The three-year doctoral researcher posts are funded by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture. The aim of the doctoral education pilot is to ensure the completion of the doctoral research during the three-year employment period. The University of Helsinki is coordinating Doctoral Education Pilot in Precision Cancer Medicine (iCANDOC) and is also a partner in several other doctoral education pilots. These pilots cover various research areas like artificial intelligence, education, particle and nuclear physics, and social services. Read more about the doctoral pilot in FAQ.
The University of Helsinki Doctoral School has launched a blog where we will be presenting what we are doing in the Doctoral Education Pilot. New posts will be published twice a week.
As Doctoral Experience Week (DEW) 2025 (Mon-Thu 02.–05.06.2025) at the University of Helsinki reaches its midpoint, it is already clear that this is not just a typical academic event. While the schedule has been full —panels, seminars, networking, and celebrations— what has truly stood out is something less tangible, yet much more lasting: the atmosphere.
Read more from the Doctoral Lounge- blog.
Over the past two years, the University of Helsinki’s Doctoral School has been on an ambitious path to enhance doctoral education in a multidisciplinary and dynamic environment. Each step along the way has required thoughtful deliberation and collaborative effort, as we strive to balance the needs of doctoral researchers, faculties, and doctoral programs.
Read more from the Doctoral Lounge- blog.
Every year, the biggest national meeting in its field, the Doctoral Education Day, gathers directors of doctoral schools and programmes, supervisors, doctoral researchers, administrators and other professionals in doctoral education in Finland together to discuss topical questions in the doctoral education. This year, the University of Helsinki hosted the event on October 9th, and the topic possessed a crucial question: Doctoral Education Leadership – Data-Driven or Emotional?
Read more from the Doctoral Lounge- blog.
The admissions decisions have been made for the fall application round of the Doctoral Education Pilot. Almost all pilot positions have now been filled.
You can find the statistics and the list of selected applicants of the spring and fall application rounds on the Application Statistics page.
The admissions decisions have been made for the spring application round of the Ministry of Education and Culture–funded doctoral education pilot. A total of 133 doctoral researchers will begin their studies in the autumn and 38 in January 2025. There are 236 vacancies in total and the remaining vacancies will be decided on the basis of the August call for applications. The remaining positions will be published on this website later in July.
The new doctoral researchers will occupy 11 field-specific education pilots. The admitted applicants are expected to complete their doctoral theses over a three-year period of employment. To begin with, the new doctoral researchers will study both researcher and career skills.
Minna Palander-Collin, Director of the University of Helsinki Doctoral School, warmly welcomes all new doctoral researchers.
“You are an important part of the University community. Research and the production of new knowledge constitute one of the core duties of the University, and the role of doctoral researchers in this is significant,” Palander-Collin notes.
You can find the list of selected applicants and the statistics of the spring call on the Application Statistics page.
The University of Helsinki Doctoral School organized an international call for applications for 236 paid position doctoral researchers as part of the national doctoral education pilot. The call was open 2–22 April 2024. The Doctoral School received 1312 applications. You can find more statistics on the call in the FAQ section.
See FAQ on Doctoral Education Pilot. For more information, please contact doctoralpilot@helsinki.fi. In Finnish: Kysymyksiä voi lähettää myös suomeksi.