Sibelius Academy Third-Cycle Degree Guidelines 10.12.2021

Published 16.12.2024 | Updated 16.12.2024

This Dean´s decision 10 December 2021 replaces the Sibelius Academy’s third-cycle degree guidelines (8 October 2020).

1 General provisions

1.1. General provisions and regulations for third-cycle degrees

In addition to this decision, third-cycle degrees are provided in accordance with the provisions and regulations of:

the Universities Act 558/2009 and amendments thereto,
the Government Decree on University Degrees 794/2004 and amendments thereto (hereinafter the Degrees Decree),
other university regulations; and
The Uniarts Helsinki University Regulations and Education Regulations.

1.2. Other guidelines for third-cycle degrees

Doctoral schools provide more detailed instructions for doctoral students, supervisors, panels, pre-examiners and examiners, and these can be found in the Sibelius Academy Guide for Doctoral Studies.

1.3. Third-cycle degrees at the Sibelius Academy

The Sibelius Academy offers third-cycle artistic degrees leading to doctorates and licentiate degrees in music through its arts study programme and applied study programme as well as third-cycle scientific degrees through its research study programme and applied study programme. The primary qualification on offer is a doctorate. The studies must form a cohesive whole that appropriately promotes the student’s development.

The general objective of doctoral education at the Sibelius Academy is to produce music sector experts capable of high-level creative and critical work and who operate in demanding art, research, development and educational positions. Doctors of Music graduating from the Sibelius Academy act as societal influencers promoting an ethically sustainable future.

1.4. Study guidance

Every student selected for doctoral education has the right to receive guidance. The head of the doctoral school appoints the supervisor-in-charge (OVO, opintojen vastuullinen ohjaaja). In addition, guidance is provided by the supervisor or supervisors of the written component or dissertation as well as other separately-agreed supervisors. The tasks of the OVO and other supervisors are described in more detail in the Sibelius Academy Guide for Doctoral Studies.

The head of the doctoral school appoints the supervisor(s) for a written component. The supervisors must be professors or doctoral degree holders and sufficiently knowledgeable with the field of study and the student’s third-cycle degree.

The head of the doctoral school appoints the supervisor(s) for a dissertation. They must have a doctorate and be sufficiently knowledgeable in the field of the dissertation research.

In the applied study programme, the head of the doctoral school also assigns the student a supervisory group, chaired by the OVO, which consists of experts from the areas covered by the development project. A supervisory group can also be assigned for a student in the research arts study programme.

The student makes a written guidance agreement with their supervisors.

1.5. Publicity of demonstration of proficiency

A doctoral demonstration of proficiency must be published either as a whole (such as a monograph dissertation) or in separate sections (such as separate concerts, recordings, musical scores or articles). A demonstration of proficiency for a licentiate degree is also public. When publishing, the goal is that the demonstration of proficiency be easily accessible to the general public. The nature and degree of publicity are determined by the nature of the demonstration of proficiency and of the artistic field in question. The definition of publicity in this case follows the same criteria that are applied to defining publicity for the products of other artistic and scientific activities at the university.

1.6. Separate right to study for students preparing a third-cycle degree plan

In the application process, the head of the doctoral school may offer the applicant the opportunity to become a student preparing a third-cycle degree plan if their study plan is promising in essence but the student currently does not meet the requirements to accomplish third-cycle studies. The separate study right of a student preparing a third-cycle degree plan is granted for one year at a time. The preparing student is entitled to participate in group instruction provided by the doctoral schools of the Sibelius Academy. Preparing students cannot join the Student Union.

2 Student admissions

2.1. Eligibility

Eligibility for a third-cycle degree is determined based on section 37 of the Universities Act (558/2009) and the applicant’s ability to complete the required third-cycle studies, as assessed by the university.

The third-cycle degree to be studied must meet the objectives set out in section 21 of the Degrees Decree (794/2004).

2.2. Admission

Based on their application, the student may:

receive the right to study in a programme that leads to a doctorate,
receive the opportunity to become a student preparing a third-cycle degree plan, or
have their application rejected.

As regards degree programmes, the third-cycle degree plan is approved by the Division for Doctoral Education and Research on the basis of an application for doctoral studies and the statements for it, once the relevant doctoral school has been consulted. After this, the Division for Doctoral Education and Research makes a proposal to the dean to accept the applicant as a student and to place them in a doctoral school. The dean then make the final decision.

In the case of a student preparing a degree plan, the decision is made by the head of the doctoral school on the basis of the application and the expert panel’s assessment.

