The University of Helsinki Doctoral School aims to ensure that as many doctoral researchers as possible are able to present their research findings at an international conference at least once during the four-year period. The doctoral school's travel support does not cover expenses incurred from research, such as research visits or for archival or data collection trips.
The Autumn 2025 application round opens on September 1 at 8.00 and closes on September 15, 2025 at 16.00. Applications must be submitted via an electronic form available during the application period.
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Eligibility
Applications are accepted from doctoral researchers studying in a doctoral programme under the University of Helsinki Doctoral School.
Travel support may be requested for conference travel. In your application, explain the necessity of your trip expressly for your doctoral thesis.
Information given in the application will be verified, as applicable, from Thessa. Please ensure that the information of the supervisor/s and follow up group members is up to date, required thesis committee meetings have been held and annual reports and conclusions are up to date before the application period ends.
Eligibility requirements:
- The applicant holds the right to complete a doctoral degree in a University of Helsinki doctoral programme.
- The applicant has registered as an attending student at the time of application.
- The applicant’s Thessa account is up to date: the required annual reports and conclusions have been submitted and thesis committee meetings held by the end of the application period.
- The applicant intends to present a poster or oral presentation at the conference for which he/she is applying, or is awaiting approval to do so
In addition, priority will be given to applicants meeting the following requirements:
- The applicant received no travel support from the doctoral school or a doctoral programme in travel support calls organized in 2023, 2024 and/or spring 2025
- The applicant has completed at least 50% of their doctoral thesis by the application deadline.
- The applicant will attend an international conference
If the applicant has submitted several applications, only the most recent will be assessed.
Applicants will be informed of funding decisions through email no later than 15.10.2025. No feedback is given on applications.
Supported travel
Applicants may receive funding to cover the costs of conference travel if their oral presentation or poster has been accepted for the relevant conference or is under consideration. State in your application whether your conference presentation or poster has been approved or submitted. Travel costs will not be reimbursed until the applicant has received confirmation of their presentation or poster.
If your poster or presentation is not accepted as intended, you should withdraw your travel support. A travel support awarded but not used in this way will not prevent you from receiving a travel support in the next application. It is also possible to withdraw a travel support after it has been awarded if the trip is cancelled for any other reason. Participation fees, flights and accommodation will only be paid once the planned trip has been confirmed.
The University of Helsinki travel policy must be followed. No financial support is granted for travel to Ukraine, Belarus or Russia. University recommendations and instructions applying to the war in Ukraine.
The doctoral researchers within the doctoral pilot are not eligible to apply for travel support from the Doctoral School as they have an allocated travel budget within the pilot.
The travel allowance must be used for the trip for which it has been applied for.
The support applies to trips taking place between October 1, 2025, and February 28, 2026. Please note that retroactive reimbursements are not possible.
Reimbursed expenses
Travel support covers the following:
- Per diem allowances*
- Participation fees
- Travel and accommodation costs in accordance with the University of Helsinki travel policy
- Other necessary travel expenses, such as visas or poster printing costs
*Per diems are payable only to University of Helsinki staff. Applicants not employed by the University will receive travel support in the form of a grant.
Applicants must present a realistic cost estimate including per diems and other travel expenses in accordance with the University of Helsinki travel policy.
Successful applicants will receive instructions on the payment of travel support. Further information on other travel supports is available on the Instructions for Students website.
If you have any questions, please contact uhds-office@helsinki.fi