Thesis and maturity test in master's and licentiate programmes

Thesis and thesis plan

As part of the advanced studies in the Master's Programme, you will prepare a written thesis of 30 credits in scope. If you study in the fields of medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine, your written thesis is 20 credits in scope.

In the thesis, you must demonstrate your familiarity with the thesis topic, mastery of the necessary research methods, the ability to think scientifically and proficiency in academic writing. The thesis workload, including the collection and processing of the research material as well as the writing process, corresponds approximately to one term of full-time study.

Before embarking on the thesis project, or at its initial stages at the latest, you must draft a thesis plan, which will be discussed and approved in the manner specified in the degree programme curriculum. The plan must also indicate the supervisor(s) of the thesis.

You can complete the thesis independently or in a group or a wider research project, provided that your independent input can be clearly demonstrated and easily assessed. You can also complete the thesis as a commission. However, write your thesis independently. You can write the thesis as pair work with a fellow student only if your degree programme has separately decided to allow this. In such cases, the independent contribution of both students must be clearly demonstrable. 

You should write your thesis in academic language.

Please select your degree programme to see the schedules for submitting and assessing your thesis. Please note that if you submit your thesis for assessment and your graduation request latest on 31st of July, you will graduate retroactively during the spring term. If you are liable to pay for tuition you will not need to be attending or pay for tuition for the following autumn term.

Thesis template and abstract

To ensure the accessibility of the thesis file, you can use the text styles contained in the University of Helsinki template and follow the instructions provided in the template. However, make sure your faculty and degree program's thesis guidelines before using the template. When the Word file is in order for accessibility, you can also easily create an accessible PDF file. Ensure that the name of the thesis file is in the format Lastname_Firstname_Mastersthesis_Year (with no Scandinavian letters or special characters).

If using the LaTeX typesetting system for your thesis file, the PDF file created will not be accessible. This is because of a current lack of code entries. Consequently, we recommend that you save in the publication repository not only a PDF file, but also the thesis source code.

The thesis includes an abstract written in the language of the thesis. In addition, students who have completed their secondary education in Finnish or Swedish must write an abstract in the language of their secondary education if the abstract also serves as a maturity test with which the student demonstrates their proficiency in Finnish or Swedish. You can use the University's abstract document (a word document). Fill in the needed information on each line and write your abstract at the end. The length of the abstract is usually 1 page. The degree programmes and/or faculties can give more detailed instructions in the matter, please see also the degree programme-specific instructions. Attached is also a model document as a pdf. If needed, you can write the abstract also in other word processing programmes with the help of the model document. Include your abstract in the thesis file.

If you give permission to publish your thesis in the University's open publication repository, please make sure the document is in an accessible format. See instructions on how to create accessible documents.

Assessment

Your thesis will be assessed on a scale of 0–5. The assessment is conducted in Finnish, Swedish or English. Your thesis will be assessed by two examiners. The dean approves your thesis and assess it based on the opinion given by the examiners. The date of completion of your thesis is the date on which you submitted your thesis for assessment.

If you are dissatisfied with your grading, you can lodge an appeal with the University’s Academic Appeals Board. Read more on the page Legal protection of students.

The schedules for submitting, assessing and approving master’s theses during the 2025–2026 academic year are as follows: Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Social Sciences

*NB. For students in the International Masters in Economy, State and Society (IMESS) programme the final deadline to submit thesis is 26.5.2026

The completed thesis must be submitted for assessment by 23.59 (Finnish time) on the submission deadline. The schedules do not apply to master’s theses completed in international joint degree programmes. 

No supervision and feedback are provided in July, unless required in a given faculty or master’s programme. 

If the thesis is the only uncompleted component of your studies, you can submit a graduation request on the same date. The submission date for the graduation request appears as the date of the degree certificate. If you submit your graduation request during the weekend or holiday, the graduation date will be the next working day.

• If you submit your thesis after the last submission deadline in December 2025 and before 1 January 2026, the date of thesis completion will be recorded as 1 January 2026. Your thesis will be assessed and approved in accordance with the first schedule for 2026. You cannot graduate in 2025, even if you have submitted a graduation request in 2025. You must register for attendance in connection with your right to study for the spring term 2026 as well as pay the Student Union fee and the FSHS healthcare fee for the spring term 2026.
• If you submit both your completed thesis for assessment and a graduation request by 31 July 2026 you can graduate during the 2025–2026 academic year.

