Diverse career pathways

Doctoral Researcher

Doctoral training is the first step towards an academic career. Doctoral researchers conduct high-quality scientific research and complete postgraduate studies. Doctoral training culminates in a doctoral thesis defence, where the doctoral thesis is examined publicly.

The position of a doctoral researcher requires a master’s degree, a research plan, eligibility for a doctoral degree programme corresponding to the field of the position, and a study right for doctoral studies. In addition, abilities and motivation for doctoral studies and completion of a doctorate in accordance with a research plan are required for the position.

Postdoctoral Researcher

The position of a postdoctoral researcher is the next step after the doctoral training phase towards a professional research career.

The position of a postdoctoral researcher requires a doctoral degree, the ability to engage in independent scientific research or artistic work as well as the teaching competence required for the position. When selecting a postdoctoral researcher on the basis of artistic competence, exceptions to the educational requirements may be made by decision of the Rector.

Senior Research Fellow

Senior research fellows are independent and experienced researchers with extensive expertise in their own field.

The position of a senior research fellow requires a doctoral degree, proof of scientific research or artistic work, the teaching competence required for the position and the ability to lead a research group. When selecting a senior research fellow on the basis of artistic competence, exceptions to the educational requirements may be made by decision of the Rector.

Professor

The position of a professor is the highest academic role at the university. Professors carry out, lead and develop scientific research or artistic work, provide research-based education, interact with society and engage in international cooperation in their field.

The position of a professor requires a doctoral degree, scientific or artistic competence of a high standard, experience in the management of scientific research or artistic work, the ability to provide high-quality teaching based on research or artistic activities and supervise

theses and demonstrations of international cooperation within their field of research. In addition, the position of a professor requires the ability to act as an academic leader. When selecting a professor on the basis of artistic competence, exceptions to the educational requirements may be made by decision of the Rector.

The tenure track is a pathway to a permanent position for highly accomplished researchers. It enables career progression through regular external evaluations to a permanent professorship if the assessment criteria are met. The tenure track career model supports our strategic research objectives and strengthens the competitiveness of academic careers in order to attract talented researchers.

The tenure track career model consists of two levels: Assistant Professor and Associate Professor.

Assistant Professor

• Corresponds to the postdoctoral level in the four-stage research career
• Fixed-term employment contract of five years

Associate Professor

• Corresponds to the senior research fellow level in the four-stage research career
• Fixed-term employment contract of five years

The selection, evaluation criteria and advancement procedures follow the University of Oulu Tenure Track guidelines.

We value high-quality teaching and offer career opportunities and opportunities for professional development as both teachers and researchers to those working in teaching-oriented positions.

The main duty of those working within the teaching-oriented career model is teaching. Staff working within this model also participate in research and/or artistic activities. As individuals progress in the career model, their responsibility and impact in leading and developing teaching, as well as participation in the academic community and collaboration with actors outside the university, increase.

Selection and career advancement within the teaching-oriented career model are based on external expert or peer review (with the exception of university teacher positions) and the assessment of teaching competence.

The teaching-oriented career model consists of four career levels. The qualification criteria for each level are as follows:

University Teacher

The position of a university teacher requires an applicable Master’s degree, good teaching competence and the potential for scientific research or artistic work. If necessary, practical familiarity with the field involved may also be required.

University Lecturer and Clinical Instructor

The position of a university lecturer requires a suitable doctoral degree or a master's degree in an artistic field. In addition, the position of a university lecturer requires at least 5 ECTS credits of university pedagogy or equivalent studies and at least two years of teaching and supervision experience in university-level teaching and supervision.

The position of a clinical instructor requires a suitable doctoral degree and at least two years of specialist medical studies.

Both the university lecturer and the clinical instructor must also possess the ability to provide high-quality research-based teaching and the supervision of theses, the ability to develop teaching and proof of scientific or artistic work. If necessary, practical familiarity with the field involved may also be required.

Senior University Lecturer and Senior Clinical Instructor

The position of a senior university lecturer requires a suitable doctoral degree or a master’s degree in an artistic field.

The position of a senior clinical instructor requires a suitable doctoral degree and a degree in a specialist medicine in a field of specialised medicine taught.

In addition, the position of a senior university lecturer and a senior clinical instructor requires 25 ECTS credits of university pedagogy or equivalent studies; at least five years of substantive, multifaceted experience in university-level teaching and supervision; the ability to provide high-quality, research-based teaching and supervision of theses; proof of teaching development; the ability to head a degree programme or extensive educational entity; proof of active scientific or artistic work; and proof of active participation in the activities of the scientific community and cooperation with actors outside the university. If necessary, practical familiarity with the field involved may also be required.

Principal University Lecturer and Principal Clinical Instructor

The position of a principal university lecturer requires a suitable doctoral degree or a master’s degree in an artistic field.

The position of a principal clinical instructor requires a suitable doctoral degree and a degree in a specialist medicine in a field of specialised medicine taught.

In addition, the position of a principal university lecturer and a principal clinical instructor requires 25 ECTS credits of university pedagogy or equivalent studies, and the continued maintenance and development of pedagogical competence thereafter; at least four years of excellent work as a senior university lecturer/senior clinical instructor or an equivalent level post; the ability to provide high-quality, research-based teaching and supervision of theses; demonstrated excellence and supervision in the development of teaching; proof of degree programme management; special educational merits; proof of successful scientific or artistic work; and proof of active participation in the activities of the scientific community and cooperation with actors outside the university. If necessary, practical familiarity with the field involved may also be required.

Professor of Practice

A person appointed as a Professor of Practice is required to have particularly important merits in working life or an enterprise outside the university. The merits must be beneficial to the teaching, research or societal activity of the university. The candidate is expected to have a doctor’s degree or alternatively exceptionally high understanding and competence in the field in question. Professor of practice is appointed by invitation and the position is always for a fixed-term.

The docent title can be awarded to a scientifically qualified person in Finland. According to section 89 of the Universities Act (558/2009), a university may by application grant the title of docent to a person who has comprehensive knowledge of their own field, a capacity for independent research or artistic work as demonstrated by publications or some other manner and good teaching skills.

Traditionally, the minimum requirement for a docentship is that the applicant has, in addition to their doctoral thesis, published scientific/artistic research which corresponds to at least one other dissertation having good scientific/artistic significance, quality and quantity.

The docent title is beneficial when applying a position as a professor or when the person wishes to act as a supervisor of a Ph.D. student, but it does not guarantee an employment contract.

Instruction for applying for docentship
Docentship application form