To be eligible to apply the applicant must have completed

1. a relevant Master's degree awarded by a university 
2. a relevant Master's degree awarded by a university of applied sciences; or
3. a relevant applicable study programme abroad which in the awarding country gives eligibility for the corresponding level of higher education.   

International degrees:

• The degree has to be an official or recognised degree in its country of origin.
• As a rule, at least four-year education is required including a Master's thesis or corresponding final thesis.
• In all cases the doctoral programme in question considers case by case whether degrees earned abroad provide a sufficient foundation for postgraduate studies at LUT University.
• The precondition for the recognition of European degrees is that the degree is a university degree combination earned in accordance with the Bologna Process principles (3+2 years). The applicant is required to submit information in English (for example a Diploma Supplement) on the scope and the level of the degree/s obtained abroad when applying to LUT.
• If you apply for the right to study for a doctoral degree with an international degree please contact LUT Doctoral School for additional instructions before submitting application documents.

Economics and Business Administration: One-year (60 ECTS credits) MBA-degrees do not generally qualify for doctoral studies. Candidates with an MBA-degree and their eligibility to apply will be considered case-by-case.

The applicant is expected to have a higher university degree from the field suitable for the future dissertation research. If there is a need to broaden your knowledge gained in your previous education you must include a separate plan for supplementary studies in the doctoral study plan. The extent of these extra studies is max. 60 ECTS cr.

If you have additional suitable knowledge gained otherwise (other education, work experience) that may be taken into consideration when defining the supplementary studies, please provide a separate document explaining how you have acquired it and attach the clarification to your application. The doctoral programme makes the final decision regarding supplementary studies. Supplementary studies are not included in the doctoral degree and you must complete them before the start of the preliminary examination.

The foregoing also applies to applicants who have already obtained a doctoral or licentiate degree from another field of study. In addition, you must complete a sufficient amount of studies in your research field.

If you have completed a licentiate degree in the same field you are required only to complete a doctoral dissertation that is to be published in the field of research in question.

The potential of applicants with a Master degree from a university of applied sciences to successfully complete doctoral studies is assessed by the doctoral programme case by case. Granting the right to study requires the university to determine the applicant's need for supplementary studies, the scope of which are minimum 30 ECTS credits. In this case, work experience cannot be used to substitute supplementary studies.

The general criteria applied by LUT University include the applicant's potential for scientific postgraduate studies, the level and feasibility of the applicant's research plan, sufficient skills in English language and the ability of the applicant to complete the studies in the target time. Schools/doctoral programmes may issue additional evaluation criteria.

Technology

In order to complete the degree of Doctor of Science (Technology) a background in scientific studies in technology is required. Any lacking knowledge of technology must be improved through supplementary studies.

If the applicant does not have a Finnish Master's degree in technology or equivalent technology degree completed abroad, the applicant may alternatively apply for the right to complete the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. 

Business

In order to complete the degree of Doctor of Science (Economics and Business Administration) a background in scientific studies in business is required. Any lacking knowledge of business must be improved through supplementary studies.

Social Sciences

In order to complete the degree of Doctor of Social Sciences a background in scientific studies in social sciences is required. Any lacking knowledge of social sciences must be improved through supplementary studies.

If the applicant does not have a Finnish Master's degree in social sciences or equivalent social sciences degree completed abroad, the applicant may alternatively apply for the right to complete the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

In the Doctoral Programme in Engineering Science the criteria below regarding previous academic performance applies only to the research fields of Green Chemical Technology, Computational Science, Social Sciences and Technical Physics.

• Previous academic performance: the grade of the thesis included in the higher university degree has to be at least very good (4) or equivalent. In addition, the weighted mean of the higher university degree has to be at least 3.0 or equivalent, when grading scale is 0-5. If the applicant does not meet the previously mentioned criteria, the coordinating supervisor is obliged to give a statement of the applicant's suitability for pursuing doctoral studies.
• Research topic: the suitability with the focus area of the university/school
• Research plan: the quality and the feasibility (time management, resources available)
• Supervision: the availability of qualified supervision and its resources

Double doctoral degree and joint supervision (cotutelle) arrangements are based on a written agreement made between the universities. However, the application procedure and requirements for getting a right to study for a doctoral degree at LUT University are generally the same as for other applicants. For further details please contact LUT Doctoral School.

• One study right per term provision applies to all higher education also including studies for licentiate and doctoral degrees awarded by Finnish universities.
• According to this rule, you may accept only one study place leading to a higher education degree in Finland during one academic term (autumn term: 1 August to 31 December, spring term: 1 January to 31 July).
• The provision does not prevent acceptance of a place in another degree programme during another academic term.
   
• Please note that you may simultaneously hold a right to study at LUT University to two degrees in a different field, for example one degree in technology and one in social sciences.