- Regulations for Doctoral Studies
- I. General provisions
- II. Doctoral Studies
- II.1. Learners in doctoral studies
- II.2. Supervision
- II.3. Filling a vacant student place
- II.4. Organisation of study
- II.4.1. General principles
- II.4.2. Period of study, suspension of doctoral studies and changes to the period of study of doctoral students matriculated to doctoral programmes opened from the 2022/2023 academic year
- II.4.3. Workload, academic leave and extending the period of study of doctoral students matriculated to doctoral curricula opened before the 2022/2023 academic year
- II.4.4. Individual plan
- II.5. Progress review
- II.5.1. Progress review schedule
- II.5.2. Progress review committee
- II.5.3. Documents required for progress review
- II.5.4. Progress review meeting
- II.5.5. Decisions of the progress review committee
- II.5.5.1. Decisions of the progress review committee regarding learners in doctoral studies in doctoral programmes opened from the 2022/2023 academic year
- II.5.5.2. Decisions of the progress review committee regarding learners in doctoral studies in doctoral curricula opened before the 2022/2023 academic year
- II.5.6. Repeat progress review and appealing a progress review decision
- II.6. Exmatriculation
- III. Applying for Doctoral Degree
- III.1. Completion of the doctoral programme
- III.2. Council awarding doctoral degrees
- III.3. Requirements for doctoral candidate
- III.4. Requirements for doctoral thesis
- III.4.1. General requirements for doctoral thesis
- III.4.2. Doctoral thesis as an integrated collection of research publications
- III.4.3. Doctoral thesis as a monograph
- III.4.4. Requirement for research publications and the introductory chapter
- III.4.5. Requirements for patents, patent applications and applied solutions
- III.4.6. Structure of the doctoral thesis
- III.5. Allowing a doctoral thesis to be defended
- III.6. Publication of the doctoral thesis
- III.7. Defence of the doctoral thesis
- III.8. Applying for doctoral degree and defence of the doctoral thesis under a joint supervision agreement
- III.9. Contesting and overruling the decisions of the council awarding doctoral degrees
- III.10. Preservation of the doctoral thesis
- IV. Implementing provisions
- Study Regulations
- I. General provisions
- II. Courses and modules
- III. Following the curriculum
- IV. Assessment
- V. Completion of studies
- VI. Filling vacant student places and rematriculation
- VII. Additional rights and obligations of students
- VII.1. Notification
- VII.2. Counselling
- VII.3. Making adaptations in studies
- VII.4. Giving feedback
- VII.5. Studying at other higher education institutions in Estonia
- VII.6. Studying at higher education institutions abroad
- VII.7. Academic leave
- VII.8. Extension of studies
- VII.9. Good academic practice
- VII.10. Contesting decisions concerning the organisation of studies
- Annex 1. Studying as a visiting student or external student
- Annex 2. Intensive study of Estonian
- Annex 3. Recognition of prior learning and professional experience
Regulations for Doctoral Studies and Study Regulations
III.2. Council awarding doctoral degrees
94. A doctoral degree is awarded on the basis of a doctoral programme approved by the senate, including on the basis of a joint curriculum.
95. The council awarding doctoral degrees (‘council’) is appointed by the senate upon approving or changing a doctoral programme. The composition of the council is published on the university’s website. The council must permanently include at least six members holding a doctoral degree or equivalent qualification. The right to award doctoral degrees may be granted to
95.1. the faculty council;
95.2. the institute council;
95.3. a joint council established on the proposal of the councils of several faculties or institutes;
95.4. a joint council of higher education institutions established based on a cooperation agreement for a joint curriculum or joint supervision.
96. The composition of the joint council specified in clause 95.3 is approved by the vice rector for research. The joint council specified in clause 95.4 is established in accordance with the procedure specified in the cooperation agreement for a joint curriculum or joint supervision.
97. For the defence of a particular doctoral thesis, the council may expand its composition by inviting additional member(s) holding a doctoral degree or equivalent qualification. Upon deciding on the awarding of the doctoral degree, the opponent or opponents are considered as additional members of the council.
98. The faculty council establishes further conditions for awarding doctoral degrees in the faculty, including requirements for the submission of documents, including the number of copies of the doctoral thesis to be submitted, the procedure for organising the defence and voting at the defence, and may include additional conditions for the publication of the third research article specified in clause 108.2 and the research publication with ETIS publication category 3.2 specified in clause 116.2. Upon establishing the additional requirements for awarding the doctoral degrees, the faculty council is guided by the provisions laid down in these regulations concerning the requirements for the doctoral thesis, admission to the doctoral defence and the defence. The faculty council coordinates the draft of additional conditions for awarding the doctoral degree within the university according to the procedure laid down in the Documentary Procedure Rules.
Advisory code of conduct for the council is described in the good practice of doctoral studies.
99. Members of the council who hold a doctoral degree or equivalent qualification participate in deciding issues regarding a doctoral thesis. The supervisor(s) do not have the right to vote or chair the meeting when deciding these issues. Members of the council who do not hold a doctoral degree or equivalent qualification have the right to speak on issues regarding a doctoral thesis, but they cannot participate in decision-making.
100. At the defence, the council has a quorum if, inclusive of additional members, at least six members with decision-making powers are present. In other issues related to the doctoral thesis, the council has a quorum if over half of the members of the council with decisionmaking powers participate in the meeting.
101. A decision of the council regarding issues related to the doctoral thesis is adopted if more than half (but at least four) of the members of the council with decision-making powers participating in the meeting vote in favour.
102. If the composition or activities of the council are not in accordance with these regulations, the senate may deprive the council of the right to award doctoral degrees and appoint a new council.
