Department of Biomedical Engineering and Computational Science (LL), Department of Mathematics and Systems Analysis (MS) or Department of Applied Physics (F):
Before applying, the doctoral student candidate must make direct contact with a group leader or a professor in his/her field of study.
Matters related to doctoral studies at the F, MS and LL departments are handled by Study Planning Officer Anna-Kaarina Hakala.
All new and old doctoral students will join the Doctoral Programme in Information and Natural Sciences from the 1st of August, 2009.
Doctoral Programme in Information and Natural Sciences (IL Doctoral Programme)
1 GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT STARTING DOCTORAL STUDIES
1.1 Doctoral studies in the Departments of Applied Physics (F), Mathematics and Systems Analysis (MS) and Biomedical Engineering and Computational Science (BECS, LL)
1.2 Doctoral Programme meetings
1.3 Submitting applications to the Doctoral Programme and the Faculty Council
1.4 Deadline for applications to the Doctoral Programme and the Faculty Council
1.5 Granting the right to pursue doctoral studies
1.6 Eligibility
1.7 Prerequisites
1.8 Application for doctoral studies
2 GRANTING THE RIGHT TO PURSUE DOCTORAL STUDIES
3 ADMISSION AND ENROLMENT
4 THEORETICAL STUDIES
4.1 Degree requirements
4.2 Theoretical studies modules
4.3 Research field
4.4 Studies in a supplementary field
4.5 Scientific practices and principles
5 THE FACULTY COUNCIL AND THE DEAN
5.1 Doctoral matters processed by the Faculty
6 DOCTORAL DISSERTATION AND LICENTIATE THESIS
7 LICENTIATE THESIS AND LICENTIATE DEGREE
7. 1 Studies for the licentiate degree
7.2 Contents of studies, topic and examiner of licentiate thesis
7.3 Licentiate thesis
7.4 Examination, approval and grading of the licentiate thesis and issuing the diploma
8 DOCTORAL DISSERTATION AND DOCTORAL DEGREE
8.1 Doctoral degree
8.2 Dissertation
8.3 General quality requirements for a dissertation
8.4 Requesting the permission to publish
8.5 Public examination of the doctoral dissertation
8.6 Approval of a doctoral dissertation and issuing the diploma
9 OBTAINING THE DEGREE DIPLOMA
9.1 Graduation ceremony
1 GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT STARTING DOCTORAL STUDIES
1.1 Doctoral studies in the Departments of Applied Physics (F), Mathematics and Systems Analysis (MS) and Biomedical Engineering and Computational Science (BECS, LL)
The goals of the departments are to create new areas of high technology in Finland, to be an important resource for high-tech industry and to educate high level experts, influencers and scientists.
As basic research is the source for new technologies, research and doctoral studies are a central activity at the departments.Topics for dissertations can be very practical. Both practical engineers and academic researchers are educated through Licentiate's and Doctor's degrees. They are experts in their fields, and master the methodology of research. They do not lose their engineering characteristics, if only the dissertation is written swiftly in four years.
The departments have a strong profile as a site of postgraduate education.The aim is to increase the number of doctoral degrees to one half of the number of master's degrees. Presently about 30 doctoral degrees are completed each year, and the figure is growing steadily. This is already over 40 % of the number of master's degrees.
Graduated doctors have been placed as follows during the last few years: domestic universities 30 %, post docs abroad 30%, private companies and public sector 40 %.
1.2 Doctoral Programme meetings:
Tue 24.8.2010 at 12.15 p.m.
Tue 28.9.2010 at 12:15 p.m.
Tue 26.10.2010 at 12:15 p.m.
Tue 23.11.2010 at 12:15 p.m.
Tue 21.12.2010 at 12.15 p.m.
The IL Doctoral Programme is divided into two lines during preparatory work:
- line of engineering physics and mathematics (F, MS and LL departments)
- line of information technology (ME, TKT and T departments)
Matters presently handled by the Doctoral Programme:
- applications for postgraduate studies
- study plans
- degree requirements
Other matters related to postgraduate studies are handled by the Faculty Council.
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1.3 Submitting applications to the Doctoral Programme and the Faculty Council
Line of Engineering physics and mathematics: Applications together with their appendices shall be delivered to the presenting official, Planning Officer Anna-Kaarina Hakala.
