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 Faculty of Information Sciences regarding Doctoral studies. The detailed instructions given by the Faculty Council are available in the Faculty's Doctoral Study Guide 2010-2012 on the Faculty 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 Faculty Office in three complete, filed paper copies. At the same time the Doctoral candidate submits a filled form (pdf) giving the candidate's contact information (the form is available also in the Faculty Office). If the manuscript contains co-authored scientific publications, the candidate submits proof of his/her independent part in them.
   
   
2. The Faculty (the Dean) 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 Faculty Council 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 60 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/Department takes care of the registering. Already now the candidate may submit to the Faculty Office the application for the Doctoral diploma. The application form is available on the Faculty webpage and in the Faculty Office.
   
   
4. The Faculty Council 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 Dean or the Faculty Council sets the date of the public defence of the Doctoral dissertation. For this purpose, the Doctoral  candidate contacts the Custos, the opponent and the Faculty 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 Faculty 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 on-line 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 Faculty 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 Faculty Office distributes the 10 copies of the dissertation. Copies are sent to the following: Custos/supervisor, opponent(s), preliminary examiners, University Library, Department Library, Faculty archives. The Faculty Office invites the candidate to come and sign these copies if the candidate so wishes.
   
   The Faculty 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 Faculty Office in electronic form as soon as it is ready).
   
   
9. Practical arrangements regarding the public defence: The Faculty Office gives instructions to the opponent on travel and hotel arrangements. Any messages on these from the opponent should be forwarded to the Faculty 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 Faculty webpage here.
    
    
11. The Faculty Council assesses and grades the dissertation. Before the Council 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. If this has not been done before now, the Doctoral candidate fills in the application form to apply for the Doctoral diploma and submits the application to the Faculty Office. The application form is available on the Faculty webpage and in the Faculty Office. The diploma is usually dated with the date of the Faculty Council meeting when the dissertation was accepted. It is possible to write the diploma only if the Department has taken into the UTA study register the 60 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.