The personal study plan (PSP) of a doctoral student
This page provides instructions for doctoral students on how to create a study plan in Sisu. More information can be found in the general Sisu instructions, which covers study plan functions in more detail.
Create your personal study plan in Sisu at the beginning of your studies and select the courses to include in the plan. Discuss the content of your study plan with your supervisor and update the plan as needed as your studies progress. A current personal study plan (PSP) supports smooth progress in your studies and also speeds up graduation.
The structure of the study plan is based on the curriculum of your doctoral programme, which can be found in the Students guide.
The structure of doctoral studies is more flexible than that of undergraduate studies. There are fewer courses in the structure, so you will need to select and add more studies and completed credits to your plan. Familiarize yourself with the instructions specific to your doctoral programme, especially those related to the recognition of learning and the gaining credit points.
For more information and detailed instructions on Sisu functions, see
Study Plan When the Curriculum Period Changes
A change of the curriculum period affects how you complete and plan your studies. You can choose which curriculum and structure to follow for your studies, unless otherwise specified by the transitional provisions and correspondence of old studies.
Familiarize yourself with the guidelines and recommendations of your doctoral program to choose the most suitable option for you. You can also contact your programmes education specialist for assistance.
Continuing with the Old Curriculum
- Maintain your study plan as usual.
- Check the courses included in your study plan:
- Courses are taught according to the latest curriculum, so you must update them to the current version. See the separate instructions on how to change the version.
- If a course is not part of the curriculum anymore, there will be no updated version available. In that case, find out how to acquire equivalent competence and update your study plan accordingly, or choose alternative studies. More information can be found in the transitional provisions, course equivalency tables, and from education specialists.
- Continue your studies as normal and update your plan as needed. It is recommended to review your study plan at least once a year.
- See the detailed instructions for creating a study plan at the bottom of this page or in the general Sisu instructions.
Switching to the New Curriculum
- Review the transitional provisions and guidelines of your doctoral programme.
- Indicate your wish to follow the new curriculum by responding to the survey you received or by contacting your programmes education specialist. Your study right will be updated accordingly.
- Create a new study plan in Sisu after your study right has been updated. See the detailed instructions at the bottom of this page.
Creating the Study Plan in Practice and Faculty specific instructions