phd in gender studies in finland

Gender studies

Gender studies at the University of Helsinki is a research-intensive unit, serving as the base for leadership of many externally funded research projects. These have included an academy professorship project, several Academy of Finland senior research fellow and postdoctoral projects, a Marie Sklodowska-Curie project, and an exceptionally large research project funded by the Strategic Research Council, all of which you can learn more about at the ‘Research projects’ part of the website.

We actively publish our research in international and Finnish research journals and books, and Gender Studies edits the first Helsinki University Press scientific journal published with the principles of open access,  Redescriptions: Political Thought, Conceptual History and Feminist Theory . Open access to research is a central value in our research and we also follow the open access principles in making our research articles available in the individual researchers’ Tuhat webpages.

Public relevance is an important aspect of our research and our researchers serve as experts within many governmental bodies as well as in civil society organizations. These include the Council for Gender Equality, the Government working committee for the Report on Equality, the Scientific Panel for Population Politics; the “Diverse Families” network; “Trasek,” the association for transgender and intersex rights; the “Forum for Making an Impact with Equality Acts,” and many others.  Co-operation with stakeholders, in particular with non-governmental organisations, forms a central part of most of our research projects. Activism on issues concerning gender, sexuality and minorities has always been close to gender studies research, and this activism is essentially international in character in the same way as is all our research and research co-operation.

Department of Gender Studies

The focal points of gender studies are discourses of gender’s historical, cultural, and social relations. Gender is examined in relation to other identity defining differences, for example, sexuality, nationality, ethnicity, race, age, disability, and body size. 

Gender studies is a discipline at the crossroads of human sciences that studies – demonstrates, analyses, and explains – gender and sexuality in culture and society. Gender studies is critical research that challenges gendered divisions of mundane thinking.  These divisions are present in nearly all fields of life. Gender studies can be practised within any research area: humanities, social sciences, legal science, pedagogics, theology, and natural science. 

Gender Studies at the University of Turku is a department under the Faculty of Humanities and its School of History, Culture and Arts Studies. Gender Studies is an open minor to all students at the University.

A Master’s Programme in Gender Studies  is also available in English as a major.

Gender Studies in the Social Media

Tutustu sukupuolentutkimuksen oppiaineeseen, collaboration, contact information.

• Doctoral Programme in Gender, Culture, and Society
• Doctoral School and Doctoral Programmes
• University of Helsinki Doctoral School
• Website https://www.helsinki.fi/en/research/doctoral-education/doctoral-schools-and-programmes/doctoral-school-in-humanities-and-social-sciences/doctoral-programme-in-gender-culture-and-society
• 1 - 50 out of 155 results
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Tiina Airaksinen

• Department of Cultures - Senior University Lecturer
• Faculty Common Matters (Faculty of Arts) - Title of Docent
• Asian Studies
• Teachers' Academy
• Doctoral Programme in Gender, Culture, and Society - Supervisor for doctoral programme

Person: U3 Research and teaching staff

Vilja Alanko

• Faculty of Theology
• Faculty of Theology - Grant-funded researcher

Person: Visiting scholar, Doctoral Researcher

Salla Aldrin Salskov

• Gender Studies

Person: Doctoral Researcher

• Academic Disciplines of the Faculty of Social Sciences - Grant-funded researcher

Mulki Al-Sharmani, Associate Professor of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, Faculty of Arts, January 2020-

• Department of Cultures - Associate professor
• Faculty of Theology - Title of Docent
• Middle Eastern Studies
• Study of Religions

Person: U3 Research and teaching staff, UH

Suzy Joseph Ramez Ameen

Hadle Andersen

• Doctoral Programme in Philosophy, Arts, and Society - Supervisor for doctoral programme

Tiina Arppe

• Faculty Common Matters (Faculty of Social Sciences) - Title of Docent
• Doctoral Programme in Social Sciences - Supervisor for doctoral programme

