The University of Helsinki offers a structured doctoral education programme and an inspiring research environment for PhD researchers.
The Aleksanteri Institute provides doctoral studies in two disciplines: Russian and Eurasian Studies and East European Studies. These disciplines, along with the Faculty of Humanities, are part of the Doctoral Programme in Political, Societal and Regional Change (PSRC), which offers multidisciplinary doctoral education, research seminars, conferences, and training in transferable skills.
University lecturers and professors at the Institute supervise doctoral dissertations and provide expert guidance in their respective research areas. Doctoral researchers at the Institute form an active academic community, regularly gathering to discuss their research in PhD seminars.
In addition, the Institute organizes research training events in collaboration with its projects and international partners, further enriching the doctoral experience.
You can apply for doctoral study rights in the University of Helsinki’s doctoral programmes twice a year. Please note that admission does not include funding. However, it is possible to apply for salaried doctoral researcher positions, which are offered once a year. You can find more information about the application process and salaried positions via the links below.
The Aleksanteri Institute does not have its own salaried positions, but some of its research projects may offer salaried opportunities for PhD researchers. In addition, several Finnish scientific foundations provide research grants for doctoral researchers.
If you are interested in pursuing doctoral studies at the Aleksanteri Institute, please contact the Institute’s university lecturers or professors who are qualified to supervise doctoral theses. Our university lecturers and professors provide supervision based on their areas of expertise and research interests. They represent a range of disciplines and regional specializations.
If you have a strong idea for doctoral research and wish to pursue your PhD studies at the University of Helsinki, please prepare a short proposal (approximately two pages) for the possible supervisor outlining your research idea.
When applying for doctoral study rights or a salaried position, remember to contact potential supervisors well in advance of the application deadline.