Topic outline

  • IDBM ARTS MA Thesis Platform

    Welcome to the IDBM ARTS MA Thesis Platform!

    This is a communication platform on the MA Thesis process. Before starting to write your thesis, please read the instructions below and familiarize yourself with the structure of this platform. For more comprehensive information into these particulars, please refer to the pertinent sections in this platform covering various phases of the thesis.

    The master’s thesis serves as a manifestation of theoretical, artistic, or applied research, an artistic creation, or a fusion of these elements; it may also encompass a productive segment. The thesis invariably incorporates a written element. In instances where the thesis comprises a design or another form of production along with a written component, the student must delineate the extent of emphasis to be accorded to the distinct constituents during the evaluation process. Nevertheless, the evaluation of the thesis is holistic in nature, encompassing all facets of the thesis within its purview.

    1. Before writing the thesis

    • Read the Master's Thesis Guide (in Finnish here) (in Swedish here). Please pay attention to the thesis evaluation criteria. Students must know what is expected in the master’s thesis and what types of factors may affect the grade.
    • Choose a topic. Make a thesis plan proposal (see Master's thesis guide for instructions).
    • Discuss about the topic first with your programme director (of ARTS). She will suggest possible supervisor for you. In the autumn there will be a common thesis plan proposal presentation session, and the supervisor is appointed during/after the presentation session.
    • Thesis Plan Orientation (former Thesis Seminar) course is a compulsory course, and it will help you to write the thesis plan proposal.
    • Have your thesis topic and thesis plan approved by your supervisor.

    2.  When writing your thesis

    • Although the thesis is to be done independently, students have the responsibility to consult the thesis advisor(s) during the writing process to ensure that the thesis requirements are met.
    • Supervisor: approves the thesis topic and thesis plan, ensures that the student finds advisor(s).
    • Advisor: supports the student in different stages of the thesis writing process.
    • Supervisor and advisor can be the same person.
    • If the advisor is from outside of Aalto or works for Aalto only part-time, we can pay max. 10 hours/student for the advisor.

    3.  Thesis part one and part two should be approved by your supervisor

    • For the IDBM ARTS guidelines for thesis plan proposal, thesis part one (10 cr) and thesis part two (10 cr), please check the relevant pages on this platform.

    4.  Turnitin check

    • After your Thesis Part II presentation, before the final thesis submission to eAge system, enter your thesis draft into the Turnitin-plagiarism detection system. Please use “IndependentTurnitin Originality Check” and send the result report to your advisor. If your advisor is from outside of Aalto, please check the result report with your supervisor. In ARTS, Turnitin is used as a tool to check if all your citations in your thesis work are done correctly.
    • Your draft should have all the text parts including the abstract and the reference list.

    5.  Abstract submission

    • Master's thesis must include an abstract (Writing an abstract guide; in Finnish here).
    • Write the thesis abstract in Aalto form (Abstract form; Abstract form FI; Abstract form SWE).
    • Students, whose language of high school education is Finnish or Swedish, must write the abstract in their language of education (Finnish or Swedish) and in English.
    • Students, whose language of education is other than Finnish or Swedish, write the abstract only in English.
    • The abstract serves also as the maturity essay for the master's degree.
    • Email your thesis abstract to your supervisor at the stage of the Thesis Part 2.

    6.  Thesis examiners (evaluators)

    • There will be two thesis examiners (evaluators). One of them will be automatically your thesis supervisor. Your supervisor will suggest the other examiner (evaluator) to the programme director for appointment.
    • Supervisor is in charge of the evaluation of the thesis and puts forth the examination statement and grade proposal to the programme committee.

    7.  When your thesis is completed

    • Before you upload the final PDF to eAge system, ask first to your advisor and then to your supervisor for the permission to upload.
    • Please upload your full-size thesis PDF to the eAge system (electronical archiving) within the submission deadline date!!
    • You can see the checklist for submitting your thesis at Completing your master's thesis. 

    8.  DoD schedule for MA graduation in the academic year 2023-2024 
    • For students who start the thesis process in autumn 2023
    • IDBM (ARTS) Dates for Phase 2 are: 12.04 Hand-in text, and 26.04 Oral Presentation. 

    Graduation in spring semester 2024 (recommended)


    Graduation in the autumn semester 2024



    The Platform Structure

    This platform is shared by:
    1. IDBM ARTS students working on their thesis
    2. IDBM ARTS Thesis supervisors and advisors
    3. IDBM ARTS study coordinator

    The purpose of the platform is to:
    1. collect thesis plans and other thesis-related materials from the IDBM ARTS students
    2. make announcements regarding the IDBM ARTS MA Thesis process and schedule
    3. offer the General discussion section as a forum for IDBM ARTS students to discuss various matters relating to the IDBM ARTS MA Thesis Process with your peers.


    This Portal is structured in the following sections as seen on the side bar:
    PRE-THESIS: Preparation stage. Presenting the thesis plan proposal to the IDBM thesis supervisors
    THESIS: PART 1: A stage to do your groundwork and complete your thesis plan.
    THESIS: PART 2: A stage to carry out your thesis plan.
    THESIS: PART 3 : A stage to finalize your thesis and present.
    POST-THESIS: Completing the thesis process.

    You can see the Department of Design MA Thesis Portal for further resources and information for developing your thesis.

    If you have read the instructions and are prepared to outline your preliminary plan for your master's thesis, proceed with the guidelines provided under PRE-THESIS: THESIS PLAN PROPOSAL.