Phases of doctoral thesis work

Commencement of studies  

At the beginning of your studies, activate your University user account and start using the University email. The latter is very important, as it is used to send information on current issues in your doctoral programme and the doctoral school and other matters relevant to doctoral studies.  

Explore the basic features of the University’s student information system Sisu. It contains information on your right to study and completed studies and is used to register for courses. As soon as you begin your studies, you should create a personal study plan in Sisu. Acquaint yourself with your doctoral degree structure and begin planning which courses and other studies to complete. 

Another important digital tool for doctoral researchers is Thessa. Log in to explore the Thessa features. Some information is imported automatically into Thessa (supervisors, completed studies); other details you supply yourself. Begin planning your research in Thessa and complete a supervision agreement with your supervisors. If you have already been appointed a thesis committee, use Thessa to send invitations to the members. 

Attend the orientation sessions organised by your doctoral programme and the doctoral school. You will receive important information on studies and meet other doctoral researchers. 

First year  

The first year of study is a good time to complete compulsory studies, such as the course in research ethics. Compulsory studies in your doctoral programme may include a seminar running over several years. The beginning of studies is also a good time to complete methodological and theoretical studies and courses in, for example, academic writing and conference presentation. When planning your studies, consider your personal interests and future plans. 

If you have not been assigned a thesis committee when you apply for the right to study, you must establish it during the first term (see your doctoral programme’s instructions). When you know who the members of your thesis committee are, send them invitations from Thessa. You are responsible for organising committee meetings. The first meeting should be held about one year from the beginning of your studies.   

Conclude a supervision agreement in Thessa or make any necessary changes to a previous agreement. This agreement is completed through your primary supervisor’s Thessa account and is valid, by default, for one year.  

Commence your thesis research as planned. You should begin collecting data and examine the theoretical background as soon as possible. It is never too early to start writing your thesis. If you intend to produce an article-based doctoral thesis, find out more about the publishing process in your field. 

Attend the events organised by your doctoral programme, the doctoral school and your own research community to meet your peers and integrate into the academic community at an early stage. 

Second year  

Use your second year to complete as many of your remaining studies as possible. You should also participate in any writing workshops or retreats organised by your doctoral programme, as this is the time to write your first article or, for a monograph, the first analysis section. 

Organise a meeting of your thesis committee. The purpose of the committee meetings is not monitoring, but supporting your studies and research. So be honest when presenting your progress and do not be afraid to ask for advice. 

The second year is a good time to attend conferences. If you cannot yet present your own results, you can learn more about the latest findings in your field and network with your peers. Remember that you can benefit from not just international conferences, but also workshops, summer schools and the seminars organised by your doctoral programme. 

At this halfway point, take a moment to consider whether you have been able to follow your original schedule and plan or whether they should be adjusted. If you have identified any obstacles to research progress, put your plan B into operation as soon as possible. 

Third year  

The third year should focus on research and thesis writing. Check whether your articles constitute an appropriate set and whether their number (and quality) meet the requirements of your doctoral programme or faculty. Establish the article publication schedule. 

By this stage, you will have research results to present at conferences or other scholarly events – be sure to take this opportunity! The doctoral school offers training for presenting papers and preparing posters. 

Organise the third meeting of the thesis committee. This meeting is a good time to start planning for your post-graduation options. Consider your career goals and how you could begin to make them happen right away. 

Fourth year  

Ensure you are able to complete all the required studies in good time. Many doctoral programmes require that studies have been completed and modules compiled before the preliminary examination of the thesis begins.  

The examination process typically lasts from four to six months, so plan its timetable right at the beginning of the fourth year. Consider, in particular, the effects of any holiday periods on faculty council meetings and, hence, your graduation schedule. 

Attend the ‘Prepare for your doctoral defence’ session organised by the doctoral school. If you have not done so before, attend public examinations of doctoral theses in your field and read theses. Check the publication series in which your thesis will appear and find out whether the series has requirements for thesis layout or appearance. 

Organise the fourth meeting of the thesis committee and present your thesis there. If not before, discuss your career plans at this meeting. Note that some faculties require a statement on thesis completion from the thesis committee.