For instructions on how to submit a graduation request, see the graduation instructions.

The schedules for submitting, assessing and approving master’s theses during the 2026–2027 academic year are as follows: Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Social Sciences

The completed thesis must be submitted for assessment by 23.59 (Finnish time) on the submission deadline. The schedules do not apply to master’s theses completed in international joint degree programmes. 

No supervision and feedback are provided in July, unless required in a given faculty or master’s programme. 

If the thesis is the only uncompleted component of your studies, you can submit a graduation request on the same date. The submission date for the graduation request appears as the date of the degree certificate. If you submit your graduation request during the weekend or holiday, the graduation date will be the next working day.

• If you submit your thesis after the last submission deadline in December 2026 and before 1 January 2027, the date of thesis completion will be recorded as 1 January 2027. Your thesis will be assessed and approved in accordance with the first schedule for 2027. You cannot graduate in 2026, even if you have submitted a graduation request in 2026. You must register for attendance in connection with your right to study for the spring term 2027 as well as pay the Student Union fee and the FSHS healthcare fee for the spring term 2027.
• If you submit both your completed thesis for assessment and a graduation request by 31 July 2027 you can graduate during the 2026–2027 academic year.

For instructions on how to submit a graduation request, see the graduation instructions.

As of 1 August 2025, before submitting your master’s thesis, you must register for the submission of the thesis and the maturity test in Sisu. If you have registered for more than one, select those for the current academic year. This ensures accurate recording of completed credits in Sisu.

You can then submit the final version of your master’s thesis into the new E-thesis. Check the submission deadline from the schedules for supervising, submitting, assessing and approving master’s theses.

When you have saved your thesis in E-thesis, it will be passed on for assessment. Your thesis will no longer be editable. You will receive confirmation of a successful submission by email and you can track the progress of the assessment in the system.

Read the user instructions for the redesigned E-thesis.  

A maturity test is a scholarly text related to the field of your thesis, such as a part of the thesis or its abstract, or another piece of written work defined in the curriculum of your degree programme.

The maturity test demonstrates your familiarity with the field of your thesis.

Maturity tests are graded on a pass–fail basis. The person marking and approving a maturity test is usually a teacher in the degree programme (e.g., your thesis supervisor). The person approving a maturity test must be proficient in the language of the test.

A maturity test is an independent study attainment, but it is recorded in the student information system as having a scope of 0 credits.

Please note that the use of artificial intelligence in maturity tests is never allowed. Read more on the page Using AI to support learning.

The language of your maturity test depends on whether you completed one for your bachelor’s degree and on the language of your secondary education.

The language of your secondary education was Finnish or Swedish:

• If the language of your secondary education was Finnish or Swedish and your bachelor’s degree included a maturity test completed in that language, you can complete your maturity test at the master’s level in Finnish, Swedish, English or the language of your thesis. If you are studying in an English-language master’s programme or in a multilingual master’s programme so that your degree language is English, you must complete a maturity test in English. You no longer need to demonstrate your language skills through the maturity test, but must demonstrate your familiarity with the field of your thesis.
• If the language of your secondary education was Finnish or Swedish, but your bachelor’s degree included no maturity test in that language (e.g., you completed your bachelor’s degree outside Finland), you must complete a maturity test in the language of your secondary education. In doing so, you demonstrate both your language skills and your familiarity with the field of your thesis. This also applies to those studying in an English-language master’s programme or pursuing an English-language degree in a multilingual master’s programme. In the above cases, see the other language studies required for your degree.

The language of your secondary education was not Finnish or Swedish:

• If the language of your secondary education was not Finnish or Swedish or you completed your secondary education in a country other than Finland and are studying in a Finnish- or Swedish-language master’s programme or in a multilingual master’s programme in Finnish or Swedish, you can complete a maturity test in Finnish, Swedish, English or the language of your thesis. In doing so, you demonstrate your familiarity with the field of your thesis.
• If the language of your secondary education was not Finnish or Swedish or you completed your secondary education outside Finland and are studying in an English-language master’s programme or in a multilingual master’s programme in English, you must complete a maturity test in English. In doing so, you demonstrate your familiarity with the field of your thesis.

If the master’s thesis abstract is used in your master’s programme as a maturity test, you can find out with the help of this web application the language in which you must or may complete the maturity test and the language or languages of the abstract(s) that you are required to include in your master's thesis.

