Destination: Doctorate
Are you wondering how to complete your doctoral studies? Do you feel that you need more support for progressing with your thesis, or have you been away from your studies for awhile?
Destination: Doctorate -activities are designed to help you with setting clear goals and reaching them, getting back on track, finishing your studies, boosting your motivation and improving your work practices and time management.
The sessions are a good place to meet other doctoral students!
Theme sessions
The sessions are separate from each other, so you can choose to attend all of them or just pick the most interesting ones. Each session consists of short lectures as well as practical tasks related to progressing your thesis and studies. You can either participate on campus or remotely via Zoom.
Destination: doctorate - How to get there?, 29 Jan 2025
When: Wed 29.1.2025 14.15-15.45
Where: U358, Otakaari 1
Speaker: PhD, Planning officer Päivi Väätänen, Doctoral education services
Other facilitators: Planning officer Tiina Kotti, Planning officer Suvipilvi Kotipelto, Trainee Aini Simola, Doctoral education services
Topics:
- Introduction to Destination: Doctorate (theme sessions and group activities)
- Agreeing on house rules
- Phases of doctoral thesis journey and how to plan them
- Other resources and help available
- Setting your goals
Managing your time, 19 Feb 2025
When: Wed 19.2.2025 14.15-15.45
Where: Top Lounge U523, Otakaari 1
Speaker: PhD, Planning officer Päivi Väätänen, Doctoral education services
Other facilitators: Doctoral education services
Topics:
- Time management tools and strategies
- Making time for thesis work
-
Keeping up a balance between thesis work and free time
Motivation, 13 March 2025
When: Thu 13.3.2025 14.15-15.45
Where: U406b, Otakaari 1
Speakers: Study psychologist Mikko Inkinen & Career counseling psychologist Seija Leppänen, Learning Services
Other facilitators: Doctoral education services
Topics:
- Introducing the nature of motivation
- Identity process as a source of motivation
-
Solutions to build motivation
Getting Things Done, 2 April 2025
When: Wed 2.4.2025 14.15-15.45
Where: Top Lounge U523, Otakaari 1
Speaker: Study psychologist Sanni Saarimäki, Learning Services
Other facilitators: Doctoral education services
Topics:
- Focus and concentration challenges & tools for enhancing focus
- Recognizing and overcoming procrastination
-
Getting things done – sustainably!
Thesis work, communication and benefitting from feedback, 29 April 2025
When: Tue 29.4.2025 14.15-15.45
Where: Top Lounge U523, Otakaari 1
Speakers:
Lecturer Suvi-Tuuli Murumäki, Language Centre
Doctoral student Canan Keles Kol, School of Business
Other facilitators: Doctoral education services
Topics:
- What kind of communication skills does a doctoral student need?
- How can one develop their own communication skills and communication confidence?
- An example of communication skills: how to give and receive feedback skillfully and ethically?
- A peek into the Language Center's communication and interaction courses
- Doctoral student's viewpoint on preparing for supervision/thesis advisor meetings and benefitting from feedback
Additional material in Finnish:
Your next steps, 21 May 2025
When: Wed 21.5.2025 14.15-15.45
Where: Top Lounge U523, Otakaari 1
Speakers & facilitators:
PhD, Planning officer Päivi Väätänen, Doctoral education services
Planning officer Tiina Kotti, Doctoral education services
Topics:
- Recap of useful practices & suggestions
- Toolbox of resources for future use
- Tools for planning your next steps
- Time to work on your personal plan for next steps
- Feedback for Destination: Doctorate
Attending remotely via Zoom
Please login to see the Zoom-link:
Presentation slides
Login to see the presentation slides from theme sessions (uploaded after each session).
Group activities
Pre-registered students have received invitation by email to join group activities. The groups meet on Wednesdays and there are both on campus and online groups. If you are interested in group activities, you can contact us via udes@aalto.fi.
More help
You can find all our webpages with an abundance of information at Doctoral education hub and at Doctoral page index.
See also:
Useful links
Meet other doctoral students
Contact us
Destination: Doctorate is coordinated by Planning officer Päivi Väätänen, Planning officer Tiina Kotti, Planning officer Suvipilvi Kotipelto and Trainee Aini Simola.
You can contact us by email: udes@aalto.fi.
If you need help with practical administrative issues such as approval of Doctoral personal study plan (DPSP), using Sisu, changes related to thesis / supervision, pre-examination etc. please contact the Doctoral education services of your Doctoral programme.