The programme admits new doctoral students twice a year: once in the spring and once in the autumn.
The spring 2024 application period is from April 3, 2024 09:00 AM EEST until April 16, 2024 03:00 PM EEST.
The autumn 2024 application period is from September 4, 2024, 09:00 AM EEST until September 17, 2024, 03:00 PM EEST.
The spring 2025 application period is from April 2, 2025, 09:00 AM EEST until April 15, 2025, 03:00 PM EEST.
A doctoral study right can only be gained through the admissions process. Applying to the programme outside the set admission periods is not possible.
In addition to the university's general requirements for doctoral applicants on eligibility and language proficiency, the doctoral programme requires the following conditions are met:
Only applications meeting the formal criteria for eligibility continue to scientific evaluation in the doctoral programmes.
The target degree available within the programme is:
The right to complete a Doctor of Laws degree can be granted to applicants who have completed a Master’s or Licentiate degree in law in Finland or abroad, and who are deemed to have sufficient knowledge and skills to complete the doctoral degree and submit a high-quality research plan for a dissertation and an eligible personal study plan (PSP). For good reasons, the right to study can also be granted based on a Master’s degree in another discipline, provided that the applicant is deemed sufficiently competent to pursue postgraduate studies in law.
If you are currently completing doctoral studies elsewhere, it is recommended that you present an academic justification for completing doctoral studies also at the University of Helsinki. If you have already completed a doctoral degree in another field, it is recommended that you present an academic justification for granting another doctoral study right.
Availability of high-quality supervision is a central part of the selection criteria. The programme requires that the supervision arrangements presented in the application meet the following requirements:
You must have a preliminary written consent from at least one supervisor who is in a permanent or long-term employment at the faculty of law at the University of Helsinki. You are recommended to have two supervisors who have completed a doctoral degree, of whom at least one of the supervisors must be in a permanent or long-term employment at the faculty of law at the University of Helsinki. The second supervisor need not be employed by the University of Helsinki but must hold a doctoral degree.
Applicants must, in good time before submitting the application, contact the discipline relevant to their research interests and discuss the preliminary study plan and research plan (which are recommended to be delivered in written format as a basis for the discussion) as well as arrangements for dissertation supervision. Each applicant is responsible for finding a supervisor.
Applicant should ask his/her prospective supervisor(s) to submit their statement(s) by the application deadline using an electronic form. In the application form applicants are also asked to name the persons who have agreed to serve as his/her dissertation supervisor. Supervisor’s statement: an electronic form (only for teachers) - please send your statement also to the applicant.
The teacher who agrees to serve as supervisor submits a separate written statement to the Faculty concerning the applicant, including an assessment of the applicant’s ability to complete the degree and the feasibility and expediency of his or her study and research plans. Applicants must present their supervisor’s supporting statement at the application stage.
The research plan is the most important part of the application. The following are emphasized in the assessment of the quality of the research plan:
Your possible previous publications, any experience that supports your intended research and any funding already acquired are also taken into consideration when evaluating the application.
Previous academic success and the quality of the study plan are taken into account in the evaluation of the application. When assessing previous study performance, special attention is paid to the quality and grade of the master´s thesis or equivalent as well as possible awards. In the assessment of the study plans, attention is paid especially to feasibility.
If an applicant has completed a degree in a field other than law, the assessment of his or her ability to complete a doctorate considers the above-mentioned factors as well as any studies the applicant has completed in law (including difficulty and study performance), practical experience of professional duties requiring knowledge of law, and the relationship of the applicant’s previous studies, previous research, research topic presented in the research plan or other activities with the research conducted at the Faculty.
The doctoral programmes yearly admission quota for the year 2023 is 23 new students.
Acquainted with the selection criteria and all set to apply? Great! Now go back to the university's general instructions for doctoral applicants, where you will find all the information you need to prepare and submit your application and the needed enclosures. Good luck!
Decisions on admissions for doctoral studies in the programme are made based on the university’s general criteria for doctoral admissions as well as the programme-specific complementary selection criteria, presented on this page.
The final decision on admission is made by the faculty awarding the applicant’s target degree, based on a proposal from the steering group of the doctoral programme.
Before making the proposal, the doctoral programme will ask for a statement from the relevant discipline. The decision-making of the faculty and the steering group are not bound by the recommendations received from the disciplines.
A timetable for decisions is available in the university's general instructions for doctoral applicants.