SCI Master's Thesis Guide 2023-
Find a thesis topic, supervisor and advisor
1. How to find a thesis topic?
- Master's thesis is written on a topic usually related to the student's major and agreed upon between the student and a professor/university lecturer who specializes in the topic.
- On reasonable grounds, the school may also grant permission for the thesis to be written on a topic related to the minor. Please contact the responsible teacher of your major if you want to do the thesis for your minor or you find a supervisor from another school. Remember to inform your programme's study secretary/coordinator about the approval as well.
- It is student's responsibility to find a master's thesis position and topic. This may take time, and therefore it is highly recommended to start searching for the master's thesis position at the beginning of the second autumn at the latest.
2. Where to find a thesis topic?
- The thesis topics vary and they can originate either from the needs of businesses, industries or from the academic community. If your topic originates from the needs of the business, usually they want you to have an advisor from their organization. It is also possible to write the thesis on your own topic without funding, i.e. your thesis is not done in a company or university research group.
- Aalto JobTeaser has open master's thesis positions and topics available. Take also a look into and the webpages of the departments, companies and organizations.
- Thesis Fair on Wed 2.10.2024 is an event for (international) students looking for topics and organizations looking for master's thesis workers.
- Aaltodoc is a place where you can find inspiration - there are all the finished theses made by SCI students.
3. How to find a supervisor and advisor?
- The master’s thesis must have a supervisor and it may have one or two advisors. Check 2.1. Finding a supervisor.
- Supervisor: The supervisor is usually one of the professors, university lecturers, or senior university lecturers of the School of Science. The supervisor can also act as an advisor. The supervisor ensures that the thesis meets all aims and requirements set by the School of Science. After the student has returned their thesis for approval, their supervisor evaluates the thesis, writes an official statement and suggests a grade for the Degree Programme Committee. It's students responsibility to find a supervisor.
- Advisor: The advisor is usually from an organization for which the thesis is written and holds at least a master’s degree. The advisor is an expert in the field of the thesis, and they can give advice on the content and writing of a thesis. Having an advisor is mandatory. The supervisor can also be an advisor. The duties of the advisor are agreed on by the student, supervisor and advisor.
- Who can't be a supervisor nor an advisor? Neither the supervisor nor the advisor may be a relative of the student or biased in any other way.
4. What to keep in mind when looking for thesis topic, supervisor and advisor?
- According to Finnish legislation, a master's thesis is a public document and its contents cannot be confidential. Therefore, the material of the thesis must be chosen so that it does not include any information that could be classified as a business secret.
- NB! No matter where the topic is discovered, the student must find a supervisor and an advisor for the thesis and agree on starting the thesis with the faculty member in charge of the major or whose field of research best matches with the topic.
- You are allowed to change your supervisor, advisor and topic, but a new thesis topic application is then needed.
5. Other
- Funding for thesis writing
Viimeksi muutettu: maanantaina 8. huhtikuuta 2024, 14.40