Dear all,
Just to remind you details for the Pro Gradu work:
1) I am the responsible person for the Pro Gradu, I sign off on all study plans and requests for extension. If I am absent the Education Dean (Tuomo Glumoff) does this. Other people (programme directors, supervisors, Jari Heikkinen or Kaisa Tuominen cannot)
2) Before starting you must submit a study plan. This is free format but must include details of where you will work, the topic, start date (and end date if a variable length Pro Gradu) and supervisor(s) names. At least one supervisor must be docent level or higher. I am supposed to judge plans based on whether the science is an appropriate level and whether they have been properly planned for the length of the research period. Successful plans are typically 2-3 sides of A4 in length (plus references). If there is some essential component e.g. a lot of analysis will be done by western blotting, please make sure you include details that it exists and works (or have a backup plan). Plans should be submitted at least 2 weeks before you plan to start.
3) There are now TWO formats of Pro Gradu, the old style 48 credits, 6 months experimental work and the new variable length Pro Gradu (see below). You must say on the study plan which you plan to do. You can swap between the two formats by contacting me. It is also possible to split the Pro Gradu into two or more parts if you notify before starting e.g. if you have a 1 month course in the middle of the Pro Gradu you can ask in advance for the Pro Gradu time to split into two parts.
4) The new variable length Pro Gradu is from 30-60 credits in size. The first 30 credits are awarded for the Pro Gradu thesis writing plus 3 calendar months of experimental work (note the words "calendar month"). Additional credits are awarded at the rate of 5 credits per 3 weeks experimental work (note the word "weeks"). Hence the maximum length of the experimental part is 3 months + 18 weeks. If you plan to do the variable length Pro Gradu please mark on the study plan the proposed end date and the proposed number of credits. Please work this out carefully. You can change the length of the Pro Gradu by contacting me.
5) No matter the length of the experimental part of the Pro Gradu the thesis is due within 1 year of the start date. Hence if you start on the 3rd October 2017 the thesis must be submitted by 2nd October 2018.
6) Extensions can be granted to the Pro Gradu experimental or writing period by me (or the Education Dean if I am absent). Extensions should be applied for in writing signed by the student AND supervisor. The letter should be succinct (two sentences is usually enough) stating why the extension is requested, the relevant dates and the period of extension requested e.g. "two weeks". The requested extension period must be at least 1 week. Extensions are granted during the experimental work for ANY valid reason why the student cannot do experimental work e.g. ill health of student or supervisor, equipment failure, phage contamination, waiting for reagents etc. The extension request must indicate that the student was not able to work at all on the project during that time. Extensions to the experimental work period automatically grant an extension to the writing period. Extensions during the writing period are granted for valid reasons why the student cannot write e.g. ill health of student or supervisor or absence of the supervisor for example maternity/paternity leave, etc. We do not grant extensions because the student or supervisor is "too busy".
7) To prevent extension request overload, there is an automatic one week extension to the experimental period for projects which go over Christmas. This is the only extension which does NOT extend the write up period.
8) The faculty rules are that any Pro Gradu thesis that is submitted after the deadline will suffer a one grade penalty. If this seems harsh remember in the "real world" missing a key deadline e.g. a grant application, automatically means no grant. We STRONGLY encourage students to start the analysis of results, reading relevant papers for the literature section and starting writing DURING the experimental period and to continue as SOON AS POSSIBLE afterwards to submission. Having 6 months does not mean you need to take 6 months to write up.
Lots of text, but apparently a lot of confusion - especially with the new two versions of the Pro Gradu.
Any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
best wishes,
Lloyd