Topic outline

  • Descriptions

    • 1. Self-assessment, beginning of the course
      2. Self-assessment, end of the course


      1. Thesis review assignment
      2. Thesis brainstorming assignment
      3. Mentor meeting and meeting report

    • Self-assessment assignments (Periods I, III)


      In this part you do two assignments where you first assess which study skills you need to improve or develop during the course, and in the second evaluate how your goals have realized during the course.  

      First assignment is done in the beginning of the course in September (deadline 18.9.2020) and another assignment towards the end of the course in February (deadline 19.2.2021).

    • Study and career planning (period I)

      The goal of this part is to develop your skills on how to make justified and goal-oriented plans and decisions based on (self)reflection and analysis. In this case the outcome is a motivated personal study plan for your master's degree. This assignment entity consists of two assignments, one mentor meeting and submission of the personal study plan. 

      Career planning assignment (DL 28.9.2020)

      In this assignment you will review the current status of your professional development. The assignment prefaces the actual study plan assignment by offering a possibility to analyse your needs and goals regarding studies. There are three alternative assignments - choose the one that best suits your current situation. Deadline is 28 September 2020.

    • Study planning assignment
      Based on the career planning assignment, start planning your studies further. The purpose of this assignment is to create a clear study plan with justified course choices based on long term goals. This assignment is submitted to your mentor before your meeting. Assignment is available here. The deadline is 28 September 18.00.

    • Mentor meeting and meeting report
      In the individual mentor meeting, you will discuss with your mentor the questions and topics that emerged in the career and study planning assignments.
      • Meetings take place in October.
      • You will be contacted by the Learning Services by e-mail regarding the meeting arrangements (scheduling the meeting).
      • After the meeting, report your attendance here and give brief feedback below.
      • Deadline is 23 October 2020 18.00. 

    • Submission of personal study plan (HOPS)
      After the mentor meeting, finalize your study plan including a schedule (a timing template is available under "timeline" section is Sisu) and submit for approval in SISU (you must submit two blocks separately: major and the electives. If you are unsure of some course choices, you must still submit the plan. You can update your plan later whenever needed. General instructions for study plan submission can be found in Into (your programme page) under "planning your studies".

      • Deadline is 23 October 2020
      • Also mark the submission in the "submission of personal study plan" here.

    • Choose 3 assignments (periods I-II)

      Based on the self-assessment assignment in the beginning of the course, choose three out of seven assignments to complete during the periods I and II. The goal of this part is to develop your academic skills in the area you have chosen from these assignments. 

      The duration of each assignment is one period. Most assignments are available in both autumn periods, I and II. It is advisable not to choose all of the three assignments to period I because of the study planning assignments taking place in the period I.

    • 3. Master's Thesis process start (periods III-IV)

      In this part you familiarize yourself with the requirements of the master's thesis and prepare for your own thesis process. The goal is to provide sufficient information and skills for starting the thesis work during the second year of the master's studies.

      This part consists of a lecture, two assignments and one mentor meeting.


      3.1 What is a master's thesis - info lecture
      • The lecture explains both the formal and the substance requirements of the master's thesis.
      • Lecture is on Monday 18 January 2021, 16-18, https://aalto.zoom.us/j/62724983990

      3.2 Master's thesis review assignment
      • What did others do? Reviewing a completed thesis is the best way to familiarize yourself with the thesis requirements.
      • Deadline is on 19 February 2021 at 18.00.
      • Assignment is available here.

      3.3 Master's thesis brainstorming assignment
      • In this assignment you take the first step in planning your own master's thesis project.
      • Deadline is on 19 February 2021 at 18.00.
      • Assignment is available here.

      3.4 Mentor meeting
      In this individual mentor meeting you will discuss with your mentor the questions or topics that emerged in the thesis brainstorming assignment.

      • Meetings take place during late February-April.
      • You will be contacted either directly by your mentor or by the Learning Services regarding the meeting arrangements (scheduling the meeting).
      • Report your meeting here by 16.4.2021.

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Assignments