Evaluation and graduation
This information is for doctoral students on pre-examination, defence, finalising the thesis, public display etc.
Summer digest for doctoral students
A summer digest for doctoral students covering topics like summer coursework, thesis-related processes over the summer, and electronic degree certificates from August onwards
Enrolment of doctoral students for the 2025 – 2026 academic year
The enrolment period for the 2025–2026 academic year ends on 29 August 2025. All doctoral students must enroll annually.
Have you just started your doctoral studies?
Familiarise yourself with our instructions for new doctoral studentsInformation about doctoral students' orientation daysIf you have just started as a doctoral researcher but do not yet have the right to study in the doctoral programme, see our application instructions.
Summer courses
Do you want to advance your studies and take courses in the summer?
Help with using Sisu in the summer
Check out the updated Sisu instructions for doctoral studentsSisu and DPSP clinics for doctoral students starting from 18 August 2025
Pre-examination and defence schedules over the summer
If you plan to start your pre-examination, defend your thesis or graduate before September, please check the schedules of your School’s (DPC) and the at Aalto University.
There are no DPC meetings in July. Your School's DPC decides about sending your thesis to pre-examination, granting you the permission for defence, the defence date and also about accepting your doctoral thesis. During the summer it may take several weeks after your defence before you can officially graduate. If you wish to graduate by a certain date, take care to compare your School’s DPC dates against your defence date and official graduation dates.
Electronic degree certificate
Aalto University will start issuing electronic degree certificates as of the beginning of the 2025–2026 academic year. The electronic degree certificate will replace the traditional paper degree certificate from 1 August 2025 onwards. Due to technical changes, the degrees for students graduating on the first graduation date of the academic year, 25 August 2025, will be recorded in the student information system in late September. After that, electronic degree certificates will be issued for them. In the meantime, graduates can request a temporary certificate of their degree. Students graduating in August will receive more information at that time.
More information
More information in the Doctoral education hub. You can find all our pages in the Doctoral page index.
You may contac Doctoral education services also in the summer, but please note that during the summer holiday period only some staff members are available. When the staff members of the Doctoral education services for your doctoral programme are on holiday, you may contact us at udes@aalto.fi.
Doctoral education
Everything there is to know about doctoral education for doctoral students, supervising professors and thesis advisors.
Doctoral education services
We support the whole university in matters related to doctoral studies, especially doctoral students, supervising professors, thesis advisors and doctoral programme directors.
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Teachers: Refer your students to a guidance session for information searches, bookable via MyStudies
MyStudies now gives students an easy way to book a time for a personalised guidance session on information searches.
Students: Book a personal guidance session for information searches through MyStudies
Do you want help with finding information, using source literature or starting your thesis? Library Services provides personalised guidance sessions for information searches. You can now conveniently book a guidance session through MyStudies.