Summary of the dissertation process in chronological order

This page contains a summary of practical information on the different stages of publishing and defending a Doctoral dissertation. The information is based on the instructions and practices of the School of Information Sciences regarding Doctoral studies. The detailed instructions given by the School are available in the School's Doctoral Study Guide 2010-2012 on the School webpage.

The steps leading to a Doctoral degree are described below in chronological order:

1. The Doctoral candidate checks from the supervisor that the dissertation manuscript is ready to be submitted for examination. The manuscript is submitted to the School Office in three complete, filed paper copies. At the same time the Doctoral candidate submits a filled form giving the candidate's contact information (the form is available also in the School Office). If the manuscript contains co-authored scientific publications, the candidate submits proof of his/her independent part in them.
   
   
2. The School nominates a minimum of two preliminary examiners for the manuscript. Before the nomination, the Doctoral candidate is given the chance to give his/her opinion on the persons under consideration.   
   
   
3. Based on the statements by the preliminary examiners, the School Management Board decides on the permission to publish and defend the manuscript as a Doctoral dissertation. Before the decision, the Doctoral candidate is given the chance to give his/her opinion on the statements given by the preliminary examiners.
   
   After the permission to publish and defend the dissertation has been granted, the candidate should make sure that the 40 ECTS credits of postgraduate studies contributing to research work and detailed in the personal study plan have been taken to the UTA study register. The supervisor/discipline takes care of the registering. Already now the candidate may submit to the School Office the application for the Doctoral certificate. The application form is available on the School webpage and in the School Office.
   
   
4. The School Management Board nominates the Custos and the opponent(s) for the dissertation defence. Before the nomination, the Doctoral  candidate is given the chance to give his/her opinion on the persons under consideration.
   
   
5. The School Management Board or the Dean sets the date of the public defence of the Doctoral dissertation. For this purpose, the Doctoral  candidate contacts the Custos, the opponent and the School Office, and takes care of reserving a room, unless the candidate and the supervisor have together agreed otherwise. The UTA person taking care of room reservations is available on the telephone in number (03) 3551 6455. Sometimes the title of the dissertation undergoes minor changes. At this stage the final title of the dissertation is to be given to the School Office.
   
   
6. Well before the public defence the Doctoral candidate, following the University Library's instructions, sends the dissertation to the University Library in pdf form for a possible online publication and takes care of the printing of the dissertation. The Doctoral  candidate should negotiate with the supervisor if special editions (every other page blanco) need to be printed for the Custos and the opponent(s).
   
   
7. A minimum of two weeks before the public defence the Doctoral candidate fills in a press release form both in English and in Finnish concerning the dissertation. The form is available on the University Library webpage.
   
   
8. The dissertation may be either electronic or printed. If the dissertation is in electronic form, also printed or paper copies must be available with a separate extra page (the title page of the dissertation with the time and place of the Doctoral defence).
   
   A minimum of ten days before the public defence the Doctoral candidate delivers to the School Office 10 printed or paper copies of the dissertation. The 10 printed or paper copies are paid for by the University Library provided that the Doctoral candidate has given the Library permission to publish the dissertation in Acta Electronica Universitatis Tamperensis and the manuscript has been electronically delivered to the Library in pdf format.
   
   The School Office distributes the 10 copies of the dissertation. Copies are sent to the following: Custos/supervisor, opponent(s), preliminary examiners, dissertation grading committee, University Library, School archives. The School Office invites the candidate to come and sign these copies if the candidate so wishes.
   
   The School Office delivers copies of the separate extra page to the official UTA notice boards ten days before the public defence (the page may be sent to the School Office in electronic form as soon as it is ready).
   
   
9. Practical arrangements regarding the public defence: The School Office gives instructions to the opponent on travel and hotel arrangements. Any messages on these from the opponent should be forwarded to the School Office. The candidate takes care of any arrangements for serving the audience coffee and the arrangements and expenses for a celebration banquet dinner in the evening.
   
   
10. The public defence of the Doctoral dissertation. There is detailed information on this on the School webpage here.
    
    
11. The School Board assesses and grades the dissertation. Before the Board meeting, the Doctoral candidate is given the chance to respond to the statement given by the opponent and the grade proposed by the dissertation grading committee. If the grade given is regarded unsatisfactory by the Doctoral candidate, the Doctoral candidate may also make his/her rejoinder after the Council meeting.
    
    
12. When a doctoral candidate has completed all the required studies, he/she must apply for a degree certificate for a licentiate or doctoral degree. Filled application form must be submitted to the School Office for preparation at least two weeks before the SIS Management Board meeting where the dissertation will be graded.  The application form is available on the School webpage and in the School Office. The certificate is usually dated with the date of the SIS Management Board meeting when the dissertation was accepted. It is possible to write the certificate only if the discipline has taken into the UTA study register the 40 ECTS credits of postgraduate studies contributing to research work and detailed in the personal study plan (please see section 3 above) The Dean signs the certificate.