PhD studies

• Doctoral curriculum Computer Science
• Detailed information about PhD degree studies at the University of Tartu
• Doctoral allowance and how to apply

At the UT Institute of Computer Science, all doctoral students are guaranteed a monthly income of at least 1200 euros (net). Most doctoral students work as junior researchers, all full-time doctoral students receive a doctoral grant and in some cases an additional scolarship. Specific conditions are agreed upon with each doctoral student seperately.

Attestation

Attestation dates on 2020/2021

In the fall semester, a PhD student has to upload their attestation documents  to SIS (ÕIS) the latest on 16th January. Interviews with the Attestation Committee take place on 26th January. 
The following students have to submit their attestation documents in fall semester

1. All first-year PhD students
2. PhD students and external students, if by the end of the fall semester a year has passed from their last attestation
3. External students, if by the end of the fall semester a year has passed from the beginning of their studies.

In the spring semester, a PhD student has to upload their attestation documents to SIS (ÕIS) for June attestation, the latest on 4th June, and August attestation, the latest on 9th August. Interviews with the Attestation Committee take place in June on 14th-15th June and in August on 23rd August.
The following students have to submit their attestation documents in spring semester

1. All first-year PhD students
2. PhD students and external students, if by the end of the spring semester a year has passed from their last attestation
3. External students, if by the end of the spring semester a year has passed from the beginning of their studies.

Attestation documents

A PhD student must upload the following documents to the SIS system.

1. The PhD Student's Progress Review
2. The PhD Student's Individual Study Plan for the next year of studies

Both documenst have to be signed by the student and the supervisor(s). If the documents are signed on paper, then the scans should be uploaded to the SIS (ÕIS) system.

Attestation process

If submitted attestation documents contain sufficient information and the members of Attestation Committee have no additional questions to the PhD student, then the student is attested based on the documents. However, should the members of Attestation Committee have additional questions, the PhD student is invited for an interview on the dates above.

Student’s absence from the review is acceptable only on reasonable excuses. The absence must be negotiated at least a week prior to the attestation interview with the Chair of the committee prof. Raul Vicente Zafraga (raul.vicente.zafra@ut.ee)

If the supervisor cannot participate on the interview he must send a written evaluation to the student’s progress. The evaluation must be sent to the Chair no later than one day in advance.

As the Attestation Committee has very limited time to go through all the attestation documents, the final schedule for interviews is announced the latest a day before the attestation interviews. Thank you for your understanding!

Also, please see following links for further guidance:

• Detailed information about PhD degree studies at the University of Tartu
• Evaluation arrangements of PhD students in the field of Science and Technology (a set of guidelines on how to evaluate scientific research)

Applying for a Doctorate at the Institute of Computer Science

The process takes around 3 months (not counting the pre-reviewing):

• Decisions by the Institute Council and the Academic Secretary.
• Seminar presentation.
• Agreement with the publisher at least 7 weeks before the defence.
• The dissertation must be public at least one month before the defence.

Submitting the thesis and the defence procedure at the Institute of Computer Science

Graph of submitting the thesis and the defence procedure at the Institute of Computer Science

Instructions for opponents

Official PhD thesis LaTeX template with examples and guidelines

Official PhD thesis LaTeX template with examples and guidelines (Overleaf)

PhD theses defended at the Institute of Computer Science