku School of Economics will select the appointees by the end of November 2015. The applicants will be directly informed on the outcome.

6.2 a study right for a doctoral degree at Turku School of Economics

Applications are assessed based on the eligibility and selection criteria for postgraduate studies at TSE. The applications are processed in the major subjects and by the Board of the Doctoral Programme of TSE. The admission decisions for postgraduate studies are made by the end of November 2015. The study right for a doctoral degree is granted by the Dean of Turku School of Economics. All applicants will be informed of the results of the admission.

According to the Universities Act (558/2009) 82 § and the University of Turku Regulation on Studies (2009) 9 § those who are dissatisfied with the selection of students for a degree may make an appeal for rectification from Turku School of Economics within 14 days of the results being published.

  1. Additional information

Doctoral programme of Turku School of Economics (www.utu.fi/tsedoctoralprogramme)

Academic Affairs Officer/Doctoral Programme Coordinator Kirsi Tammi, tel. (0)2 333 9521, tsedoctoralprogramme(a)utu.fi

Appendix 1 Application documents

Applicants should prepare the following documents and attach them to the application form/send by mail according to the instructions on filling the application form. The instructions will be published in August 2015 with this call for applications on the webpages of the Doctoral Programme of TSE.

  1. a) Application for fixed-term doctoral candidate position

Attachments required in the application form:

  1. Research plan*, including schedule for the research and studies (max 10 pages (excl. cover and list of references), Times New Roman 12 pt, line spacing 1,5) as a Word-document
  2. Curriculum Vitae (according to the instructions of the Academy of Finland and the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity)
  3. List of Publications (according to the instructions of the Academy of Finland)
  4. Transcript of records
  5. Personal Study Plan (hops)
  1. b) Application for a study right for a doctoral degree at Turku School of Economics AND
  2. c) Application for a fixed-term doctoral candidate position and at the same time application for a study right for a doctoral degree at Turku School of Economics

Attachments required in the application form:

  1. Research plan*, including schedule for the research and studies (max 10 pages (excl. cover and list of references), Times New Roman 12 pt, line spacing 1,5) as a Word-document (in doc or docx format) or rtf-file (Rich Text Format)
  2. Curriculum Vitae (according to the instructions of the Academy of Finland and the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity)
  3. List of Publications (according to the instructions of the Academy of Finland)
  4. Letter of motivation
  5. Scanned copies of the official or officially verified copies of the degree certificate/s (Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees) in pdf-format
  6. Scanned copies of the official transcript of records (Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees) in pdf-format
  7. Scanned copies of official translations (to Finnish, Swedish or English) of the degree certificates and transcripts of records if the documents are in some other language
  8. Possible reference letters in pdf-format
  9. Possible copy of language test scores. See requirements on language skills from the selection criteria for postgraduate studies at TSE

Enclosures required for the applicant** to send by mail (see information on officially certified documents from the instructions for applying):

  1. Officially certified copies of the degree certificates (Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees)
  2. Official transcript of records (Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees)
  3. Official translations (to Finnish, Swedish or English) of the degree certificates and transcripts of records if the documents are not in Finnish, Swedish of English

These enclosures must arrive by mail no later than 18th September, 2015 at 15:45 (GMT +2) to the Records Office of Turku School of Economics. The postal address is: Records Office (asiakirjapiste) of the Turku School of Economics, FI-20014 TURUN YLIOPISTO (visiting address during office hours: Turku School of Economics, Rehtorinpellonkatu 3, Turku, 2nd floor). Mark the envelope with: “Doctoral Programme of TSE”. Applicants for a right to pursue a doctoral degree at TSE who do not send the required enclosures by mail in time will not be taken into consideration. The application documents will not be returned.

*By attaching the research plan to the application form the applicant gives permission for checking the research plan with Turnitin Originality Check (system for electrical plagiarism detection).

**Applicants who have finished their Master’s degree at the University of Turku/Turku School of Economics do not have to send the above-mentioned officially certified copies/official transcript of records by mail.