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.

Schedules for submitting, assessing and approving master’s theses during the 2025–2026 academic year are as follows: Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Theology

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. However, if you submit your thesis after the final submission deadline in June 2026 but before the end of the academic year (31 July 2026), your thesis will be assessed and approved according to the first schedule for the autumn term 2026.

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

Schedules for submitting, assessing and approving master’s theses during the 2026–2027 academic year are as follows: Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Theology

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 or commissioned training 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. However, if you submit your thesis after the final submission deadline in June 2027 but before the end of the academic year (31 July 2027), your thesis will be assessed and approved according to the first schedule for the autumn term 2027.

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.  

Master's thesis

The Master's degree studies include a written Master's thesis, which usually consists of an empirical part and a critical analysis of the empirical part based on the literature related to the research topic. The thesis may also be a research paper based solely on literature or other scientific sources.  The total length of the thesis is 30 credits, i.e. the work must be carried out on a full-time basis over approximately one semester (approximately 4-5 months of work, approximately 30-60 pages (excluding appendices), approximately 40-50 sources). The Master's thesis must be analytical and focused and, as a rule, follow the style of a scientific article. The Master's thesis will follow a consistent referencing technique, which will be further specified by the programmes. When drawing up the outline, it is important to ensure that the thesis can be written within the scope of the programme guidelines, even if it is part of a larger research project. 

Master’s theses are academic papers primarily intended to familiarise students with research work within a reasonable time frame. For this reason, a thesis with results that prove inadequate for reasons unrelated to the writer can nevertheless be approved if the empirical section is completed as planned, the use of material is appropriate, and the scientific approach used in the reporting is acceptable. Master’s theses must be planned and written in observance of the principles of research ethics, which should be ensured already at the planning stage. Here can you find further information on the research ethics principles of the University of Helsinki.

Supervision plan 

Students must always prepare a separate, written supervision plan before starting their Master's thesis. The plan must be signed by the responsible person, the student and the supervisor(s). The plan will be processed and filed in a manner specified by the programme. It is the responsibility of the responsible person to ensure that the plan is archived. The plan shall include, inter alia, the objectives and conduct of the research, the supervisors and the progress of the work in the supervisory relationship, the role of the supervisor, the detailed timetable for the thesis, the language and the duration of the supervisory relationship. The supervision plan will also include information on the handling of any confidential data and results. 

When the plan is signed, the responsible person approves the topic of the thesis and ensures that the research equipment and facilities required for the work are available to the student. The supervisor or supervisors of the thesis are also approved by the responsible person. The responsible person may also act as a supervisor. At least one supervisor must be a doctoral graduate or equivalent. 

The Master's thesis supervision plan shall specify its period of validity. If the period of validity expires and the student has not submitted the thesis for review, the plan must be re-approved by the supervisors and the responsible person. A short extension of time, e.g. to complete the thesis, can be agreed with the responsible person. The period of validity should be determined in such a way that the student has a reasonable time to collect the thesis material, carry out the necessary analyses and write the actual thesis text. 

The student and the responsible person must update the supervision plan if the topic of the Master's thesis or the supervisor changes or if the student's/supervisor's situation changes in such a way that the Master's thesis cannot be completed as agreed. If the period of validity of the plan expires and a new plan has not been approved, the supervisor is no longer obliged to act as supervisor. Access to the material collected by the student is agreed in the plan form. The approved supervision plan is kept in the degree programme. The original plan form is given to the student. 

Responsibilities and obligations of the supervisor and the student 

The student is primarily responsible for the progress of the work and is expected to maintain regular contact with the supervisor. The supervisor should read the manuscript versions of the thesis, give feedback, advise on scientific writing and correct factual errors. He/she will also be responsible for helping with the design phase, guiding the possible experimental phase of the work, data collection and the use of methods. However, the supervisor's responsibilities do not include, for example, carrying out analyses or analyses on behalf of the student. Once the supervision plan has been approved, the student is committed to working with the supervisor within the agreed time frame. The student discusses and agrees with the supervisor(s) the progression of work and responsibilities in the process and these are recorded on the plan form.