An application for doctoral studies must include either:

a doctoral degree plan for the demonstration of proficiency in arts study programme or
a research plan in research study programme or
a project plan which makes clear whether the aim is an artistic or scientific degree in applied study programme.

The application must also contain at least the following information:

an explanation of previous qualifications and studies and other factors which the applicant sees as relevant for their eligibility for further studies,
a plan of the content, scope and timing of supplementary studies that support the third-cycle degree.

Any doctoral student having their demonstration of proficiency assessed jointly must have a section that can be assessed independently.

More detailed information on applying for doctoral studies and application documents can be found on the website of the Doctoral Programme in Music.

2.3. Expert panels

The task of the expert panel is to assess the applicant’s ability to complete third-cycle studies in the arts, research or applied study programme. The Academy Board at the Sibelius Academy appoints expert panels for the arts, research or applied study programmes for a term of three academic years.

Members of expert panels for the arts study programme must be either professors or other experts at the Sibelius Academy. Members of expert panels for the research and applied study programme must be either professors at the Sibelius Academy or holders of doctorates who are part of the teaching and research staff. The chair of the expert panel may, where appropriate, appoint sectoral experts to broaden the panel’s expertise.

The qualifications of applicants to the arts study programme are assessed based on the application documents, an artistic level test and an optional interview and material test. The qualifications of applicants to the research study programme are assessed on the basis of the research plan, other application documents and an optional interview. The qualifications of applicants to the applied study programme are assessed on the basis of the project plan, other application documents and an optional interview.

The chairs of the artistic expert panels form a joint panel of the arts study programme which assesses all applicants for the arts study programme in relation to one other across the boundaries of doctoral schools and departments. These assessments make use of the assessment of the expert panel, the application documents, and any assessments made based on an interview or material test.

The meeting of the chairs of the joint panel of the arts study programme, the research study programme panel and the applied study programme panel together with the vice dean for doctoral education and research compile together the proposals for doctoral students and issue a statement to the Division for Doctoral Education and Research.

3 Scope, objectives and content of studies

3.1. General

The overall scope of a doctoral degree is 240 credits. It consists of a demonstration of proficiency worth 165 credits and supplementary studies worth 75 credits. The overall scope of a licenciate degree is 150 credits. It consists of a demonstration of proficiency worth 75 credits and supplementary studies worth 75 credits. Supplementary studies must cover the following areas of competence:

Competence in the field of art
Principles and methods of research
Research communication
Working life skills

The programmes have been designed in such a way that a doctorate can be completed by studying full-time for four years and a licentiate degree for 2.5 years from the point of receiving the right to study for a third-cycle degree.

If the student has completed a licentiate degree in music before applying for a doctorate in music, the demonstration of proficiency included in the licentiate degree as well as other studies, either fully or in part, may be included in the doctorate if they form an appropriate thematic and temporal whole in combination with the demonstration of proficiency to be included in the doctoral studies.

Where there is a particularly justified reason for doing so, a demonstration of proficiency may contain sections published before the approval of the plan, provided that they form an appropriate thematic and temporal whole together with the planned demonstration of proficiency.

Studies completed before the start of doctoral studies can, at the discretion of the supervisor-in-charge, be accredited for a doctorate if they support the achievement of the objectives of the doctoral studies. However, doctoral studies do not include additional studies prescribed by the university (bridging studies) which the student must complete in order to acquire the right to study for a doctorate.

3.2. Objectives and content of studies for the arts study programme

In the arts study programme, the primary focus of the third-cycle studies is on independent and thematically-coherent artistic and research work combined with supplementary studies.

The specific objectives of the arts study programme are to develop the student’s skills and capacity for

artistically high-quality and visionary expression,
conceptually clear knowledge production,
producing new knowledge through methods of art and research,
engaging in constructive interaction with the art community, the academic world and the society at large.

3.2.1. Doctorate

In the arts study programme, the demonstration of proficiency for a doctorate is a thematically consistent, artistic research work consisting of artistic components and a written component.

The artistic components of the demonstration of proficiency may be for example concerts, compositions, artistic productions, liturgies, recordings, online materials or videos. The total scope of the components for a doctorate corresponds to between two and four concert programmes or other artistic entities.
The demonstration of proficiency also includes a written component which may consist of either a monograph-format thesis or at least one peer-reviewed research article. The written component may also be multimedia in form. The written component forms a coherent research project when taken together with the other components of the demonstration of proficiency.
- The written component also contains a summary which provides a report of the goals and framework of the complete demonstration of proficiency, the functions of its components and how they interrelate, along with a review of the results and a discussion of the significance of these results. If the written component is a monograph, the contents of the summary are included in the monograph. If the written component is in article form, the summary is a report separate to the written component, unless the description is included in one of the articles.

