1.1. PRE-EXAMINATION GUIDELINES FOR THE ARTISTIC COMPONENT
1.1.1. General
(This is an English translation of the assessment guidelines originally written in Finnish. In the event of any conflict between the English language version and the original, the Finnish language version shall prevail.).
In the arts study programme, the demonstration of proficiency for a doctoral degree is a thematically consistent artistic-research work consisting of artistic components and a written component. The scope of the demonstration of proficiency, i.e. all components together, is 165 credits, and the scope of the components may vary. The relationship between the artistic and written components is not prescribed, but set in accordance with the student's objectives.
The artistic components of the demonstration of proficiency may be comprised of e.g. concerts, compositions, artistic productions, liturgies, recordings, online materials or videos. The scope of the components brings together no less than two and no more than four concert programmes or other artistic entities in a doctoral degree.
When the artistic components are compositions, the scope and complexity of the artistic components must correspond to one to two concert entities or entities consisting of other similar works or performances taking into account the student's composition style and technique. With regard to the compositions, an entity that corresponds to the scope of at least one concert must be publicly performed (e.g. at least one artistic component must be a public composition concert or similar performance). In exceptional cases (e.g. a large-scale opera or other entity that is challenging in terms of production), a score alone is enough. Depending on the nature of the demonstration of proficiency, compositions must include scores whenever they are necessary for composing music, performing compositions or assessing them.
If the artistic components consist partly of composed music and partly of performed music, the ratio described above is taken into account in the number, scope and complexity of the components as well as in their assessment.
The demonstration of proficiency also includes a written component. Together, the written component and the artistic components form a coherent body of research. The written component also contains a summary which provides a report of the goals and framework of the complete demonstration of proficiency, the functions of its components and how they interrelate, along with a review of the results and a discussion of the significance of these results.
1.1.2. Demonstration of proficiency assessment stages in the arts study programme
The demonstrations of proficiency for the doctoral degree are pre-examined and examined. In the arts study programme, the artistic components of the demonstration of proficiency are pre-assessed and the written component is pre-examined separately. The preliminary examination of the artistic component is a preliminary assessment, in which the pre-examiner assesses the doctoral student's capabilities for completing the component. The pre-examiner assesses whether the component is ready for public performance and for committee assessment.
The purpose of the preliminary examination of the written component is to ensure that the material to be used in the demonstration of proficiency meets the formal requirements and that it is of a sufficiently high standard. The pre-examiner is appointed by the Academy board of the Sibelius Academy. Separate guidelines have been issued for the preliminary examination of the written component.
The assessment committee is responsible for the actual assessment of the demonstration of proficiency. The assessment committee's assessment task continues from the first component of the demonstration of proficiency to a public examination and an examination statement. The assessment committee listens to and follows all artistic components of the demonstration of proficiency, such as concerts and recordings. The student receives from the assessment committee oral and written feedback for each artistic component, and this feedback serves to support the demonstration of proficiency process and the student’s learning within it. The written feedback also supports the assessment of the demonstration of proficiency as a whole. After the completion of each artistic component, a feedback discussion is held, in which the assessment committee discusses the completed artistic component with the doctoral student concerned. The assessment committee may comment on the demonstration of proficiency stage and the direction of its future artistic and written components.
Once all the artistic components have been implemented and the written component pre-examined, the assessment committee provides the Academy board of the Sibelius Academy with a statement on the demonstration of proficiency for the issuing of an examination permit. This statement is based on the committee's assessment of the demonstration of proficiency as a whole, which also takes into account the pre-examination statements for the written component. The doctoral student is entitled to respond to the statement.
Once the Academy board has issued an examination permit, the demonstration of proficiency will be examined at a public examination event.
After the examination event, the assessment committee issues a written, signed statement on the demonstration of proficiency to the Division of doctoral education and research within one month of the examination event. The statement also addresses the examination event. The doctoral student is entitled to respond to the statement.
