Doctoral study supervisors

Doctoral study supervisors and their responsibilities

General instructions on doctoral study supervisors

Dissertation supervision ensures that the doctoral student achieves the scientific competencies required for a doctorate and that the dissertation meets the university's dissertation requirements.

The doctoral student and the supervisors must register a collaboratively created plan for the supervision and the completion schedule of the doctoral dissertation using the supervision document service. The annexes of the document describe the duties of the doctoral student, the supervisor and the follow-up group, as well as the dissertation requirements of the University of Jyväskylä.

Instructions on supervisors (doctoral study right begun before 1.8.2026)

These instructions apply to doctoral students whose doctoral study right has begun August 1, 2026. However, if there are changes to supervisors on or after August 1, 2026, the instructions below will apply to the new supervision arrangements.

According to the Degree Regulations of the University of Jyväskylä, each doctoral student must have a personal supervisor-in-charge, designated by the dean. The supervisor-in-charge must have an employment relationship with the University of Jyväskylä, a doctoral degree and sufficient academic merits. In order to ensure continuity of supervision and guidance, a new supervisor-in-charge shall be nominated for the doctoral student if the first supervisor discontinues the task.

In addition, the JYU Graduate School for Doctoral Studies has stated that to ensure the continuity of supervision, it is recommendable to designate one or more other supervisors in addition to the supervisor-in-charge for a student.

Instructions on supervisors (doctoral study right begun 1.8.2026 or after, and changes in supervision)

The following guidelines apply to doctoral students whose doctoral study right begins on or after August 1, 2026, and, starting August 1, 2026, also to doctoral students whose doctoral study right began on or before January 1, 2026, if there are changes to their supervisors. These guidelines are based on Degree Regulations 36§ and the Vice Rector’s decision on the operating principles of the University of Jyväskylä Graduate School (March 27, 2026).

Each doctoral student must have at least two supervisors appointed by the dean, one of whom shall be the personal supervisor-in-charge. All supervisors must hold a doctoral degree and have sufficient academic merit.

The supervisory team must have sufficient expertise and continuity. The supervisors’ academic merits must be relevant to the dissertation topic. At least one supervisor at the docent level must have an employment relationship with the University of Jyväskylä that continues until the estimated completion date of the dissertation or be on a tenure track.

Supervisor-in-charge:

The supervisor-in-charge must be employed by the University of Jyväskylä.
The supervisor-in-charge must be a researcher at the docent level or higher.
A researcher in part-time employment can be appointed as the supervisor-in-charge if their employment is at least 50% of full-time employment
A professor of practice can serve as the supervisor-in-charge of a dissertation, provided that they meet all of the above conditions.

Other supervisors:

In addition to the supervisor-in-charge, at least one supervisor must be a researcher at the docent level or higher.
A researcher whose academic merits do not correspond to the level of a docent (for example, a researcher who has recently defended their dissertation) can be appointed as the third supervisor for the dissertation.

A supervisor at the docent level refers to a researcher who has completed a doctoral degree and has independent scientific research output equivalent to at least two doctoral dissertations. Qualifications at the level of a docent do not require the researcher to hold a university awarded docent title or to meet all of JYU’s docent qualification requirements. The adequacy of the supervisor’s academic merits and docent-level qualifications is assessed by the faculty when appointing the supervisor.

Supervision document

Appendix 1 of the supervision document: Responsibilities of the doctoral student, supervisor and follow-up group

Appendix 2 of the supervision document: Dissertation requirements at the University of Jyväskylä

Dissertation supervisor's checklist

I will supervise the creation of the doctoral study plan, the research plan and the funding plan and make sure the student understands their responsibilities related to these plans.
Together with the student, I will register a supervision document and go through the content of its attachments.
I will make sure the student has at least two supervisors and a follow-up group.
I will introduce the student to the responsible conduct of research, as well as to the publishing policy and the research data policy at the University of Jyväskylä.

I will meet or otherwise contact the student and give feedback regularly.
I will share the instructions and announcements of the Graduate School and the doctoral schools of faculties with the student.
I will give objective, constructive and encouraging feedback about the student’s progress and output.
My goal as a supervisor is that the student will be able to produce a scientifically high-quality dissertation and complete a doctoral degree in the target time set in the doctoral study plan.
In case of an article dissertation, I will ensure that the articles are eligible for publication before they are submitted to the publisher.
When possible, I will participate in events in which the dissertation research is handled and help the student in preparing for the events.
I will promote the student’s integration with the scientific community and encourage them to create a peer support network.
I will discuss with the student about their career plans.
I will follow the progress of the doctoral studies regularly (e.g. in follow-up group meetings).
I will give advice on applying for funding and, when possible, aim to take the financial needs of doctoral training into account when I apply for project funding.
I will write references and statements on the student’s request.

