Doctoral programmes
Doctoral programmes of Aalto prepare to become highly qualified researchers and experts in most demanding positions. Doctoral education is carried out in a unique multidisciplinary international scientific community.
Being a doctoral student at Aalto
All you need to know about your doctoral research journey at Aalto University.
On this page
Loading table of contentsArrangements for public defences under COVID-19 (See below for all language versions)
Principles (updated 10.3.2022)
The restrictions on the number of event participants are lifted as of 14 February 2022. However, when events are organised, taking account of health security still remains important.
Visitors may once again be received on campus when following the safety instructions. A situation assessment is required for foreign participants (checklist for arrival) and the approval of the head of the department.
Interactive online live stream (such as Zoom) from a defence held at the campus is not required anymore. However, it is still possible to arrange the whole public defence via Zoom or similar tools, together with or instead of a defence held at the campus.
To ensure health security, general hygiene requirements will stay in force. In other words, we will take care of good hand hygiene, maintain distances and do not come to campus if ill. Event organisers are responsible for the health security of the event. A separate security and hygiene plan is not required anymore.
You can use a face mask at your own discretion. It is still recommended to use a mask particularly in crowded public indoor spaces, and especially if you have not been fully vaccinated. Of course, you can wear a mask if this feels good to you.
You need to keep up to date with the guidelines as they are updated and adhere to them.
In the case the Covid-19 situation takes a turn for the worse and the authorities issue more restrictive guidelines, it is possible that Aalto University also has to adopt stricter instructions.
Before a remote public examination of a doctoral thesis
Please ensure well in advance that the space has the appropriate equipment.
Contact IT Services several days in advance to agree on IT support for the remote public examination by writing to [email protected].
Please take the time difference into consideration. If you need to start the event later or the remote connections do not work, making it necessary to postpone the public examination, inform the planning officer/coordinator of your doctoral programme.
The public display of the doctoral thesis will be arranged as an online display according to the updated degree regulations on doctoral education. This means that the summary and unpublished articles have to be displayed online for ten days. This PDF document containing the previously unpublished texts has to be accessible to users who have an Aalto username. In addition, the file must be made available for third parties upon request in accordance with the Act on the Openness of Government Activities (621/1999). The address for such requests is [email protected]. The event information on aalto.fi has to include a link to the online display and in case of online public examination the link to Zoom or Teams via which the public can participate the event. The public online display is not the same thing as archiving the doctoral thesis in the Aaltodoc publication archive.
The person organising the public examination of the doctoral thesis (the doctoral student or the department personnel as per the custom of the school) emails the programme of the public examination to the doctoral student, the opponent and the custos in advance to ensure the smooth running of the public examination.
The dress code should follow Aalto’s usual instructions, taking account of the formality and importance of the event. If necessary, the doctoral student will decide on the dress code.
In the case the travel arrangements for the opponent need to be cancelled, please directly contact Travel Services ([email protected]).
Online public examination
If the defence is held only online, an interactive online platform, such as Zoom or Teams, is to be used so that the event qualifies as a public event. As the Panopto software does not allow such interaction, it may not be used.
Further instructions on Zoom: https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/zoom-quick-guide
If you want to record the event, please remember to get permission from the opponent and the custos.
The doctoral student and the custos must be seated at a sufficient distance (2m) from each other. Hygiene has to be ensured. Test the conference phone in advance to ensure optimum sound quality. Do not come to the campus if you are ill.
Periaatteet (päivitetty 10.3.2022)
Tilaisuuksien ja tapahtumien osallistujamäärien rajoitukset poistuvat 14.2.2022 alkaen.Tapahtumissa on edelleen tärkeää kiinnittää huomiota terveysturvallisiin järjestelyihin.
Vieraita on jälleen mahdollista ottaa vastaan kampuksella turvaohjeita noudattaen. Vieraan saapuminen ulkomailta edellyttää tilannearviota (Checklist for arrival) ja laitosjohtajan hyväksyntää.
Kampuksella järjestettävää väitöstilaisuutta ei enää vaadita jakamaan vuorovaikutteisesti verkossa (esim. Zoom). On kuitenkin mahdollista järjestää koko julkinen väitös vuorovaikutteisesti verkossa (esim. Zoom-alustalla) joko kampuksella järjestettävän tilaisuuden rinnalla tai sen asemesta.
