Preliminary examination process

infomation for all doctoral candidates

Aalto CHEM
Monday 5th March 2012

Sirje Liukko

Programme
Opening words by chairman of Doctoral Programme
Committee prof. Kari Laasonen
Aalto Universitys requirements for doctoral dissertations
Aalto CHEMs instructions for the dissertation
Preliminary examination process
Defence of doctoral dissertation
Graduation
General information of student services for doctoral
students

Aalto University
A total of 6 schools of which 5 can grant D.Sc. (Tech.)
degrees -> Aalto Universitys general requirements for
doctoral dissertations
Strategy
Aalto University: academic research ethics and handling
of violations https
://into.aalto.fi/display/enregulations/Homepage
Aalto CHEMs strategy and targets

Aalto Universitys quality requirements for doctoral dissertations

Vitskirjan tulee sislt edustamaltaan alalta uutta tieteellist tietoa.

Taideteollisella alalla vitskirja voi mys sislt uusia taiteellisen
toteuttamisen menetelmi tai korkeat taiteelliset vaatimukset tyttvi
tuotteita tai suoritteita.
Vitskirjassa uudet tulokset on esitettv selkesti ja tieteelliset
vaatimukset tyttvsti.
Oman tyn osuus tutkimuksessa tai taiteellisessa produktiossa on
riittv ja selvsti osoitettavissa.
Tutkimusmenetelmien tulee olla sellaisia, ett ne tyttvt tieteelliselle
tai taidelhtiselle tutkimukselle asetettavat vaatimukset.
Vitskirjan tulee noudattaa hyv tieteellist kytnt ja eettisesti
kestvi periaatteita.

Instructions for the article-based and monograph

dissertation at School of
Chemical Technology (Aalto CHEM) dissertations

See link https://

into.aalto.fi/download/attachments/1016727/A+memo+In
structions_dissertation+final_2011.pdf?version=1&mod
ificationDate=1310134841000

GET
TOGETHER
Members of Doctoral Programme
Committee at Aalto CHEM
Prof. Kari Laasonen (KE) - chairman
Prof. Sami Franssila (MT) deputy chairman
Prof. Liisa Halonen (Aalto ELEC)
Prof. Simo Laakso (BK)
Prof. Janne Laine (P)
Prof. Herbert Sixta (P)
Prof. Pekka Taskinen (MT) deputy member
Secretary Sirje Liukko

Instructions for the pre-examination

See link https://
into.aalto.fi/download/attachments/3225406/guideline
s+for+pre_examination_CHEM_AALTO_version_2012.doc?ve
rsion=1&modificationDate=1327336019000
1. A dissertation must contain new scientific findings in
its area of research.
2. Methods, experimental setups, measurements, and
the data presented in a dissertation should withstand the
scrutiny appropriate for scientific research.
3. The author is to present his/her achievements and
assertions clearly and scientifically.

Open this flowchart

https://
into.aalto.fi/download/
attachments/3218379/V%C
3%A4it%C3%B6skirjaty%C3
%B6n+esitarkastus%28ver
2%29.pdf?version=1&modi
ficationDate=1331309016
032

For more information

https://
into.aalto.fi/displa
y/endoctoralchem/Pre
-examination+process
+for+doctoral+thesis

Doctoral Programme
Committees meetings
See schedule https://
into.aalto.fi/display/endocto
ralchem/Doctoral+Programme+in
+Chemical+Technology

Evaluation of the pre-examination

statements at DPC
Levels from 5 to 1
Level 5: not even minor corrections needed
Level 4: only very minor/technical comments and
corrections - > response report (short)
Level 3: minor comments -> reponse report (detailed)
Level 2: major comments -> rewriting needed -> report
of corrections and new manuscript + other steps
Level 1: not acceptable in the present form

An example of the average preexamination process

For an average case (i.e. only minor corrections) a total of 3 Doctoral Progr.
Committee meetings and 1 decision by Committees chairman are needed
before the defence
1st meeting for the acceptance of the two pre-examiners (this starts the preexamination process)
The next 7-8 weeks are reserved for the pre-examination

2nd meeting for evaluation of the pre-examination statements. Decision: how

much revision of manuscript is needed.
3rd meeting for the evaluation of the response report (corrections and
comments). Decision: permission to publish the dissertation (the end of the
pre-examination process).
Chairmans decision of defence (date, opponent(s), custos and language) No fixed schedule for this decision
At latest 5-6 weeks before the defence day