I will ensure that the dissertation manuscript is eligible for preliminary examination.
I will make sure the dissertation manuscript is scanned with the plagiarism detection software and interpret the results.
If the student is supervised by two or more faculties, I will participate in assessing the share of supervision so that compensation for the supervision can be applied for.

Decision on supervisors or changes in supervision

According to the University of Jyväskylä Regulations, section 13 §, the Dean nominates the supervisor-in-charge, other supervisors and the follow-up group for a doctoral student unless these matters are delegated to be handled and decided by the vice-dean responsible for research. Read more about the supplementary instructions for your faculty.

Resolving of conflicts and problematic situations

For more detailed guidance on how to resolve conflicts and problematic situations, see the follow-up group guidelines.

The supplementary instructions of the Faculties

Changes in supervision

During the doctoral studies, a need to change the existing supervision arrangements may arise. This may happen for various reasons, for example, a supervisor may retire. Primarily, any changes in supervision should be negotiated between the doctoral student and the supervisors. The changes in supervision can be proposed by the student or the supervisor(s).

After consulting the doctoral student and the supervisors, the department's vice head is responsible for proposing a new supervisor. In the other departments of the faculty, the vice head responsible for research is responsible for the matter, and in Centre for Applied Language Studies (Solki), the vice head responsible for education. The vice head of the department sends to the faculty's doctoral studies coordinator the proposal on the changes in supervision using the faculty's form on the Intranet Uno.

The vice-dean responsible for the research makes the decision on changes to the supervision. The doctoral studies coordinator informs the department´s vice head and the doctoral student when the decision has been made, and the coordinator also makes the needed changes to Sisu's tutoring groups. After this, the doctoral student must update the changes in their supervision document.

Policy on the supervision of doctoral theses in the Faculty of Information Technology (September 25, 2023):

In the Faculty of Information Technology, each doctoral student is assigned a personal supervisor-in-charge (responsible supervisor) and at least one other supervisor.

The responsible supervisor must be a person with a permanent employment contract with the faculty, or a person with a fixed-term contract or tenure track of at least four years from the start of the postgraduate studies.

A supervisor other than the supervisor-in-charge may be a person from outside the faculty if the work requires expertise in a particular subject area that is not covered by the faculty's own staff or if the progress of the work is for some other specific reason significantly supported by the involvement of an external supervisor.

All supervisors must hold a doctoral degree.

Changes in supervision

In situations requiring a change in the supervision

The doctoral student and the supervisors will consult each other in the first instance. If necessary, members of the follow-up group may also be involved.
Once changes have been agreed between the doctoral student and the current and potential new supervisors, the supervisor-in-charge will discuss the issue with the specialisation representative. The proposal for changes is made using the faculty form.
Specialisation representative sends a proposal for changes to the coordinator of doctoral education via HelpJYU (or to doctoral-studies-it@jyu.fi).
The coordinator will inform the parties concerned when the Dean Responsible for Research has made the decision on the changes.
The doctoral student must then update the changes in their supervision document, which is approved by the responsible supervisor.

Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics (JSBE) follows the university-level requirements and instructions for dissertation supervisors (see above). The supervisor-in-charge must be a member of JSBE’s teaching and research staff.

Changes in supervisory arrangements at JSBE

When the doctoral study right at JSBE is granted, the decision also includes the appointment of supervisors to each doctoral student. In case there is later a need to change the supervisors, the Dean, or if delegated, Vice Dean responsible for research, will decide on the new supervisory arrangements. The process of proposing the changes is as follows:

Doctoral student, old and new supervisors and the Head of Discipline of the doctoral student's specialisation agree on the new supervisory arrangements, and fill in a form of the proposed changes (please download it below) according to the instructions given on the form:

Proposal for changes in supervisors or follow-up group (.docx)
Head of Discipline signs the proposal for changes and sends it to the faculty's coordinator of doctoral education via HelpJYU form ask about doctoral education.
Coordinator forwards the proposal for the (Vice) Dean's decision and informs the doctoral student and the supervisors once the decision is made.