Terveysturvallisuuden varmistamiseksi noudatamme edelleen yleisiä hygieniavaatimuksia, eli huolehdimme käsihygieniasta ja riittävistä etäisyyksistä emmekä tule kampukselle sairaina. Tilaisuuden tai tapahtuman järjestäjä on vastuussa tilaisuuden terveysturvallisuudesta. Tilaisuuksia ja tapahtumia varten ei tarvitse enää tehdä erillistä turvallisuus- ja hygieniasuunnitelmaa.
Kasvomaskia voi käyttää oman harkinnan mukaan. Maskin käyttö kannattaa edelleenkin ruuhkaisissa julkisissa sisätiloissa etenkin, jos sinulla ei ole täyttä rokotesuojaa. Maskia voi tietenkin aina pitää, mikäli tämä tuntuu itsestä luontevalta.
On siis seurattava ohjeiden muuttumista ja toimittava niiden mukaan.
Jos koronatilanne pahenee jälleen ja viranomaiset kiristävät ohjeistuksiaan, on mahdollista, että joudumme palaamaan vielä tiukempiin ohjeistuksiin.
Toiminta ennen etäväitöstä
Tila ja sen varustus on tarkistettava hyvissä ajoin etukäteen.
IT-tuki väitöstilaisuuksille on sovittava hyvissä ajoin (päiviä) etukäteen: [email protected].
Huomioi mahdollinen aikaero etäyhteyden suunnittelussa. Mikäli väitöstilaisuuden kellonaikaa joudutaan siirtämään tai syystä tai toisesta väitöstilaisuus ei onnistu etäyhteyden kautta ja siksi jo sovittua väitöstilaisuutta joudutaan siirtämään, tulee olla yhteydessä oman tohtoriohjelman suunnittelijaan/koordinaattoriin.
Väitöstilaisuutta edeltävä riiputus toteutetaan päivitetyn tohtorintutkintosäännön mukaan verkkoriiputuksena. Verkkoriiputus tarkoittaa väitöskirjan yhteenveto-osan lisäksi myös julkaisemattomien artikkelien riiputtamista 10 päivän ajan. Tämä pdf-dokumentti, jossa on mukana aikaisemmin julkaisemattomatkin tekstit, on saatavissa Aallon sisällä aalto-tunnuksilla ja ulkopuolisille julkisuuslain sääntöjen mukaan pyydettäessä sähköpostitse [email protected] Tapahtumatiedotteisiin lisätään linkki verkkoriiputukseen ja tarvittaessa Zoom- tai Teams-linkki, jonka kautta yleisö pääsee osallistumaan väitöstilaisuuteen. Verkkoriiputus on eri asia kuin aaltodoc:iin arkistoiminen.
Tilaisuuden järjestäjä (väittelijä/ laitoksen edustaja eri korkeakoulujen käytänteiden mukaan) toimittaa etukäteen väitöstilaisuuden ohjelman sähköpostitse väittelijälle, vastaväittäjälle ja kustokselle, jotta tilaisuus etenee jouhevasti.
Pukeutuminen ohjeistetaan edelleen Aallon ohjeiden mukaan tilaisuuden merkittävä luonne huomioiden, tarvittaessa väittelijän valinnan mukaan.
Mikäli vastaväittäjälle jo varattuja matkoja joudutaan perumaan, olettehan yhteydessä ensisijaisesti matkapalveluihin ([email protected])
Toiminta etäväitöksen aikaan
Etänä järjestettävässä väitöstilaisuudessa on edelleen käytettävä vuorovaikutteista alustaa (esimerkiksi Zoom tai Teams), jotta tilaisuus täyttää julkisuusvaatimuksen. Panopto ei mahdollista vuorovaikutuksellisuutta eikä siksi ole käytettävissä.
Zoom-ohjeita: https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/zoom-quick-guide. Jos haluat tallentaa tilaisuuden, muista hankkia lupa vastaväittäjältä ja kustokselta.
