Doctoral students at Aalto University respond to a follow-up survey of the progress of their doctoral studies and research every year. The purpose of the yearly follow-up survey is to follow the progress of doctoral students, offer them support and collect statistical information at a general level to develop the support for doctoral students.

While completing the survey, and based on their responses, doctoral students receive instructions and links for further information which are tailored to their situation. Doctoral students may also request to be contacted personally at the end of the survey.

Doctoral students actively working towards their degree responded

The survey was sent to 3644 doctoral students of Aalto University in December 2025 and over 37% answered. 72% of the respondents studied full-time and around 21% part-time. Almost half of the respondents were midway through their studies and around one-third had just started. 9% said that they expected to graduate soon and 13% were about to begin pre-examination. 80% of respondents had been able to follow their research plan during 2025. 

57% of the students answered that they had confirmed funding until the estimated end of their studies. 156 respondents were part of one of Aalto’s 3-year pilot projects. 294 were conducting their research in collaboration with an industrial partner or external organisation.

Students are satisfied with the frequency of supervision

85% of the respondents answered that they meet their supervising professor and thesis advisor frequently enough and nearly 30% of them answered that they meet very frequently. Only 5% were very dissatisfied with the meeting frequency.

Doctoral Personal Study Plan (DPSP) is an important element in well functioning supervision arrangement. Half of the respondents had updated their DPSP during the calendar year 2025. Relatively few respondents had not prepared a DPSP at all. The DPSP in its current format has been required of doctoral students since 1 August 2021. 

Even though the overall satisfaction with the frequency of supervision meeting was high, many common themes were raised in suggestions for developing supervision practices at Aalto. Many doctoral students emphasized the need for regular, prearranged and structured supervision. The need for more support was especially frequently mentioned by those in the early stages of their doctoral path. Creating and maintaining a regulargly updated DPSP is of great assistance here.

The DPSP must be kept up to date. Doctoral students should frequently check their DPSP with their supervising professor and update it when necessary. However, It is strongly recommended that the DPSP be reviewed at least twice yearly, either during the My Dialogues period or at the beginning of each term.

Internationality and mobility

Almost half of the respondents were Finnish citizens and approximately 40% had a citizenship from non-EU/EEA countries, while approximately 10% had a citizenship of an EU/EEA country other than Finnish. 

Around 10% reported having a mobility period during the calendar year. 115 respondents reported having had at least on mobility period in year 2025, and 27 of them had two or more mobility periods.

Processing of the results

It was possible to request for a personal contact through answering the survey. Around 13% of the respondents hoped to be contacted. The students were able to choose categories which they would like to discuss about. The most popular themes were the progress and situation of research and studies in general, Doctoral Personal Study Plan (DPSP), supervision, funding and wellbeing.

The survey results are processed at general level in the doctoral education working group DEWG and in the Schools' Doctoral programme committees. The results will be used to develop doctoral education and the support and services for doctoral students.

The yearly follow-up survey is organized by the Doctoral education services.

Privacy notice of the yearly follow-up survey (aalto.fi)