The supplementary studies included in the degree support the demonstration of proficiency and its process, as well as the doctoral student’s development both overall and as an artist and researcher. They are agreed with the supervisor-in-charge in such a way that they meet the competence requirements set for the degree. In addition to the common competence areas, the competence objectives for supplementary studies include optional competence objectives.

Recordings or articles published prior to approval of the study plan may be included in the demonstration of proficiency, but they must not comprise more than half of the total scope of the demonstration of proficiency.

3.2.2. Licentiate degree

In the arts study programme, it is possible to obtain a licentiate degree as an intermediate degree. The demonstration of proficiency for this is a thematically consistent, artistic research project consisting of artistic components and a written component.

The total scope of the demonstration of proficiency for a licentiate degree is slightly less than half of that of a doctorate. However, the demonstration of proficiency must include at least one peer-reviewed article or monograph together with a summary.
In other respects, the scope, structure and content of the demonstration of proficiency for a licentiate degree is subject to the same regulations as for doctorates.

The supplementary studies for a licentiate degree are completed in accordance with the regulations for doctorates.

3.3. Objectives and content of studies for the research study programme

In the research study programme, the primary focus of studies is on scientific research and supplementary studies that strengthen research competence. The demonstration of proficiency is a dissertation.

The specific objectives of the research study programme are to develop the student’s skills and capacity for

producing high quality knowledge,
interacting with the academic community and wider society,
integrating into the activities of the international research community; and
strengthening the position of scientific research.

3.3.1. Doctorate

For the research study programme, the dissertation is a coherent presentation containing new scientific knowledge which is based on the student’s own independent research in a field of research represented at the Sibelius Academy. The dissertation can be accepted as either:

a monograph, or
an article-based dissertation.

An article dissertation must contain 3–5 articles published or approved for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific publication series and that deal with the same set of problems. The researcher must be the author with main responsibility and they must be able to prove their independent contribution to the topic. The number of articles depends on the nature of the research project and the amount of work required to produce the articles. An article dissertation must also include a summary setting out the objectives, problem, method and results of the research. The study author must provide a written explanation of their contribution to co-publications when the study is submitted for pre-examination.

Articles published prior to the approval of the research plan may be accepted as part of the dissertation, but must not comprise more than two-fifths.

The supplementary studies included in the degree support the demonstration of proficiency and its process as well as the doctoral student’s development both overall and as an artist and researcher. They are agreed with the supervisor-in-charge in such a way that they meet the competence requirements set for the degree. In addition to the common competence areas, the competence objectives for supplementary studies include optional competence objectives.

3.3.2. Licentiate degree

In the research study programme, it is possible to obtain a licentiate degree as an intermediate degree. The licentiate dissertation contained therein may be accepted as either:

a monograph, or
a licentiate dissertation consisting of articles.

A dissertation composed of articles must contain 2–3 articles published or approved for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific publication series and that deal with the same set of problems. The candidate must be the author main responsibility and they must be able to prove their independent contribution to the topic. It must also include a summary setting out the objectives, problem, method and results of the research. The study author must provide a written explanation of their contribution to co-publications when the study is submitted for pre-examination.

The supplementary studies for a licentiate degree are completed in accordance with the regulations for doctorates.

3.4. Objectives and content of studies for the applied study programme

In the applied study programme, the primary focus is on becoming a specialist through carrying out a development project that builds the specialist knowledge and skills in a particular topic within the music field and the development work related to this topic.

The specific objectives of the applied study programme are to develop in the student

a high-level combination of scientific, methodological, pedagogical, artistic or technical capacities,
the ability to develop new, high-quality methods, capabilities, materials and tools,
the ability to gather, critically evaluate, apply and produce data,
the ability to work together with domestic and international actors both within their respective fields and across these boundaries, and
the ability to communicate the results of their work to different audiences.

The core content of the degree is called the development target. The demonstration of proficiency is comprised of outputs connected to the development target in such a way that is appropriate for the nature of the development target.

An applied study programme degree is either scientific or artistic.

3.4.1. Doctorate

In the applied study programme, the demonstration of proficiency for a doctorate completed as an artistic degree includes the following:

a development project, the results of which are
- immaterial (understandings, knowledge and skills, competence and abilities), and
- material (concerts, recordings, musical scores, teaching material, online material, methods, programmes, musical instruments, databases), and
a description of the testing of the results of the development project and the utilisation of the knowledge obtained, as well as a summary of the rest of the development work.

