Resuming doctoral studies

The instruction belongs to the following themes

By selecting a degree programme you are able to see the general content as well as the possible degree programme-specific content. You do not have to select a degree programme to see the Open University's instructions.

Have you taken a break from your studies? Did you forget to register for the academic year? In principle the right to pursue doctoral studies is a lifelong right but if you have interrupted your studies or failed to register for the academic year annually, you must apply for the reinstatement of your right to pursue doctoral studies.

Returning during the academic year in which you forgot to register

Registering for the academic year during the registration period (1 April – 31 August) is the annual responsibility of each doctoral researcher. If you forget to register, you will be disenrolled and you will lose the right to pursue doctoral studies until further notice. However, if you notice your mistake during the same academic year, by July 31st, you do not need to apply for readmission. In this case, it will suffice to pay the re-enrolment fee prescribed by the University and register as an attending or non-attending student. Further instructions on payment and registration is available below.

Returning later

If your studies have been on hold for a longer time and it has been more than one academic year since you last registered at the University, you must apply for the reinstatement of your right to pursue doctoral studies from your home faculty. If the faculty decides to reinstate your right to study, you must pay the re-enrolment fee before you can again register at the University. Do not pay the fee in advance but wait until you have received a decision from your faculty on your application for readmission.

Readmission to pursue doctoral studies is not a given, especially if your studies have been on hold for a long time. You should, therefore, draw up your reinstatement application carefully. As a rule, updated research and study plans must be appended to the application. Ensure also that your supervision arrangements are up to date and that no changes that you should take into account when applying for the reinstatement of the right to study have occurred during your break from the studies. Remember to acquaint yourself with the detailed application instructions of your faculty at the end of this page before drawing up your application.

There are no specific deadlines for submitting your application – all faculties accept applications for readmission at any time during the study year.

Re-enrolment fee

The re-enrolment fee is EUR 35. The fee must be paid to the University of Helsinki account:

IBAN: FI58 5000 0120 3778 32
SWIFT (BIC): OKOYFIHH

Reference: 99113034
Bank: OP pankki, Gebhardinaukio 1, FI-00510 Helsinki, Finland

If you want to join the Student Union, pay the Student Union membership fee as well.

Registration

Submit a receipt for a paid re-enrolment fee (with the possible receipt of the Student Union payment) to Student Services. A receipt from an online bank is acceptable if the archiving code appears on it. If your right to study has been reinstated by the decision of the faculty, submit also the readmission decision to Student Services.

Faculty-specific instructions on how to apply

Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry

The reinstatement of the right to pursue doctoral studies is applied for by submitting the updated research and study plans to the doctoral student services of the Faculty. The application form needs to be signed by the applicant, all supervisors and the coordinating academic. The application must also include the names of the members of the thesis committee. The signed application, together with the required attachments, is submitted to the Faculty’s doctoral student services. Applications for the reinstatement of the right to pursue postgraduate studies will also be reviewed by the doctoral programme in question before the decision is made.

Faculty of Arts

The reinstatement of the right to pursue doctoral studies is applied for with the attached application form. The completed application with updated study plan and research plan is submitted to the Faculty’s doctoral student services as e-mail attachments to address hum-postgrad@helsinki.fi. When the application has been processed, the doctoral services will send the dean’s decision to the applicant.

Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences

The reinstatement of the right to pursue doctoral studies is applied for by filling the form for updating the postgraduate study plan. The application form must be accompanied by a plan on studies to be included in the postgraduate degree and a research plan written by the applicant. The study plan form needs to be signed by the applicant, all supervisors and the coordinating academic. The signed application, together with the required attachments, is submitted to the Faculty’s doctoral student services. Applications for the reinstatement of the right to pursue postgraduate studies will also be reviewed by the doctoral programme in question before the decision is made.

Faculty of Educational Sciences

The reinstatement of the right to pursue doctoral studies is applied for by completing the attached application form. An updated study plan and research plan must be appended to the application. The application must also include the names of the supervisors, please see the Faculty's criteria for supervision here. The application is submitted to edu-research@helsinki.fi.

Application form for readmission

Faculty of Law

The reinstatement of the right to pursue doctoral studies is applied for by completing the attached electronic application form and appending a research plan written by the applicant (max. 5 pages).

Electronic application form

Faculty of Medicine

The reinstatement of the right to pursue doctoral studies is applied for by filling in the attached application and submitting it together with a study plan, an updated research plan, and a transcript of studies or other account of completed studies. The application must also include the names of the supervisors and members of the thesis committee. The application is submitted to meilahti-phd@helsinki.fi.

Application form for readmission

Faculty of Pharmacy

The reinstatement of the right to pursue doctoral studies is applied for by submitting the updated research and study plan to the doctoral student services of the Faculty. The application needs to be signed by the applicant, all supervisors and the coordinating academic. The application must also include the names of the members of the thesis group. The signed application, together with the required attachments, is submitted to the Faculty’s doctoral student services.

Application form for readmission

Faculty of Science

The reinstatement of the right to pursue doctoral studies is applied for with this e-form.

The postdoctoral study plan approved by the degree programme and supervisor has be enclosed to the e-form application submitted to Student Services in Kumpula for processing.

Student Services in Kumpula: Physicum, second floor, Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2, PO Box 64, 00014 University of Helsinki or kumpula-student@helsinki.fi

Faculty of Social Sciences

The reinstatement of the right to pursue doctoral studies is applied for by completing the attached electronic application form and appending a research plan written by the applicant (max. 5 pages).

Electronic application form

Faculty of Theology

The reinstatement of the right to pursue doctoral studies is applied for with the attached application form. The completed application with updated study plan and research plan is submitted to the Faculty’s doctoral student services as e-mail attachments to address teol-tohtorikoulutus@helsinki.fi. When the application has been processed, the doctoral services will send the dean’s decision to the applicant.

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

The reinstatement of the right to pursue doctoral studies is applied for by submitting the updated research and study plan to the doctoral student services of the Faculty. The application form needs to be signed by the applicant, all supervisors and the coordinating academic. The application must also include the names of the members of the thesis committee. The signed application, together with the required attachments, is submitted to the Faculty’s doctoral student services. Applications for the reinstatement of the right to pursue postgraduate studies will also be reviewed by the doctoral programme in question before the decision is made.