96 Best PhD Programs in Finland

There are 96 PhD programs in Finland, spread across 11 universities; the most common length is 4 years. Courses from Aalto University, University of Helsinki and University of Oulu come first, because those universities rank highest.

Subject

Level

University type

Location

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Universities 11 Programs 96 Scholarships 1

25PhD / Doctorate

Joensuu, Finland

Doctoral Programme of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies

University of Eastern Finland — The doctoral programme of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies is based on research conducted within the faculty’s disciplines. Research topics come from s...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

3 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

springautumnIntake

Business & Management

View program → About the university

26PhD / Doctorate

Joensuu, Finland

Doctoral Programme of the Philosophical Faculty (FILOTO)

University of Eastern Finland — The Doctoral Programme of the Philosophical Faculty at the University of Eastern Finland leads to the Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Philosophy (Education), Doctor of Ph...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

—Intake

View program → About the university

27PhD / Doctorate

Joensuu, Finland

Scientific licentiate degree

University of Eastern Finland — At the Faculty of Health Sciences, the Scientific licentiate degree can lead to the Licentiate of Philosophy (Pharmacy), Licentiate of Philosophy, or Licentiate of Health...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

spring, autumnIntake

View program → About the university

28PhD / 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

29PhD / 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

30PhD / 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

31PhD / 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

32PhD / 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

33PhD / 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

34PhD / 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

35PhD / 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

36PhD / 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

37PhD / 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

43PhD / 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

44PhD / 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

45PhD / 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

46PhD / 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

47PhD / 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

48PhD / 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

Programs at other levels

Bachelor's Programs Master's Programs

By city

Helsinki Turku

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 Medicine & Health Sciences Programs Programs in Tampere

How these courses are ranked

6 of these universities hold a QS World position, from #114 (Aalto University) to #498 (University of Jyväskylä); they are listed first, in that order. The rest are ordered by research impact. University of Helsinki has the largest research record in this group, with 22,163,230 citations and an h-index of 1,173. 2 universities have neither a QS position nor a research record yet and appear at the end, marked "Not yet ranked".

Inside the course list

The most common subjects are Medicine & Health Sciences (16), Engineering (9), Education (8) and Business & Management (8). The usual length is 4 years and 3 years. 100% are full-time. Start dates lean to Fall (74% of courses with a stated intake) and Spring (30% of courses with a stated intake). Tampere University offers the widest choice, with 18 of these courses.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best university in Finland for PhD?

Aalto University (QS World #114), University of Helsinki (QS World #116) and University of Oulu (QS World #342) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.

How long does a PhD course take in Finland?

Most listed courses run 4 years, with 3 years the next most common.

When do PhD courses start in Finland?

Fall is the main intake — 74% of courses with a stated start date begin then, and Spring is the second.

Which university has the most PhD courses in Finland?

Tampere University, with 18, ahead of University of Turku (17).

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