Tanja A Auvinen

Kristiina Brunila

• AGORA for the study of social justice and equality in education -research centre
• Department of Education - Professor
• Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS)
• Doctoral Programme in School, Education, Society, and Culture - Supervisor for doctoral programme
• Faculty Common Matters (Faculty of Education) - Title of Docent

Person: U4 Research and teaching staff

Anna-Maija Castren

Person: Extern

Stephanie Clark

• Department of Cultures - Doctoral Researcher

Person: U1 Research and teaching staff, Doctoral Researcher

Kris Clarke

• Social Work - Professor
• Helsinki Institute of Urban and Regional Studies (Urbaria)
• Helsinki Inequality Initiative (INEQ)

Person: U3 Research and teaching staff, Teaching and research personnel, U4 Research and teaching staff

Ismo Dunderberg

• Biblical Studies - Professor

Eija T Eggert

Johanna Eränkö Hyytinen

Sarah Green

• Social and Cultural Anthropology - Professor
• Helsinki One Health (HOH)

Sofie S Gregersen

Heidi Haggrén

• Centre for Nordic Studies CENS
• Research Services - Specialist

Person: Other personnel, M4 Administrative staff, Doctoral Researcher

Liisa Hakala

• Department of Education - University Lecturer
• Kasvatus, opetus ja opettajankoulutus

Outi Hakola

• Department of Cultures - Docent Contract
• Doctoral Programme in Political, Soci­etal and Regional Change - Supervisor for doctoral programme

Person: UH , Teaching and research personnel

Anu A. Harju, Ph.D.

• Media and Communication Studies - University Researcher

• Swedish School of Social Science - Doctoral Researcher

Heidi Härkönen

• Department of Cultures - Grant-funded researcher

Person: Visiting scholar

Klisala Harrison

• Department of Philosophy, History and Art Studies - Visiting scholar, Docent Contract, Title of Docent
• Doctoral Programme in History and Cultural Heritage - Supervisor for doctoral programme

Person: Visiting scholar, UH , Teaching and research personnel

Anna Heinonen

Josephine Hoegaerts

• Department of Cultures - Visiting professor, Title of Docent
• European Area and Cultural Studies

Anne Holli, Professor

• Political Science - Professor

Person: UH , U4 Research and teaching staff

Julian Honkasalo, PhD, docent

• Department of Cultures - Grant-funded researcher, Title of Docent

Person: Visiting scholar, Teaching and research personnel

Veronika Honkasalo

Laura Elina Horsmanheimo

• Helsinki Hub on Emotions, Populism and Polarisation

Person: Doctoral Researcher, M5 Teaching and research support staff

Edna Elina Huotari

• Department of Philosophy, History and Art Studies - Doctoral Researcher

Katriina Emilia Huttunen

• Department of Forest Sciences - Doctoral Researcher

Linnea Jämsä, Doctoral Researcher

Inga Jasinskaja-Lahti

• Social Psychology - Professor
• Social Psychologists Studying Intergroup Relations (ESSO)

Person: Teaching and research personnel, U4 Research and teaching staff

Marjaana Jauhola

• Academic Disciplines of the Faculty of Social Sciences - Docent Contract

Milla-Maria Joki

• Helsinki University Library - Information Specialist

Person: M2 Library staff, Doctoral Researcher

Ilse Julkunen

Utu-Tuuli Sylvia Jussila

Marjut Jyrkinen

• Department of Cultures - Professor

Katja Kahlina, PhD

• Department of Cultures - Visiting scholar

Johanna Kantola, Professor

• Centre for European Studies - Professor

Sanna Karhu

Person: Visiting scholar, U2 Teaching and research staff

Mira Karjalainen

• Department of Cultures - Docent Contract, Grant-funded researcher

Hisayo Katsui

• Social Policy - Professor

Jonna Katto

• Department of Languages - Academy Research Fellow

Saara Kekki

• Department of Digital Humanities - Academy Research Fellow
• Area and Cultural Studies
• North American Studies

Suvi Keskinen

• Swedish School of Social Science - Professor
• CEREN (The Centre for Research on Ethnic Relations and Nationalism)

Person: UH , Teaching and research personnel, U4 Research and teaching staff

Pauli Kettunen

• Faculty Common Matters (Faculty of Social Sciences) - Prof. emer.
• Political History

Sukupuolentutkimuksen tohtoriohjelma

Gender studies doctoral programme.