Väittelijä, kustos ja mahdolliset vieraat istuvat riittävällä etäisyydellä toisistaan (2 metriä). Hygieniasta on huolehdittava. Konferenssipuhelimen kuuluvuus tulee tarkistaa etukäteen. Kampukselle ei saa tulla sairaana
Riktlinjer (uppdaterad 10.3.2022)
Begränsningarna gällande antalet deltagare i evenemang och tillställningar upphör att gälla från och med 14.2.2022. Vid evenemang är det fortsättningsvis viktigt att beakta hälsosäkerheten.
Det är nu tillåtet att ta emot gäster på campus med säkerhetsanvisningarna i beaktande. För besök från utlandet förutsätts en situationsbedömning (Checklist for arrival) och ett godkännande från institutionens direktör.
Disputationer som ordnas på campus behöver inte längre delas interaktivt på nätet (till exempel via Zoom). Det är dock möjligt att ordna hela den offentliga disputationen interaktivt på nätet (till exempel via Zoom), antingen parallellt med tillställningen på campus eller i stället för den.
För att trygga hälsosäkerheten följer vi fortsättningsvis allmänna hygienkrav, vi är alltså noga med handhygienen, håller tillräckliga avstånd och kommer inte sjuka till campus. Vid tillställningar och evenemang är arrangören ansvarig för hälsosäkerheten. Evenemang och tillställningar kräver inte längre en separat säkerhets- och hygienplan.
Du kan använda munskydd efter eget omdöme. Användning av munskydd rekommenderas fortfarande i offentliga inomhusmiljöer där det kan uppstå trängsel, i synnerhet om du inte är fullvaccinerad. Du kan givetvis alltid bära munskydd om det känns bra för dig.
Håll dig uppdaterad om anvisningarna och följ dem.
Om coronaläget försämras och myndigheterna inför strängare begränsningar är det möjligt att vi måste återgå till strängare restriktioner.
Att göra innan disputationen på distans
Kontrollera lokalen och tillhörande utrustning i god tid på förhand.
Kom överens om IT-stöd för disputationen i god tid (flera dagar i förväg): [email protected].
Beakta eventuella olika tidszoner när du planerar distansgenomförandet. Ta kontakt med ditt eget doktorandprograms planerare/koordinator om disputationen av någon orsak måste flyttas eller om det av någon orsak inte går att hålla den på distans, vilket i sin tur leder till att en redan fastslagen disputation måste flyttas.
Spikningen som sker innan själva disputationen genomförs elektroniskt enligt den uppdaterande examensstadga för doktorandutbildningen . E-spikningen innebär att avhandlingens sammandrag och även opublicerade artiklar spikas upp för en period på 10 dagar. Detta pdf-dokument som även inkluderar tidigare opublicerade texter är tillgängligt inom Aalto med Aaltos inloggningsuppgifter och utanför Aalto per e-post på begäran, i enlighet med offentlighetslagen [email protected]. Evenemangsinformationen ska inkludera en länk till e-spikningen och till Zoom eller Teams för att publiken ska kunna delta i disputationen. E-spikning är inte samma sak som arkivering i aaltodoc.
Tillställningens arrangör (disputand/representant för institutionen, enligt högskolans praxis) skickar på förhand disputationens program till disputanden, opponenten och kustosen per e-post, så att allt ska löpa smidigt.
Klädkoden är den samma som under normala förhållanden och följer Aaltos anvisningar, vikten av tillställningen och vid behov disputandens val ska beaktas.
Ta i första hand kontakt med resetjänsterna ifall opponentens redan reserverade resor måste ställas in ([email protected])
Under disputationen på distans
En plattform som möjliggör interaktion måste användas för disputationen på distans (till exempel Zoom eller Teams) så att disputationen uppfyller kraven på offentlighet. Panopto är därför inte ett alternativ.
Anvisningar för Zoom: https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/zoom-quick-guide. Kom ihåg att be om lov av opponenten och kustosen om du vill spela in tillställningen.
Disputanden, kustosen och eventuella gäster ska hålla tillräckliga avstånd (2m). Beakta hygienen. Kontrollera konferenstelefonens hörbarhet på förhand. Kom inte sjuk till campus.
Research fields
Doctoral students at Aalto University can pursue the degrees of Doctor of Science (Technology), Doctor of Arts (Art and Design), Doctor of Science (Economics and Business Administration), and Doctor of Science (Architecture). The university offers six doctoral programmes and each doctoral student belongs to one of the programmes. See detailed information about programme-specific studies and course on our Into webpages.
