Doctoral education

Doctoral thesis at Aalto University

On this page you find resources and guidelines for doctoral students and information on doctoral theses at Aalto University. Doctoral students follow the general quality requirements for doctoral theses at Aalto University and the possible School-specific guidelines. Research plan is the basis for thesis work. Doctoral theses are published in the Aalto University publication series and are publicly available.

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Topic of doctoral thesis

The topic of your doctoral thesis must be approved by the Doctoral Programme Committee of your School. The topic is approved when you are admitted to the programme (except at the School of Business the topic is decided at a later stage).

Support for thesis writing

Check out the courses in transferable skills and the courses offered by the Aalto University Language Centre under Doctoral curriculum. Some doctoral programme's also offer field specific writing courses.

Resources and services by Aalto University's Harald Herlin Learning Centre

Please note the referencing and writing style conventions depend on the research field. Discuss the preferred styles and formats with your thesis advisor(s).

Languge of doctoral thesis

The language of instruction at Aalto doctoral programmes is, in principle, English but the doctoral thesis can also be completed in Finnish or in Swedish (in the field of business only in English or in Finnish). Normally, the language of your degree is the language in which you write your thesis (English, Finnish or Swedish).

Language of doctoral thesis and degree (aalto.fi)

Student Guide, tapahtumakuva

For thesis-writing: Theses & Tomatoes on Mondays

Online co-writing event for thesis writing

Events

Resources and tools

People talking with each other

Research Data Management (RDM) and Open Science

Properly managed research data creates competitive edge and is an important part of a high-quality research process. Here you will find links to support, services and instructions for research data management.

Services
People working

Research Ethics and Research Integrity

Aalto University has committed itself to following the guidelines for ethical principles of research and integrity. You will find help and advice on questions on research ethics.

Research & Art

For researchers

Learning Centre supports postgraduates and researchers by providing access to information resources. We also assist in information retrieval, publication and open science related questions.

Learning Centre

General quality requirements for doctoral theses at Aalto University

  • A doctoral thesis shall contain new scientific knowledge in the field it represents. In the field of art and design, the doctoral thesis may also contain new methods of artistic creation or products or transactions, which fulfil high artistic demands.
  • The doctoral thesis must present the new results clearly and in a manner meeting the criteria set for scientific texts.
  • The independent contribution to the research shall be sufficient and clearly demonstrable.
  • The research methods used shall fulfil the criteria set for scientific or art-based research.
  • A doctoral thesis shall conform to the principles of responsible conduct of research and adhere to ethically sustainable principles.

Doctoral dissertations at Aalto University, Decision of the Aalto University Academic Affairs Committee, 1 December 2015

Different formats of doctoral theses

Schools may approve doctoral thesis in the forms described below. Schools take the decision on the acceptable formats of thesis and give further guidelines on the requirements for doctoral thesis as needed.

Doctoral dissertations at Aalto University, Decision of the Aalto University Academic Affairs Committee, 1 December 2015

In the field of art and design, a doctoral thesis may also include artistic components such as art productions, series of art productions meaningfully connected to each other, or product development projects. More information is available at the page artistic components (aalto.fi).

School-specific guidelines for doctoral thesis

ARTS: Formats of doctoral theses (aalto.fi)
CHEM: Instructions for doctoral theses (aalto.fi)
ELEC: Forms of doctoral theses (aalto.fi)

Finalising and publishing doctoral thesis

Doctoral students at Aalto University publish their thesis through the Aalto Publication Platform. Doctoral theses are public documents by law and available at Aalto University's open access repository Aaltodoc.

Doctoral thesis: preparation for pre-examination and publicationPublishing your doctoral thesis

Dipoli artwork on the wall by Inni Pärnänen / photo Aalto Unviersity, Mikko Raskinen

Incentive scholarships for doctoral students

A set of 500e and 2000e incentive scholarships are awarded by application for doctoral students who meet the conditions given.

Doctoral education
Doctoral hats in Aalto University Conferment

Publishing doctoral theses

Aalto University has one shared publication series for its doctoral theses.

Services
Eva Durall's defence on Nov 1st 2018 - Department of Media Photo: Hilla Kurki

Public defence at Aalto University

Instructions for the practical arrangements of the doctoral defences at Aalto University

Doctoral education

Aalto doctoral thesis awards

Aalto University rewards the most meritorious doctoral thesis by the annual Aalto University Doctoral Thesis Awards. The core criteria for the awards are academic quality, impact and originality.

Read more
School of Engineering Award

Find published doctoral theses

Aaltodoc logo

Doctoral theses at Aaltodoc (external link)

Doctoral theses at Aalto University are available in the open access repository maintained by Aalto, Aaltodoc.

Next public defences at Aalto University

Smart city and communication network
Public defences

Public defence in real estate economics, M.Sc. (Tech) Eerika Janhunen

The title of the doctoral thesis: "Is smart profitable for real estate? - Evaluating the viability of smart energy management system investments for real estate owners"
Public defences

Public defence in Engineering Physics, M.Sc. Fahime Seyedheydari

Title of the doctoral thesis: Electromagnetic Response of Metal-Semiconductor-Oxide Particles in the Near-Infrared Regime
Public defences
cybersecurity and information security
Public defences

Public defence in Computer Science, M.Sc. Narges Yousefnezhad

Secure IoT Systems in Product Lifecycle Information Management
Doctoral education
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