The Division of doctoral education and research approves the demonstration of proficiency and decides on the grade based on the statements provided. When handling the matter, the Division may request a hearing from the chair of the examination event or the examiners or opponents of the demonstration of proficiency.
1.1.3. Assessment of demonstrations of proficiency in the arts study programme
The assessment committee assesses the demonstration of proficiency as a whole in relation to the objectives of both the degree and the demonstration of proficiency. The general objective of doctoral education at the Sibelius Academy is to produce music sector experts who are capable of high-level creative and critical work and who operate in demanding art, research, development and educational positions. Doctors of Music graduating from the Sibelius Academy act as societal contributors promoting an ethically sustainable future.
The special goals of the arts study programme are to provide doctoral students with
The assessment of artistic components is supported by a linking paper on each component. In it, the doctoral student explains the objectives for the artistic component and the relation between the component and the demonstration of proficiency as a whole.
With regard to the written component, the committee is supported by the relevant pre-examination statements.
1.1.4. Artistic component pre-examination and pre-examination statement
The pre-examination of the artistic component is a preliminary assessment, in which the pre-examiner assesses the doctoral student's capabilities for completing the component. The pre-examiner assesses whether the component is ready for public performance and for committee assessment.
In the pre-examination, the doctoral student presents the pre-examiner with the artistic component of the doctoral project or key parts of it. If it is not possible to present the entire programme in the pre-examination, the pre-examiner and the student may agree on how the readiness is demonstrated.
The pre-examination may be carried out in an appropriate seminar in which the pre-examiner can take into account in their assessment the peer feedback presented.
The pre-examiner, doctoral student and seminar community are present at the seminar pre-examination. For the session, the doctoral student prepares a linking paper which is submitted to the seminar and the pre-examiner no later than one week before the session. The artistic component is assessed in relation to the objectives defined by the student in the linking paper. Following the doctoral student’s musical performance and oral presentation, both the seminar community and the pre-examiner give feedback and discuss the thoughts that the artistic component raised. At the end of the session, the pre-examiner indicates whether the pre-examination of the artistic component has been approved. For the purpose of a seminar examination, the student contacts the pre-examiner and agrees on arranging a pre-examination during a seminar session well in advance, by no later than six weeks before the public presentation of the artistic component.
At least one week before the pre-examination, the student registers for the artistic component by sending an electronically completed assessment form to the pre-examiner. The pre-examination must be carried out at least six weeks before the planned date of the publicly presented artistic component or assessment of the recording (see Artistic pre-examination practices below). A linking paper, in which the student explains the objectives of the artistic component and its relation to the demonstration of proficiency as a whole, is attached to the assessment form.
When the assessment committee assesses a demonstration of proficiency for an examination permit statement, the nine criteria in the table below are used as criteria. The same criteria are used as the assessment criteria in the pre-examination of the artistic component, taking into account the linking paper for the component and the fact that the pre-examination is targeted at the artistic component in question as part of the demonstration of proficiency. The pre-examination also takes into account that the doctoral student can further develop their capabilities by the actual presentation of the artistic component.
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A demonstration of proficiency with a grade of Pass is based on independent artistic-research activities, contains new information and, with clear argumentation, corresponds with the task assignment of the demonstration of proficiency. The quality of the demonstration of proficiency sufficiently meets the requirements set for it. |
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The demonstration of proficiency and its components comprise a uniform, well-managed, consistent, appropriately defined and well-organised entity. |
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The topic, goals and new knowledge produced by the demonstration of proficiency have sufficient significance in the field of art and research or, in addition to the above, when it can be assessed, with regard to society or more broadly. |
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The demonstration of proficiency is a meaningful and contextualised continuation of the previous tradition and discussion in its field. |
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Artistic research methods have been presented and reasoned. They are suitable and appropriate for the topic and objectives, and have been used consistently and reliably. |
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The demonstration of proficiency is constructively critical in relation to prevailing practices, previous research and the artistic research, outputs or outcomes of one's own work and their significance. |
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The demonstration of proficiency is sufficiently clear and convincing in terms of communication and style. Previous research and sources as well as the theory, methods and materials of the demonstration of proficiency are systematically structured and argued. |
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The demonstration of proficiency adheres to the norms of research ethics and responsible artistic and research practices. The ethical aspects of the demonstration of proficiency have been adequately addressed. |
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If the demonstration of proficiency includes collaborations (such as jointly created works or joint publications), the creator's primary contribution is clearly demonstrated. |
The pre-examiner confirms the pre-examination by signing the approved pre-examination statement assessment form. The pre-examination statement is forwarded in accordance with the form guidelines.