Master's thesis projects (ENS-800 Master’s Thesis in European and Nordic Studies, 30 cr) will be carried out in the master's thesis seminar (ENS-350 Master's Thesis Seminar in European and Nordic Studies, 10 cr), which starts in the 4th period in the first year of your studies. You will be assigned a supervisor at the start of the seminar, and as your work progresses, you will have the possibility to discuss your work with other teachers and researchers, and a second supervisor may be assigned for you. Please see the instructions on the thesis on this page.

The abstract of your thesis represents the maturity test. Please see more information about the maturity test on this page. If you need to complete the maturity test in the language of your secondary education (Finnish or Swedish), submit two abstract texts into E-thesis, one in Finnish/Swedish and another in English.

Master’s thesis: Intended learning outcomes, assessed areas, grading scale, criteria for each grade

Master’s thesis 30 cr

A master’s thesis is an academic study included in a second-cycle degree and intended to familiarise students with conducting social science research. The length of a master’s thesis is 50–70 pages. As a part of the thesis, you must write the maturity test that is assessed together with your thesis. Maturity test is the abstract of your thesis.

After completing the thesis, students will be able to

• Choose a justified research topic in the field of social sciences, compose a research question, design a study and implement the different phases of a research process
• Appropriately utilise previous research, concepts, theories and material available in their field in accordance with research ethics and good scientific practice
• Generate results and clarify their relationship to previous research
• Assess their own research critically
• Create a clear and logical thesis structure and produce good, grammatically correct academic writing

Master’s thesis assessment criteria at the University of Helsinki and specifications to them at the Faculty of Social Sciences

1. Thesis objective and research questions

• Justifying the research topic and its scientific and social significance
• Defining the research topic sensibly with regard to the purpose and scope of the study
• Defining a clear research problem
   

2. Scholarly framework and use of sources

• Using research literature critically and analytically to justify and solve the research problem
• Selecting theories, concepts and literature relevant to the research topic
• Using previous research relevant to the research topic
• Identifying connections and relationships in the field of study and the relevant literature

3. Research data and method

• Selecting provided or self-acquired material that is of high quality and suitable for addressing the research problem and critically assessing the methods used to collect the material
• Describing and justifying the method of analysis comprehensively
• Ensuring that the research problem, material and analysis method are compatible
• Using methods in a critical and evaluative way
• Performing consistent, accurate and thorough analysis
• Considering research ethics
• In the case of a theoretical study, clearly defining the research question and literature, and specifically distinguishing between the research material and reference literature

4. Presentation of thesis results

• Addressing the research question in the results
• Reporting the results clearly and logically
• Illustrating the relationship between the images, diagrams and the text
• Specifying the relationship between the research results and previous research

5. Discussion and conclusions 

• Basing the conclusions on the results
• Drawing thorough, reliable and insightful conclusions
• Examining the research process and results critically and thoroughly
• Presenting new research problems and considering opportunities for application

6. The thesis as an academic text

• Using a clear structure
• ​​​​​​​Mastering academic prose and using grammatically correct language
• Distinguishing between the author’s own interpretations and the information presented in sources as well as incorporating these two elements clearly and seamlessly
• Using references logically and appropriately
• Using an appropriate layout and suitable appendices

The final grade awarded for a master’s thesis is not entirely based on the average of the different areas assessed. Some areas may be not be applicable or may merit more attention and thereby affect the weighting of the assessment.

The grading scale for a master’s thesis included in a second-cycle degree from the University of Helsinki and criteria for each grade by the Faculty of Social Sciences

Thesis grading scale:

The learning outcomes set for master’s theses are described in the curriculum of the relevant degree programme, which is approved by the Faculty Council. Master’s theses are graded on the following scale: 5 = Excellent, 4 = Very Good, 3 = Good, 2 = Satisfactory, 1 = Passable, 0 = Fail.

• 5 (Excellent): The thesis is of an exceptionally high quality and demonstrates the author’s academic maturity, critical thinking skills and thorough familiarity with the topic. The author frames the topic and justifies his or her perspective appropriately based on a diverse selection of relevant research. The author formulates the research problem skilfully on the basis of previous research and theories. The author provides an excellent description of the material and methods. He or she presents an analytical justification for their use, which is flawless and insightful with regard to the framing of the research question and shows that the author understands the consequences of his or her choices. The author presents a clear analysis of the results and conclusions. The thesis includes argumentative conclusions, which link the discussion of the results to previous research. The thesis constitutes a coherent and consistent whole and demonstrates independent and progressive effort. The author identifies and insightfully discusses any ethical issues.
                 