The scientific degree includes a description of the starting points of the project, the background and framework of the development process, the development and results, and the utilisation of the obtained information.

3.4.2. Licentiate degree

In the applied study programme, it is possible to obtain a licentiate degree as an intermediate degree.

The total scope of the demonstration of proficiency for a licentiate degree is slightly less than half of that of a doctorate.

In other respects, the scope, structure and content of the demonstration of proficiency for a licentiate degree is subject to the same regulations as for the corresponding doctorate.

The supplementary studies for a licentiate degree are completed in accordance with the regulations for doctorates.

3.5. Joint demonstrations of proficiency for more than one student

A joint demonstration of proficiency for two or more third-cycle students must form a coherent whole. A joint project submitted for approval must provide some benefit that is essential to the set objective and which could not be achieved through separate projects. A prerequisite for completing a joint demonstration of proficiency is a joint third-cycle degree plan approved by the Division for Doctoral Education and Research. In addition to the basic information required, the third-cycle degree plan must indicate the foundation for the joint project and the grounds for carrying out joint work. It must also identify the forms of cooperation and specify the individual contribution of each author to the work.

If the separate and already approved plans of third-cycle students develop during third-cycle studies in such a way that the work would require the preparation of a joint plan, or likewise if a joint plan needs to be divided into separate plans, the proposed change must be submitted to the Division for Doctoral Education and Research for approval. In demonstrations of proficiency carried out as joint projects, each third-cycle student completes their supplementary studies in full.

Each third-cycle student participating in the joint project must be able to demonstrate their own contribution to the demonstration of proficiency as a whole. The demonstration of proficiency must indicate the proportion of cooperation and independent work for each component. The demonstration of proficiency must also contain sufficient individual performances to enable the assessment of the level of competence of each participating student. The basic principle is that it must be possible to evaluate the demonstration of proficiency separately for each third-cycle student in such a way that it is possible to give separate grades to the different candidates.

The number of pre-examiners or examiners assigned may be greater than usual where the scope or special nature of the subject matter so requires. In the examination of the demonstration of proficiency, each author’s own knowledge of the subject must be clearly demonstrated.

3.6. Compensation for expired studies

Credits are valid for a maximum of 10 years (Section 42 of the Uniarts Helsinki Education Regulations). Therefore, all components of a demonstration of proficiency included in a degree must be published and the credits completed no more than ten years before the start of the examination process. This time period is calculated from the original date of completion to the submission date (for pre-examination) of the written component of the demonstration of proficiency, the dissertation, or the development project serving as the demonstration of proficiency for the applied study programme. The articles to be included in the written component or article dissertation must also be published no more than 10 years before the written component or dissertation is submitted for examination.

If the study attainment has expired, the student must update it in a manner agreed by the doctoral school. For supplementary studies, expired study attainments are normally replaced with other suitable studies.

If a demonstration of proficiency or part of it expires, it must be completed again in line with the separate instructions provided.

If there is a risk that studies will expire, the student must speak to their supervisor-in-charge in good time before the end of the term so that their graduation is not compromised and unnecessary additional work is avoided.

4 Changing programme or degree plan during studies

4.1. Modifying an approved plan within a study programme

If the student wants to substantially change an approved plan, they negotiate the changes with the supervisor-in-charge and inform the artistic pre-examiner and assessment panel of the changes. If the approved plan changes so that the assessment procedure must be changed, the student must apply for approval from the Division for Doctoral Education and Research. The application must be accompanied by a statement from the supervisor-in-charge.

4.2. Changing study programme

If a student wants to move from one programme to another, they must submit a new plan for approval by the Division for Doctoral Education and Research. The plan must also include a new proposal for supplementary studies. In other respects, this process is subject to the provisions of Section 2 above concerning applications for a right to study.

4.3. Applying for doctoral studies following a licentiate degree

If, during the application process, the student has obtained the right to study for a licentiate degree but not for a doctorate, they may apply for the right to study for a doctorate after completing the licentiate degree. The application and the doctorate plan are submitted to the Division for Doctoral Education and Research, which, on the basis of the application for doctoral studies and the statement of the expert panel and after consulting the doctoral school, decides on the approval of the plan and makes a proposal to the Dean on the placement of the student in a doctoral school.