1.4 Deadline for applications to the Doctoral Programme and the Faculty Council
Applications shall be delivered by 3.45 p.m. on the Friday ten (10) days before the meeting. In urgent cases, applications can be delivered to the presenting official by 9 a.m. on the Monday of the week preceding the meeting.
Exception see 7.4.
Only complete applications will be processed. Supplementing the application may have an effect on its processing date.
1.5 Granting the right to pursue doctoral studies
Accepted applicants will be granted the right to pursue the degrees of Licentiate of Science (Technology) and Doctor of Science (Technology), or in special cases the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Degrees of Licentiate of Philosophy are not granted by TKK. One can have the right to pursue postgraduate studies only in one doctoral programme at a time. One cannot obtain several degrees of the same level at TKK.
Full-time doctoral studies are the aim at TKK.
Persons who have completed an applicable Master's degree in Finland, or an equivalent higher degree abroad qualifying them to pursue equivalent studies in the country in question are eligible for doctoral studies. The Faculty selects the students, and evaluates the level and applicability of their degrees for doctoral studies at TKK.
In order to be accepted as a basis for doctoral studies at TKK, the composition of an M.Sc.-level university degree obtained abroad must be on a level equivalent to the Master's degree obtained in universities or faculties of technology in Finland. To be considered for doctoral study, applicants may be required to pursue supplementary
studies.
It is also possible to complete doctoral studies in a field or Faculty other than the one in which a Master's degree was obtained. Persons wishing to pursue doctoral studies in another field on account of job experience gained in that field, or interest in it, shall discuss the necessary prerequisites for entry as a doctoral student with a professor in that field of research.
To be approved for doctoral studies, an applicant must have adequate knowledge in his or her approved research field, for example major studies or studies on the level of the advanced module within the basic studies, or the equivalent. Minimum requirements for Master's degree grades may be imposed.
Adequate basic knowledge is also required for studies in the supplementary field that support the writing of the thesis. Certain prerequisites for such studies may be required as needed.
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1.8 Application for doctoral studies
Persons wishing to pursue doctoral studies should first discuss with a professor in their intended research field about starting their studies before submitting the actual application.
Attached please find the fields of research at the departments of Applied Physics
(F), Mathematics and Systems Analysis (MS) and Biomedical Engineering and Computational Science
(LL).
All fields of research at TKK.
Please see 1.3 - 1.4 above for information about submitting the application.
The following are required from an applicant with a TKK Master's degree.
- Completed application form 430 (foreign degree) 300 (finnish degree)
- Curriculum vitae (CV), including a list of publications and an account of other scientific activity
- Study plan form 301 (courses to be completed)
- The study plan is processed in the Doctoral Programme.
- The study plan is ratified by the dean.
- A preliminary research plan with schedule. The research plan must be signed by the professor
in charge of the field of research. The research plan shall include
- The schedule of the research
- The scientific realization of the plan
- Possibilities for funding the research work
- The professor in charge of the field of research is committed to supervise the thesis.
The following are required in addition to the above from an applicant with a Master's degree from outside TKK:
- A certified copies of the degree diploma and the transcript of completed courses,
together of a translation of these if the original documents are not in Finnish,
Swedish or English
- A short opinion of a professor in the field of research about the qualification of the applicant
for graduate studies
- English abstract of Masters´s thesis is required, as well.
- Proof of proficiency in Finnish, Swedish or English, if the applicant is not a native speaker
or was not schooled in any of these languages (Language requirements) and
- Special reasons if the applicant is applying for the right to pursue the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
Full-time doctoral student
Full-time doctoral students' personal study plans are drawn up so as to complete the doctorate within four years. The studies may comprise the Licentiate degree, the recommended completion time of which is two years and which will be included in the recommended completion time of the doctoral degree, four years.
Typical full-time students are those who receive funding from a graduate school and the majority of those receiving research project funding. If the student works for a research institute or an enterprise and is carrying out full-time research for a doctoral dissertation and his or her study plan has been drawn up for four years, he or she will be classified as a full-time doctoral student.
Many doctoral candidates have other duties besides their study, such as teaching or administrative tasks. A full-time doctoral student spends at least 20 hours a week at study.
