Doctoral education

Doctoral programme committee (School of Arts, Design and Architecture)

The Doctoral programme committee of the School decides about developing the content of the doctoral programme, prepares the curriculum and admission criteria and makes various decisions related to the evaluation process of the doctoral theses of individual students, among other things. The doctoral degree committee comprises a chair and 4 – 6 professorial members merited in doctoral education and representing the central fields of research of the school. In addition, the committee has a doctoral student member representing the fields of research of the school.

Members of the Doctoral Programme Committee

The doctoral programme committee comprises a chair and 4 – 6 professorial members merited in doctoral education and representing the central fields of research of the school. One of the professorial members may be from another school within Aalto University. In addition, the committee has a doctoral student member representing the fields of research of the school. The committee elects a vice chair from among its members. The committee may have deputy members.

The term of the Doctoral Programme Committee is four calendar years. The term of the current committee continues until the end of year 2027. Student representatives are appointed for one calendar year at a time, by the proposal of the Student Union AYY.

Chairperson, Professor Laura Beloff

 Members Deputy members
Prof. Susanna Helke
Dept. of Film
(Vice Chairperson of the Committee)
Prof. Sofia Pantouvaki
Dept. of Film
Prof. Bassam El Baroni
Dept. of Art and Media
Prof. Masood Masoodian
Dept. of Art and Media
Prof. Panu Savolainen
Dept. of Architecture
Prof. Ranja Hautamäki
Dept. of Architecture
Prof. Sampsa Hyysalo
Dept. of Design
Prof. Guy Julier
Dept. of Design
Doctoral student Rebecca Jeong (2024) Doctoral student Talvikki Kollman (2024)

Secretary: Planning officer Päivi Väätänen

Meetings and deadlines 

Doctoral students will be informed of the decisions concerning them after the meeting.

Deadlines for proposals Meetings
Thu 7.12.2023 Wed 20.12.2023
Thu 11.1.2024 Tue 23.1.2024
Thu 1.2.2024 Tue 13.2.2024
Thu 7.3.2024 Tue 19.3.2024
Thu 11.4.2024 Tue 23.4.2024
Fri 9.5.2024 Tue 21.5.2024
Thu 6.6.2024 Tue 18.6.2024
Thu 8.8.2024 Tue 20.8.2024
Thu 12.9.2024 Tue 24.9.2024
Thu 10.10.2024 Tue 22.10.2024
Thu 7.11.2024 Tue 19.11.2024
Thu 5.12.2024 Tue 17.12.2024

Tasks of the Committee

The doctoral programme committee shall

  1. put forth proposals to the school academic committee on curriculum, degree requirements, and admission criteria; 
  2. put forth proposals to the school academic committee on the fields of research in doctoral programmes;
  3. prepare proposals for the Dean on admission of doctoral students;
  4. appoint the preliminary examiners of dissertations and decide on the permission for public defence of dissertation;
  5. appoint the opponents for doctoral dissertations;
  6. evaluate the dissertations;
  7. appoint the examiners of licentiate theses;
  8. evaluate licentiate theses; 
  9. decide on development of the doctoral programme, quality assurance and handling of feedback; and
  10. perform other duties assigned to it by the Dean or in the degree regulations.

In addition, the doctoral programme committee shall, unless it has assigned the chair to decide on any of the matters:

  1. appoint a supervising professor and advisor(s) for the doctoral student;
  2. decide on the degree language of the doctoral student, and on the topic and language of the licentiate's or doctoral thesis; and
  3. decide on the time and language of the of public defence of the doctoral dissertation, and appoint the custos for it.

Bylaws of the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture 11.4.2022

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