Paula Koistinen and Mika Alavaikko
Key principle:
An earlier thesis written for a prior degree cannot be completely recognised as the thesis required for current degree studies, but in some cases, an earlier thesis may be made use of in the drafting of a new one. Agree with your study advisor how this might take place, and also follow the principles listed below.
You may make use of your earlier thesis if:
- your earlier thesis is no older than ten years
- your earlier thesis deals with the same field or a very similar field
- for the part that you wish to have recognised, your earlier thesis fulfils the competence criteria required in current educational standards.
Of your earlier thesis, you may reuse: the sections on the theory and/or methodology, or you may reuse the entire thesis.
Subject and form of thesis:
The decision regarding the reuse of an earlier thesis in the processing of a new one is always made at the student's initiative. Proceed as follows:
- Summarise (4–5 pages) your earlier thesis: subject, theory, methods, data, key results.
- Describe the competences you acquired through the earlier thesis process.
- Put together a proposal of your new thesis and justify it by explaining what new competences you will acquire through this new thesis process.
- Your proposal must make it clear which parts (concepts, methods, etc.) of your earlier thesis you intend to reuse.
- Your proposal must explain the main contents of the new parts.
- Appending your earlier thesis, submit your proposal to the instructor responsible for thesis work, or to your study advisor.
The instructor or advisor will take the documents to the teacher who supervises your thesis work.
The supervisor of your thesis will approve or reject your proposal.
Schedule:
- Submit the proposal of your new thesis within one month after you begin your studies if you intend to start working on your thesis right away; otherwise, submit the proposal by the end of the semester prior to the semester during which you intend to start working on your thesis.
New thesis:
- The new thesis must form an independent whole, but parts of it may be taken from an earlier thesis.
- There are options for the new thesis: product, development task, article.
- The extent of your studies is 7 – 8 ECTS, but the thesis is recorded in Wilma as providing 15 ECTS.
Participation in teaching and guidance:
- You must participate in thesis guidance sessions, in which you present your work.
- You have the opportunity to take part in Finnish classes and computer skills classes.
- In addition, you must participate in a thesis publication seminar to present your thesis after it has undergone the preliminary inspection.
Assessment of thesis:
- Your thesis will be assessed in accordance with Diak's bachelor's level degree assessment criteria, as applicable.
- Only the new elements are assessed.
Publication of thesis:
- The thesis will not be made available in the national thesis database Theseus.
- You may propose that your articles be published in professional magazines and in Diak's publications.
