Funding doctoral studies

If your application is successful, you are granted a doctoral study right. You must personally arrange funding for your doctoral studies; it can be based on either salary or grants. The most financially stable way is to get an employed position in a doctoral programme. Such positions are open quite rarely and they are understandably actively competed for. Therefore, it is wise to explore other funding opportunities as well.

Even though doctoral candidates are not required to pay tuition fees in Finland, living costs here are substantial. Thus, funding is definitely not something that you can disregard.

Apply for a salaried position

Any salaried researcher positions will be announced at:

– ulapland.fi/tyopaikat (job advertisements in Finnish)
– ulapland.fi/vacancies (job advertisements in English).

We publish researcher vacancies also at the TE Services' website and, depending on the vacancy, through other Finnish and international channels, such as Euraxess.

It is also possible to apply for research projects headed by experienced researchers. Most of these extensive research projects are funded by the Academy of Finland and last for several years.

Apply for a grant

Many researchers work – at least for some time on their doctoral path – on grants provided by foundations and associations. Ask your supervisor for more advice on funding opportunities in your field. It is worth looking into the Research.fi database which is an extensive source of academic grants.

We have a nonstop application period for the Esko Riepula Grant for finalising dissertations.The application possibility is open nonstop.

See more information about the Grant information for researchers guidebook published by The Finnish Union of University Researchers and Teachers (FUURT).