Join us!

A new PhD position has recently opened! The admission takes place in November–December 2024, and the expected start of study is February 2025.

Check out the details here: https://sisu.ut.ee/lyu/phd-recruitment/

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Dr. Siqi Lyu is taking doctoral and master’s students at the Institute of Psychology of the University of Tartu. The general application information is provided below. Please familiarize yourself with the information on this page before writing to Dr. Siqi Lyu.

If you are interested in coming as a postdoctoral fellow or a visiting researcher, please send your inquiry to Dr. Siqi Lyu directly.

(updated Sep 2024)

Doctoral studies

Depending on the funding sources, there are different options to work with Dr. Siqi Lyu for a doctoral degree at the Institute of Psychology, University of Tartu.

Option 1. State-funded junior research fellow (PhD student) position

The Institute of Psychology has three state-funded positions each academic year. The successful candidate will enter a four-year fixed-term employment contract with the University of Tartu as a junior research fellow. The state funds the position with a salary of around 1830 EUR/month before taxes (as of 2024).

The applicant will compete openly with applications from all the other subdisciplines of psychology. The evaluation takes place in May and June each year. The start of the study is September. Candidates will be evaluated in two stages: (1) the Admissions Committee evaluates the doctoral thesis projects; (2) applicants whose doctoral thesis project is assessed positively will be invited to the interview. The university’s application system will open May 1–15 for candidates who receive a master’s degree outside of Estonia and June 1–15 for candidates who receive a master’s degree in Estonia. The interview usually takes place at the end of June.

Interested applicants are strongly recommended to contact Dr. Siqi Lyu in advance to receive full support for the doctoral thesis project and the interview. Please include your CV and a short motivation letter in the initial contact.

Option 2. Project-funded junior research fellow (PhD student) position

An additional junior research fellow position can be opened per project needs. The successful candidate will enter a four-year fixed-term employment contract with the University of Tartu as a junior research fellow. The position is usually funded by the supervisor’s research project with a salary of around 1830 EUR/month before taxes (as of 2024).

The university has four annual intakes (September, November, February, and May). The admission information and the start of the study of the additional junior research fellow position will be released based on the project’s needs. You can always contact Dr. Siqi Lyu to inquire about the availability of this option.

Option 3. Self-funded non-contractual student position

Being admitted as a non-junior research fellow for a doctoral degree is possible. The successful candidate will be granted a student status at the University of Tartu without a contractual commitment. There is no tuition fee for doctoral studies at the University of Tartu. However, the applicant must provide proof of sufficient income to apply for the visa/residence permit. The study period is usually four years.

You are welcome to bring your own funding (e.g., self-fund, scholarships from external agencies like China Scholarship Council). If you have your own funding and want to study with Dr. Siqi Lyu for a doctoral degree as a non-contractual student, please do not hesitate to contact her to discuss the possibilities!

Useful links

Admission requirements for Social Sciences at the University of Tartu: https://ut.ee/en/curriculum/social-sciences#admissionreq-collapse

English language requirement for doctoral applicants at the University of Tartu: https://ut.ee/en/sisu/phd-language-requirements

Regulations for Doctoral Students of the University of Tartu: https://sisu.ut.ee/ope/regulations-doctoral-studies?lang=en

Master’s studies

The Institute of Psychology only offers a master’s program in Estonian. Local Estonian students can work on the master’s thesis in English under Dr. Siqi Lyu’s supervision.

Foreign applicants who are interested in a master’s degree in Tartu will have to attend the general competition with the local students. Upon possible admission, you should take an extra year for language studies and then pass the program in Estonian. Please get in touch with Dr. Siqi Lyu directly if you are a foreigner but want to pursue a master’s degree in psychology in Tartu.