DOCTORAL STUDIES

All international postgraduate students are welcome to apply for our doctoral programmes, but be sure to see the admission requirements and procedure first. 

The PhD programme covers 240 ECTS. The program includes basic academic courses and completion of the PhD thesis under the guidance of a supervisor from one of the institutes of the EMÜ.

Deadline for the admission in 2023/2024 is the 1st of June 2023.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

PhD thesis topics for admission 2023/2024
(​PhD thesis topics for admission 2023)

Environmental Sciences and Applied Biology: 
Olavi Kurina, Heli Kirik
Artificial and seminatural communities as habitats and contact points between blood-feeding insects (Arthropoda: Diptera) and their hosts
Mark J. McCarthy
Determining the role of microbial nitrogen cycling (internal nitrogen loading) on phytoplankton community structure and cyanobacterial blooms in lakes Veisjärv and Kaiavere, Estonia
Ülo Niinemets
https://www.etis.ee/CV/Ulo_Niinemets/est
Tree abiotic stress tolerance, size and longevity as key determinants of performance of forests under global change
Anton Shkaruba
Ecosystem disservices in cultural landscapes: evaluation, monitoring and integration to spatial planning
Monika Suškevičs
Citizen Science participation models in Estonia and their potential to support environmental decision-making
Tiina Tosens, Ülo Niinemets
The variability of mesophyll conducatance in modern and ancient environments


Forestry: 
Diana Laarmann, John A. Stanturf, Eneli Põldveer
Can novel forest ecosystems be managed to contribute to the goal of the Green Deal?
Sandra Metslaid
Wood formation in Scots pine, Norway spruce and Birch spp. in relation to environmental conditions


Agricultural Sciences:
Kaire Loit, Mati Koppel
Potential strategies for predicting cereal disease epidemics in cereals
Indrek Melts, Ants-Hannes Viira, Mohan Geetha
Integrated models and approaches of environment, social and economy for the sustainable management of semi-natural grasslands and their ecosystem services in Estonia and Japan
Lilian Pukk, Anti Vasemägi
Using environmental DNA and population genetics to understand the distribution and ecology of dangerous fish parasite and its invertebrate host
Merrit Shanskiy, Annely Kuu, Jordi Escuer Gatius
Estimating the soil functioning through some soil biota indicators and sequestered C in different soil management systems
Tiina Tosens, Ülo Niinemets
Adaptation of photosynthetic nitrogen, water and light use efficiency of C3 and C4 crops within the canopy light gradient: the example of Triticum aestivum and Zea mays
Eve Veromann, Kristof De Schutter
Potential of dsRNA for weevil pests (Ceuthorhynchus) of oilseed rape
Tiina Tosens, Ülo Niinemets
Impact of Gall-Forming Insects on agricultural and forests productivity


Engineering Sciences:
Timo Kikas, Tharaka Rama Krishna Chowdary Doddapaneni 
Levoglucosan-to-biochemicals: production, separation and microbial valorisation
Jüri Olt, Kallol Roy
Cultivated Plant Sensing: Artifical Intelligence for Precision Agricultural in Dynamic Environment
Timo Kikas
Influence of pretreatment method on the production of lignocellulosic inhibitors
Eugen Kokin, Protima Rauwel
Development of a practical data management system based on embedded sensors data for improved production environment management and decision traceability at dairy farms


Veterinary Medicine and Food Science:
Radu Ionescu, Marilin Ivask
Volatolomic studies for viable in vitro produced embryo selection in bovine
Suranga P. Kodithuwakku, Alireza Fazeli
Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived Extracellular Vesicles Based Targeted Therapy for Bovine Endometritis
Alireza Fazeli, Suranga P. Kodithuwakku
Development of Milk Extracellular vesicles for therapeutic applications


Why choose Estonian University of Life Sciences?
Top-quality research
Estonian University of Life Sciences is one of the biggest and most renowned scientific institutions of Estonia. 
The biggest institution of science at the University is the Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, which comprises approximately 74% of the research financing at the University and approximately 5% of Estonian research financing.


The meeting point of basic and applied sciences
Estonian University of Life Sciences is renowned for its successful unification of basic and applied sciences. According to the Plant and Soil Sciences Research Evaluation Report of 2012, the University has succeeded in this crucial aspect more than other Estonian research institutions. 
The University has managed to stay focused on finding an answer to the question: why do we really do science? As a result, it has spanned from basic research to application in any meaningful way. There are constant meetings and conferences at the University, uniting researchers of basic and applied sciences and the stakeholders (i.e. all workers in a particular sector).


A wonderful campus
Tartu is really the University capital of Estonia and Estonian University of Life Sciences is the only university that can really boast about their classic university campus. All study, research, and other buildings are bound together by our integrated campus, making it only a 5-10 minute trip from one institution to another. The complex also includes student dorms and a modern Sports Building.


Useful links
Regulation of Studies of the Estonian University of Life Sciences
Estonian Ministry of Education and Research
Estonian ENIC/NARIC Centre -  recognition of qualifications and academic degrees
StudyEstonia – scholarship information

Contact: 
Diana Pungar
diana.pungar@emu.ee
Doctoral School
Estonian University of Life Sciences
Kreutzwaldi 1a-0040, Tartu 51006, Estonia 
Phone 00372 731 3071