4.4. Presenting the demonstration of proficiency for a licentiate degree as the demonstration of proficiency for a doctorate

A student who has obtained a licentiate degree may request from the Division for Doctoral Education and Research that a licentiate degree that has progressed to the examination stage be directly accepted for assessment as the demonstration of proficiency for a doctorate, provided that the examiners of the work and the supervisor-in-charge unanimously support this. Based on the statements received, the Division for Doctoral Education and Research decides on any changes to the assessment process. The student must be given the opportunity to make a note about the examiners. In addition, the student must be given the opportunity to give a written response to the statements addressed to the Division for Doctoral Education and Research concerning their demonstration of proficiency. In accordance with the appeals procedure, such notes must be submitted within 14 days of when the student was notified of the statement.

5 Pre-examination of demonstrations of proficiency

The demonstrations of proficiency for doctorates are pre-examined and examined. In the arts study programme, the artistic components of the demonstration of proficiency are pre-assessed and the written component pre-examined. In the research study programme, the examination of the dissertation is preceded by a pre-examination. In the applied study programme, any concerts held or other parts of the demonstration of proficiency are pre-examined and examined.

The provisions of Section 28 of the Administrative Procedure Act (434/2003) are applied in relation to the incapacity of a pre-examiner for a dissertation, licentiate thesis or corresponding demonstrations of proficiency.

The doctoral school provides more detailed instructions on the pre-examination. They can be found in the Sibelius Academy Guide for Doctoral Studies.

5.1. Pre-examination of the artistic component in the arts study programme and applied study programme

The artistic component is pre-examined. The pre-examination is an ex-ante assessment in which the pre-examiner appointed by the Academy Board at the Sibelius Academy assesses the ability of the doctoral student to execute the component. The pre-examiner assesses whether the component is ready for public presentation and for the assessment of the assessment panel. The pre-examiner must have sufficient artistic and research expertise.

The pre-examination may be carried out in an appropriate seminar in which the pre-examiner can take into account in their assessment the peer feedback presented.

Students register for the artistic component by filling in the registration form. In the arts study programme, this is accompanied by a linking paper in which the student explains the objectives of the artistic component and its relation to the demonstration of proficiency as a whole.

The pre-examiner confirms the pre-examination by signing either an approving pre-examination statement or registration form. If the pre-examiner does not give their approval, they must describe in the form or statement the reasons for the rejection and the possible date of the new pre-examination. If the student receives a negative pre-examination statement, the student has a week to make an appeal, if desired, to the assessment panel (see 6.1), which may then choose to issue a permission to execute the component. As a general rule, the panel cannot assess the performance without the approval of the pre-examiner.

5.2. Pre-examination of the written component, dissertation or development project and summary

The purpose of the pre-examination is to ensure that the material intended as a demonstration of proficiency meets the formal requirements and that its level is sufficient.

The Academy Board at the Sibelius Academy appoints the preliminary examiners for the written component (arts study programme), the dissertation (research study programme) and the development project and its summary (applied study programme) as well as the language examiners. There must be at least two pre-examiners and they must be sufficiently familiar with the field for the demonstration of proficiency in question. At least one of them must have a doctorate. For pre-examiners examining the demonstrations of proficiency for the research study programme and scientific demonstrations of proficiency for the applied study programme, however, all must have a doctorate.

The possible pre-examiner candidates are discussed within the doctoral school, and brief grounds of the expertise and suitability of those chosen must be provided to support the selection. The proposed selection of pre-examiners is written up by the supervisor-in-charge in cooperation with the other supervisors concerned. The student must be given the opportunity to make a note about the pre-examiners.

The pre-examiners prepare a written, reasoned statement and submit it to the Academy Board at the Sibelius Academy within three months. The student must be given the opportunity to give a written response to the Academy Board at the Sibelius Academy about the statements of the pre-examiners.

If the statement of the pre-examiner does not support the granting of an examination permit due to deficiencies in the work, the pre-examination procedure shall expire without a separate decision. However, the student can bring the matter to the Academy Board at the Sibelius Academy, who will decide whether the examination process continues or expires. The appeal must be made within 14 days of being notified in writing of the decision in question.

After the pre-examination procedure has expired, the student may request a new pre-examination when the demonstration of proficiency has been modified on the basis of the rejection statements and the supervisor-in-charge is in favour of initiating the pre-examination procedure. However, the possible expiration of studies is still calculated from the date when the demonstration of proficiency was first submitted for examination.

6 Examination of demonstrations of proficiency

6.1. Assessment of demonstrations of proficiency in the arts study programme

6.1.1. Assessment panel

The demonstrations of proficiency in the arts study programme are examined as a whole. The Academy Board at the Sibelius Academy appoints an assessment panel composed of at least three members, with one of these members appointed as panel chair.

