PhD positions in Finland
A PhD in Finland normally takes about four years. Doctoral education is tuition-free for every nationality, but you need funding for living costs: most often a paid doctoral researcher position at a university, or a personal grant from a foundation. At many universities, admission to a doctoral programme and funding are separate steps.
Listings updated · Guide reviewed
PhD in Finland at a glance
As of 22 October 2026, Graduates Corner lists 49 open PhD positions in Finland from 10 organizations.
- Open listings
- 49
- Organizations
- 10
- Closing within 30 days
- 22
- State pay or funding
- 49
- Duration
- About 4 years full-time
- Tuition fees
- None for doctoral education, regardless of nationality
- Funding
- Paid doctoral researcher positions (employment), project funding, or personal grants from foundations
- Entry requirements
- A master's degree or equivalent in a relevant field, plus the doctoral programme's own criteria
- Where positions appear
- University job pages, EURAXESS Finland, Academic Positions and Graduates Corner
Open PhD positions in Finland
49 current matching listings
University of Turku
Turku, Finland
PhD position
PhD in Human-Centred World Models for Human–Robot Interaction
The Department of Computing is looking for one to two Doctoral Researchers to join a research group of ELLIS PI, Associate Professor Xucong Zhang. You will be working…
Due todayPaidArtificial Intelligence · Computer Science
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Aalto University
Espoo, Finland
PhD position
PhD in Hybrid magnonics-photonics
Application closes on Unit Job category We are looking for highly motivated Doctoral Researchers (PhD students) and Postdoctoral Researchers to work on experiments in a…
1 day leftPaidPhysics
Apply by ViewAalto University
Espoo, Finland
PhD position
PhD in Reinforcement Learning
Application closes on Unit Job category Aalto University is where science and art meet technology and business. We shape a sustainable future by making research…
1 day leftPaidElectrical Engineering · Business and Management
Apply by ViewUniversity of Oulu
Oulu, Finland
PhD position
PhD in Human-AI Shared Regulation of Learning
Faculty of Education and Psychology, Learning and Learning Processes (LLP) The University of Oulu is a multidisciplinary, international research university, with about…
3 days leftPaidPsychology · Education
Apply by ViewUniversity of Eastern Finland
Kuopio, Finland
PhD position
PhD in Molecular Physiology
The Faculty of Health Sciences, A.I. Virtanen Institute The Molecular Physiology research group at the A.I. Virtanen Institute, University of Eastern Finland, invites…
7 days leftPaidLife Sciences
Apply by ViewAalto University
Espoo, Finland
PhD position
PhD in Real Estate Economics
Application closes on Unit Job category Aalto University is where science and art meet technology and business. We shape a sustainable future by making research…
8 days leftPaidEconomics
Apply by ViewAalto University
Espoo, Finland
PhD position
PhD in Chemical Engineering
Application closes on Unit Job category Aalto University is where science and art meet technology and business. We shape a sustainable future by making research…
8 days leftPaidBusiness and Management
Apply by ViewUniversity of Jyvaskyla
Jyvaskyla, Finland
PhD position
PhD in Business and Economics
Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics (JSBE) is seeking to recruit a 5-8 Doctoral Researchers in Business and Economics starting 4 January 2027, or as…
9 days leftPaidEconomics · Business and Management
Apply by ViewAalto University
Espoo, Finland
PhD position
PhD in Speech and Language Technology
Application closes on Unit Job category Aalto University is where science and art meet technology and business. We shape a sustainable future by making research…
9 days leftPaidHumanities
Apply by ViewAalto University
Espoo, Finland
PhD position
PhD in Trustworthy Machine Learning
Application closes on Unit Job category Aalto University is a community of bold thinkers where science and art meet technology and business. We are committed to…
9 days leftPaidArtificial Intelligence
Apply by ViewTampere University
Tampere, Finland
PhD position
Doctoral Researcher (soft robotics)
Tampere University and Tampere University of Applied Sciences create a unique environment for multidisciplinary, inspirational and high-impact research and education. Our…
10 days leftPaidRobotics and Automation
Apply by ViewUniversity of Turku
Turku, Finland
PhD position
Doctoral researcher / Project Researcher in Soft Robotics
The University of Turku is a world-class multidisciplinary research university, hosting a vibrant community of 25,000 students and employees from over 100 different…
10 days leftPaidRobotics and Automation
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Helsinki, Finland
PhD position
PhD in 3D Forest Modelling and Remote Sensing
We invite applications for a doctoral researcher position within the VODBIO project, Vegetation Optical Depth as Biophysical Proxy: Retrieval, Validation, and…
10 days leftPaidEnvironmental Sciences
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Helsinki, Finland
PhD position
Doctoral Researcher Position in the HUMAIN Project
We are seeking a highly motivated doctoral researcher to join the What Makes Us Human? Identifying, Evaluating and Modelling Specialist AI Competence (HUMAIN) project,…
10 days leftPaidEducation · Humanities
Apply by ViewLUT University
Lappeenranta, Finland
PhD position
PhD in Justice and Sustainability Transitions
How can we make the ongoing energy transition more just, and who gets to define what a just transition means? As societies pursue more sustainable energy and industrial…
12 days leftPaidEnvironmental Sciences
Apply by ViewAalto University
