Guide for doctoral degree students

On this page:

1. Doctor of Philosophy
   1. Degree structure
   2. Reporting
   3. Enrolment
      
   4. Permission for public defence, opponent, custos and board of examiners
   5. The publication and distribution of the thesis
   6. Announcement
   7. The progrsession of public defence of doctoral thesis
   8. The post-doctoral party
   9. Grading of the doctoral dissertation after the public defence
2. Licentiate of Philosophy
   1. Degree structure
3. Graduation

 

1. Doctor of Philosophy

A. Degree structure

According to statutes, to be awarded a Doctor's Degree the student is required to

1. compose a doctoral dissertation and defend it publicly,
2. complete his/her doctoral studies 60 credits.

The dissertation is an independent, research-based, scientific study (monograph) that makes an original contribution to knowledge.

The dissertation may also be a compilation of four separate scholarly articles or manuscripts that all focus on the same topic and of which three have been published or accepted for publication and the fourth has been submitted to the publisher. An article-based dissertation must always contain a summary that consists of introduction, articles and conclusions. An article-based dissertation must fulfill the same scientific requirements as a monograph.

Co-authored publications may be included if the author’s independent contribution to them can be demonstrated.

B. Reporting

The postgraduate student has to present a report on the progress of the research every year.

C. Enrolment

After being admitted, a postgraduate student must enrol annually at the beginning of the academic year either for attendance or non-attendance.

D.Permission for public defence, opponent, custos and board of examiners

The Faculty Council makes the decision about granting permission for public defence. The manuscript for doctoral dissertation are submitted in three copies. The leading professor of the discipline will propose the names of pre-examiners to the Dean. The Faculty Council should receive the statements within three months after receipt of the manuscript for pre-examination. The Faculty Office will deliver copies of them to the doctoral candidate. The Faculty Council makes the decision about granting permission for public defence on the basis of the pre-examiners' statements.

The Faculty Council also will also appoint the board of examiners (including the Custos, Opponent(s) and a representative of the Faculty).

E. The publication and distribution of the thesis

The doctoral dissertation must be printed. The minimum number of paper copies is 56. The thesis can be published in the university's Acta series (http://www.kirjasto.oulu.fi/julkaisutoiminta/acta/) or by some other publisher or by the student himself/herself. Dissertations published in the Acta series will be paid by the university.

The paper copies required must be delivered according distribution list found on webpage (http://www.kirjasto.oulu.fi/julkaisutoiminta/acta/vkjakelu.html) at least ten days before the public defence takes place. In the case of a printed thesis it is the candidate's responsibility to see that distribution inside the University takes place according to the instructions.

The Faculty does not order a date for the public examination of a dissertation, but it is agreed between the candidate, custos, opponent and the Faculty representative. Traditional days for the public examination of a dissertation are Friday and Saturday (beginning at 12 o’clock = 12.15). Also other weekdays are possible.

The candidate must book the auditorium for the public examination of his/her dissertation.

F. Announcement

In order to guarantee the publicity dissertations deserve the doctorate are required to submit an abstract. The abstract form (only in Finnish) is on webpage http://www.hallinto.oulu.fi/viestin/vaittelijalomake.html.

The dissertation abstract provides the general public with information on your research. It will be read by people who are not necessarily aware of the approach and methods prevalent in your field. The abstract should therefore be as easy-to-understand as possible. Research results form the abstract's core, and the general public is especially interested in innovations, the results' relevance to other research and possible practical applications.

The candidate must also deliver a photograph to the University Communication Services at least ten days before the public defence.

G. The progrsession of public defence of doctoral thesis

The defence ceremony of a doctoral thesis is a public occasion. Those concerned arrive in the hall in succession so that the doctoral candidate enters first, then the custos followed by the opponent. The audience stands up.

The doctoral candidate, custos and opponent wear tailcoats and dark waistcoats, while women use black dresses (not long ones). If the participants wish to wear the academic gowns that are in use in some faculties, or a dark suit, they should agree on this beforehand. A foreign opponent may wear the gown of his/her own university. The custos and the opponent, if they have the doctor's degree, hold their doctoral hats in their hands when they enter or leave the hall. For the duration of the ceremony, the hats are laid on the table, with the lyre signs facing the audience.

When the candidate, the custos and the examiner(s) have arrived in the hall, all persons shall remain standing and the custos shall begin the examination as follows: "This is a public examination of N.N.'s doctoral thesis in the field of (field of study) entitled (title of thesis). The opponent is/opponents are (Professor X/Dr Y) from (the University of Z). Having been appointed by the Faculty of Humanities custos of these proceedings, I now declare the examination open."

The candidate shall remain standing, all others shall be seated.

The candidate, standing, gives his/her lectio praecursoria, which shall not last longer than 20 minutes. He/She starts his/her speech by saying: “Dear Custos, Dear Opponent, Ladies and Gentlemen”. If needed, the custos will advice him/her on the content and nature of this speech.

After this opening lecture, the candidate says: “I am asking your, Professor/ Docent/Doctor N.N., as the opponent appointed by the Faculty of Humanities, to put forward the comments occasioned by my dissertation.”

The opponent, standing, presents a brief statement dealing with the scientific position and significance of the topics of the dissertation and other general questions of the same nature. After the statement, the opponent and the doctoral candidate are seated.

In the beginning of the actual examination, the opponent will first focus on formal and general matters, followed by a more detailed scrutiny.

The opponent may use a maximum of four hours for his/her examination to allow sufficient time for the potentiality of further opponents. If the examination lasts longer than four hours, there will be a break announced by the custos. The whole ceremony shall not last longer than six hours. At the end of his/her examination, the opponent stands up presents his/her final statement, with the doctoral candidate standing and listening. The doctoral candidate, standing, gives his/her thanks to the opponent.

