Instructions for opponents (School of Science)
An approved doctoral thesis may be
- Monograph
- Article-based doctoral thesis
- Essay-based doctoral thesis
- Other work which meets corresponding scientific criteria
Evaluation of the doctoral thesis
Examination of the thesis has started with pre-examination of the thesis: two independent pre-examiners have given their statements of the thesis. Based on these statements, the permission for public defence has been granted either directly or after some minor or major corrections.
Finally the thesis is examined at a public examination/defence by the opponent(s). When examining the doctoral thesis, the opponent shall take into account the thesis in itself as well as merits shown by the candidate in the public defence. On the basis of both of these, the opponent will propose whether the thesis should be accepted or failed. A demand for failing the thesis must be made in writing and reasons must be given. After the defence the opponent gives a written statement about the thesis and the defence, please see below.
Read more about the proceedings at the public examination.
A small remuneration will be paid to the opponent after the public defence is held. The University also covers the travel and accommodation costs as a result of acting as the opponent. The departments of the School of Science will take care of these.
Written statement
The opponent(s) is (are) requested to give a 1-2 pages written statement to the school concerning the thesis and its defence as soon as possible but no later than two (2)weeks after the public defence. A filled evaluation table of Aalto University shall be attached to the statement (please see below). The final acceptance of the thesis is decided by the Doctoral Programme Committee of the School of Science based on the statements by the pre-examiners and opponent(s).
- The opponent is to clarify in their statement whether the thesis fulfills the general quality requirements set for theses giving particular attention to the general quality requirements for theses at Aalto University (presented below).
- When examining a doctoral thesis, the opponent may compare it against the standard of the theses accepted in their own university.
- The opponent is asked to include in their statement a brief evaluation of the merits shown by the thesis defender in the public defence.
- The statement shall not contain any other issues than the comments presented during the defence to which the thesis defender has had a possibility to respond.
- It is recommended that the opponent uses a letter form of their own university / company / other affiliation.
- The recommended length of the statement is 1-2 pages.
General quality requirements set for theses at Aalto University
- Novelty: The doctoral thesis contains new scientific knowledge in the field it represents.
- Presentation: The doctoral thesis presents the new results clearly and scientifically and the language of the thesis is fluent.
- Contribution: The independent contribution of the doctoral student is sufficient and clearly demonstrable.
- Scientific methods: The research methods, experimental setups, measurements, and the data presented fulfil the criteria set for scientific research.
- Research ethics: The doctoral thesis conforms to the principles of responsible conduct of research and adheres to ethically sustainable principles
In addition to giving the written statement, the opponent is asked to evaluate the thesis using the evaluation table form of Aalto University (form sent with the invitation, and also available below). The table has two parts: overall evaluation and proposal of annual thesis award.
Overall evaluation
The theses at the Aalto University, School of Science are evaluated only as pass or fail. No numerical grade is given. A demand of failing the thesis must be made in writing and reasons must be given.
Proposing annual thesis award
In the School of Science about 10% of the doctoral thesis are awarded annually. The opponent is also asked to evaluate the thesis and merits of the thesis defender regarding the criteria set for the annual thesis award.
If the thesis is of particular scientific merit, particularly significant in its field of research and has outstanding international significance, the opponent should propose it to be awarded with the annual thesis award. In this case, the thesis should be among the top 10 % of its field and fulfill the following requirements:
- the thesis has particular scientific merits
- the results are exceptionally significant in the research field
- the doctoral student has a significant independent contribution in obtaining the results
- the manner of representation is clear and the language and reference practice used are first-rate
- the thesis has been defended excellently in the public examination.