Curricula of doctoral programmes

Doctoral programme curriculum

The doctoral programme curriculum (OPS) is a plan for the structure and content as well as the study requirements of the degree approved by the faculty.  A doctoral programme curriculum describes the competence the student will achieve during the studies and the structure of the degree programme. A curriculum is generally valid for at least four academic years at a time.

Based on the curricula, teaching schedules are drawn up every academic year. From the teaching schedule, you can find out how and when it is possible to complete the study unitsduring the academic year.

Curricula for doctoral programmes valid from August 1, 2026 (NOTE: list will be updated)
 

Doctoral Programme in Humanities and Social Sciences
Doctoral Programme in Information Technology
Doctoral Programme in Education and Psychology
Doctoral Programme in Mathematics and Science

Curricula for doctoral programmes valid until July 31, 2026

NOTE: Please also read the section below on the transition periods for curricula!

Curricula 2024-2026
Curricula 2020-2024
Curricula 2017-2020

Transition periods for curricula

Faculty of Information Technology

Concerning the transition periods of doctoral studies curricula 2020-2024, the university has decided the following: doctoral students who have started their doctoral studies according to the curriculum for doctoral studies 2020-2024 may complete their doctoral degree accordingly if all the following conditions are met: 

  • the doctoral studies according to the doctoral studies curriculum 2020-2024 have been completed and entered in the register no later than 31 July 2030
  • the doctoral degree will be completed by July 31, 2030

Regarding transition periods for previous curricula, see the faculty-specific supplementary guidelines below for more information.

Other faculties

i.e. the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics, the Faculty of Education and Psychology, the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, and the Faculty of Mathematics and Science:

The curricula for 2020–2024 and 2024–2028 are linked to faculties' doctoral programmes that will be discontinued as of August 1, 2026. The transition period for both curricula will last until July 31, 2028. 

After the transition period, the study rights in force will be transferred to the doctoral programmes starting on August 1, 2026, in each faculty, at which point studies must be continued in accordance with the curriculum in force for that doctoral programme.

The objectives of doctoral education

The objectives of postgraduate academic and artistic education are laid down in the Government Decree on University Degrees (1039/2013, 21 §).

The objective of postgraduate education is for those completing the course to:

  1. be profoundly familiar with their own field of research and of its social significance;
  2. have gained the knowledge and skills to apply academic research methods independently and critically and create new academic knowledge;
  3. be highly familiar with the progress, basic problems and research methods of their own field of research;
  4. have attained a grasp of the general theory of science and other disciplines related to their field of research that enables monitoring of progress in those fields;
  5. have gained communicative and language proficiency and other knowledge and skills that are adequate for discharging broad and demanding specialist and development duties at work and in international collaboration.

In line with these objectives, the learning outcomes of doctoral education at the University of Jyväskylä include, in addition to discipline-specific skills, research and communication skills and other competences that support the development of professional expertise.

The supplementary instructions of the Faculties

Services for doctoral education

What can I study - teaching schedules for doctoral studies

Teaching schedules for doctoral studies - tips for finding studies.