Part-time doctoral student
If the above criteria are not met, the student will be classified as a part-time doctoral student. The study plan of a part-time doctoral student is drawn up to serve doctoral studies that will last longer than four years. A part-time doctoral student typically has a main occupation outside TKK which does not include scientific research for doctoral dissertation
Flow of applications and process flow chart
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2 GRANTING THE RIGHT TO PURSUE DOCTORAL STUDIES
Applicant group 1: for applicants with a degree of Master of Science in Technology awarded by TKK or another Finnish university, the decision about granting the right to pursue doctoral studies is made by the Faculty.
Applicant group 2: for applicants with a Finnish degree other than Master of Science in Technology, and
Applicant group 3: for applicants with a non-Finnish degree, the decision about granting the right to pursue doctoral studies is made by the Rector, based on the Faculty's proposal.
Applications by applicant groups 2 and 3 will be sent together with the Faculty's proposal to the Office of Academic Affairs to the Planning Officer in charge of admissions for preparation of the Rector's decision.
- The presenting official of the Faculty/Office of Academic Affairs will send the
written decision of the Faculty or Rector.
- A successful applicant will be granted simultaneously rights to pursue the degrees of both Licentiate of Science in Technology and Doctor of Science in Technology, one of which will be set primary.
Degrees of Licentiate of Philosophy are not granted by TKK. A student pursuing the degree of Doctor of Philosophy can only be granted the right to pursue the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
If the applicant wants to take the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, he/she must present special reasons for the applications. Grounds for taking the degree of Doctor of Philosophy can be, for instance, the multidisciplinarity of the applicant's research topic or the applicant's Master's degree in a field other than technology.
The Office of Academic Affairs records the right to pursue doctoral studies in the student register.
- Students approved for doctoral studies are automatically enrolled as present during their first study year.
- During the following academic years, doctoral students are sent an email regarding enrolment each spring.
Further information about enrolment
- Information about whether the student is studying full-time or part-time is also recorded in the student register.
The purpose of theoretical studies is to prepare the student for scientific work and introduce him/her to applying and conveying scientific knowledge. The studies shall give the student knowledge and skills essential for working
on the thesis.
Theoretical studies belonging to doctoral studies amount to 60 ECTS credits and are completed in the form of modules. The studies consist of three modules: research field (Module T, 30-40 ECTS credits), studies in a supplementary field (Module S, 10-20 ECTS credits), and scientific practices and principles (Module Y, 5-15 ECTS credits).
If the theoretical studies are completed as a part of a Licentiate's degree, doctoral studies only consist of the dissertation.
The department's professors in charge of the research field arrange for the teaching. The Doctoral Programmes endeavour to also make use of courses offered by national graduate schools.
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The Faculty approves the 302 degree requirements on the proposal of the Doctoral Programme,
based on the student's application and the proposal of the professor in charge of the research field and the professor in charge of the supplementary field.
Flow of the application:
- The student submits the application, supported by the professors to the
official Anna-Kaarina Hakala (F, MS, LL)
- The Doctoral Programme processes the degree requirements
- The dean makes the decision
The degree requirements are approved on the basis of the study plan after all studies have been completed.
310, 311, 312 TKK's scholarships for postgraduate students and licentiate and doctoral graduates
- awarding criteria in the applications
The scholarship can be applied for when the theoretical studies have been completed according
to the degree requirements in the time required.
The application is submitted to Study Planning Officer Anna-Kaarina Hakala.
4.2 Theoretical studies modules
The content of the theoretical studies modules is so designed, that they support the student's own research field as well as possible. The modules can be tailored for a single student or readily designed for the Doctoral Programme.
The studies may contain a substantially wider variety of forms of study than is possible in the Master's degree; in addition to conventional courses, individual textbook exams, practical assignments, reports, literature reviews,
summer and winter schools, attending scientific conferences etc.
Courses acceptable for postgraduate studies are mainly those denoted with by an L (Finnish) or P (English) in the Study Programme. Language studies are not accepted into the postgraduate degree. Courses on scientific writing can, however, in some cases be accepted as part of the theoretical studies of a postgraduate degree.
The professor endeavours to to select the textbooks individually for each student according to his/her study objectives, taking into account a sufficiently wide scope within the whole field of science. The student may take exams in several parts. The student shall agree on partial exams with the professor.
The faculty may accept postgraduate-level courses that the student has completed before being awarded a Master's degree as a part of the modules making up the postgraduate degree, if these courses were not included in the Master's degree. The modules may also include postgraduate-level courses from other universities.
