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 8 October 2026, Graduates Corner lists 54 open PhD positions in Finland from 8 organizations.
- Open listings
- 54
- Organizations
- 8
- Closing within 30 days
- 30
- State pay or funding
- 54
- 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
54 current matching listings
University of Turku
Turku, Finland
PhD position
Doctoral Researcher in Blood donor surveillance for emerging pathogens (EU Doctoral Network DETECTIVE)
About the DETECTIVE Doctoral Network DETECTIVE (Data-driven Excellence in Training of Epidemiological, Clinical, Technological and Innovative Virus Experts) is a Horizon…
Due todayPaidData Science · Medical Sciences · Life Sciences
Apply by ViewUniversity of Turku
Turku, Finland
PhD position
Doctoral Researcher in Prior immunity as a disease modulator (EU Doctoral Network DETECTIVE)
About the DETECTIVE Doctoral Network DETECTIVE (Data-driven Excellence in Training of Epidemiological, Clinical, Technological and Innovative Virus Experts) is a Horizon…
Due todayPaidData Science · Medical Sciences · Life Sciences
Apply by ViewTampere University
Tampere, Finland
PhD position
MSCA Doctoral Researcher, DETECTIVE project (virology)
Tampere University is a unique, boldly future‑oriented and evolving community, and one of Finland’s most multidisciplinary universities. At Tampere University,…
Due todayPaidMedical Sciences · Statistics
Apply by ViewUniversity of Turku
Turku, Finland
PhD position
Doctoral Researcher in Identification of genetic and host markers for severe infection (EU Doctoral Network DETECTIVE)
About the DETECTIVE Doctoral Network DETECTIVE (Data-driven Excellence in Training of Epidemiological, Clinical, Technological and Innovative Virus Experts) is a Horizon…
Due todayPaidData Science · Medical Sciences · Life Sciences
Apply by ViewTampere University
Tampere, Finland
PhD position
MSCA Doctoral Researcher, DETECTIVE project (wastewater virology and epidemic prediction)
Tampere University is a unique, boldly future‑oriented and evolving community, and one of Finland’s most multidisciplinary universities. At Tampere University,…
Due todayPaidMedical Sciences · Statistics
Apply by ViewAalto University
Espoo, Finland
PhD position
Doctoral Researcher in Hardware-Aware AI for Analog and RF Circuits
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 leftPaidComputer Science · Robotics and Automation · Electrical Engineering
Apply by ViewAalto University
Espoo, Finland
PhD position
Doctoral researcher (PhD student) in thin films for electrocatalysis
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…
3 days leftPaidComputer Science · Robotics and Automation · Electrical Engineering
Apply by ViewUniversity of Jyvaskyla
Jyvaskyla, Finland
PhD position
Doctoral Researcher, Philosophy
The Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy is seeking to recruit a Doctoral Researcher in Philosophy for a 4-year fixed-term contract. The contract begins on 4…
3 days leftPaidHumanities · Education
Apply by ViewUniversity of Oulu
Oulu, Finland
PhD position
Doctoral Researcher, Space Physics, Faculty of Science
Faculty of Science, Space Physics and Astronomy The University of Oulu is a multidisciplinary, international research university, with about 4000 employees who produce…
3 days leftPaidPhysics · Education · Environmental Sciences
Apply by ViewTampere University
Tampere, Finland
PhD position
Doctoral Researcher (Gamification / Games / XR / GenAI / Emerging Media for Engagement with Sustainable Futures), 1-3 positions
Tampere University is a unique, boldly future‑oriented and evolving community, and one of Finland’s most multidisciplinary universities. At Tampere University,…
7 days leftPaidArtificial Intelligence · Computer Science · Statistics
Apply by ViewUniversity of Eastern Finland
Kuopio, Finland
PhD position
Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student) position
The Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies, Business School We are inviting applications for a Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student) position at the UEF Business…
7 days leftPaidBusiness and Management
Apply by ViewAalto University
Espoo, Finland
PhD position
Doctoral researcher
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…
7 days leftPaidComputer Science · Robotics and Automation · Electrical Engineering
