The electronic degree certificate
Electronic degree certificates
What is an electronic degree certificate?
The electronic degree certificate is an official digital document (pdf/A2) that replaces the traditional paper degree certificate. The electronic degree certificate is verified by electronic signature, so its authenticity may be easily verified.
Will a paper degree certificate available on request?
No. Students graduating on or after 1 August 2025 will only receive an electronic degree certificate. This change applies to all degree students of Aalto University.
I have graduated and received a paper degree certificate. Can I supplement or replace my paper degree certificate with an electronic one?
No. Electronically verified degree certificates are not produced retrospectively. Unfortunately, you cannot get an electronic degree certificate to supplement or replace a previously awarded paper degree certificate.
I have received a paper degree certificate but it contains an error. What type of degree certificate will I get as a replacement?
If you have received an erroneous paper degree certificate, the corrected one will also be a paper certificate. Contact your school’s Learning Services as necessary.
Transfer to electronic degree certificates
When is the deadline for submitting my request for graduation if I wish to receive a traditional paper degree certificate?
If you submit your graduation request no later than 31 July 2025, you will receive a paper degree certificate. The last certificate awarding ceremony will not be organised until later in the autumn.
Doctoral degree: the dissertation must also have been held and the dissertation approved by the Doctoral Programme Committee by 31 July 2025.
When should I submit my master’s thesis for evaluation if I want to receive a paper degree certificate?
The thesis must be submitted for evaluation no later than 31 July 2025.
When should I submit my request for graduation if I want to receive an electronic degree certificate?
You will receive an electronic degree certificate if you submit your request for graduation on or after 1 August 2025. The delivery of electronic degree certificates will begin in September 2025.
How do I request for graduation in the future?
Requests for graduation will be submitted through the Sisu system in the future, too. Remember to fill in and send the graduation request in good time to ensure a smooth graduation process. For instructions and timetables for graduation, please see your programme pages in the Student Guide.
Have students been consulted on this matter?
The matter has been discussed with the Aalto University Student Union (AYY) boards of 2023 and 2024. The discussion with the 2025 board will focus particularly on planning future graduation ceremonies, and students’ opinions will be heard. The decision-making authority is, however, the Aalto University management responsible for academic affairs.
Reliability and information security of electronic degree certificates
Why is the electronic degree certificate introduced?
The introduction of the electronic degree certificate has several advantages, as it is:
- Practical and accessible: Sharing an official electronic certificate by email or uploading it from an online location is easy, which makes it ideal for sharing with employers or other stakeholders.
- Secure: The digital signature ensures the authenticity of the certificate and prevents forgery. In addition, electronic certificates are better protected against loss or destruction than paper certificates.
- Economical and efficient: Electronic degree certificates reduce the need for processing, mailing and storing paper, which saves both time and resources, and students get their degree certificates faster.
How is an electronic degree certificate signed?
The electronic degree certificate is signed using the electronic signature provided by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV). The signature ensures the authenticity and integrity of the degree certificate.
How is an electronic degree certificate delivered?
When the certificate is available, you will be emailed a link through which you can download it. The email will be sent to both your aalto.fi address and the secondary email address you have given in Sisu. (Please make sure that the information is up to date when filling in the graduation request.) The link will remain valid for 30 days.
Where should I save my degree certificate?
You can download the degree certificate to your personal files, for example to a cloud storage, or on a computer, external hard drive or USB memory. You should save it to a location from where you can easily append it to, e.g. a job application. Save the certificate in more than one place so you have a backup copy of it. Each unmodified, saved certificate is an official degree certificate.
Is an electronic degree certificate reliable?
An electronic degree certificate is reliable, as it is considerably more difficult to forge than a paper certificate. Please note that if the certificate is altered after signing, the digital certificate, meaning the signature, will break and the degree certificate is no longer authentic. In other words, you should not open the electronic degree certificate in edit mode in Word or similar tools, because the digital certificate will break immediately.
How well is the electronic degree certificate known and recognised internationally?
Different countries have different degree certificates, both paper and electronic ones. PDF is a widely known and internationally used file format. A certified paper copy of the degree certificate may be provided upon request for a fee.
The electronic degree certificate is recognised at the EU level. Its digital certificate is compliant with the EU eIDAS regulation and it meets the requirements of a qualified electronic signature (‘QES’). The degree certificate is recognised in all EU countries.
How can you check the authenticity of the signature in an electronic degree certificate?
The degree certificate is digital and includes a digital signature certified by DVV. The recipient of the certificate may validate the authenticity the signature, e.g. through the DVV validation service .
Can you alter the electronic degree certificate or send it in parts?
The content of an electronic degree certificate cannot be altered without breaking the signature. This ensures the authenticity and integrity of the certificate. In other words, you cannot send parts of an electronic degree certificate without breaking the signature.
Do employers accept the electronic degree certificate?
The electronic degree certificate is an official document accepted by employers in the same way as a paper certificate. They can validate the authenticity of the degree certificate through the DVV's digital signature validation service.
Problems, archiving etc.
Will my electronic degree certificate be ready immediately after I have sent my graduation request?
No. The graduation request is processed in the same way as before, after which it is sent to an electronic signature service, where the dean will sign it. After that, you will receive the link for downloading your electronic degree certificate.
Will the university keep degree certificates in their records in the future?
Aalto University receives the degree certificates directly from the electronic signature service for its archives. The degree certificates are filed in accordance with the Aalto Records Management Plan.
I have lost my electronic degree certificate. How can I get a new one?
You can request a new degree certificate from the Aalto University Registry, kirjaamo@aalto.fi.
I failed to download the degree certificate within the 30-day deadline and the link expired. What should I do?
You can request a degree certificate from the Aalto University Registry, kirjaamo@aalto.fi. The new degree certificate will be sent in an encrypted email.
What if the validation of the degree certificate signature does not work?
The validation service is a national service provided by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV) and there are rarely any issues with it. If you encounter any problems with the service, you can try the validation again in a while.
Graduation ceremonies
What will future graduation ceremonies be like when no degrees are awarded at them?
The future graduation ceremonies are currently being planned. Paper-based certificates will be issued for the last time in the ceremony of September 2025. The festivities of future ceremonies are currently being planned and decisions regarding them will be made no later than in October 2025.
More information
Manager of academic affairs, process owner Pia Lahti, pia.lahti@aalto.fi
Project manager Katri Laaksonen katri.j.laaksonen@aalto.fi