Espoo, Finland
PhD position
PhD in Virtual Torque Sensing for Maritime Powertrains
Application closes on Unit Job category The School of Engineering drives science and innovation in industrial and built environment technologies. We are committed to…
20 days leftPaidMechanical Engineering · Education
Apply by ViewUniversity of Helsinki
Helsinki, Finland
PhD position
PhD in Global development studies
The Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Helsinki invites applications for the position ofDOCTORAL RESEARCHER IN GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT STUDIES Prior expertise in…
21 days leftPaidSocial Sciences
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Helsinki, Finland
PhD position
PhD in Protein Synthesis
A fully funded PhD position is available to study protein synthesis in the lab of Sarah O’Keefe at the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of…
22 days leftPaidLife Sciences · Business and Management
Apply by ViewUniversity of Jyvaskyla
Jyvaskyla, Finland
PhD position
PhD in Evolutionary Biology
The Department of Biological and Environmental Science is seeking to recruit a Doctoral Researcher in Evolutionary Biology starting 4 January 2027, or as soon as possible…
24 days leftPaidLife Sciences
Apply by ViewUniversity of Oulu
Oulu, Finland
PhD position
PhD in Ecology and Genetics
Faculty of Science, Ecology and Genetics The University of Oulu is a multidisciplinary, international research university, with about 4000 employees who produce new…
24 days leftPaidLife Sciences · Environmental Sciences
Apply by ViewUniversity of Oulu
Oulu, Finland
PhD position
PhD in Educational Technology
Faculty of Education and Psychology The University of Oulu is a multidisciplinary, international research university, with about 4000 employees who produce new knowledge…
24 days leftPaidArtificial Intelligence · Psychology · Education
Apply by ViewUniversity of Helsinki
Helsinki, Finland
PhD position
PhD in Computational genomics for predictive medicine
The Barrett lab at the University of Helsinki is recruiting a doctoral researcher (PhD student) in computational genomics for predictive medicine. We are jointly…
28 days leftPaidMedical Sciences · Life Sciences
Apply by ViewUniversity of Turku
Turku, Finland
PhD position
PhD in Effects of Ischemic Heart Disease on Multi-Organ Perfusion
Marie Skłodowska Curie (MSCA) Doctoral Networks (MSCA-DN) Applications are invited for 1 full-time Doctoral Researcher position at the Turku PET Centre, University of…
39 days leftPaidMedical Sciences · Life Sciences
Apply by ViewUniversity of Lapland
Rovaniemi, Finland
PhD position
PhD in Arctic Transitions, Energy and Climate Governance in the Far North
The Faculty of Law at the University of Lapland is recruiting one (1) Junior Researcher for the “Arctic Transitions, Energy and Climate Governance Horizons in the Far…
40 days leftPaidEnvironmental Sciences
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PhD in Finland: what you need to know
How to apply for a PhD in Finland
There are two common routes. You can apply for an advertised, paid doctoral researcher position, which usually includes or leads to admission to the doctoral programme. Or you can apply to a doctoral programme during its application period and arrange funding separately, for example through a foundation grant.
Check each university's application timetable and eligibility rules, and contact a potential supervisor early if the programme expects you to have one before applying.
Funding your doctorate
Because there are no tuition fees, funding is mainly about living costs. Paid positions offer the most security. Grants from Finnish foundations are common, especially in the humanities and social sciences, and are often awarded for a limited period, so plan how you will fund the full doctorate.
Search terms used in Finland
- väitöskirjatutkija: doctoral researcher
- tohtorikoulutus: doctoral education
- väitöskirja: doctoral dissertation
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Frequently asked questions
Is a PhD in Finland free?
There are no tuition fees for doctoral education in Finland for any nationality. You still need funding for living costs, usually a paid doctoral researcher position or a grant.
How long does a PhD in Finland take?
About four years of full-time study.
Are PhD positions in Finland paid?
Many are. Universities advertise paid doctoral researcher positions, and other doctoral researchers are funded by personal grants from foundations or by research projects.
How many PhD positions in Finland are currently open?
As of 22 October 2026, Graduates Corner lists 49 open PhD positions in Finland from 10 organizations. Listings whose deadline has passed or whose original posting is marked closed are excluded from this count.
Which fields are most common among PhD positions in Finland?
The most frequent fields among current listings are Business and Management (12), Environmental Sciences (9) and Life Sciences (6).
Which organizations have the most open PhD positions in Finland?
The organizations with the most open listings are University of Eastern Finland (16), University of Helsinki (8) and University of Turku (8).
Are these PhD positions funded?
49 of 49 current listings state a salary, payment or stipend. Where the source does not state compensation, the listing shows "Not specified". Confirm the terms on the official posting before applying.
How often is this list updated?
Listings are refreshed through scheduled imports and direct publication by organizations. 22 of the current listings have a stated deadline within the next 30 days. Check the original posting before applying.
Official sources
Rules and salaries change; the official vacancy and university pages are authoritative. See also scholarships and funding.