Doctoral studies in Physical Geography in the field of Natural Sciences

Joint doctoral studies in Physical Geography (N006) are carried out by three higher education and research institutions: Vilnius University, Klaipeda University, and the Natural Research Center, which have historically formed scientific potential in Lithuania to continue doctoral studies in Physical Geography, highly qualified researchers, and scientists in the Physical sciences.
The right to doctorate in physical geography (N006) was granted to Klaipeda University by the order of the Minister of Education and Science of the Ministry of Education and Science in 2014. Doctoral certification and quality assessment was conducted in 2021.

Basic information about the study process:

• The duration of doctoral studies is 4 years, the studies start on October 1 of each year.
• A state scholarship is awarded (about 8,000 – 10,000 Eur per year).
• Each year, doctoral students receive support for research (additional targeted funding for publications, job creation, research trips, software, research tools).
• Within 1 month from the beginning of doctoral studies, the doctoral student together with his / her doctoral supervisor prepares a doctoral student work plan, which includes doctoral study subjects and their terms, planned research program and its implementation stages, publication of results, planned internships.
• The volume of doctoral studies is at least 35 credits. The doctoral student studies at least 3 subjects. The doctoral student must receive 5 credits for participation in general capacity building activities or doctoral students’ international summer / winter schools after the doctoral student goes on an internship or part-time study abroad.
• During doctoral studies, the doctoral student is attested annually (subject to the decision of the doctoral committee – every six months) for the activities performed and the results achieved.
• The doctoral student must defend the dissertation during the period devoted to doctoral studies.
• The doctoral student submits the defense of the dissertation when he / she has passed all the examinations provided for in the doctoral students work plan (30 credits); having collected 5 credits of general abilities; has published the most important results of his / her research in at least two articles published (or accepted for publication) in peer-reviewed scientific publications with a citation rate in the Clarivate Analytics Web of Science (CA WoS) database; has presented the results of his / her research at at least two international scientific events; has completed at least three months of internship in foreign research and study institutions (recommended); having prepared a dissertation. The dissertation can also be submitted based on a collection of scientific articles. In this case, the dissertation must have published the most important research results in at least four articles.