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Making the credit plan (Sisu)

Credit plan is your plan for what kind of courses and individual studies you will include in your degree. You make your credit plan at . Your supervising professor is able to view your credit plan in Sisu, but the confirmation process takes place outside the Sisu system. 

Sisu instructions: Credit plan (Sisu) for doctoral students

Choosing courses for your planModel schedule for doctoral studentsMontly Sisu and DPSP clinics for doctoral students

Confirmation or approval?

Confirmation = confirmation of the whole credit plan PDF (by your supervising professor)

Approval = technical approval for the completed modules in Sisu by your request (processed by Doctoral education services based on your supervising professor's confirmation)

Confirming your course selections

After your supervising professor has confirmed your DPSP once at the beginning your studies, you do not have to get an official confirmation if you change the courses you plan to complete at Aalto or change your plans for individual studies. If is enough that you actively discuss your plans with your supervising professor.

Taking courses in other universities / substituting compulsory courses

You will need to ask for official confirmation of your credit plan from your supervising professor if you plan to take studies in other universities or substitute some of the compulsory courses.

Compulsory courses: ask about substituting compulsory courses from your doctoral programme's Doctoral education services.

Ask for confirmation of your credit plan:

1. Take a PDF or screen shot of your whole credit plan in Sisu*
2. Send it to your supervising professor by email, asking them to confirm it. Please cc your Doctoral programme's Doctoral education services in the email.

*study drafts are not visible on the PDF version of the credit plan

Final confirmation and approval at the end of studies

After all the courses you want to include in your degree are completed and registered:

1. Make sure that your credit plan follows the the degree requirements (curriculum) of your doctoral programme and that it has been confirmed by your supervising professor: check the instructions.
2. If you need help, you can contact your Doctoral programme's Doctoral education services
3. Request for approval for all the modules that Sisu requires approval for (“approval required”)

If you already have previously confirmed old study/credit plan (e.g. PDF) and your Sisu credit plan’s content is exactly the same, you do not need to apply for confirmation outside Sisu, but you do need to request approval for the modules within Sisu.

Before requesting for approval of the modules, please check that

• Each course is included in the correct module (check the curriculum)
• You have added your doctoral thesis code under the module “Doctoral thesis” and it corresponds to your research field.
• There are no courses under Extracurricular studies (if there are, please remove them)
• There are no selections missing or against the rules or other error notifications in red

Doctoral courses and curriculum

Sisu instructions: Credit plan (Sisu) for doctoral students

The research plan usually includes the following elements:

• Title
• Research aim, research questions or objectives
• Theoretical background
• Implementation: Methodology & methods
• Schedule (figure or table for four years if full-time student)
• Publication & dissemination
• References

Template for research plan at Aalto University:

Doctoral student formsMore resources:

Aalto’s guidance and support on research data planning (aalto.fi)

BIZ: Note that in BIZ, students prepare their research plan at the beginning of their second year of study.

The aim of this supervision plan is to decide on the practicalities of the supervision. The supervision plan explains the responsibilities of the supervising professor, thesis advisor(s) and of the doctoral student during the supervision process.

Doctoral student forms (template for supervision plan)

Supervision of doctoral studies

Financing plan is a free format document including the following information:

1. Secured funding
   • The source of funding
   • The amount of funding
   • Start and end dates of secured funding
2. Plans of securing funding until the end of your studies
   • Where from do you plan to apply for more?
   • How much is needed?
   • For how long do you need more funding?

Funding your doctoral studies

The career plan is a free-form document. Update your career plan annually and use the instructions and resources listed below to create it.

Support for career design and creating your career plan

Aalto University's Career Design Lab supports doctoral students in creating their individual study and career paths from the beginning of their studies. Learn more about the Career Design Lab's services and other career support available: 

Career Design for Doctoral Students

See also:

Prepare for your doctoral career 

Talent Expo

Career plan in your 1st year of doctoral studies

Reflect on your own personality and think about what kind of skills, values and interests you have that affect your career aspirations. What goals and hopes do you have for your future career path? How can you increase your knowledge of the labour market and different career options?

Useful tips:

• Career design tools

Career plan in your 2nd year of doctoral studies

Where do you see yourself making a contribution in the future: career in the academia, private sector, public sector, or career as an entrepreneur or freelancer?

Useful tips:

• Career coaching
• (1 cr)
• course (1 cr)

Career plan in your 3rd year of doctoral studies

How can you achieve your career goals? Who are the relevant employers in your field and what kind of skills do they value? How can you build networks with the people in your field?

Useful tips:

• Career coaching
• Learn more about entrepreneurship as a career option
• Take advantage of mentoring and networking

Career plan in your 4th year of doctoral studies

How would you like to make your transition to working life? Are you most interested in an academic career path, the private sector, the public sector, or working as an entrepreneur or freelancer?

Useful tips:

• Particiapte in the Aalto Talent Expo
• Join the Aalto alumni network