The doctoral candidate turns to the audience and says: "I now request that anyone present having objections to my doctoral thesis ask Mr/Mrs custos for permission to speak."

The custos acts as moderator, making sure that the doctoral candidate is allowed to respond to every point of criticism immediately and that those speaking keep to the point. In his/her statement to be given to the Faculty, the opponent will also consider the points raised by the audience in the defence ceremony.

Standing, the custos closes the ceremony by saying: "I declare this defence ceremony closed."

The custos and the opponent will carry their doctoral hats when leaving the auditorium in the same order in which they entered: the doctoral candidate will leave first, followed by the custos and the opponent.

H. The post-doctoral party

After the public examination of the doctoral dissertation, the doctoral candidate may offer coffee and refreshments after the public examination.

The post-doctoral party is an academic tradition. The Finnish word for the celebration is “karonkka”. The post-doctoral party marks the end of the dissertation process and is arranged by the doctoral candidate to thank the Opponent, the Custos and others who contributed to the work. Nowadays, doctoral candidates may invite friends and family along with members of the academic community to this party.

As formal decisions on the doctoral dissertation are not made until the conclusion of the public examination, invitations to the post-doctoral party were traditionally not sent in advance. Nowadays, however, doctoral candidates send invitations in advance. Permission to defend the dissertation in a public examination, given by the Faculty, is sufficient indication of the quality of the dissertation. The doctoral candidates themselves formulate the wording of their invitations, but it is recommended that the invitations contain information on the dress code, especially if the doctoral candidate prefers the guests not to wear tailcoats and evening dresses, as is the custom, or wishes to suggest alternative styles of dress.

In addition to the Opponent and the Custos, the invitees to the post-doctoral party may include professors working in the field of the dissertation and others who have aided in the dissertation work. The additional opponents, that is, persons who ask questions or make comments at the public examination, were previously invited to the celebration, but, according to an unwritten rule, they

The post-doctoral party may be arranged at home, in a restaurant or in other facilities.

Men usually wear a tailcoat and a white waistcoat (a black waistcoat at the public examination), while women wear an evening dress. The traditional colour used in academic celebrations is black, but other colours have also become common. Instead of a tailcoat, men may wear dark suits, in which case women wear a short formal dress. Should the doctoral candidate wish the guests to wear some other style of dress, this should be stated in the invitation.

The doctoral candidate is the host or hostess of the party, and the Opponent is the guest of honour, seated immediately to the right of the doctoral candidate. If there are two opponents at the public examination, they will be seated on both sides of the doctoral candidate. The next guest in the seating order is the Custos, seated to the left of or opposite the doctoral candidate. The other guests then follow, usually in the order of their academic achievements.

The doctoral candidate offers food, drinks and possibly other forms of entertainment to the guests invited to the post-doctoral party. The candidate starts by welcoming all those present before dinner is served.

Speeches are made after the meal when coffee has been served. The doctoral candidate thanks the Opponent and others who have aided in the work. The Opponent's answer is usually light-heartedly dignified rather than too solemn or formal. Next, the Custos may address those present. After this, other guests may speak in the order in which they were mentioned in the doctoral candidate's address. If the doctoral candidate wishes to thank his or her family members, this should be done at the conclusion of the candidate's address.

The Custos may give further instructions.

I. Grading of the doctoral dissertation after the public defence

After the public defence, the Faculty Council makes the decision about approving and grading the doctoral dissertation. This will be based on the statement of the board of examiners and the opponent’s statement.

The opponent's statement should focus on the same points as those of the pre-examiners focus on: research topic and formulation of the research problem, theoretical background of the research, material and methods, presentation of the research results, discussion and conclusion, independence and maturity of the author, and the composition and style of the manuscript. The opponent should also evaluate the performance of the doctoral candidate in defending his or her research in the public examination.

The grades used for assessment of the doctoral dissertation are 5 (excellent), 4 (very good), 3 (good), 2 (satisfactory), 1 (sufficient).

 

2. Licentiate of Philosophy

A. Degree structure

According to statutes, to be awarded a Licentiate’s Degree the student is required to

1. compose a Licentiate thesis,
2. complete his/her doctoral studies 60 credits.

The thesis is an independent, research-based, scientific study (monograph) that makes an original contribution to knowledge.

The thesis may also be a compilation of at least two separate scholarly articles or manuscripts that all focus on the same topic and of which both have been published or accepted for publication. An article-based thesis must always contain a summary that consists of introduction, articles and conclusions. An article-based thesis must fulfill the same scientific requirements as a monograph.

Co-authored publications may be included if the author’s independent contribution to them can be demonstrated.

The thesis are submitted in three copies to the Faculty office. The leading professor of the discipline will propose the names of two examiners. The Dean appoints the examiners. The Faculty Council should receive their statements within two months after receipt of the thesis for examination. The Faculty Office will deliver copies of the statements to the student. The Faculty Council makes the decision about approving and grading the Licentiate thesis. This will be based on the statement of the examiners

 

3. Graduation

Students who have completed all the studies required for the Licenciate’s or Doctor’s degree should register for the graduation ceremony by filling out a form and submitting it together with a transcript to the Faculty Study Office. The forms (in Finnish) are available in the Student Affairs office and online at http://www.oulu.fi/hutk/opiskelu/lomakkeita.html .

Graduating students can take part in the official graduation ceremony (publiikki), where diplomas are distributed to the graduates. The ceremony is public and students can invite their family and friends along. Graduation ceremonies are held every month (except July and August) in the Snellmania meeting room (YY301)