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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 raimo@tkk.fi. Recruitment of doctoral students.
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Doctoral Studies in Aalto UniversitySchool of Science and Technology (TKK) Raimo P. Hämäläinen Antti Punkka Systems Analysis Laboratory Aalto University School of Science and Technology raimo@tkk.fi
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
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
General • Goal to complete the degree in 4 years • Not achieved often • Course work 60 cr (ECTS) (approx. 1440 hours) • Studies in the research field 30-40 cr (720 – 960 h) • Studies in a supplementary field 10-20 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
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
Doctoral dissertation • Two pre-examiners • Suggest revisions • Submit statements • Public defence (2 hours) • An academic dialogue • Opponent usually from abroad
Students' funding and responsibilities • Full-time students funded by the university • Graduate schools / research projects / university • A taxable salary (2000-3000 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
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 2006-2007 ** • About 6400 / 21000 = 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 1998-2008 * * source: Riitta Mustonen, Academy of Finland, slides 3.2.2010 ** source: Eeva Sievi, Academy of Finland, email message 17.5.2010
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 3.2.2010
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 2002-2006 was 97 % in 2006 * • First jobs of doctors who graduated from some graduate school in 2006-07 * (our grad. school 1995-2008) • 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 2.12.2008