Apply by ViewUniversity of Helsinki
Helsinki, Finland
PhD position
POSTDOCTORAL OR DOCTORAL RESEARCHER IN PHOTOCATALYTIC RADICAL CHEMISTRY
The University of Helsinki, Department of Chemistry, invites applications for a postdoctoral or doctoral researcher position in photocatalytic radical chemistry at the…
8 days leftPaidChemistry · Energy · Humanities
Apply by ViewTampere University
Tampere, Finland
PhD position
Doctoral Researcher (Administrative Sciences, Business Studies and Politics), 4 positions
Together, Tampere University and Tampere University of Applied Sciences form a higher education community that places faith in people and scientific knowledge. Leading…
8 days leftPaidBusiness and Management · Statistics · Education
Apply by ViewAalto University
Espoo, Finland
PhD position
Doctoral Researcher in Power System Dynamics
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…
10 days leftPaidElectrical Engineering · Computer Science · Robotics and Automation
Apply by ViewTampere University
Tampere, Finland
PhD position
Doctoral Researcher (Ice Crystal Surface Roughness and Atmospheric Optics)
Tampere University and Tampere University of Applied Sciences create a unique environment for multidisciplinary, inspirational and high-impact research and education. Our…
10 days leftPaidPhysics · Mathematics · Statistics
Apply by ViewTampere University
Tampere, Finland
PhD position
Doctoral Researcher (Photoacoustic Aerosol and Black Carbon Measurements)
Tampere University and Tampere University of Applied Sciences create a unique environment for multidisciplinary, inspirational and high-impact research and education. Our…
10 days leftPaidCivil Engineering · Physics · Statistics
Apply by ViewAalto University
Espoo, Finland
PhD position
Doctoral Researcher in Backscatter-Assisted Wireless Positioning
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…
10 days leftPaidElectrical Engineering · Computer Science · Robotics and Automation
Apply by ViewAalto University
Espoo, Finland
PhD position
Doctoral Researcher, MSCA Doctoral Network position “Electric solar wind sail mission design”
Application closes on Unit Job category MSCA Doctoral Network position “Electric solar wind sail mission design” We are now looking for two (2) Doctoral Researchers. This…
12 days leftPaidSchool of Electrical Engineering General · Computer Science · Robotics and Automation
Apply by ViewAalto University
Espoo, Finland
PhD position
Doctoral Researcher in Probabilistic Machine Learning
Application closes on Unit Job category Doctoral Researcher in Probabilistic Machine Learning Aalto University is a community of bold thinkers where science and art meet…
13 days leftPaidArtificial Intelligence · Computer Science · Robotics and Automation
Apply by ViewAalto University
Espoo, Finland
PhD position
Doctoral and postdoctoral positions 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…
15 days leftPaidPhysics · Computer Science · Robotics and Automation
Apply by ViewAalto University
Espoo, Finland
PhD position
2 Doctoral Researchers 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…
15 days leftPaidComputer Science · Robotics and Automation · Electrical Engineering
Apply by ViewUniversity of Eastern Finland
Kuopio, Finland
PhD position
Doctoral Researcher/Project Researcher, 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…
21 days leftPaidLife Sciences
Apply by ViewAalto University
Espoo, Finland
PhD position
Doctoral Researcher position 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…
22 days leftPaidComputer Science · Robotics and Automation · Electrical Engineering
Apply by View
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
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 8 October 2026, Graduates Corner lists 54 open PhD positions in Finland from 8 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 Computer Science (17), Environmental Sciences (17) and Electrical Engineering (14).
Which organizations have the most open PhD positions in Finland?
The organizations with the most open listings are University of Eastern Finland (17), Aalto University (12) and University of Turku (10).
Are these PhD positions funded?
54 of 54 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. 30 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.