The research field module amounts to 30-40 ECTS credits, and consists of theoretical studies related to the field. The modules may include the following studies:
- Attending postgraduate-level courses in one's own university or another university
- Completing and reporting practical assignments related to the research field
- Writing a literature review
- Oral or written examinations based on textbooks. The textbooks are selected individually for each student according to his/her study objectives. The professor shall determine the amount of credits according to how extensive and demanding the literature is.
- Active participation in national, and in particular, international scientific conferences and seminars
- Studies in scientific summer and winter schools and courses organised by graduate schools.
Research field studies are without exception courses marked with an L/P in TKK's study programme, i.e., postgraduate-level courses, or courses of an equivalent level from another university. Students select their research field from the list of postgraduate research fields. The same professor is never in charge of both the research
field module and the supplementary studies module.
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4.4 Studies in a supplementary field
Module S, studies in supplementary field, amount to 10-20 ECTS credits. Studies in the module support the research field and the writing of the thesis. This module comprises studies in another postgraduate research field or studies drawn from several research fields that form one entity. Module S studies can be taken at other
universities but also in such cases the professor in charge must be from TKK.
-
When granting the right to pursue doctoral studies, the Faculty appoints the professor in charge of the student's research field and another professor in charge of the supplementary field studies module.
- The module S can be entirely completed in another university.
- The module is recorded into the student register according to the research field of the professor in charge, irrespective of whether the content of the module consists entirely or only partly of studies in the field in question.
- The supplementary field module S is always shown in the transcript of completed courses under the name "supplementary field studies". It is not labelled with a name describing the contents.
- If the student's research field is very wide (comprising several chairs), studies in the supplementary module (S-module) can be from the research field approved for the student. The same professor is still never in charge of both the research field module and the supplementary studies module.
4.5 Scientific practices and principles
The degree also includes Module Y, scientific practices and principles (5-15 ECTS credits). The purpose of the studies in the module is to prepare the student for scientific work and introduce him/her to applying and conveying scientific knowledge. The studies shall give the student knowledge and skills essential for working
on the thesis.
The objective of the module's courses that are common for all postgraduate students is to give the students knowledge of the basic scientific concepts and introduce them to the key characteristics of research and scientific knowledge and to the most important research methods of their field. In addition, students learn how to apply the
principles of good scientific practice to their research, learn how to use the basic structure of a scientific publication in their research reports, get to know the central scientific publication series of their field and learn how to to prepare an appropriately structured thesis.
Module Y contains studies of
- research methodology
- research ethics
- good scientific practice
- history and philosophy of science
- principles of scientific writing
- learning university practices, such as tuition and research work guidance
- preparatory tasks of a scientific kind related to the research project
- presentation of one's research work at scientific conventions in the field.
However, students cannot count the research work itself toward the requisite theoretical courses. The module may also include pedagogic studies. However, the YOOP study entity on university teaching organised by the TKK Teaching and Learning Development Unit can not as a whole be counted toward the doctoral degree.
Studies counted toward Module Y vary according to the needs of various research fields.
The objective is that students have completed their theoretical studies before the defence.
5 THE FACULTY COUNCIL AND THE DEAN
5.1 Doctoral matters processed by the Faculty
The following matters related to postgraduate studies are processed by the Faculty Council (FC) or decided by the Dean:
1. Applications for the right to pursue postgraduate studies (Dean on the proposal of the Doctoral Programme)
2. Degree requirements for a postgraduate degree (postgraduate modules and their contents) (Dean on the proposal of the Doctoral Programme)
3. Topic, language, supervisor, instructor(s) of licentiate and doctoral theses (Dean)
N.B.: The above matters concerning doctoral dissertations are approved for the time being
together with the preliminary examination application
4. Examiner for licentiate thesis (Dean)
5. Preliminary examiners for doctoral dissertations (FC)
6. Permission to publish (Dean)
7. Public defence (opponent(s), custos, date and time of defence, language) (FC, in urgent cases Dean)
8. Approval and grading of thesis (licentiate thesis, doctoral dissertation) (FC)
9. Issuing the diploma (FC)
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6 DOCTORAL DISSERTATION AND LICENTIATE THESIS
Research work is the key part of the doctoral degree. A licentiate Thesis is required for a licentiate degree. For the doctoral degree students are required to write and publish a doctoral dissertation and to defend it in public. If the theoretical studies have been completed in conjunction with the licentiate degree, all that is required for a
doctor's degree is a dissertation. In the Faculty of Information and Natural Sciences, the primary aim is the doctoral degree. Only few students now write a licentiate thesis, and many of them continue to a doctoral dissertation.
