22 Best PhD Programs in Helsinki

There are 22 PhD programs in Helsinki, spread across 3 universities — most run 4 years. Courses from Aalto University, University of Helsinki and Hanken School of Economics come first, because those universities rank highest.

Subject

Level

University type

Location

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Universities 3 Programs 22 Scholarships 1

1PhD / Doctorate

QS World #114 #1 in Finland Helsinki, Finland

Doctoral Programme in Arts, Design and Architecture, Doctor of Arts

Aalto University — Aalto University’s Doctoral Programme in Arts, Design and Architecture leads to the Doctor of Arts (Art and Design) degree.The programme is taught in English and has a pl...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

—Intake

Arts, Design & Architecture

View program → About the university

2PhD / Doctorate

QS World #114 #1 in Finland Helsinki, Finland

Doctoral Programme in Arts, Design and Architecture, Doctor of Technology

Aalto University — Aalto University offers this doctoral programme in Arts, Design and Architecture, leading to the Doctor of Science in Technology. The field is Architecture and constructi...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

—Intake

Arts, Design & Architecture

View program → About the university

3PhD / Doctorate

QS World #114 #1 in Finland Helsinki, Finland

Doctoral Programme in Business, Economics and Finance

Aalto University — Aalto University’s Doctoral Programme in Business, Economics and Finance provides doctoral training in 12 disciplines: Accounting, Business Law, Economics, Entrepreneursh...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

—Intake

Business & Management

View program → About the university

4PhD / Doctorate

QS World #114 #1 in Finland Helsinki, Finland

Doctoral Programme in Chemical Engineering

Aalto University — The Doctoral Programme in Chemical Engineering at Aalto University covers six research fields: forest products technologies, chemical engineering, industrial biotechnolog...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

AutumnIntake

Engineering

View program → About the university

5PhD / Doctorate

QS World #114 #1 in Finland Helsinki, Finland

Doctoral Programme in Electrical Engineering

Aalto University — The Doctoral Programme in Electrical Engineering is a multidisciplinary doctoral programme at Aalto University. It covers the disciplines of the School of Electrical Engi...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

—Intake

Engineering

View program → About the university

6PhD / Doctorate

QS World #114 #1 in Finland Helsinki, Finland

Doctoral Programme in Engineering

Aalto University — The Doctoral Programme in Engineering leads to the Doctor of Science in Technology. It covers research fields including spatial planning and transportation engineering, r...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

—Intake

Engineering

View program → About the university

7PhD / Doctorate

QS World #114 #1 in Finland Helsinki, Finland

Doctoral Programme in Science

Aalto University — The Doctoral Programme in Science is a multidisciplinary doctoral programme in physics, mathematics and statistics, systems analysis, neuroscience and biomedical engineer...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

—Intake

View program → About the university

8PhD / Doctorate

QS World #116 #2 in Finland Helsinki, Finland

Doctoral Programme in Biomedicine

University of Helsinki — The Doctoral Programme in Biomedicine focuses on biomedicine, molecular medicine and translational medicine. It covers molecular, cellular, physiological and pathological...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

April 2026July 2026September 2026Intake

Medicine & Health Sciences

View program → About the university

9PhD / Doctorate

QS World #116 #2 in Finland Helsinki, Finland

Doctoral Programme in Clinical Research

University of Helsinki — The Doctoral Programme in Clinical Research is coordinated by the University of Helsinki’s Faculty of Medicine under the University of Helsinki Doctoral School. It develo...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

April, SeptemberIntake

Medicine & Health Sciences

View program → About the university

10PhD / Doctorate

QS World #116 #2 in Finland Helsinki, Finland

University of Helsinki — The Doctoral Programme in One Health at the University of Helsinki covers the links between human, animal and environmental health. It focuses on animal health and welfar...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

AprilSeptemberNovemberIntake

View program → About the university

16PhD / Doctorate

QS World #116 #2 in Finland Helsinki, Finland

Doctoral Programme in Population Health and Human Behaviour

University of Helsinki — The Doctoral Programme in Population Health and Human Behaviour is an interdisciplinary doctoral programme at the University of Helsinki. It examines the causes, conseque...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

April and SeptemberIntake

View program → About the university

17PhD / Doctorate

QS World #116 #2 in Finland Helsinki, Finland

Doctoral Programme in Science

University of Helsinki — The Doctoral Programme in Science trains scientists and experts in natural sciences and mathematics. It covers atmospheric sciences, chemistry, computer science, geoscien...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

April, July, September, NovemberIntake

View program → About the university

18PhD / Doctorate

QS World #116 #2 in Finland Helsinki, Finland

Doctoral Programme in Social Sciences

University of Helsinki — The Doctoral Programme in Social Sciences at the University of Helsinki covers social scientific research across the Faculty of Social Sciences and related fields. It inc...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

April, SeptemberIntake

Social Sciences & Psychology

View program → About the university

19PhD / Doctorate

QS World #116 #2 in Finland Helsinki, Finland

Doctoral Programme in Theology and Religious Studies

University of Helsinki — The Doctoral Programme in Theology and Religious Studies is a cross-disciplinary doctoral programme at the University of Helsinki. It covers biblical studies, church hist...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

April, SeptemberIntake

View program → About the university

20PhD / Doctorate

QS World #116 #2 in Finland Helsinki, Finland

Doctoral programme in multidisciplinary research in renewable natural resources

University of Helsinki — The Doctoral Programme in Multidisciplinary Research in Renewable Natural Resources is based at the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry at the University of Helsinki. It...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

April, September, NovemberIntake

View program → About the university

21PhD / Doctorate

QS World #116 #2 in Finland Helsinki, Finland

Doctoral programme in the Humanities

University of Helsinki — The Doctoral Programme in the Humanities brings together the humanities research areas represented at the University of Helsinki. It covers language and linguistic intera...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

AprilSeptemberIntake

View program → About the university

22PhD / Doctorate

#10 in Finland Helsinki, Finland

PhD, Hanken School of Economics

Hanken School of Economics — Hanken School of Economics offers a PhD programme in business and administration. The degree title is Doctor of Science (Economics and Business Administration) or Doctor...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

—Intake

Economics & Public Policy

View program → About the university

Programs at other levels

Bachelor's Programs Master's Programs

Popular collections

Master's Programs Programs in Helsinki Master's Programs in Helsinki Engineering Programs Business & Management Programs Master's Engineering Programs Master's Business & Management Programs Bachelor's Programs PhD Programs Medicine & Health Sciences Programs

How these courses are ranked

2 of these universities hold a QS World position, from #114 (Aalto University) to #116 (University of Helsinki); they are listed first, in that order. Below them, universities follow their research output: University of Helsinki is cited most (22,163,230 citations).

What the courses look like

The most common subjects are Engineering (3), Life Sciences (2), Arts, Design & Architecture (2) and Medicine & Health Sciences (2). The usual length is 4 years. 100% are full-time. Start dates lean to Fall (100% of courses with a stated intake) and Summer (14% of courses with a stated intake). University of Helsinki offers the widest choice, with 14 of these courses.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best university in Helsinki for PhD?

Aalto University (QS World #114), University of Helsinki (QS World #116) and Hanken School of Economics (#10 in Finland) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.

How long does a PhD course take in Helsinki?

Most listed courses run 4 years.

When do PhD courses start in Helsinki?

Fall is the main intake — 100% of courses with a stated start date begin then, and Summer is the second.

Which university has the most PhD courses in Helsinki?

University of Helsinki, with 14, ahead of Aalto University (7).

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