Aalto Doctoral Programme in Science

The School of Science operates in the following doctoral education networks:

Brain & Mind
CMMP- Network in Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
Doctoral Education Network in Systems Analysis, Decision Making and Risk Management
ENNUSTE - Doctoral Education Network in Nuclear Science and Technology
HICT - Helsinki doctoral education network in information and communications technology
Nordic IoT Hub - Nordic collaboration in Industrial IoT

The Aalto University encourages doctoral degrees which are jointly supervised with an international partner. These agreements are referred to as ‘Cotutelle Agreements’. Arrangements for joint supervision, or ‘cotutelle agreements’ are made in terms of the studies and supervision of a single doctoral candidate. Such doctoral candidates are awarded degrees and the associated certificates from both universities.

The university aims at high quality of international standards in research and education. International cooperation is an integral part of the doctoral education of Aalto University, and one method for such cooperation is arrangements for the joint supervision of doctoral degrees. A doctoral candidate may earn a double degree under a joint supervision arrangement between two universities provided that the joint supervision is based on genuine scientific cooperation, bringing added value to the doctoral dissertation and enhancing the quality of the research.

Cotutelle agreements should be made at the beginning of the studies but it requires a study right at the Aalto University before any agreement can be made.

The following is required for an applicant:

1. Adequate knowledge in the research field applied for, gained through, for example, courses in the major or in the advanced studies within the Master’s studies.
2. When necessary, the School will set prerequisites for admission to the doctoral programme that may be obtained, for instance, by taking master-level courses.
3. Sufficient basic knowledge that supports the dissertation work and the writing of the dissertation.
4. An excellent command of Finnish, Swedish or English. Please see Required language proficiency.

Grade criteria

1. Master’s thesis completed with the minimum grade of 4/5.
2. Master’s degree (excluding the master’s thesis, i.e. the weighted average grade of the courses) that is the basis for the doctoral studies completed with an average grade of 3.5/5 or higher.
3. Major of the degree that is the basis for the doctoral studies completed with an average grade of 3.0/5 or higher, if the master’s degree was earned in accordance with the degree regulations of 1995 or at an earlier time (when the bachelor’s and master’s degrees were not separated).

The professor (i.e. supervising professor) who is in charge of the research field the applicant is applying to is responsible for the academic evaluation of the applicant. The Doctoral Programme Committee will also evaluate the applicant. The doctoral programme may ask the department to evaluate the applicant.

The departments have defined whether an evaluation statement from the department is needed regarding all applicants to that department or only when the doctoral programme considers it relevant.  Departments can make changes in the definition only when the admission criteria are confirmed, and the doctoral programme should be informed about the changes in writing. The above mentioned admission criteria may be departed from on the grounds of the supervising professor’s well-founded written statement.

Please note that from 1 August 2016 onwards the accepted applicants may accept only one study place leading to a higher education degree in Finland during one academic term (Universities Act 558/2009). Higher education degrees include bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees awarded by universities as well as degrees from universities of applied sciences.

The academic terms run from 1 August to 31 December and 1 January to 31 July. The acceptance of a study place is binding and cannot be canceled. Even if the accepted applicant postpones the commencement of studies or gives up her/his right to study, s/he cannot accept another study place leading to a higher education degree starting the same academic term.

Other selection criteria (academic evaluation):

• contents of the previous degree(s)
• previous study achievements
• the quality and international regard of the applicant’s degree and university
• research potential, previous research experience: work experience in the research sector, conference papers, articles etc.
• appropriateness of the research topic: research orientation on department's focus areas so that proficient guidance and the supervising professor's genuine scientific interest is met
• research plan: theoretical and practical relevance and novelty of the topic, and feasibility of the plan (quality, methodology etc.)
• effort and resources for doctoral studies: feasibility of the study plan, realistic time available for studying and research during the forthcoming 4 years
• university’s resources for guidance in the research area
• other reasons presented by the applicant

If these conditions are not met, but the applicant is otherwise suitable for doctoral studies, the applicant may raise his/her grades or, alternatively, the School of Science set prerequisites for entry. The School of Science may accept equivalent attainments completed in other schools as prerequisites on the grounds of the supervising professor’s written statement.

