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Writing a Written Component for an Artistic Doctoral Degree: Nippupäivä (Mock Defence)

This guide provides instructions for preparing the written component of an artistic doctorate at the Sibelius Academy.

Nippupäivä (Mock Defence)

“Nippupäivä” is essentially a mock defence – the seminar where the first manuscript version of a written component (or dissertation) can be discussed in its entirety for the first time – having previously only been considered in its various constituent parts. The Finnish word "Nippu” literally means a big pile of papers, so the idea is that this is the day when you gather all your work together properly for the first time. The purpose of the seminar is to discuss the written component with (usually two) reviewers, or opponents, who are invited there from outside the writer’s own seminar or research community. In this defence, the first reviewer is also not a tutor.

Opponents read and comment on the manuscript from their “outside” perspective during this defence, dealing with the various parts (theoretical framework, methodology, and so on) and how these relate to the work as a whole. This is to assess just how “watertight” the arguments in the written component will be outside the writer’s own research community. This is an important part of finalising the writing and research process, after which the written component is ready for the formal preliminary examination.

If you have any concerns or questions about your nippupäivä, you should check these over with your supervisor.