Degree requirements, Doctoral programme in Fine Arts 2015

Instructions and regulations

Degree proficiency objectives

Persons who have completed a doctoral degree in fine art are specialists in their field of research who can:

• conduct independent artistic research
• realise an artistic research project based on a sound plan
• critically evaluate the various phases and end result of an artistic research project as well as

    engage in academic dialogue related to their research subject

• document artistic research processes and talk about their research in various contexts
• identify important current developments and evaluate them critically
• apply assimilated knowledge and engage in art and the research of art in an organized,

    informed and creative manner

• co-operate with actors in their own field as well as specialists in other fields
• understand the ethical implications of their research and activity and act in a fair and

    responsible way

Doctoral Thesis in Fine Art

The doctoral thesis in fine art can include art exhibitions, exhibition curating, individual artworks, artistic processes, experimental arrangements and their articulation, conceptualisation and theorisation.  Typically a doctoral thesis 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 their field and the ability to analyse, articulate and contextualise research questions critically. If the doctoral thesis consists of a separate pre-examined visual component and a written component then the recommended scope of the written component is 50-250 pages (Page = 2000 characters with spaces). If the thesis is entirely theoretical then the recommended length is 150-250 pages. The written component can be realised in various ways: as a monograph, web publication or other multimedia whole. It can also be article-based in which case it must consist of at least three peer-reviewed journal articles and a summarising chapter (15-30 pages).

The doctoral thesis can also consist of co-authored publications and projects provided that the doctoral student's contribution can be clearly identified. The aim, methods, structure and findings of the research must also be clearly apparent in the doctoral thesis as a whole. The thesis can be published in Finnish, Swedish or English and by decision of the Academic Council in some other language. The language of the thesis submitted for pre-examination must be the same as in the final examined publication. This language must also be the main language at the public examination.

The credits awarded to the visual and written components are to be evaluated on a case by case basis in relation to coverage of the subject and number of components and scope in such a way that the written component comprises 30-170 ECTS while the artistic component corresponds to 140 ECTS at most.       

Doctoral programme in Fine Arts Course offerings

See the KuvA doctoral studies Course Catalogue in Weboodi.

Students have to register themselves in Weboodi which requires signing in.

The schedules and places may be updated throughout the academic year when needed. It´s worthwhile to  check the info in Weboodi or links in the course PDF.

JOO studies (flexible)

Information and instructions: www.joopas.fi
Apply for JOO studies: https://haku.joopas.fi

JOO means flexible study right (joustava opinto-oikeus) which enables students to apply for the right to study at another Finnish university for the purpose of taking a specific module or individual courses. The JOO right can be applied for by bachelor and master's students in Finnish universities, provided that the home university approves the courses the student is intending to take. Upon the approval, the home university agrees to pay the student's JOO courses (€50/credit). The flexible study right can be granted for a maximum of two academic years.

The student must be registered for attendance at his or her home university in order to apply for the flexible study right and take the approved JOO courses. Students on JOO courses are not entitled to a degree from the host university. The JOO courses must be included in the student's degree studies and contribute to his or her professional, theoretical and practical competencies.

A visualization of the doctoral research at the Academy of Fine Arts, including doctoral student projects and finished theses, has been published in the Research Catalogue. The page also contains links to research descriptions.

Doctoral students of the Academy of Fine Arts and their research topics

Eija-Liisa Ahtila: Screen Surface and Narrative Space: Narration and Construction of Meaning in Moving Image Installations (Valkokankaan pinta ja kertova tila: kerronta ja merkityksen rakentaminen liikkuvan kuvan installaatioissa).

Simo Alitalo: Mitä kuulemalla tietää? Taiteellinen tutkimus äänitaiteesta.

Niran Baibulat: Kävellen kuvailtu, koettu paikka.

Erick Beltrán Flores: The reading machine as model of edition. Laocoön and the Katabasis as an engine of ideological social psyche in image flux.

Bruno Caldas: The poetics of autopoiesis: Artificial intelligence and art.

Matthew Cowan: The lessons of folklore. Utilising the carnivalesque origins of folk ritual in contemporary art practice.

Jack Faber: Asymmetrical Cinema: Filmmaking, Art Activism and Public Spaces in the Drone Age.

Miklos Gaál: Dialectics of Contradiction Reflected upon Jena Romanticism.

Terike Haapoja: Kohtaamisen mediat – teknologia suhteena tuntemattomaan.

Henna-Riikka Halonen: Throws of Dice: Between Experience and Explanation.

Minna Heikinaho: Saa sanoa! Kohtaamisia kaupunkitilassa.

Flis Holland: Surface Attachment Devices.

Leena Kela: Dialogues: The Language of Performance Art in the Interaction of Materiality and Corporeality.

Anni Laakso: Yhteiskunnallisten teemojen esiintuominen työssäni.

Henna Laininen: Kokeellisen elämän käsikirja – luova yhteisöllinen kirjoittaminen vastauksena ympäristökriisiin.

Liisa Lounila: Oh! You Pretty Things – On Rebellion and Alternative Youth Culture as Elements of Art.

Susanna Majuri: Valokuvallinen fiktio tunteiden kohtaamisen paikkana.

Orla Mc Hardy: Nifeedz – instants of animation / the art of interval.

Stephanie Misa: Of Bastard Tongues and Ghosts in the Archive.

Salla Myllylä: Paikan rajaus ja rajauksen paikka.

Maija Närhinen: Kokeita kuvaamisen tavoista.

Christoph Oeschger: How to take a picture of wind?

Lauren O'Neal: Assembling a Praxis: Choreographic Thinking and Curatorial Agency.

Ilya Orlov: Artwork: Its Definition, Concept and Subject.

Kukka Paavilainen: Through Painting – Painting as Research.

Pilvari Pirtola: Demoskene – luova digitaalinen alakulttuuri. (Demoscene – Creative Digital Subculture).

Anssi Pulkkinen: Tilanteen syntyminen tilallisessa teoksessa.

Merja Puustinen: Plug In – Action. Down and Out in the Institutional Framework with Interactive Art.

Heli Rekula: Poissaoleva ruumis – tekijän näkökulmia esitettyyn ja lavastettuun valokuvaan.

Juha Rouhikoski: Valotaiteen aika – ajan ja paikan näkemisen arvoitus.

Jaakko Rustanius: The Makings of Meanings in Painted Pictures. A reconstruction project in contemporary painting towards the beyond of the representation / non-representation dichotomy.

Jaakko Ruuska: Tunnistamaton toiseus – Valtasuhteet ja empatia.

Mireia Saladrigues: BUGS – Behaving Unconventionally in Gallery Settings.

Tülay Schakir: Valo, havainto ja oleminen taiteena.

Mia Seppälä: Kokeelliset järjestelyt kauppakeskuksessa.

Katja Tukiainen: Tyttöarmeija – kerronnallinen maalaus tilassa.

Markus Tuormaa: Osallinen maisemasuhde nykytaiteessa.