Honorary doctors

The Conferment committee is requesting proposals for . From the proposals, the Conferment committee selects those that are presented to the faculty council, which makes the final decision. The submitted honorary doctorate proposals are confidential, and the decisions will be published in spring 2027.  

The honorary doctor candidate should have a clear connection to Finland and in particular to the University of Helsinki, preferably also to the Faculty of Medicine (e.g., extensive research collaboration, postdoc training, significant promotion of the faculty's operating conditions). In its proposal, the Conferment committee will take into account the scientific and/or social merits of the honorary doctorate candidates and their connections to the various disciplines of the faculty.  

The aim is to confer a maximum of ten honorary doctorates. A person who has completed a doctoral degree from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Helsinki (including the fields of logopedics and psychology that were previously under another faculty) cannot be appointed an Honorary Doctor.    

Proposals for honorary doctorates should be submitted via the e-form by 16 January 2026. In addition to background information, the following information is requested in the fields of the form (sections 1–3, max. 2 pages each):  

1. A statement of the candidate's scientific and/or social impact  

2. A statement of the candidate's connections to Finland and in particular to the University of Helsinki  

3. A brief CV of the candidate  

4. A proposal for the honorary doctorate's host/hostess. The host or hostess will act as the honorary doctorate's personal guide throughout the conferment week. The University of Helsinki will take care of the honorary doctors' travel and accommodation arrangements.  

For further information, please contact the academic conferment secretary Tiina Vesterinen (, +358 50 415 5553)