The composition of the panel is prepared at the doctoral school. The panel must have sufficient artistic and research expertise. The panel must have at least one member from outside the University of the Arts Helsinki. At least one member must be a permanent staff member of Uniarts Helsinki. As a rule, the person appointed as supervisor for the demonstration of proficiency cannot serve as a member of the assessment panel. Section 28–30 of the Administrative Procedure Act (434/2003) governs the incapacity of a member of the assessment panel.

Additional members may be appointed to the assessment panel upon the proposal of the student, supervisor-in-charge, head of the doctoral school, professor responsible for doctoral studies or member of the assessment panel and pending on the support of the supervisor-in-charge and director or professor responsible for doctoral studies. The Academy Board at the Sibelius Academy appoints additional members.

The head of the doctoral school may, on the proposal of the assessment panel, designate experts to be invited into the assessment panel who can provide oral and written feedback for individual components.

Before the assessment panel is confirmed, the student has the opportunity to comment on its composition.

6.1.2. Assessing components

The assessment panel assesses the components of the demonstration of proficiency as a whole.

All artistic components are stored or recorded. The doctoral school is responsible for storing and recording the artistic component. The student is responsible for carrying out the artistic component.

The student receives from the assessment panel oral and written feedback for each artistic component, and this feedback serves to support the demonstration of proficiency process and the student’s learning within it. The written feedback also supports the assessment of the demonstration of proficiency as a whole.

The assessment panel evaluates the demonstration of proficiency as a whole in relation to the objectives of the degree and the demonstration of proficiency. The assessment criteria are uniformly focused on the whole demonstration of proficiency and all its components.

The assessment panel provides the Academy Board at the Sibelius Academy with a statement on the demonstration of proficiency, which is needed for issuing the examination permit. This statement is based on the panel’s assessment of the demonstration of proficiency as a whole, which also takes into account the pre-examination statements for the written component.

The demonstration of proficiency is examined at a public examination.

The tasks of the chair and members of the assessment panel are specified in more detail in separate instructions which can be found in the Sibelius Academy Guide for Doctoral Studies.

6.2. Granting an examination permit

The Sibelius Academy Academy Board grants an examination permit for a demonstration of proficiency. The supplementary studies included in the degree must be completed and registered before an examination permit is issued.

In the arts study programme, the examination permit is issued on the basis of the relevant statement made by the assessment panel and the statement of the language examiner. In the research study programme and applied study programme, the examination permit is granted on the basis of the statements of the pre-examiners and the language examiner.

At the same time as granting the examination permit, the Academy Board appoints the following examiners: the opponent or opponents (research study programme), the examiner or examiners of the development project and its summary (applied study programme), and the members appointed separately to the applied study programme grading panel. For the research study programme and scientific applied study programme, these persons must have a doctorate and be sufficiently familiar with the field of the demonstration of proficiency in question. For the artistic applied study programme, they must have sufficient artistic and research expertise and at least one of them must have a doctorate. The members of the assessment panel serve as the examiners of a demonstration of proficiency for the arts study programme. The Academy Board also appoints a custos for the public examination.

The provisions concerning the incapacity of the examiner and opponent for a dissertation, licentiate thesis or corresponding demonstration of proficiency are laid down in Sections 28–30 of the Administrative Procedure Act (434/2003).

The student must be given the opportunity to make a note about the examiner(s) and the custos. In accordance with the appeals procedure, such notes must be submitted within 14 days of when the student was notified of the decision.

6.3. Public examination

The public examination involves examination of the demonstration of proficiency (arts study programme), dissertation (research study programme), or development project and its summary (applied study programme).

After the public examination, the examiners give a written, signed statement on the demonstration of proficiency to the Division for Doctoral Education and Research within one month of the examination event. The statement also takes into account the examination event itself and gives a proposal for the acceptance and grading of the demonstration of proficiency or its rejection. The proposed grade may be either ‘pass’ or, where it undoubtedly meets specific standards of excellence, as ‘pass with distinction’. The grade proposal is made under the direction of the custos.

For the arts study programme, the statement is given by the assessment panel. For the research study programme, the statement is given by the opponent(s) either together or separately. For the applied study programme, the writing of the statement must comply with the relevant parts of the instructions for statements within the arts study programme and the research study programme.

The student must be given the opportunity to make a note about the statement(s). In accordance with the appeals procedure, such notes must be submitted within 14 days of when the student was notified of the statement.

6.4. Approving demonstrations of proficiency and determining the grade

The Division for Doctoral Education and Research approves the demonstration of proficiency and decides on the grade based on the statements submitted. When handling the matter, the department may request a hearing from the custos of the examination or the examiners or opponents of the demonstration of proficiency.

