The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers a programme leading to the degree of PhD (Doctor of Philosophy). The degree is awarded by the University of Turku and students are supervised by at least one senior staff member. A PhD thesis will typically consist of 4 to 6 publications in internationally refereed journals. All students have the opportunity to participate in conferences and present their work orally several times during their thesis work.
Coursework is undertaken during the PhD, amounting to 60 credit points. This is mainly acheived in our English language lecture programme, with topics ranging from Stellar and Solar Physics, Radiation Mechanisms in Astrophysics, Cosmology, Radio Astronomy, Galactic Dynamics, Celestial Mechanics and Obervational Astronomy. Students may also earn credit points in the English language seminar programme by presenting their own work, by attending conferences and presenting posters or talks, or by attendance in the wide range of Summer or Winter schools offered in Astronomy in the Nordic region and in Europe. Seminar presentation skills are emphasised during post-graduate study as well, with a student expected to give 3-5 English language presentations during the Ph.D. studies.
Over the last 5 years, 13 PhD theses have been awarded by the Department of Physics and Astronomy, with topics ranging from chemical evolution of galaxies, compact stars, particle acceleration mechanisms, active galaxies, dark matter haloes and relativistic jets. Tuorla Observatory and the Space Research Laboratory are the primary sites for PhD studies.
Applications to the PhD programme can be accepted at any time. The entrance requirement is a Master's degree in Astronomy or Physics or its equivalent. There are no tuition fees for students accepted to the programme. Students do need to cover their own living expenses. These can be applied for from a range of foundations (e.g. Wihuri, Aaltonen, CIMO), and by the Finnish Graduate School in Astronomy and Space Physics. Internal resources may also be granted to PhD students on a case by case basis.
Applicants interested in pursuing a PhD in the Department of Physics and Astronomy are asked to contact a member of staff at Tuorla Observatory or the Space Research Laboratory who is working in their area of interest.
The table below lists the suggested course selection. Note that changes in the lecturer list are possible; the final decisions of lecturers are always made during the summer prior to the academic year.
Course | Grade units | Lecturer |
|
|
Main subject courses |
Astrophotometry and polarimetry |
2 |
Andrei Berdyugin |
Astrometry and coordinate systems |
3 |
Aleksandr Mylläri |
|
Solar structure and activity |
6 |
Silja Pohjolainen |
|
Data mining in astronomy |
4 |
Aleksandr Mylläri |
|
Extensive astrophysics course -- topics from current literature |
10 |
Mauri Valtonen |
|
Galactic dynamics |
6 |
Chris Flynn |
|
Radio astronomy instrumentation and interferometry |
6 |
Kaj Wiik |
|
Stellar structure and evolution |
4 |
Laura Portinari |
|
Scientific writing and the use of bibliographic databases |
2 |
TBA |
|
Solar magnetic cycle |
4 |
Alexandr Riehokainen |
|
Advanced celestial mechanics |
10 |
Mauri Valtonen |
|
Stellar statistics |
4 |
Aleksandr Mylläri |
|
Summer school |
4 |
|
|
Total of main subject grade units, selection from above |
30 | ||
|
Minor subject courses |
The package of minor subject courses can be chosen relatively freely from available courses of mathematics, physics, information technology, and economics. Teaching staff will be happy to help you fine-tune a package most beneficial for your studies. |
||
Total of minor subject grade units |
30 | ||
|
Other studies |
PhD thesis |
180 |
|
Total of all grade units to achieve PhD degree |
240 | ||
The table below lists the suggested course selection. Note that changes in the lecturer list are possible; the final decisions of lecturers are always made during the summer prior to the academic year.
Course | Grade units | Lecturer |
|
|
Main subject courses |
Space physics |
8 |
Ass.Prof. Timo Laitinen |
Advanced plasma physics |
8 |
TBA |
|
Total of main subject grade units |
16 | ||
|
Optional main subject courses |
Physics of particle and plasma instruments |
5 |
TBA |
Modelling of heliospheric phenomena |
5 |
TBA |
|
Space environment and space instrument design |
4 |
TBA |
|
Cosmic ray particles |
4 |
TBA |
|
Scientific writing and the use of bibliographic databases |
4 |
TBA |
|
Solar magnetic cycle |
4 |
TBA |
|
Stellar structure and evolution |
6 |
TBA |
|
Interstellar matter |
6 |
TBA |
|
Summer/winter school |
2-8 |
|
|
Advanced studies seminar |
2 |
|
|
Conference presentation |
2-4 |
|
|
Work experience |
2-6 |
|
|
Total of optional main subject grade units |
14 | ||
|
Minor subject courses |
The package of minor subject courses can be chosen relatively freely from available courses of astronomy, mathematics, physics, information technology, and economics. Teaching staff will be happy to help you fine-tune a package most beneficial for your studies. |
||
Total of minor subject grade units |
30 | ||
|
Other studies |
PhD thesis |
180 |
|
Total of all grade units to achieve PhD degree |
240 | ||