If the pre-examiner does not give their approval, they must describe in the form or statement the reasons for the rejection and the possible date of the new pre-examination. If the student receives a negative pre-examination statement, they have a week to make an appeal to the assessment committee, which may then choose to issue a performance permit at its own discretion. As a general rule, the committee cannot assess the performance without the approval of the pre-examiner.
1.1.5. About the practice of artistic pre-examination
Concerts and other publicly performed components
The doctoral student contacts the pre-examiner and agrees to hold the pre-examination well in advance so that it takes place no later than six weeks before the planned date of the artistic component. The holidays of the personnel must be taken into account.
The doctoral student must discuss any changes to the artistic component (concert programme or equivalent) with the supervisor-in-charge and committee chair well in advance. The supervisor-in-charge approves or rejects the changes. If the views of the student or committee chair differ from the supervisor’s decision, they can contact the head of the doctoral school, who makes the final decision on changes to the programme, as needed. Students shall also inform the pre-examiner and committee of any changes as soon as they arise.
Recordings (e.g. audio recordings, recorded media, video)
If the recording has been made before the doctoral degree, it will be pre-examined by no later than six weeks before the committee assesses it. The doctoral student contacts the pre-examiner and agrees on the date of the pre-examination. The recording is delivered to the pre-examiner by a representative of the doctoral school. If the pre-examiner supports approval of the recording as part of the demonstration of proficiency, the representative of the doctoral school provides the recording to the committee.
If the recording is to be made during doctoral studies, the pre-examination will be held by no later than six weeks before the recording. In this case, the student will present the programme to be recorded, or key parts of it, to the pre-examiner. The student contacts the pre-examiner in good time and agrees on the time of the pre-examination after ensuring that the recording can take place. After an approved pre-examination, the student may proceed with the recording and send a completed recording, a copy of the master tape, or an electronic version, along with the material related to the recording, to a specialist at the doctoral school office.
Compositions
In the pre-examination of compositions, the pre-examiner ensures that the whole or part of the works submitted for pre-examination adequately correspond to the artistic and research objectives mentioned in the postgraduate degree plan and the linking paper.
The pre-examination of the composition may be carried out in different stages, but it must be done in such a way that the publicly presented works of the artistic component are pre-examined by no later than six weeks before the work is carried out.
The doctoral student contacts the pre-examiner and agrees to hold a pre-examination by no later than six weeks before the planned date of the component to be presented publicly. The holidays of the personnel must be taken into account.
Artistic component works that are not presented publicly may be pre-examined either before or after the performance of the publicly performed works. They can be examined either for score only or for score and a possible recording or concert performance. The student agrees with the pre-examiner on the schedule for the pre-examination of works other than those performed publicly.
If changes have been made to the artistic component, the changes must have already been approved in advance by the supervisor-in-charge, and the chair of the committee and the pre-examiner must have been informed of these changes.
1.1.6. Further information
These guidelines are part of the Sibelius Academy Guide for Doctoral Studies in Music. The Guide for Doctoral Studies contains additional information on doctoral education and additional information on its related demonstration of proficiency.
These guidelines enter into force on 11 December 2023 and apply to all students who commenced their studies on or after 1 January 2021. For doctoral students who started their studies at an earlier date, these guidelines apply in accordance with the separately issued transitional provision. The transitional provision is appended to the doctoral degree guidelines, which were concluded on 10 December 2021.