Application procedure for the degree of Doctor of Laws

The right to complete the degree of Doctor of Laws can be granted to applicants with a second-cycle degree in law or a degree of Licentiate of Laws who are considered to have sufficient qualifications to complete the degree and who submit an eligible personal study plan (PSP) and a research plan for a doctoral dissertation.

A prerequisite for granting the right to pursue postgraduate studies is that the Faculty can appoint a supervisor for the applicant who supports the application and agrees to supervise the studies.

For well-grounded reasons the right to study can also be granted to an applicant with a second-cycle degree in another field, if he or she is considered to be sufficiently qualified to pursue postgraduate studies in law.

Applicants with a comparable second-cycle degree in the field of law from a foreign higher education institution can be granted a right to complete the degree of Doctor of Laws upon application. The applicant must submit proof that the foreign degree gives him or her sufficient qualifications for pursuing postgraduate education in the field of law. In addition, non-Finnish-speaking applicants must present proof of sufficient language proficiency for participating in postgraduate teaching at the Faculty.

Applicants who have completed their basic degrees in a faculty other than the Faculty of Law of the University of Helsinki must state in their application the reasons why they wish to complete their third-cycle degree at the Faculty.

When assessing whether an applicant with a second-cycle degree in the field of law is qualified to pursue doctoral studies, the following criteria will be taken into consideration: the standard of the basic degree, particularly the merits and grade of the final thesis included in the degree, the quality of the research plan and possible publications, possible prior experience already accrued for research purposes and any funding already received.

When assessing whether an applicant with a degree in a field other than law is qualified to complete a Doctor of Laws degree, the following criteria will also be taken into consideration: studies that the applicant has completed in the field of law, the level and grades of the completed studies, any practical experience in duties requiring knowledge of the field of law, the connection of the applicant’s previous studies, research or other activities with research conducted at the Faculty; previous studies, particularly the topic, research methods, merits and grade of the final thesis included in the degree, and scientific publications. In addition, consideration will be given to any special reasons in favour of the applicant completing his or her degree at the Faculty of Law in particular, such as the connection of the planned doctoral study with research conducted at the Faculty.

The assessment of the qualifications of an applicant with a degree of Licentiate of Laws can be based on the merits and grade of his or her Licentiate thesis.

The applicant must, in good time before submitting the application, contact the relevant major subject for his or her theme for research and discuss the preliminary research proposal, the study plan and arrangements for supervision. The prospective supervisor will send a separate written statement regarding the applicant to the Faculty Office in which he or she assesses the qualifications of the applicant and the feasibility and appropriateness of the study and research plans. The discipline coordinator is informed of pending application.

The annual deadlines for submitting the applications and attachments are 31 January and 30 September. The applications will undergo a preliminary review at the Committee for Research and Research Education of the Faculty. The Faculty Council will decide upon granting the right to study and appoint a supervisor for the postgraduate student. The major subject and research topic of the student will be confirmed at the same time. If the application is declined, the Council must present the grounds for its decision.

Application form

Language requirements at the UH

List of responsible teachers in major subjects (discipline coordinators) at the Faculty of Law, academic year 2013-2014

The Faculty of Law has approved Recommendation for principles of postgraduate supervision

Please notice that unfortunately Faculty of Law is not in the position of providing grants/ scholarships for postgraduate students.