6.5. Rejection of demonstrations of proficiency

Any request for rejection of a demonstration of proficiency must be made in writing and must specify the grounds for the request. Where the Division for Doctoral Education and Research decides to reject a demonstration of proficiency on the basis of the statements and other written observations of the examiners or opponents, it may request a hearing from the custos of the examination session or the examiners or opponents. The Division for Doctoral Education and Research may also invite an expert who is not a member of the division to serve as an assisting member with the right to speak.

A student who is dissatisfied with the assessment of their demonstration of proficiency may submit a written appeal to the Division for Doctoral Education and Research. A student who is dissatisfied with a decision made on a written appeal may bring the matter to the Academic Appeals Board of Uniarts Helsinki. The written appeal must be made within 14 days of being notified of the decision in question.

6.6. Assessment of demonstrations of proficiency for licentiate degrees

The Academy Board at the Sibelius Academy assigns an examiner or examiners for a demonstration of proficiency intended for a licentiate degree. For the arts study programme, the members of the assessment panel serve as the examiners. In addition, the Academy Board at the Sibelius Academy assigns a language examiner for the work. The examiners submit their statements to the Division for Doctoral Education and Research within two months.

The examination of a licentiate degree demonstration of proficiency does not include a public examination session, but such an event can be arranged, for example, as part of a seminar. In such cases, the examination for the corresponding doctoral degree is followed as a model where applicable.

With the exception of the language examiner, the reasoned statements of examiners should indicate whether the work is to be rejected, approved or approved with merit. A grade of ‘pass with distinction’ may be proposed for a demonstration of proficiency when it undoubtedly meets specific standards of excellence. On the basis of the statements received, the Division for Doctoral Education and Research makes a decision on the grade.

7 Publication of demonstrations of proficiency

Doctoral demonstrations of proficiency are public (see 1.5). This therefore applies to any written component, dissertation or a development project and summary that is part of a demonstration of proficiency. In addition to electronic publication, they may also be published in printed form.

The publication of a written component, dissertation, or demonstration of proficiency for the applied study programme is agreed upon with the Sibelius Academy through a written agreement.

The student is responsible for handling publishing permissions for the articles included in their demonstration of proficiency as part of their demonstration of proficiency.

7.1. Publication and public display

The permission of the Academy Board at the Sibelius Academy for the organisation of a public examination of a doctorate is also a publication permit for the dissertation, written component or applied study programme demonstration of proficiency.

The student is responsible for publishing publications related to their demonstration of proficiency and for the public display of publications or similar works (public display of the thesis 10 days before the examination event) once the Academy Board at the Sibelius Academy has given permission to hold the public examination. The student is responsible for handling the layout of the publication after the publication permission has been granted. The student is also responsible for ensuring that the work’s outer appearance complies with the publication criteria. These instructions can be found in the Sibelius Academy Guide for Doctoral Studies.

The ready version is sent as a pdf file to the doctoral school, whose representative checks the lay out (not the content) as the representative of the publisher. The student is responsible for checking the pdf-format proof and then granting printing permission.

If the demonstration of proficiency, in full or in part, is published only in electronic format, the student is responsible for delivering the pdf-format work and any other digital materials to the library at least 20 days before the doctoral examination event. The library ensures that any electronically published written component, dissertation or report is publicly available in the electronic repository Taju of Uniarts Helsinki at least 10 days before the doctoral examination event.

If the work is published in printed form, the doctoral school sends the publication, if needed, to the printing house. The publications are delivered from the printing house to the doctoral school office and (3 copies) directly to the library in M-building, one of which is put on public display at least 10 days before the examination. The student sends the printed publication for distribution at least to the following recipients:

One (1) copy for each of the following (depending on the degree type):
- examiners of demonstration of proficiency (assessment panel, opponents)
- supervisory group members
- custos of the public examination

8 Obtaining a degree certificate

The regulations on obtaining a degree certificate and university degree are specified in section 44 of the Education Regulations. Students must be enrolled as present when they submit their demonstration of proficiency for examination. The student must register as either present or absent for the semester when the degree is awarded.

9 Entry into force

This decision enters into force on 10 December 2021 and applies to all students who have commenced their studies on or after 1 January 2021. For students who started their studies at an earlier date, this decision applies in accordance with the separately issued transitional provision. The transitional provision is included as an appendix to this decision.

