In this text, the term "current students" refers to those students who have been granted doctoral study rights before 1.8.2011 (i.e. before the University of Oulu Graduate School started its activities).

The graduate school will not change the study requirements for current students. Study and research plans that have been already been accepted by the Faculties of the University of Oulu remain valid until the end of the year 2015, if the doctoral training has progressed according to the plans. From 1.1.2012 all doctoral degrees at the University of Oulu are granted by the University of Oulu Graduate School.

• The end-process of the doctoral training leading up to the publication and defense of the thesis and the granting of the doctoral degree proceeds according to the Graduate School’s normal procedures for those students who have a nominated doctoral training (thesis) follow-up group of which at least one member is of docent level.
• If a student does not have a doctoral training follow-up group, or if the follow-up group does not include at least one  professor or docent-level member, the responsible person for the major subject replaces the chairperson of the doctoral training follow-up group throughout the process.

Examples:

1) A student who defends doctoral thesis and he/she has a doctoral training follow-up group: the student continues to finalizing  the doctoral studies and thesis, and seeks the permission to defend his/her doctoral thesis according the University of Oulu Graduate School's process. The chairperson of the Doctoral Training Committee appoints the pre-examiners. The Doctoral Training Committee grants the permission to defend the doctoral thesis and appoint the opponent(s) and custos. The dean of the Graduate School grants the doctoral degree. The chief academic officer of the Faculty in which the student has carried out his/her doctoral research project can help in practical matters.

2) A student defends doctoral thesis and he/she has no doctoral training follow-up group, or the follow-up group includes no professor or docent-level member: the student continues to finalizing the doctoral studies and thesis, the principal supervisor together with the responsible person for the major subject, propose the thesis reviewers, the opponent(s) and the custos. The chairperson of the Doctoral Training Committee appoints the pre-examiners. The Doctoral Training Committee grants the permission to defend the doctoral thesis and appoint the opponent(s) and custos. The dean of the Graduate School grants the doctoral degree. The chief academic officer of the Faculty in which the student has carried out his/her doctoral research project can help in practical matters.