The Dean approves the topic of the thesis, appoints a supervisor and one or more instructors, decides the language of the thesis, and decides about the grading and approval of the licentiate thesis.
The Faculty Council appoints the examiners of the doctoral dissertation and awards degrees.
7 LICENTIATE THESIS AND LICENTIATE DEGREE
7.1 Studies for the licentiate degree
The same theoretical postgraduate studies are required for the degree of Licentiate of Science in Technology as for the degree of Doctor of Science in Technology. In addition, a licentiate thesis must be written.
7.2 Contents of studies, topic and examiner of licentiate thesis
The Faculty Council:
- grades the licentiate thesis and
- awards the degree.
The Dean:
- approves the contents of the modules
- approves the topic of the licentiate thesis
- appoints the supervisor and one or more instructors for the thesis
- decides the language of the thesis
- decides about examining the thesis.
The supervisor of the licentiate thesis must be a professor at TKK and the instructor must hold a postgraduate degree. The supervisor can also act as the instructor, if needed. The licentiate thesis is examined by a so-called
independent examiner. The topic of the licentiate thesis shall be applied for at least a month before the thesis is to be approved.
303 Request for approval of licentiate thesis topic and appointing the supervisor, instructor and examiner. The form shall be submitted to Study Planning Officer Anna-Kaarina Hakala.
A licentiate thesis shall demonstrate good conversance with the field of research and the capability of independently and critically applying scientific research methods. An approved licentiate thesis may be a monograph or a number of scientific publications or manuscripts vetted for publication deemed sufficient by the university which deal with the same set of problems and a paper summarising the findings, or some other work which meets corresponding scientific criteria. In addition, an approved licentiate thesis may also be a literature review showing good conversance with and a critical approach to a topic related to the field of research.
The licentiate thesis shall be presented to and examined by the faculty.Without special reasons, the examination of a licentiate thesis shall not take more than two months from the date of its submission to the faculty.
The licentiate thesis is a public document and shall be available at the faculty, K building room 139. The licentiate thesis shall be bound in green-tinted covers.
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7.4 Examination, approval and grading of the licentiate thesis and issuing the diploma
Two weeks before the Faculty Council meeting where the approval of the thesis will be decided, the students shall submit a copy of the licentiate thesis, bound in green-tinted covers, to Study Planning Officer Anna-Kaarina Hakala, and a second copy to the professor in charge of the research field, who shall ask for a statement from the examiner.
The student shall discuss with the supervising professor sufficiently in advance about the examination and the timetable related.
The licentiate thesis is examined by a so-called independent examiner.
Approval of the licentiate thesis and awarding of the licentiate degree are processed by the Faculty Council on the request of the student.
The application (305) shall be submitted two weeks before the Faculty Council meeting to Study Planning Officer Anna-Kaarina Hakala.
The student binds a Finnish/Swedish and English abstract to the licentiate thesis and sends them in the same file in PDF format as an e-mail attachment to Study Planning Officer Anna-Kaarina Hakala.
Forms related to graduating as a licentiate
Summary of documents to be submitted
1. application (305)
2. two licentiate theses
3. Abstract
4. scholarship application (311)
The licentiate degree diploma entitles to the title of Licentiate of Science in Technology (TkL, Lic.Sc.(Tech.)).
Grades used when evaluating the licentiate thesis: fail, pass, pass with distinction.
Grading the licentiate thesis pass with distinction requires that
- the student has shown exceptionally good and critical knowledge of the research
field and
- outstanding ability ability to apply scientific research methods independently and
critically
- the author has a significant independent contribution in the work
- the manner of representation is clear and the language and reference practice
used are first-rate.
8 DOCTORAL DISSERTATION AND DOCTORAL DEGREE
To be awarded a doctoral degree, students shall
1) complete either a degree of Licentiate of Science in Technology or the studies referred to in item 4
2) demonstrate independent and critical thinking in relation to their field of research, as well as
3) produce a doctoral dissertation and defend it in public.