• 4 (Very Good): The thesis is of a very high quality and demonstrates the author’s all-round familiarity with the topic. The author adopts a critical and independent perspective. The author frames the research problem sensibly on the basis of a carefully selected theoretical framework and relevant research. The author provides an appropriate description of any material and methods, presents an analytical justification for their use and applies them correctly. The thesis covers all essential issues in a logical order and constitutes a clear and consistent whole.
   
• 3 (Good): The thesis constitutes a sound and sensible whole and includes diverse research relevant to the framing of the research problem. The research problem is based on a theoretical background.  The author presents a sufficient description of any material and methods, which are suitable for solving the research problem. The implementation and reporting of the different sections of the thesis show that the student has mastered the steps required to complete a research project. The implementation of specific areas may be inconsistent. The thesis does not include significant defects related to content, implementation or form.
   
• 2 (Satisfactory): The thesis includes the components required for a successful research process, and the author handles these logically. The thesis constitutes a comprehensible whole. While the author adopts a sensible perspective, the thesis contains some practical defects relevant to solving the research problem. However, the student completes the different steps required to address the research problem. The author describes the framing of the research question, the relevant concepts, the selected research literature and any material and methods. However, the grounds for using these to address the research problem are weak in some key respects. The thesis includes defects or deficiencies related to content, implementation or form.
   
• 1 (Passable): The thesis covers some essential issues in a somewhat logical order. The student noticeably aspires to conclude an academic thesis, but the practical implementation is deficient. The phases designed to address the research problem are disconnected or somewhat deficient, and the argumentation is unclear. The framing of the research question is insufficiently linked to the reference literature, and the selected concepts are unsuitable for solving the research problem. The author provides an insubstantial description of any material and methods and clearly struggles with solving the research problem. 
   
• 0 (Failed): The thesis is fragmented and illogical and does not constitute a whole. The research problem, selection of concepts and the choices made to address the research problem are unclear. The author does not present reference literature relevant to the topic or only presents a random selection of irrelevant literature. The structure of the research report and the use of references are clearly defective. Overall, the thesis represents a style of text other than an academic thesis because it includes major defects or deficiencies related to content, implementation or form.

If you are dissatisfied with the grade proposal for your master’s thesis, you have two different options. You can either request that the assessment of your thesis be suspended or submit a request for administrative review of the grade of the thesis. 

Suspension of assessment

Make a request for the suspension of the assessment of your thesis after receiving the grade proposal by notifying Kruununhaka Student Services (kruununhaka-student@helsinki.fi) of the suspension no later than 12:00 o’clock on the Monday preceding the date of the Dean’s decision. Please note that there is less than a week to make the request. Make the necessary changes to your thesis and resubmit it for assessment. The assessment will then start from the beginning, according to the schedule. This procedure does not automatically mean that your thesis will be assessed by different examiners.

Request for administrative review of the grade of the thesis

Let the thesis assessment lapse so that the Dean decides on your thesis, according to the schedule. After this, you can make a request for administrative review of the grade of the thesis to the University’s Academic Appeals Board. Please note that you can no longer make changes to your thesis.   
   
As your master's thesis has been assessed and approved, a request for administrative review of the grade of the thesis does not prevent graduation. If, as a result of the review request process, the Academic Appeals Board decides to propose that the grade of the thesis be changed, a new degree certificate will be issued. For more detailed instructions on how to make the request, see Protection of Student’s Rights and Review Procedures. 

The Faculty of Social Sciences awards travel grants to its students whose master's theses require travel for the collection of material or other data supporting the thesis. Grants will be awarded within the limits of the available financial resources. 

The Faculty emphasises the responsibility of the individual embarking on the trip to check the safety and security situation of the destination from the travel advice notices published by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and reserves the right not to award a grant to a destination to which travel is not recommended by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. 

Degree programme students of the Faculty can apply for a grant for their travel costs if 
 

• they have progressed to master’s studies (a bachelor’s degree or a bachelor’s thesis and more than 180 credits),
• their research plan has been approved by a supervisor assigned by the discipline or study track, AND
• the collection of material for their thesis requires a stay abroad or entails considerable travel costs in Finland OR their thesis work is promoted by conferences or similar summer or winter schools related to their topic requiring travel.

