Applying to the Graduate School

The next TUCS Graduate School application round took place in in spring 2010 from February 15th to March 26th, 4pm (Finnish time)

Prerequisites

Prerequisites to the Graduate School are:

1. A Master's degree from a university in Computer Science, Mathematics, Information Systems, Computer Engineering, Embedded Systems, Communication Systems, Microelectronics, Biomedical Informatics or in a closely related field. The degree should be equivalent to a Master's degree awarded by a Finnish university. In exceptional cases, TUCS can also consider applicants with a Bachelor's degree for the Graduate School. This is possible only if the applicant's all grades are maximal or almost maximal (90 % of the grades must be maximal). The Master's Degree must be ready by the end of the application round.
2. Knowledge of English
   Please check the information about the Language requirement.

Application Procedure

There are two application rounds per year. The fall application round is for the status only and the spring application round is for the status and the financing.

The application must consist of the Graduate School application form and the enclosures 1–14 given below. The application form and all the documents, except the language test score and the recommendation letters, must be sent by the applicant.

Enclosures:

1. A LETTER OF MOTIVATION
   Your reasons for applying to the TUCS Graduate School (max. 1 page).
2. A SHORT CURRICULUM VITAE (CV)
   A brief educational and professional history (curriculum vitae, CV).

   Educational history

   Degrees and possible unfinished degrees. Major and minor subjects.

   Professional history

   Please explain clearly, but shortly your work experience relevant to your field of studies (the employer, title, job description, how long you worked there, full-time/part-time job and if part-time, how many hours per month).

3. A SHORT DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH INTERESTS
   A short description of your research interests (max. 1 page).
4. OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED COPIES OF YOUR MASTER'S AND BACHELOR'S DEGREE CERTIFICATES AND THEIR OFFICIAL TRANSLATIONS IN ENGLISH or FINNISH or SWEDISH
5. OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS OF YOUR STUDY RECORDS AND THEIR OFFICIAL TRANSLATIONS IN ENGLISH or FINNISH or SWEDISH
6. A CERTIFICATE OF KNOWLEDGE OF ENGLISH
   The accepted language tests are TOEFL and IELTS, and the test score must come directly from the testing centre. The minimum test scores:
   • IELTS: Average 6.5; no individual scores below 5.5.
   • TOEFL: 575 points (paper based total) or 232 points (computer based total) or 90 points (iBT total).
   The language test is not required from applicants, who have already obtained the right for doctoral studies at one of the universities within TUCS community. In addition, applicants, who have conducted their secondary education or two-year Master’s Degree Programme in the EU, the U.S.A, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or South-Africa, are also waivedfrom the English language test.
   If you've been waived from the language test based on secondary education in the EU, the U.S.A, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or South-Africa, you must enclose your secondary education certificate.
7. TWO LETTERS OF RECOMMMENDATION
   The application to TUCS Graduate School must be supported by two recommendations written by teachers, professors or other persons who can comment on your ability to pursue doctoral studies. The letters must be sent directly to TUCS by the referees and the deadline must be respected. Letters of recommendation arriving together with the application are not considered, neither are recommendation letters arrived after the application period has ended.
8. A STATEMENT OF YOUR STUDY TIME FOR THE MASTER'S DEGREE:
   1. The month and year of your first registration to a university or university of applied sciences
   2. The month and year of your Master's Degree
9. A STATEMENT OF YOUR STUDY TIME IN DOCTORAL STUDIES*:
   1. The month and year when you received the right for doctoral studies.
   2. If you have had a full-time, outside academia employment after you have got the right for doctoral studies, a statement of how many months you have had this full-time employment.
10. A COPY OF YOUR ACCEPTED STUDY PLAN FOR DOCTORAL STUDIES*
11. A STATEMENT OF HOW MANY CREDITS (ECTS (ov, op, sv, sp)) YOU HAVE, WHICH CAN BE INCLUDED FOR YOUR DOCTORAL DEGREE
12. A STATEMENT FROM YOUR SUPERVISOR OF HOW MANY PUBLICATIONS YOU HAVE THAT CAN BE INCLUDED FOR YOUR PhD PROJECT
13. A LIST OF YOUR OTHER PUBLICATIONS
14. A STATEMENT OF THE AVERAGE (NOT WEIGHTED) OF ALL YOUR GRADES IN YOUR
    1. Bachelor's Degree
    2. Master's Degree

*) Only if you already have the right for doctoral studies at the University of Turku, Åbo Akademi University or Turku School of Economics.

NOTE: The applicant can write the statements in 8), 9), 11), 13) and 14) her/himself. The applicant her/himself is responsible for the rightness of the information given to TUCS GS. If an applicant gives wrong or misleading information to TUCS GS, he/she will lose the possible TUCS GS position.

VERY IMPORTANT: All copies enclosed with the application must be attested true copies, i.e. they must bear the original stamp and signature of an official entitled to attest documents: an authorized university official, a notary public, a commissioner of oaths, etc. Translations must be made by an officially authorized translator and they must be accompanied by an attested true copy of the original. The documents will not be returned. Please do not send any original certificates. Please also note that TUCS does not accept any application material sent by e-mail.

The application and all documents related to the application are sent to the following address:

Please note that in order for your application to be processed it must arrive at TUCS before the deadline (postal stamps are not considered), and include all the required documents.

To get more information about the admittance procedure and the Graduate School in general, please check the TUCS Graduate School guide.

For additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us:

The application results are sent to all the applicants through e-mail and regular mail.

The overview of the pre-evaluation for TUCS Graduate School 2010

• preEvaluationOverview2010.pdf