Abstract of the Master's thesis 

The Master's thesis must include a separate abstract. The abstract is written in the same language as the thesis and it is recommended that the abstract is also written in English. A student who is a native speaker of Finnish or Swedish and writes his/her thesis in English or another language must also include an abstract written in his/her mother tongue. The title of the thesis must also be translated into mother tongue (fin or swe). The abstract must include keywords describing the thesis. The abstract is written on the university's general abstract form.

When writing an abstract, it should be assumed that the reader has a general knowledge of the subject. The abstract should be understandable without the need to read the whole thesis. It should be written in complete sentences, not as a list of subheadings. The abstract should not include references or quotations, nor should it contain information or claims that are not included in the thesis itself. 

The abstract should include the purpose and objectives of the study, the research method and data used, the main findings and conclusions drawn from the results, and any need for further research. The abstract form should also mention the supervisor(s).

Master's theses are public. The thesis itself may not include information that is confidential under the Act on the Openness of Public Authorities (621/1999). This includes, for example, business or professional secrets. Any confidential information must be left in the background of the thesis. The examiners of the thesis can see the confidential information, but are bound by a duty of confidentiality. However, the evaluation of the thesis is based on the public part of the thesis. 

Examination of the thesis 

The student must submit the completed Master's thesis for marking by entering the thesis into the electronic system according to the Faculty's instructions. The student must have a valid Master's degree study right in the programme. 

Two examiners are appointed by the responsible person. The examiners must be doctoral graduates or equivalent. In addition, Articles 27 and 28 of the Administrative Code (434/2003) provide for the disqualification of examiners. In order to ensure a uniform application of the grading scale, it is recommended that at least one of the examiners should be from the student's own faculty or degree programme. The degree programme shall establish the principles for the appointment of the supervisor(s) and examiners by the responsible person. The second examiner should be a person other than the supervisor.

The examiners must evaluate the thesis in the electronic system.  The examiners' evaluations are based on the components of the assessment matrix. Examiners are expected to be familiar with the use of the assessment matrix.

The assessment can be written in Finnish, Swedish or English. If the author of the Master's thesis is not a native speaker of Finnish or Swedish, examiners must write their assessment in English. When writing the evaluation, attention must be paid to the correspondence between the content of the evaluation and the grade proposed for the thesis. The evaluations must be stored in an electronic system in accordance with the decision of the University of Helsinki.

Thesis marking and grading criteria descriptions (university-level matrix and sub-areas)

The Master's thesis examiners assess points 1-6 and the supervisor assesses point 7. The Master's thesis is graded in each of the sub-areas 1-7. 

1. Thesis objective and research questions
2. Scholarly framework and use of sources
3. Research data and method
4. Presentation of thesis results
5. Discussion and conclusions
6. The thesis as an academic text
7. Work during the thesis process

The Master's thesis will be assessed on a scale of 0-5. The grading criteria are described in a separate assessment matrix. The examiners are required to write their statements in such a way that they cover all the main aspects of the thesis and provide a sufficiently comprehensive justification for the proposed grade. The overall mark for the thesis is the arithmetic mean of the marks awarded by the examiners and the supervisor in each of the sections, with each section having equal weighting from 1 to 7. The calculation of the average grade for the overall mark is based on the grade for the module. The verbal part of the assessment report is based on the criteria set out in the assessment matrix. If both examiners give a mark of 0 in the same area (1-6), the thesis is failed.

Pedagogical Master's thesis

A student with a subject teacher qualification can write a Master's thesis on pedagogy, focusing for example on research on pupils, students, teachers or student teachers, or on the production and testing of teaching materials/teaching methods in a school or university setting. The Master's thesis in pedagogy should follow the general guidelines for Master's theses of the faculty. The supervisor will ensure that the student writing the pedagogical thesis also receives pedagogical guidance. It is recommended that at least one supervisor with experience of Master's theses in pedagogy or with pedagogical training should be involved in the evaluation process of the Master's thesis in pedagogy. The instructions for educational theses in the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences apply.