Transitional provision for doctoral studies at the Sibelius Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki

Handling of the decision:

Prepared by working group members Kristiina Ilmonen, Sirpa Järvelä, Markus Kuikka, Tuire Kuusi, Juha Ojala, Saijaleena Rantanen, Hannu Tolvanen, Anu Vehviläinen, Henri Wegelius

Division for Research and Doctoral Education 16 November 2021 (preparation)

Discussion between Sanna Kotajärvi-Söderström, Titti Luukkainen and Juha Ojala on 15 November 2021

Academy Board at the Sibelius Academy 29 November 2021 (hearing)

The doctoral education of the Sibelius Academy of the Uniarts Helsinki is transitioning towards implementing studies in line with the new third-cycle degree guidelines. The new scalable model for the arts study programme which is included in this was already in place in the selection of doctoral students in spring 2021 (Academy Board at the Sibelius Academy 2 November 2020), and the temporary assessment model related to the reform of demonstrations of proficiency was approved in autumn 2021 (Academy Board at the Sibelius Academy 16 September 2021).

The amendments to the third-cycle degree guidelines concern in particular the structure and assessment of demonstrations of proficiency for the arts study programme. In terms of structure, the transition is from a project consisting of five concerts and a thesis to a flexible and scalable project in which the demonstration of proficiency consists of 2–4 artistic components and a written component, with the scope of the demonstration of proficiency remaining at 165 credits. The procedure involved in the assessment has been that the five-member assessment panel evaluating the artistic attainments assesses and then approves or rejects the concerts one by one, and that the thesis is pre-examined and then examined at a public examination. Regarding the assessment, the assessment will change to a procedure where at least three members will evaluate the demonstration of proficiency as a whole – meaning the artistic components and written component (taking into account the statements of its pre-examiners) – and give a grade proposal in its statement (also taking into account the examination session) to the Division for Doctoral Education and Research. The new third-cycle degree guidelines do not affect the structure or assessment of the applied study programme and research study programme.

This transitional provision ensures that students who have been admitted for doctoral studies before 1 January 2021 can smoothly complete their degree despite the changes that have been made. The transition period here refers to the period during which a student may graduate as a Doctor of Music or Licenciate of Music, even if their demonstration of proficiency differs from the new third-cycle degree guidelines. The transitional period extends from 10 December 2021 to 31 May 2028. If a student wishes to graduate as a doctor or licenciate of music through a demonstration of proficiency complying with the third-cycle degree guidelines that were valid up until 10 December 2021 or through a combination of this and the new guidelines (see below), they must graduate by 31 July 2028. Starting from 1 August 2028, the new third-cycle degree guidelines apply to all students regardless of when their studies began.

All students who have been approved to complete a doctorate in music or a licenciate degree in music through the research study programme or the applied study programme as well as all students who have been approved for the arts study programme on or after 1 January 2021 now switch to studying in accordance with the new third-cycle degree guidelines.

During the transition period, students admitted before 1 January 2021 to the arts study programme to complete a doctorate or licentiate degree can switch to studying in accordance with the new third-cycle degree guidelines as follows:

either entirely in accordance with the new third-cycle degree guidelines, or
according to the new third-cycle degree guidelines in most respects but maintaining with regard to the demonstration of proficiency the structure of five concerts or other similar artistic works in accordance with the third-cycle degree guidelines in force up to this point; or
according to the new third-cycle degree guidelines in most respects but maintaining with regard to the demonstration of proficiency the assessment procedure used in the third-cycle degree guidelines in force up to this point. In this procedure, the assessment panel assesses and then approves or rejects the artistic components on a performance-by-performance basis and the written component is pre-examined separately and then examined in a public examination; or
according to the new third-cycle degree guidelines in most respects but maintaining with regard to the demonstration of proficiency the structure and assessment procedure in use in the third-cycle degree guidelines in force up to this point.

The studies are always discussed with the supervisor-in-charge, who is also the person with whom changes to the structure of the demonstration of proficiency or the assessment procedure must be agreed. The student informs the doctoral school in writing about how they will switch to studying according to the new third-cycle degree guidelines.

If a member of the five-member assessment panel is no longer able to perform their assessment role, they do not have to be replaced provided that the panel has at least three members including the chair.

This transitional provision does not affect the transitional provision for the doctoral curriculum (Academy Board at the Sibelius Academy 7 September 2020) or its validity. For students who started their studies before 2011 and are studying an old-form degree, this transitional curriculum provision (7 September 2020) states that it is possible to complete an old-form degree up until 31 July 2023 but no longer after this point. Any student who, according to the transitional curriculum provision (7 September 2020), switches from an old-form to a current-form degree, is subject to this transitional provision. A student who is completing an old-form degree can switch from a demonstration of proficiency comprising five concerts or similar artistic works to one comprising only four.