Instructions for opponents (School of Business)

Doctoral thesis formats

The thesis for a Doctor of Science (Economics and Business Administration) degree may be 1) a monograph or 2) a compilation of academic research papers that collectively meet the requirements of the doctoral thesis (a hybrid of what is currently officially referred to as 'article-based' and 'essay-based' thesis at Aalto University).

1. Monograph

A doctoral thesis monograph is a coherent and comprehensive piece of scholarly work that presents the doctoral student’s original research. The monograph must be authored solely by the student and based on their previously unpublished research. It may, however, refer to the student’s previous work on the same topic. A doctoral thesis monograph typically includes sections on the research problem, objectives, methodology, findings, discussion and conclusions, including an assessment of the significance of the thesis and its specific contributions to knowledge within the discipline.

2. Compilation of academic research papers

A doctoral thesis based on a compilation of academic research papers consists of three or more high-quality, published or unpublished but publishable research papers that collectively address a specific research problem, along with a comprehensive summary of the thesis (thesis summary). The thesis may include both peer reviewed articles that have been published or accepted for publication and previously unpublished manuscripts that are undergoing or ready to be submitted for academic peer review.

The number of papers required is contingent upon two factors: the papers’ academic quality and significance and the doctoral student’s independent contribution to the research presented in the papers. It is the responsibility of the supervising professor to ensure the quality of the papers before the thesis is submitted for preliminary examination.

The research papers included in the doctoral thesis should be based primarily on the doctoral student’s own previously unpublished research. At least one of the papers must be a single authored paper written by the student.

The thesis summary typically includes sections detailing the research problem, objectives, methodology, findings, discussion and conclusions, including an assessment of the significance of the thesis and its specific contributions to knowledge within the discipline.

Each paper included in the doctoral thesis will be evaluated individually to determine whether it presents new results or perspectives on the research problem and contributes meaningfully to existing research.

Co-authored papers may be included in the doctoral thesis, provided the doctoral student has made a demonstrable and independent contribution to them.

When submitting the thesis for preliminary examination, the doctoral student must provide a written statement detailing their own contributions and the contributions of their co-author(s) to the co-authored papers. Papers in which the student’s own independent contribution cannot be clearly demonstrated may not be included in the doctoral thesis.

Public defence and evaluation of the doctoral thesis

To obtain permission for the public defence of their doctoral thesis, the student must first submit the thesis manuscript for preliminary examination. The preliminary examiners will review the manuscript and provide a written, signed statement indicating whether it meets the minimum requirements for a doctoral thesis. If the examiners recommend accepting the manuscript, the student can then request permission for the public defence from the Doctoral Programme Committee of the School of Business.  Once permission has been granted, the Doctoral Programme Committee will appoint one or two opponents for the defence on the proposal of the supervising professor.

In the public defence, the thesis is then publicly examined and evaluated by the opponent(s). In examining the thesis, the opponent(s) will consider both the thesis itself and the merits demonstrated by the doctoral candidate in the public defence. On the basis of both, the opponent(s) will propose whether the thesis should be accepted or rejected. A proposal to reject the thesis must be made in writing, stating the reasons.

Statement of the opponent

The opponents are requested to submit a written statement on the thesis and the doctoral student’s performance in the public defence to the Doctoral Programme Committee of the School of Business within two weeks of the public defence. In this statement, the opponent must evaluate the scientific merits of the thesis and explicitly conclude whether they recommend that the thesis be accepted by the Doctoral Programme Committee. 

The Doctoral Programme Committee decides whether to accept or reject the doctoral thesis after receiving the written statement of the opponent(s).

Travel and accommodation expenses and payment of opponent's honorarium

An honorarium will be paid to the opponent after the doctoral programme has received the opponent's statement. The department representing the doctoral student will cover the opponent's honorarium and travel expenses, as well as handle all necessary arrangements.

Proceedings at the public examination

Read more about the proceedings at the public examination