A doctoral dissertation shall contribute to new scientific knowledge.
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An approved doctoral dissertation may be
- a monograph or
- a number of scientific publications or manuscripts vetted for publication deemed sufficient by the university and dealing with the same set of problems and a paper summarising the findings, or some other work which meets corresponding scientific criteria.
Examining the dissertation is the responsibility of the two preliminary examiners. Examining a monograph requires particular precision and carefulness, since the content is examined as something new.
In a compound dissertation, the articles have already undergone peer review. The examination is then usually directed at the summary part and the aggregate of the dissertation, as well as the doctoral student's own contribution.
The extent of the summary is normally 30-40 pages. It often also includes references to unpublished results. One or two TKK's internal reports may be accepted as a part of a compound dissertation. International online internet publications can also be used as a for of publication.
It is important to make clear in the dissertation, which parts have undergone peer review, so that the preliminary examiners may concentrate on a careful examination of the new parts. It is also important to state clearly the author's
personal contribution.
A publication consisting of separate publications or manuscripts shall meet the criteria for a doctoral dissertation when evaluated as entity.
In the case of a compound dissertation, the summary is formally regarded as the dissertation. The summary must contain an account of the subject studied, the most important research results obtained by the author and a list of the
aforementioned separate publications, and if necessary, it must supplement these publications to fulfil the requirements above.
The separate publications are generally so-called co-authored publications, from which it is not necessarily clear, which is each author's contribution to the publication. In such a case, a sufficiently detailed report of the author's contribution in the separate publications must be included in the summary.
A doctoral dissertation is a public document and shall be available at the Faculty office noticeboard in the K building near room 139, the Chief Janitor's noticeboard (Main building),
the main library and the mathematics library.
8.3 General quality requirements for a dissertation
The writer of a dissertation shall pay special attention to, i.a., the following things:
1. The dissertation shall contain new scientific knowledge in the field it represents.
2. The dissertation shall clearly set forth the new findings.
3. The candidate's own contribution to the research shall be clearly stated.
4. An abstract shall be included in the dissertation.
Instructions of the Dissertations Committee
8.4 Requesting the permission to publish
In order to obtain a permission to publish their dissertations, doctoral students shall submit the
306 Application for permission to publish the dissertation to Study Planning Officer Anna-Kaarina Hakala at the latest
by 9 a.m. on the Monday of the week preceding the Faculty Council meeting.
The dissertation is submitted for examination according to the attached instructions:
Instructions for submitting the dissertation for examination and applying for permission to publish
Upon receipt of the manuscript and the application, the faculty nominates the necessary preliminary examiners and sends the manuscriptof the dissertation and an extract of the minutes to the Dissertations Committee.
The Dissertations Committee requests and processes the expert statements.
The Faculty decides on granting the permission to publish after obtaining the preliminary examiners' expert statements and the statement of the Dissertation Committee.
The student should have completed the theoretical studies before the defence.
Processing the request to publish must take, unless reasonable grounds exist, no longer than four months from when the manuscript and application were submitted to the faculty.
The supervisor of the dissertation must be a professor in charge of the research field, and the instructor must hold a doctoral degree. The supervisor can also act as the instructor, if needed.
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8.5 Public examination of the doctoral dissertation
The doctoral dissertation shall be defended at a public examination, the date and language of which are determined by the faculty. For the public examination the faculty appoints a custos and one or two
opponents to examine the dissertation. If, for special reasons, the opponent has acted as a preliminary examiner of the
dissertation, an additional opponent shall be appointed.
The proposal (307) for the opponent(s) and custos in the public examination of the doctoral dissertation shall be submitted to Study Planning Officer Anna-Kaarina Hakala at the latest by 9 a.m. on the Monday of the week preceding the Faculty Council meeting.
The work or works constituting the dissertation shall be available for examination at the University for at least ten days before the public examination.
Instructions on printing and distribution of dissertations and graduation (Publishing a dissertation in electronic form
or Printed dissertation)
TKK Dissertations - brochure
Electronic Publishing of Doctoral Dissertations
The instructions above also contain useful links about defending the dissertation and arranging the public examination, about the banquet, and instructions on preparing the press release.
Defence announcement/press release form and sample N.B. The defence announcement will be sent to the notice of the press and published on the TKK and IL faculty web pages.
