Application for University of Helsinki Doctoral School support for dissertation completing 2027

The University of Helsinki Doctoral School is inviting applications for funding to complete a doctoral thesis.

The University of Helsinki Doctoral School is inviting applications for funding to complete a doctoral thesis. The funding will be allocated to full-time doctoral researchers for a period of three months, with a contract of employment in one of the University of Helsinki Academic units.

The positions are meant for finalising the thesis work, allowing the individuals selected to submit their doctoral theses for preliminary examination at the end of the employment. In the spring 2026 call, 21 applicants out of about 150 applicants were selected for places to finish their dissertation. In this call, the goal is to fill 15-20 3-month dissertation completion positions.

The call be open from 28 September to 8 October 2026. The application form is open during the application period.

Successful applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be a doctoral researcher in a doctoral programme of the University of Helsinki Doctoral School.
• Be registered as attending at the time of application and throughout the prospective employment.
• 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
• Be sufficiently advanced in their studies so that completion of the doctoral thesis for preliminary examination is feasible by the end of the three-month employment period, in the opinion of both the applicant and the supervisor.
• The applicant has not received a grant or other funding to finalise their doctoral thesis.
• The applicant has not previously received a doctoral researcher position funded by the University of Helsinki for a total of four years.
• At least 75% of the doctoral thesis work must be completed by the end of the application period, and it must be possible to complete the studies required for the degree before submitting the thesis for preliminary examination.

Priority will be given to applicants who have progressed with their doctoral thesis alongside their work without specific funding for their doctoral research.

Information submitted in applications will be verified, where applicable, in Thessa. Please ensure that the information in Thessa of the supervisor/s and follow up group members is up to date, the thesis committee meetings have been appropriately held and annual reports are up to date before the application period ends. 

The position is full-time. The working period can start no earlier than January 1, 2027 and no later than June 1, 2027. The work is carried out in Finland and the position can be started while living in Finland or only after arriving in Finland.

Please send your application via our recruitment system (click Apply -button) latest on October 8, 2026. 

• A brief description of the doctoral dissertation research topic (maximum 100 words)
• An overview of the current status of the work
• A detailed work plan
• A timeline for submitting the thesis for pre-examination
• A report on the funding you have received for your doctoral research, including grants and employment contracts, as well as their duration. For this use the structure provided in the funding sources template 

Save the attachment as a PDF file named: LastName_FirstName_Date.

Do not include a CV in this file, even though the title is "Curriculum Vitae". Applicants should leave the application form section " Please describe what motivates you about this job opportunity. Alternatively, you can include a separate application letter as an attachment.” empty. The application will not be processed, if the total length of the attachment exceeds 2 pages. Applications must be submitted between 28.9.-8.10.2026  

For instructions on how to complete the application, please refer to the following link: https://studies.helsinki.fi/instructions/node/1277?degree_programme_code=DP006