1 Aalto University School of Science and Technology Systems Analysis Laboratory Doctoral Studies in Aalto University School of Science and Technology (TKK) Raimo P. Hämäläinen Antti Punkka Systems Analysis Laboratory Aalto University School of Science and Technology

2 Aalto University School of Science and Technology Systems Analysis Laboratory Recruitment of doctoral students  Different practices: continuous / once a year application –+ Graduate school call for applications  Full and part-time students  Master-level students are employed in research groups –Test period – the main source of recruitment –First paper often based on the master’s thesis or even earlier work  Goal to have more foreign students –Joint international Masters’ and Doctoral programs –Our grad. school last fall: 19/45 (42 %) of the applicants were non-Finnish  Aalto visibility can increase the number of applicants

3 Aalto University School of Science and Technology Systems Analysis Laboratory Graduate schools’ calls for applications  When new ministry-funded positions available (every 2 years)  OR for example once a year  Our graduate school  Selection criteria  Previous studies  Research experience  Relevance and clarity of research interests  Matching faculty interests  Application  An outline of a research proposal / description of research interests  CV & degrees achieved with grades  Possible letters of recommendation  TOEFL results

4 Aalto University School of Science and Technology Systems Analysis Laboratory General  Goal to complete the degree in 4 years –Not achieved often  Course work 60 cr (ECTS) (approx hours) –Studies in the research field cr (720 – 960 h) –Studies in a supplementary field cr (240 – 480 h) –A module on scientific practices and principles 5-15 cr (120 – 360 h)  Research is conducted in research groups  Writing of scientific peer-reviewed articles in collaboration with the supervising professor

5 Aalto University School of Science and Technology Systems Analysis Laboratory Style of the thesis book  A monograph = an extensive literature review and own results  A collection of articles = 4-6 published co-authored articles and a summary (10-20 pages) –Most common format –Scientific articles are a motivation for the supervising professors and a good basis for the students’ possible later research work

6 Aalto University School of Science and Technology Systems Analysis Laboratory Doctoral dissertation  Two pre-examiners –Suggest revisions –Submit statements  Public defence (2 hours) –An academic dialogue –Opponent usually from abroad

7 Aalto University School of Science and Technology Systems Analysis Laboratory Students' funding and responsibilities  Full-time students funded by the university –Graduate schools / research projects / university –A taxable salary ( euros per month) depends on the student’s progress »Average income in Finland is 2940 euros per month (8/2009) –In some disciplines, short scholarships are common  Part-time students conduct their research alongside their normal jobs

8 Aalto University School of Science and Technology Systems Analysis Laboratory Students' visits abroad  Graduate school engourages to short and long visits –Summer school participation sponsored –Conferences paid by research groups  All Finnish graduate schools: 16 % of graduate school students did a visit in the two-year period ** –About 6400 / = 30 % of graduate students were involved in doctoral schools –Finland: Decreasing trend in the number of university teachers’ and researchers’ visits abroad »From 1800 annual visits of at least two weeks to 1200 in the period * * source: Riitta Mustonen, Academy of Finland, slides ** source: Eeva Sievi, Academy of Finland, message

9 Aalto University School of Science and Technology Systems Analysis Laboratory Hosting of doctoral students’ short-term visits  Visitors usually have their own funding  Facilities offered  There is no tuition fee in Finland, taking courses here is free –16 % of full-time graduate school students in Finland are non-Finnish * * source: Heikki Ruskoaho, University of Oulu, slides

10 Aalto University School of Science and Technology Systems Analysis Laboratory Entering the job market in Finland  The number of annual doctoral degrees has doubled up from 1995 (graduate school system started) to 2007 (765 -> 1523) * –Employment rate of doctors graduated in was 97 % in 2006 *  First jobs of doctors who graduated from some graduate school in * (our grad. school ) –Universities 50 % (Finland 36 %, abroad 14 %) (our grad. school 24 %) –Jobs in the private sector 20 % (our grad. school 45 %) –Research institutes and alike 9 % (our grad. school 22 %) –Admistrative duties in the public sector 8 % (our grad. school 9 %) –Other / unknown 10 % (our grad. school 0 %) * source: Eeva Sievi, Academy of Finland, slides