The application period is twice a year

The application period for the summer and the autumn term is in the late spring, and for the spring term in the late autumn. Travel grants are not awarded for trips started before the application period. 

Travel grants are country-specific and range from €150 to €2,500. A list of country-specific (by region) grant amounts will be published in conjunction with the call for applications. If a research plan requires a visit to several destinations or a stay of more than a month in a destination, the grant amount may be increased (by about 10 to 20%). Other possible funding will be taken into account in making the grant decision. It is not possible to combine a holiday trip with a trip for which a travel grant has been awarded.

The application period in spring 2026 is March 23–April 13. Please fill in the application form. The application form will open on March 23, 2026. A research plan approved by the thesis supervisor is required as an attachment in the application. A statement of the discipline or degree programme, and, if needed, an order of priority, will be requested on the applications. Priority is given to those students whose study track curriculum entails study methods requiring travel (i.e., fieldwork). Based on presentation, the dean will make the decision to award grants.

Travel grant recipients are obliged to provide a report on the use of the grant after the trip. The travel report must include a one- to two-page description of the trip and a breakdown of expenses with receipts. The report must be delivered to Kruununhaka Student Services (kruununhaka-student@helsinki.fi) no later than one month after the end of the trip. 

Country/region-specific grant amounts:

• Finland, Nordic countries, Baltic States: €150
• The rest of Europe: €300
• Asia (excl. West Asia and the Malay Archipelago), Greenland, North America: €800
• North Africa and Western Asia: €600
• Sub-Saharan Africa: €1,200
• South and Central America, West Indies Archipelago: €1,300
• Oceania and the Malay Archipelago: €2,000

More information: Kruununhaka Student Services, kruununhaka-student@helsinki.fi

Public access to theses

Master’s theses included in second-cycle (master’s) degrees are public documents. Their public access is based on the Act on the Openness of Government Activities (621/1999). This means that the University must grant access to theses to anyone upon request.

Public access to theses includes their abstracts.

Secret material and theses

Theses must not include any confidential information, as they are made available to the public immediately following assessment and approval. You can include secret information in the background material, which is not part of the thesis to be assessed.

The Act on the Openness of Government Activities (621/1999) contains provisions on secret official documents. Secret information includes information on private business or commercial activities or a private individual’s health, assets, political convictions or family life.

You cannot include secret material in thesis appendices or abstracts. The thesis supervisor can gain access to secret background material, but must ensure that such material is excluded from the thesis itself. The thesis examiner conducts their assessment based on the student’s written thesis, which must not include secret information. The examiner is not entitled to access secret background material.

Publication of theses

The University of Helsinki recommends the open publication of theses. The abstracts of master’s theses are always public and published in the University’s open Helda repository.

If you permit the publication of your thesis, it will be published in Helda, where it will be available to the general public. Search engines will display resources contained in the publication repository prominently in search results.

If you do not permit the publication of your thesis, it will be available for viewing only on the library terminals of Helsinki University Library.

You must use the E-thesis system, currently available in two versions, to accept or reject the publication of your thesis. 

• If your degree programme uses the old version, you will receive a message about publication permission from the E-thesis system after the approval of your thesis.
• If your degree programme uses the new version, you must accept or reject the publication of your thesis when submitting it for assessment.

If your thesis includes an article published in a journal, or an article based on your thesis is in preparation, it is possible that your thesis cannot be published openly as such. If your article is published in a scholarly journal or other scholarly publication, often its publisher can provide information on the terms and conditions of open publishing. If you require further information on publishing your thesis in the open repository, please send a message to the following email address: e-thesis(at)helsinki.fi.

Delayed publication (embargo)

As a student, you may request a delay in the publication of your thesis in the Helda repository. A need for delayed publication (embargo) may arise, for example, if a thesis has been written in a research group and is closely related to research to be published later. 

Please note, however, that a thesis whose publication has been delayed is still a public document, and access to it must be given to anyone requesting it. Description data (including the abstract) are always public and openly available in Helda. 

An embargoed thesis cannot be viewed in full on the library terminals. If you give permission to publish a thesis which has been embargoed, it will become available in the open repository on the date the embargo ends. Otherwise, your thesis will be available only on library terminals after the end of the embargo.

If the publication of your thesis requires delay, please report this need on the E-thesis form under the item ‘Other notes/Embargo’ when submitting your thesis for assessment. The dean may grant a delay of one year. If studying at the Faculty of Science, please contact the education coordinator for information on embargo needs.