ELEC Introduction to Doctoral Studies, spring 2025 (course)
ELEC Introduction to Doctoral Studies course, spring 2025, for recently admitted doctoral students
Introduction to doctoral studies in the School of Electrical Engineering
ELEC's course Introduction to Doctoral Studies, 2-3 ECTS, is organized every semester. Participation in this course is highly recommended for all doctoral students of ELEC.Â
Main topics of the course in a nutshell:
• Practical tips for doctoral journey
• Scientific writing
• Publishing and peer review process of journals
• Communications at ELEC
• Doctoral career
Warmly welcome to participate!
Course participant, 2023This course and its assignments have been a valuable learning experience
Seminars and workshops
| Aalto Orientation Days for Doctoral Students (any) | Link to Orientation event |
| Seminar 1: COMPULSORY | Kick-off : Introduction of the course, announcement of the assignments |
| Seminar 2 (optional, see below) | Career design |
| Seminar 3 COMPULSORY | Article writing and publishing, peer review, communications |
| Seminar 4 (optional, see below) | Wellbeing + Researcher’s path workshop |
| Seminar 5 COMPULSORY | Researcher’s path continues: Joy & pain of thesis work, review of the workshop results |
The seminar days consist of lectures, workshops, group work and other interactive sessions.
Attendance is required in 3-5 seminars depending on the selected option (see below). Absence on health grounds is occasionally accepted, and in this case, missing a seminar is substituted by getting familiar with the material and writing about the missed topics to the final assignment. Please inform the teachers if you are ill, preferably before the seminar.
Assignments
In addition to the compulsory seminars 1, 3 and 5, all participants need to complete 4 compulsory assignments:
- Pre-essignment (questionnaire)
- Writing on sustainabilty + AI-aided language check
- Tips for the doctoral pathway (Mastering your PhD)*
- Final assignment combining the course contents*
* the extent of this assignment varies depending on the extent of the course credits you plan to accomplish (2 or 3 credits)
You can tailor the rest of the course (seminars + assignments) based on your own needs and interests by choosing one of the following options:
Options for completion
In this option you will participate also in seminars 2 and 4.
Seminar 2 focuses on career and therefore you will make yourself an academic CV, a career plan and a lifeline analysis. In addition, you will write a pop-science pitch telling your personal story about the cutting-edge research you engage in and your skills as a professional researcher.
In seminar 4 you will work in group with your classmates and collect useful tips for wellbeing and doctoral pathway.
See content here (pdf) or in MyCourses.
In this option you will participate also in seminar 4.
In seminar 4 you will work in group with your classmates and collect useful tips for wellbeing and doctoral pathway.
In addition, your writing skills are enhanced by the journal-paper extended abstract.
See content here (pdf) or in MyCourses.
There are no extra seminars in this option. Instead, you will enhance especially your writing skills by the journal-paper extended abstract, and a pop-science pitch about your current research. In the latter you will also learn to tell your personal story about the cutting-edge research you engage in and your skills as a professional researcher.
See content here (pdf) or in MyCourses.
In this option you will participate also in seminars 2 and 4.
Seminar 2 focuses on career and therefore you will make yourself an academic CV, a career plan and a lifeline analysis. In addition, you will write a pop-science pitch telling your personal story about the cutting-edge research you engage in and your skills as a professional researcher.
In seminar 4 you will work in group with your classmates and collect useful tips for wellbeing and doctoral pathway.
In addition, your writing skills are further enhanced by the journal-paper extended abstract.
To accomplish the 3 credits, you also need to write 2 of the compulsory assignments (Mastering your PhD, final assignment) with a slightly larger extent than in the 2-credit course.
See content here (pdf) or in MyCourses.
Course participant, 2023The course provided relevant tools and resources for doctoral students
Teaching of the course
Please visit course MyCourses page for detailed information. You can search the course with code ELEC-L0902. You can also find the upcoming/ongoing course website below.
ELEC Introduction to Doctoral Studies, autumn 2025 (course)
ELEC Introduction to Doctoral Studies course, autumn 2025, for recently admitted doctoral students