The public examination shall begin with a short introductory lecture (lectio praecursoria) given by the doctoral candidate after which the opponent(s) shall present their comments. Subsequently, also the audience is allowed to present oral or written comments regarding the dissertation or its defence. If needed, these comments shall be
taken into account in the evaluation of the dissertation.
Further provisions on the arrangements of a formal public examination of a doctoral dissertation shall be issued by the Dissertations Committee.
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8.6 Approval of a doctoral dissertation and issuing the diploma
Within two weeks of a public examination, the opponent(s) appointed by the faculty shall, either individually or jointly, submit a written statement concerning the dissertation and its defence to the faculty. If someone at the public defence of the dissertation announces that they will submit comments on the dissertation in writing, such comments must also be submitted to the faculty within two weeks of the defence.
A demand for not approving a doctoral dissertation, including an explanation, shall be submitted in writing. Such a demand may be submitted either by the opponent or by a member of the Faculty Council with the power to decide on the approval of the study attainment in question.
Statements to be presented at the Faculty Council shall be submitted to Study Planning Officer Anna-Kaarina Hakala at the latest 10 days before the Faculty Council meeting.
Statements accepted for processing by the Faculty Council:
- opponent's/opponents' written statement on the dissertation, grade and
public defence of the thesis (the custos of the public defence shall
explain TKK's grade criteria to the opponent(s))
- the written comments the have been announced at the public defence
- the preliminary examiners' statements that the presenting official will
provide on the agenda
Disapproval of a dissertation see Section 44 of the Degree Regulations.
The author shall be given an opportunity to reply to the opponent's/opponents' statements and any comments in writing within a time set by the faculty.
Dissertations are evaluated using the following grades: fail, pass, and pass with distinction.
Grading the licentiate thesis pass with distinction requires that
- the dissertation has particular scientific merits
- the results are exceptionally significant in the research field
- the articles in a compound thesis have been published in international scientific series of high standard, or in exceptional cases in other equivalent publications subject to peer review
- the student has a significant independent contribution in obtaining the results
- the manner of representation is clear and the language and reference practice used are first-rate
- in the preliminary examination phase, no big changes have been suggested to be made to the dissertation draft
- the dissertation has been defended excellently in the public examination.
Approval of the dissertation and awarding of the doctoral degree are processed by the Faculty Council on the request of the student.
Forms related to graduating as a doctor
The application (308) shall be submitted to Study Planning Officer Anna-Kaarina Hakala at the latest by 9 a.m. on the Monday of the week preceding the Faculty Council meeting.
Summary of documents to be submitted
1. application (308)
2. scholarship application (312)
The diploma of the degree of Doctor of Science in Technology entitles to the title of Doctor of Science in Technology (TkT, D.Sc.(Tech.)).
The diploma of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy entitles to the title of Doctor of Philosophy (FT, PhD).
The Rector presents the diploma at a graduation ceremony to which the faculty office (Anna-Kaarina Hakala) issues an invitation.
A person who earns the rank of doctor of science or doctor of philosophy at TKK is entitled to receive the regalia approved by Council (the doctor of science hat, as well as the embroidered ribbon to be attached permanently to the tailcoat (for men) or the oval brooch (for women) for doctors of science) at a ceremonial conferment of degrees. The Council decides of the arrangement of the conferment ceremony.
The University Council may on request grant the right to the Doctor of Science or Doctor of Philosophy regalia without the ceremonial conferment of degrees.
9 OBTAINING THE DEGREE DIPLOMA
The Rector presents the diploma at a graduation ceremony held about once a month.
A person who cannot attend the ceremony can collect the degree diploma from the Student Services of the Office of Academic Affairs (room Y224b in the main building) on the working day after the ceremony, or leave
The authorization form 505 to the Office of Academic Affairs for receiving and mailing the diploma.When collecting the diploma, the student shall be prepared to prove his/her identity.
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Report of the TKK's Office of Academic Affairs:
Names of units and their translations
Postgraduate research fields academic year 2009-2010
Instructions for postgraduate students:
Structure of postgraduate degrees
TKK's guide for doctoral students
Ceremonial conferment of degrees 2008
Please submit the forms to Anna-Kaarina Hakala
Forms for doctoral studies (Departments of F, MS and LL)
Forms for doctoral studies (Main page of TKK)
Licentiate graduation
Forms for defence of dissertation
Doctoral graduation
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