Doctoral studies and coursework
The doctoral degree at Aalto University consists of
- a doctoral thesis
- general research studies
- research field studies
There are three study modules in the doctoral degree. Doctoral studies are organised in study modules called 'General research studies' and 'Research field studies' and 'Doctoral Thesis'. Studies with credit points are worth of 40 or 60 credits (ECTS) depending on the doctoral programme. Sizes of the study modules are described in the curriculum of the doctoral programme.
General research studies prepare students for research work, the application of research results and the dissemination of research findings and to learn the principles of responsible conduct of research. General research studies can include transferable skills.
Research field studies and doctoral thesis help students to gain comprehensive and in-depth knowledge of their research field. Research field studies can include studies from several Aalto University's doctoral programmes when agreed on in the personal study plan of the student.
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General research studies
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Research field studies
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The target time for completing the doctoral degree is four years if studying full-time.
Apply to study at Aalto
Admission to doctoral education varies in each school and is organised individually by every doctoral programme. Some schools have continuous admission whereas others admit doctoral candidates 1—2 times a year. The application timeline also depends on whether you are applying for full-time or part-time studies.
There are no tuition fees for doctoral programmes – please see further details regarding fees at https://www.aalto.fi/en/admission-services/scholarships-and-tuition-fees
It is important, however, that you have a source of funding for your studies – both for your residence permit and for any additional costs (personal and study-related). Please see the specific funding opportunities for your doctoral programme and further details on making arrangements for self-funded studies.
Application essentials in each doctoral programme
Before you apply, check out the application information for your programme below. Each doctoral programme has its own dedicated website providing details on the entry requirements and information on how to apply.
As a check-list for prospective studies, please make sure that you know the following information regarding the doctoral programme of your choice:
- eligibility
- the admission requirements
- required language proficiency
- what supporting documents are needed to apply
- research fields and professors, so that you can address your application appropriately
Programme-specific information below:
Aalto Doctoral Programme in Arts, Design and Architecture
The Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture offers an international doctoral programme for those seeking careers in art, design, film, media or architecture. A special feature of the programme is that the thesis can include art or design productions. The Department of Art, the Department of Architecture, the Department of Design, the Department of Film, Television and Scenography and the Department of Media offer doctoral studies for a Doctor of Arts (Art and Design) and a Doctor of Science (Architecture) degrees.
Aalto Doctoral Programme in Business, Economics and Finance
Aalto Doctoral Programme in Business, Economics and Finance is a four-year, English-language doctoral programme with three specialization areas: Business, Economics and Finance.
Aalto Doctoral Programme in Chemical Engineering
The Aalto Doctoral Programme in Chemical Engineering comprises six research fields that focus on: forest products technologies; chemical engineering; industrial biotechnology; materials science and nanotechnology; metals and minerals processing; and energy technology. The Departments of Bioproducts and Biosystems (Bio2), Chemistry and Material Science, and Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering are jointly responsible for the programme.
Aalto Doctoral Programme in Engineering
The Doctoral Programme in Engineering consists of eight research fields including spatial planning and transportation engineering; real estate economics; geoinformatics; civil engineering, water and environmental engineering; technology education; mechanical engineering; and energy technology. Doctoral studies are available at all the departments of the School of Engineering: the Department of Mechanical Engineering, the Department of Civil Engineering, and the Department of Built Environment.
Aalto Doctoral Programme in Electrical Engineering
The Doctoral Programme in Electrical Engineering comprises 13 research fields. The Programme is a joint effort of the Departments of Electronics and Nanoengineering (ELE), Signal Processing and Acoustics (SPA), Electrical Engineering and Automation (EEA), and Communications and Networking (Comnet), as well as the Metsähovi Radio Observatory and Micronova - the Research Centre for Micro- and Nanotechnology. The completion of a doctoral degree equals four years of full-time studies.
Aalto Doctoral Programme in Science
The Doctoral Programme in Science is a multidisciplinary programme with a unique combination of science, technology and business. The research done is committed to high standards of international excellence and the aim is to educate doctoral students in different research fields to tackle increasingly complex societal challenges in areas such as energy, environment, health and well-being. The doctoral programme offers a four-year doctoral programme in physics, mathematics, biomedical engineering, computer science or industrial engineering and management.