After the decision, the doctoral student must make the respective changes to their supervision document in the Supervision Document Service.

Every doctoral student must have a designated supervisor-in-charge and at least one other supervisor. All supervisors need to have a doctoral degree. A supervisor-in-charge can be a professor, an assistant/associate professor, a docent or a person who has significant scientific evidence equivalent to a docent, who is employed at the Faculty of Education and Psychology¹. The supervisor-in-charge must have a non-fixed-term employment contract or alternatively, a fixed-term employment contract during which a doctoral dissertation can be expected to be finished. The supervisory group formed by the supervisors must have at least one supervisor from the faculty² who has a non-fixed employment contract or a tenure track employment contract. In addition to the supervisor-in-charge, at least one other supervisor must be a researcher at the level of docent or higher. There can be members in the supervisory group also outside the University of Jyväskylä.

¹In the specialisation in education alternatively at the Kokkola University Consortium Chydenius or Finnish Institute for Educational Research

² In the specialisation in education alternatively at Kokkola University Consortium Chydenius

(This definition does not change already existing supervisory groups.)

Changes in supervision: During the doctoral studies, a need to change the existing supervision arrangements may arise. This may happen for various reasons, for example, a supervisor may retire. To change supervisors, use the faculty's form (Intranet UNO, requires login).

The Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences follows the university-level requirements and instructions for dissertation supervisors (see above). The supervisor-in-charge must be a member of the faculty’s teaching and research staff.

Changes in supervisory arrangements at the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences

When the doctoral study right at the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences is granted, the decision also includes the appointment of supervisors and a follow-up group to each doctoral student. In case there is later a need to change the supervisors/follow-up group, the Dean, or if delegated, Vice Dean responsible for research, will decide on the new supervisory arrangements. The process of proposing for the changes is as follows:

Doctoral student, old and new supervisors agree on the new supervisory arrangements and fill in a form of the proposed changes according to the instructions given on the form.
Supervisor-in-charge or doctoral student sends the signed proposal for changes to the faculty's coordinator of doctoral education via HelpJYU form.
The Faculty's coordinator of doctoral education submits the proposal to the degree programme representative for approval and then to the (Vice) Dean for decision.
Coordinator informs the doctoral student and the supervisors once the decision is made.
The doctoral student must make the respective changes to their supervision document in the Supervision Document Service.

Read about progress and follow-up of doctoral studies in the follow-up group instructions.

Policy on the supervision of doctoral theses in the Faculty of Mathematics and Science (Valid until July 31, 2026, after which the university’s guidelines, effective from August 1, 2026, will apply):

Each doctoral student must have a designated supervisor-in-charge (responsible supervisor), and at least one other supervisor. Supervisors are nominated when awarding the doctoral study right. The second supervisor does not need to be employed by the University of Jyväskylä but must hold a doctoral degree and must have demonstrated sufficient competence to supervise the doctoral thesis (competence is assessed by the doctoral programme). Nominating a second supervisor ensures the stability and continuity of supervision in unexpected situations. The supervisor-in-charge must have a sufficiently long employment contract with the University of Jyväskylä. The purpose is to ensure continuity of supervision during the doctoral thesis. It is the responsibility of the supervisor to monitor that the supervision document is up to date and to confirm the supervision document without delay.

Changes in supervision

In situations requiring a change in the supervision

The doctoral student and the supervisors will consult each other in the first instance. If necessary, members of the follow-up group may also be involved.
Once changes have been agreed between the doctoral student and the current and potential new supervisors, they will be discussed with the Head of the Doctoral Programme. The proposal for changes is made using the faculty form.
Head of the Doctoral Programme sends a proposal for changes to the coordinator of doctoral education via HelpJYU.
The coordinator will inform the parties concerned when the Vice Dean's decision on the changes has been made.
The doctoral student must then update the changes in their supervision document, which is approved by the responsible supervisor.

Doctoral study supervisors

General instructions on doctoral study supervisors

Instructions on supervisors (doctoral study right begun before 1.8.2026)

Instructions on supervisors (doctoral study right begun 1.8.2026 or after, and changes in supervision)

Dissertation supervisor's checklist

At the beginning of the supervision relationship

During the supervisory relationship

Upon the completion of the dissertation

Decision on supervisors or changes in supervision

Resolving of conflicts and problematic situations

The supplementary instructions of the Faculties

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Faculty of Information Technology

Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics

Faculty of Education and Psychology

Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences

Faculty of Mathematics and Science