Current News on Doctoral Education
University-funded doctoral researcher position application instructions published
The University of Helsinki Doctoral School organises an annual call for applications for university-funded doctoral researchers from 24 August to 7 September 2026.
In addition to the university-funded positions, the University of Helsinki Research Foundation will award ten positions in the autumn application round. The application process for the Foundation's positions is carried out in cooperation with the Doctoral School's application process. The applicant does not need to submit a separate application to the Research Foundation's application.
The Doctoral School has published new application instructions and a description of the assessment criteria and process on Studies service's instruction page. Applications are submitted through the university's electronic recruitment channel.
Applicants should carefully familiarise themselves with both the general and doctoral programme-specific instructions.
The application decisions will be published at the beginning of December. The names of those selected for the positions will be published on the Doctoral School's website.
Curricula of the New Doctoral Programmes Published
The new doctoral programmes at the University of Helsinki started on 1 January 2026, and doctoral researchers’ study rights will continue in the new programmes as of 1 August 2026.
The university’s new four-year curriculum period will also begin on 1 August 2026. Doctoral researchers must create a new study plan in Sisu in August in order to, for example, register for courses or submit a graduation request.
You can explore the doctoral programme curricula on the “Degree structure” page in the Studies Service and read more about creating a study plan on the Study Plan instruction page.
Transferring between doctoral programmes between 1.5.2026 and 31.7.2027
These guidelines apply to transfers between doctoral programmes from 1 May 2026 to 31 July 2027.
Please note that this form cannot be used to change the faculty or target degree associated with your right to study. If you wish to change these, you must apply for a new right to study through the regular doctoral application procedure.
Through this process, all doctoral researchers can apply for a transfer of programme, regardless of, for example, their source of funding.
If you are considering a programme transfer, you can browse all doctoral programme curricula on Studies Service's Degree structure -section. For descriptions of doctoral programmes and their disciplines, visit the doctoral programme's website.
You can transfer from one programme to another only once through a simplified application procedure, so it is important that you read these guidelines carefully and discuss the transfer with your supervisor.
NB! When the new curriculum period begins on 1 August 2026, all doctoral researchers will have their doctoral programme displayed in Sisu in accordance with the programme reform. If you applied for a doctoral programme transfer, it will take place in August, provided you submitted your application by 31 July 2026. Applications submitted at a later date will be processed by doctoral programme steering groups roughly once a month in the autumn.
Simplified application procedure
You can apply to transfer between doctoral programmes through a simplified application procedure if the new programme does not align with your doctoral thesis topic or supervision arrangements, or with other justification. Please note that completing the form does not guarantee a transfer. Doctoral programme steering groups will assess all applications and make the final decision.
Supervision requirements vary by doctoral programme. Carefully determine whether your supervision arrangements meet the new doctoral programme’s requirements before applying for a transfer. You can read about supervision requirements in doctoral programmes on the University website.
If the supervision requirements of the new programme differ from your current arrangements, you can attach to the application a description of the new supervision relationships and the new supervisors’ consent to supervise your doctoral thesis.
Doctoral programme transfers are applied for using a separate form. In the form, you must indicate your target doctoral programme and the grounds for the transfer. You must also indicate whether you have discussed the matter with your supervisor. Include a summary of your research plan in the application. Your supervisor and coordinating academic will receive an automated notification about the submitted form.
The application will be submitted for review by the doctoral programme steering group, which can either approve or reject the transfer. Information on approved applications will be shared with the doctoral researchers and the student register, which records doctoral programme transfers in the University’s information systems.
Form
Doctoral programme transfers are applied for using this form. The form can only be completed in the University network or via the University’s VPN connection. The details of your right to study are automatically added to the form. If you have submitted multiple applications that now await review, only the latest will be processed.