Decision making   

The Dean of the Faculty decides on the acceptance and grading of the Master's thesis. If the Dean is unable to attend, the substitution arrangement (HY\173\00.00.06.03\2022) will be applied. For the grading decision, the Dean is provided with the grading report and the grade proposal prepared by the examiners of the Master's thesis. If the examiners disagree with the grade, the responsible person will make a reasoned proposal for the grade. In the event that responsible person is one of the examiners, the programme director will appoint a new responsible person for the thesis. The student will be informed of the grade proposal approximately one week before the Dean's decision. 

Before the Dean's decision, the student may submit a request for the suspension of the grading process before the Dean decision. The suspension must be requested in writing to Viikki Student Services (viikki-student@helsinki.fi) no later than 12.00 noon on the day before the day on which the thesis is to be approved.  The student will be contacted by the responsible person and the relaunching of the marking process will require the submission of a new thesis for the examination procedure. 

A student dissatisfied with the marking decision may apply to the University's Academic Appeals Board for redress in accordance with Article 56 of the Regulations on Degrees and Judicial Protection. The Dean decides on the response to be submitted to the Academic Appeals Board. 

The Faculty Council decides on the guidelines and principles for the marking of Master's theses. The Faculty Council monitors the number of theses graded each semester, the distribution of grades, the number of appeals and the number of students who have request of the examination. The Faculty Council may also request other information if it so wishes.

Maturity test

The Master's degree always includes a written maturity test, which must demonstrate familiarity with the field and content of the Master's thesis. In the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, the maturity test for a Master's thesis is the abstract of the thesis.

AGRI-005 Master's Thesis, 30 cr -Moodle area contains MSc thesis instructions and the submission folder for the MSc thesis supervision plan.  

AGRI-003A Scientific Writing, 4 cr  -Moodle area contains more MSc thesis instructions and the AGRI Master's Programme's spesific Master's Thesis Writing instructions in Finnish and English.

Separate maturity test is not needed since the abstract of the thesis works as a maturity test.

When you are planning to start your MSc thesis, please contact the responsible person of the MSc thesis of your study track according to the module. With the responsible person you agree on the topic of your thesis. By signing the MSc thesis supervision plan form, the responsible person approves the topic and the supervisor/s of the thesis. You are not allowed to start your MSc thesis work before the MSc thesis supervision plan form is signed and saved to the AGRI-005 Moodle submission folder. When the thesis is ready for examination, the responsible person appoints two examiners for it and takes care of the examination process all the way to the decision of the Dean.

The responsible persons of the Master's Thesis in the AGRI Master's Programme according to the study tracks and modules are:

Agrotechnology
Laura Alakukku (Environmental Technology in Agriculture)
Antti Lajunen (Agricultural Engineering)

Plant Production Sciences
Johan Ekroos, Hanna Tuomisto and Iryna Herzon (Agroecology)
Timo Hytönen and Teemu Teeri (Plant Breeding and Biotechnology)
Pirjo Mäkelä, Fred Stoddard and Priit Tammeorg (Crop Science)
Kristiina Mäkinen and Maija Pollari (Plant Pathology)
Ian Hardy (Agricultural Entomology)
Paula Elomaa, Pauliina Palonen and Jussi Lampinen (Horticulture and Plant Biotechnology)
Saijaliisa Kangasjärvi, Maria von Cräutlein and Johanna Kolehmainen (Botany)

Animal Science
Pekka Uimari (Animal Breeding and Biotechnology)
Aila Vanhatalo (Animal Nutrition)
Heli Simojoki and Peter Krawczel (Animal Welfare and Health)

Environmental Soil Science
Mari Pihlatie

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.

When planning your thesis, always contact the person in charge of your programme. The commissioner and the person in charge of your degree programme should discuss any issues related to the thesis. This will also help you to ensure that your work is progressing according to the agreed plan. Please refer to the initial guidelines (only in Finnish at the moment) for the issues you will discuss with your commissioner and the person in charge of your programme.

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.