• Master’s thesis: The Master’s thesis is an independent engineering or research project completed by the student.
  • Duration: The extent of the Master’s thesis is 30 credits, equivalent of six months of full-time studies.
  • Timing: It's recommended to orientate and plan the thesis work on the autumn of the second-year studies. Writing and submitting the thesis are usually completed in the spring of the second year of master's studies. Students can also schedule the thesis process to meet their own study plan and/or goals of collaborative partnership.
    • You can start the process by applying for thesis topic approval if
      • your B.Sc. degree has been registered,
      • you are enrolled as an attending student and
      • your personal study plan (HOPS) is completed / approved in Sisu. You should have a study plan (HOPS) for the total scope of your degree (120 credits) when applying for topic approval. 
  • Completion: Independent work in cooperation with the supervisor and possible advisor(s) from the university and/or from the collaborative partner.
  • Deliverable: A MSc Thesis in a PDF/A-1a, -1b, -2a, or -2b format archived in Aaltodoc.
  • Publicity: According to Finnish legislation, a master's thesis is a public document and its contents cannot be confidential.
  • Maturity essay: Abstract of your thesis serves as maturity essay (except for IEM students - see your instruction here).
  • Thesis presentation: Thesis must be presented; details on the presentation are agreed with the supervisor. NB! IEM students complete a maturity test instead of thesis presentation. 
  • Evaluation: Master's thesis evaluation is done by your supervisor according to the evaluation guidelines. A written evaluation by your supervisor is called a statement. Statements are accepted in DPC meetings. 
  • MyStudies: System, where you apply for thesis supervisor, topic, and advisor approval at the beginning of your 6-month thesis project and where you submit your final thesis for evaluation, grading, and archiving. 
  • Sisu: System, where you request for graduation. 
  • Supervisor: The supervisor is usually one of the professors, university lecturers, or senior university lecturers at the School of Science. The supervisor can also act as an advisor. Neither the supervisor nor the advisor may be a relative of the student or biased in any other way. 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.
  • Topic: The topic is the working title of the thesis, and the final title will be asked separately before the thesis is submitted. These do not have to be identical. The most important thing is that the student and supervisor have a common understanding of the topic and the scope of the thesis. A master's thesis is part of advanced subject studies. On reasonable grounds, the school may also grant permission for the thesis to be written on a topic related to the minor.
  • Advisor: The advisor is usually from an organization for which the thesis is written and must hold at least a master’s degree (ylempi korkeakoulututkinto). Neither the supervisor nor the advisor may be a relative of the student or biased in any other way. Please make sure that the other advisor(s) meets the criteria to act as one. The advisor is an expert in the field of thesis, and they can give advice on the content and writing of a thesis. The duties of the advisor are agreed upon by the student, supervisor, and advisor. The supervisor can also act as an advisor. When you looking for a topic and advisor (e.g., from a commissioner or workplace), please note and remember to discuss with your possible advisor that, according to Finnish legislation, a master's thesis is a public document, and its contents cannot be confidential. The thesis submitted for evaluation may not contain any secret information, as information about the thesis can be retrieved from the Aaltodoc publication archive.

Last modified: Thursday, 21 November 2024, 11:31 AM