- 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.5.1. Documents submitted by the doctoral candidate
122. To be allowed to the thesis defence, the doctoral candidate submits to the council the following documents electronically or, if the original document is not electronic, on paper:
122.1. an application to allow the doctoral thesis to be defended, specifying the exact name of the doctoral degree applied for;
122.2. the doctoral thesis, which complies with the technical requirements established for manuscripts by the University of Tartu Press and clause 121 of these regulations, and the texts of publications;
122.3. written opinion(s) of the supervisor(s) on the originality of the doctoral thesis, the contribution of the doctoral candidate and compliance with the requirements of the content and form of the doctoral thesis;
122.4. a brief popular science summary (up to 2,000 characters) aimed at a broad audience in Estonian and English.
Guidelines for writing a popular science summary
- Secrets for good science writing from the Guardian.
- The Guardian science blog “Science communication: could you explain it to your granny?”.
- Tips from Canadian jounalist Colin Schultz “Tips for young science journalists: A crash course on the major issues in the field”.
123. After the doctoral candidate has been allowed to defend the doctoral thesis, the doctoral candidate submits the doctoral thesis to the council electronically and, if provided for in the faculty’s additional conditions for awarding the doctoral degree, also the required number of paper copies.
Timeframe and steps following the submission of the application
The amount of time from the submission of an application until the defence of the degree depends on the steps prescribed by the Regulation for Doctoral Studies, the nature of the thesis (whether it is a monograph or an integrated collection of research publications), the internal rules of the faculty/council and the schedule of the opponent(s). In the case of a monograph, the international pre-review of the thesis by two renowned researchers of the respective specialisation (RDS clause 113) is required. Thus, it may take a month or two before any assessments can be obtained from the pre-reviewers. In addition, intra-council pre-reviews and, in some faculties, pre-defences are used. The respective information can be obtained from the institute or faculty.
Points of refecence for planning you schedule:
- the council submits the materials to the academic secretary for assessment within three working days after receiving an application (RDS clause 124);
- the academic secretary responds to the council in writing within eight working days (RDS clause 124);
- the council makes a decision within six weeks after receiving the application (RDS clause 125, see also clause 126);
- check the dates of the regular sessions of the council and time the submission of your application accordingly;
- a paper copy of the thesis must be accessible in the university library and an electronic copy of the thesis must be available on the website of the university library at least two weeks before the defence unless the defence has been declared closed or restrictions have been established on the publication of the thesis (RDS clause 132).
- the author submits to the University of Tartu Press the electronic manuscript of the thesis and a brief popular science summary (up to 2000 characters) in Estonian and English aimed at a broad audience, and the separates or PDF files of the publications at least seven weeks before the date of defence (RDS clause 141).
Ask the University of Tartu Press for information on the waiting period and how fast the thesis can be printed – make an agreement with them beforehand. Seven weeks is not mandatory if the University of Tartu Press can fulfil the order faster, but the printed thesis must be available two weeks before the defence.
If the thesis is an integrated collection of research publications, ask the publisher of the articles for permission to publish the articles in the printed and electronic version of the thesis well ahead (see RDS III.6).
