Doctoral Programme in Fine Arts: Guidelines for supervision

Published 17.11.2022 | Updated 24.9.2024

Doctoral Studies

The minimum extent of the doctoral studies is 240 study credits (ECTS), corresponding with 4 years of full time studying. The doctoral thesis in fine arts can include art exhibitions, exhibition curating, individual artworks, artistic processes, experimental arrangements and their articulation, conceptualisation and theorisation. A doctoral thesis typically consists of one or several visual art components (a maximum total of 140 ECTS) and a written component (30-170 ECTS). In addition, the thesis must be documented and electronically archivable. The artistic components are public artistic research findings. The written component runs parallel to the visual art components and justifies the research approach and goals in relation to other research and practices within the field. On a discretionary basis the dissertation can also consist exclusively of a written study.

The doctoral thesis must demonstrate that the student has a profound understanding of his or her field and the ability to analyse, articulate and contextualise research questions critically. The research plan and the personal study plan of the student are approved in the beginning of the first year of study at the Division for doctoral studies and research and made known to the Academic council. The students comply with the approved plans. In case the topic of the research is changed, the student drafts a new research plan and consults the main supervisor and the supervising professor. The renewed research plan is accepted in the Division for doctoral studies and research.

Supervision

Each student has, besides the Supervising professor, one Main supervisor, possibly other supervisors, and, if need be, additional supervising experts. The Supervising professor discusses with the student the appointments of the Main supervisor, possible other supervisors and supervising experts. The Division for doctoral studies and research of the Academic Council of the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts approves the Main supervisor, following a proposal by the Head of Doctoral Programme. Other possible supervisors are appointed by the Head of Doctoral Programme.

The prime responsibility and function of the Main supervisor is to support the studies and strengthen the student’s awareness and knowledge of practice-based artistic research. The Main supervisor follows the development of the student’s productions, assesses the proportions and relationship between artistic production and theory, and evaluates the individual parts in relation to the research plan. The Main supervisor recommends the artistic production and theoretical parts of the doctoral thesis to be pre-examined by the Pre-examination Board. After each pre-examination process, the main supervisor together with the student goes through the pre-examiners’ written statements and their possible suggestions for improvement.

The supervisors are to comply with the regulations on disqualification of the Administrative Procedure Act, responsible conduct of scientific practices in their own field, ethical guidelines, and they are to supervise, together with the Supervising professor, their own compliance with these in their supervising activities.

The Supervising professor and the supervisors support the student in the realisation of the student’s financial plan, give advice on preparing publications, presentations and performative arrangements, as well as on creating a contact network in the scientific and artistic community.

Supervising professor

• Reviews the personal study plan of the student each year, including the plan for realising the research plan, and follows the progress of the studies and the research on a regular basis.
• Proposes granting the permission for pre-examination to the Head of Doctoral Programme.
• Runs the written part of the thesis through the plagiarism detection programme Turnitin.

Main supervisor

• One per student.
• Signs the Agreement on supervision with the student.
• Appointed during the student’s first year as an attending doctoral student. If the appointment is not made during the first year, the Supervising professor acts as a Main supervisor until one is assigned.
• Takes part in updating the research plan together with the Supervising professor if needed.
• Supervision lasts until the completion of the doctorate degree.
• Main supervisor is approved by the Division for doctoral studies and research of the Academic Council on the proposal of the Supervising professor.
• Area of supervision: the entire doctoral thesis.
• Main supervisor should have extensive experience and merits in the fields of art and/or theory.
• Recommends granting the permission for pre-examination for the parts of the doctoral thesis.
• Recommends to the Head of Doctoral Programme in Fine Arts, together with the Supervising professor, granting the permission for pre-examination of the complete doctoral thesis.

Supervisor

• In addition to the Main supervisor if needed.
• Ideally chosen during the student’s first year as an attending doctoral student.
• Signs the Agreement on Supervision with the student.
• Supervision takes place until the completion of the doctorate degree.
• Area of supervision: may cover the whole doctoral thesis or focus on one of its parts.
• Supervisor should have extensive experience and merits in the fields of art and/or theory.

Supervising expert

• A student may have several Supervising experts.
• Can be appointed at any point during the studies, based on a wish expressed by the student.
• Supervision may last through the end of studies or cover a shorter period, such as a certain part of
  the degree, or may be brought in to address a particular production or research question.
• Supervision is based on the needs of the student and the financial agreement between the
  Supervising expert and the doctoral programme.
• Area of supervision: particular technical or theoretical matters in the student’s degree that require expert guidance.

Forms of Supervision

• Regular meetings arranged at the student’s initiative; in the studio, exhibition space, etc. at least once during the academic year.
• The student will keep the supervisor updated on the progress of the artistic production parts and the public exhibitions.
• The Main supervisor shall be present at the student’s working seminars), and should also attend the public examination of the student’s doctoral thesis.
• The student requests the eventual recommendations for grant applications or statements on the permission for public examination well in advance.

Supervision commitment

• The student agrees with the supervisor on the practices and timetables of the supervision in a written Supervision commitment, and confirms them with the Supervising professor

Compensation

The payment for supervision is 50 euros per hour. The recommended amount of supervision time per supervisor should not exceed ten (10) hours a year, and additional hours are agreed separately by the Doctoral Programme in Fine Arts. The amount or supervision for each student does usually not exceed 20 hours a year.

The Doctoral Programme in Fine Arts can also when in the realms of possibility compensate the travelling costs on supervision for the supervisors on separate agreement. To receive the payments the supervisor must fill out an identity form at the first invoicing, and an official ”hour sheet” whenever new supervising sessions have occurred. These forms should always be sent to the Doctoral Studies Programme.

The Doctoral Programme in Fine Arts will send the supervisor the Supervision agreement, updated supervision guidelines, degree requirements, the student´s research plan, and forms needed for compensation.