The above mentioned admission criteria may be departed from on the grounds of the supervising professor’s well-founded written statement.

Before submitting the application, each applicant must contact a supervising professor who is responsible in their intended research field to doctoral studies and in charge of the supervision of the studies. Applicants should ensure that their expertise and research interests are commensurate with the research group (and those of the supervising professor of their studies) that they apply to.

In order to prepare for the discussion with the professor, it is beneficiary to prepare a CV (along with a list of possible publications) and a preliminary research plan. At this point, the applicant’s eligibility and prerequisites for doctoral studies will be checked by the professor. The possible prerequisites for entry will also be discussed.

In addition to the research plan, a study plan, a funding plan and a supervision plan will be discussed with the professor. Please see further information below. Once the application is signed, both the applicant and the supervising professor commit to the arrangements indicated in the application. More information about the rights and responsibilities of the doctoral candidate and the supervising professor.

Application form and its appendices

Only complete applications will be processed. Supplementing the application may delay the processing date. Electronic application form (Studyinfo.fi). Please read the instructions carefully before filling in the online application form. After reading the instructions and having all the documents ready, register to the online application system, fill in the application, attach all the required documents and send it.

Required appendices (scanned in pdf form)

1. Curriculum vitae (CV)
   including a list of publications and an account of other scientific activity; example. Remember to update you CV so that the information there does not conflict with your funding source!
2. Supervision plan
3. Study plan
4. Research plan. Applicant can also make a free-form research plan; note that it must be signed by the applicant and the supervising professor. A research plan includes:

• preliminary research plan
• schedule for the research
• possibilities for funding the research work (full-time applicants must have acquired funding for at least 6 months when applying; plans to apply for funding is not sufficient for a full-time status)
• aim and impact of the research
• methods and implementation of the scientific plan
• researcher mobility during and after doctoral studies
• publication plan

The study plan, research plan and supervision plan needs to be approved by the applicant and the supervising professor. By signing these documents, the professor responsible for the research field confirms to be the supervising professor of the applicant.

In addition to the appendices above, applicants to the research field of Industrial Engineering and Management are required to obtain:

• A recommending statement from the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management. The Doctoral Programme will ask for the statement on behalf of the applicant. The statement must be a recommending one in order for the applicant to be approved to the programme.

Applicants with a master´s degree or education earned at another institution than Aalto University (or the preceding universities of Aalto University) shall also provide the following documents:

1. Master’s degree certificate and official transcript:

• Master's degree certificate, including all the appendices and the Diploma Supplement in European countries
• Official transcripts of records of all the courses included in the Master’s degree
• Official translations of these, if the originals are not in Finnish, Swedish or English.
• Please upload these as scanned copies to the electronic application form in Studyinfo.

Degrees awarded by a higher education institution outside Finland:

You are asked to present your original degree certificate (including all the appendices and the Diploma Supplement in European countries) and official transcript of records, or certified copies of all these* at the latest after admission. You are asked to present also the official translations* of these, if the originals are not in Finnish, Swedish or English.

Degrees awarded by a higher education institution in Finland:

If you have completed a degree in Finland after 1 January 2003 and you have a Finnish personal identification code, Aalto University will verify your degree electronically using a national database.

If your degree was completed before 1 January 2003, or you do not have a Finnish personal identification code, you are asked to present your original degree certificate (including all the appendices and the Diploma Supplement in European countries) and official transcript of records or certified copies of all these* at the latest after admission.

 *Certified copies and translations

2. Abstract of Master's thesis in English

3. Proof of proficiency in Finnish, Swedish or English

• A successful applicant must have an excellent command of Finnish, Swedish, or English.
• Please see Required language proficiency
• If the applicant is working at the department or if the applicant applies for full-time doctoral studies, the supervising professor may write a recommending statement that the applicant has sufficient language skills. If the professor writes a recommending statement, no language test is required.

4. Copy of the holder page of your passport

5. A document confirming eligibility for doctoral studies, if needed (please see Eligibility for doctoral studies) with an official translation, if the original document is not in Finnish, Swedish or English.