Organisation of the doctoral pathway (requires Aalto login)
Doctoral student well-being and welfare
Aalto University offers varied support services accessible to all doctoral students. There is a lot of help available for you at Aalto. Check also the community health care services. The health, safety and wellbeing of our student community is essential and is indeed one of our strategic initiatives.
Support for challenges during your doctoral studies
Doctoral students can encounter different kind of challenging situations during their studies. This page presents the support network of doctoral students and instructions for how to proceed if doctoral students experience any type of harrasment, bullying or misconduct, or have issues with supervision.
Career services for doctoral students
It is good to start preparing for life after the doctorate and to consider career options already during your studies.
Being a supervising professor or thesis advisor at Aalto University
The guidelines on this page describe the duties of the supervising professor and thesis advisor and the rights and responsibilities of doctoral students.
Annual enrolment
You have to enrol as either attending or non-attending each academic year. Only those enrolled as attending students may complete studies and graduate.
Enrolment takes place in the OILI enrolment and registration service: https://oili.csc.fi/. Enrollment period typically runs from early May until early September. During December-early January it is possible to enrol for the spring term or change your enrolment from non-attending to attending for the spring term in OILI. You can also change your enrolment from attending to non-attending by emailing the Doctoral education services of your doctoral programme.
FAQ
Q: I'm a continuing student, but I don't have my Aalto user ID or password.
A: If you do not have a valid Aalto user ID you cannot login to OILI. If your right to study is valid and you were enrolled (as either attending or non-attending student) for the previous academic year, you must activate your Aalto user ID. After that you can enrol in OILI.
Q: I forgot to enrol during the enrolment period.
A: If your right to study is not valid, you have to apply for readmission (into.aalto.fi)
Q: I have a valid Aalto user ID, but I'm not able to enrol in OILI.
A: If you don't have a Finnish identity number or a national leaner ID registered to your information in Sisu, you might not able to enrol in OILI. You can contact the student services (at [email protected]) for adding your Finnish identity number, or for enrolling without it.
Q: I want to change my enrolment status.
A: You can change your status in OILI from non-attending to attending during the enrolment periods. In other times you need to contact your doctoral programme's doctoral education services. If you wish to change your status from attending to non-attending during the enrolment periods, also contact the doctoral education services.
Connect with us
Every Aalto school has its own doctoral programme, and a doctoral programme committee chaired by the director of the doctoral programme. In addition, schools have planning officers and coordinators who provide administrative advice and support for students in each programme throughout the completion of their degree. Further, coordination and development of doctoral education is organised at the university level.
Get in touch if you would like to find out more about doctoral education at Aalto University or have any questions.
Doctoral education services
Doctoral education services team is part of Learning Services.
See also
Doctoral theses
Aalto university doctoral theses are published open in Aaltodoc publication archive. The majority of the theses are article based theses including several publications in referred international journals. Monographs are accepted, too. In the field of art and design, a thesis may also include artistic components like an art production or a series of art productions connected to each other.
Companies need PhDs - from core competence to mastering a big picture
Doctoral studies pave the way for self-development and research geared toward solving practical problems. What companies get out of PhDs are multidisciplinary experts who are not afraid to tackle major challenges.
Doctoral graduates of Aalto University in working life
Aalto University Career Services conducts career tracking surveys to follow up careers of doctoral graduates.
Networking for doctoral students
Aalto University is actively networking nationally and internationally and the department professors have excellent individual contacts worldwide. This provides the doctoral students various possibilities to get contacts and peer support. The university has several international thematic doctoral programmes running under the six Aalto doctoral programmes.
For alumni
Nearly 45 000 alumni from 80 countries are already members of the Aalto University alumni network. Our alumni are all who have graduated from Aalto University as well as all our exchange students. You can join the alumni network already as a student – a warm welcome!
Related webpages
Learning Services
Aalto University Learning Services (LES) is responsible for all services which facilitate the smooth progression of studies at the university.
Research & Art
Our research focuses on seven key areas combining four core competences in the fields of ICT, materials, arts, design and business together with three grand challenges related to energy, living environment, and health.