Schedule for the Committees meetings

https://
into.aalto.fi/display/endoctoralchem/Doctoral+Programme+in+Chemi
cal+Technology

Open this flowchart

https://into.aalto.fi/download/attach
ments/3218777/defence+_
doc_degree_CHEM.pdf?version=1&mo
dificationDate=1331310105472

For more
information

Doctoral
Programme
Committees
meetings
See schedule
https://into.aalto
.fi/display/endoct
oralchem/Doctoral+
Programme+in+Chemi
cal+Technology

https://
into.aalto.fi/display/endoctoralchem/Dissertation+and+di
ploma

Preparations for the defence

Printing of the dissertation
https://into.aalto.fi/display/endoctoralchem/Publishing+your+doctoral+thesis
https://inside.aalto.fi/display/AboutAalto/Aalto+publication+series

Electronic dissertation
Place and audience
Defence release, other material for the media use
Lectio Praecursoria
Instructions for the defence https://
into.aalto.fi/display/endoctoralchem/Instructions+for+opponent
Meeting with the opponent(s)
Post-doctoral party

Steps for the graduation

After the defence, 1 Doctoral Progr. Committee meeting and 1 Deans
decision are needed before the graduation
1 Doctoral Progr. Committee meeting for the acceptance of the
doctoral dissertation and grade (pass or pass with distinction).
Deans decision for graduation. Graduation day appr. once per
month
Total time needed for graduation after defence is typically 4-8
weeks
The Dean of the School of Science presents the diploma (degree
certificate) at a ceremonious graduation ceremony.

Schedule for the Committees meetings and graduation

https://
into.aalto.fi/display/endoctoralchem/Doctoral+Programme+in+Chemi
cal+Technology

Aalto Universitys incentive scholarships

One of the scholarships:
1,000 euro scholarship for an approved doctoral dissertation, or
2,000 euro scholarship for completing the doctoral degree,
provided the degree was earned within nine full semesters after
completing the Masters degree, or
3,000 euro scholarship for completing the doctoral degree,
provided the degree was earned by the end of the calendar year
the doctoral candidate turns 30.
The time spent on maternity and parental leave as well as national
military or non-military service completed (documents required)
may be excluded from the calculated duration of study. However, if
the scholarship is age related no deduction is granted.ccc

Other scholarships and grants

Some Finnish foundations have incentive scholarships
for new doctors
Post-doc funding, such as the Foundations' Post Doc
Pool http://
www.postdocpooli.fi/index_en.php?cat=1&lang=3
Best dissertation of the year xxxx

Student Services for Doctoral Students

Kati Sumu (Study Secretary) tel.+358 9 470 22513
Sirje Liukko (Planning Officer) tel.+358 50 577 3736

Tekniikantie 3, 3rd floor, rooms 318-319

Opening hours: Mon, Wed., Thu, Fri. 9-11 am and 12-15 pm
E-mail doctoral-chem@list.aalto.fi

Heli Jrvel (Grad. School Coordinator;

Papsat,CHEMSEM and Advanced Materials)
Vuorimiehentie 1, Puu1
E-mail papsat@tkk.fi

Academic appeals
Section 35 Grade appeals
Students dissatisfied with the grade of their doctoral dissertation, licentiate thesis or masters thesis
may appeal against the grade to the Degree Committee within 14 days of receiving notification of
the decision.
Students dissatisfied with the grading of a study attainment other than those mentioned in
subsection 1, may appeal against it either orally or in writing to the teacher in charge of the
evaluation. The appeal against a grade of a study attainment shall be filed within 14 days of the
date on which the student has been offered the opportunity to see the results and the evaluation
criteria applied to their study attainment.
The teacher in charge of the evaluation must give the decision regarding the appeal in writing.
Students who are dissatisfied with the decision of the teacher regarding the appeal may appeal the
matter to the Degree Committee within 14 days of receiving notification of the decision.
The Aalto University Academic Affairs Committee will issue orders the regarding the procedures
followed by the Degree Committee.
MASTERS THESIS, LICENTIATE THESIS, DOCTORAL THESIS
A student dissatisfied with the grading of a thesis may apply for a rectification of the decision in
written from Aalto University Degree Committee (Aalto-yliopiston tutkintolautakunta) within 14 days
of receiving the notification of the decision. The appeal letter must be received by the Aalto
University Registry.

Ceremonial Conferment
(fin: Promootio)

This event is for doctors graduated between 1st July

2010 30th June 2012
http://promootio2012.aalto.fi/fi/
http://promootio2012.aalto.fi/en/
The next conferment will be on 2014.