Gender Studies Doctoral Programme is a national PhD programme funded by Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture, and Academy of Finland. During the period 2012–2015 universities of Helsinki, Eastern Finland, Jyväskylä, Lapland, Oulu, Tampere and Turku as well as Åbo Akademi University and Hanken School of Economics are involved in the doctoral programme. Gender Studies Doctoral Programme is coordinated by University of Helsinki. The director of the programme is Academy Professor Tuija Pulkkinen.

The board of the doctoral programme consists of professors from all the Finnish universities granting doctoral degrees in gender studies. The board acts also as the supervision team. Gender studies is a dynamic and growing field of research encompassing women’s, men’s and queer studies. Drawing from the nature of gender studies, the starting point and research approach of the doctoral progamme is essentially multi- and transdiciplinary.

Gender Studies Doctoral Programme was founded in 1995. During the first three periods, from 1995 to 2006, the programme was called Gender System Graduate School ; during the period 2007–2011 it changed its name to The Finnish Research School in Women’s and Gender Studies . From 2012 onwards the name of the programme has been Gender Studies Doctoral Programme.

During the current period Gender Studies Doctoral Programme focuses especially on internationalization of the doctoral schooling. This has been pursued by internationalization strategy and by granting international mobility grants. The doctoral programme also closely collaborates with InterGender , Swedish-International Research School in Interdisciplinary Gender Studies.

Gender Studies Doctoral Programme does no longer accept new PhD students. From 2014 onwards Finnish doctoral education has become increasingly centralized in individual universities. More information on the current PhD education can be found from university websites.

Doctoral Programme in Social Sciences

Understand society, degree earned, planned duration, extent of studies.

The Doctoral Programme in Social Sciences provides you with versatile abilities to successfully perform expert tasks that require extensive and in-depth understanding of the interaction between society and individuals, and to work in academic research and teaching positions in Finland and abroad. Doctoral education concentrates on your own area of speciality, but it also provides an extensive understanding of the operation of society and people in our changing world. The postgraduate studies strengthen your theoretical and methodological skills, prepare you for acting in a multidisciplinary research environment and expert groups, as well as helps you to develop skills in research ethics and abilities required in working life.

The purpose of doctoral education is to adopt scientific thinking, which aims at the truth and includes adopting a critical stance, as well as learning ethically sustainable scientific practices, and mastering the diverse skills of a researcher. As a researcher with a doctoral degree, you are familiar with the theories and methods in your own research tradition and have an extensive grasp of social research and related research questions. You are also able to apply different approaches and methods in your research, reporting and administrative work as well as in expert and management tasks in the public and private sectors. As an expert with a doctoral degree, you understand the greatest social changes of our time and are able to seek solutions to social problems and ask questions which have not been posed yet. Doctors graduating from the Doctoral Programme in Social Sciences find jobs in research, education, development, planning, and supervisory tasks. It is easy for them to find employment.

Detailed information on the content and structure of the studies is included in the curriculum.

Become a student

Learn more about the studies, admissions, and eligibility criteria on Studyinfo. In addition, applications are submitted via the Studyinfo.fi service.

Carefully read through the admissions requirements before applying. For additional questions on applying, application documents and application process, please email: soc.doctoralstudies.tau(a)tuni.fi. Professor in Charge of the Doctoral Programme is Päivi Honkatukia ( paivi.honkatukia [at] tuni.fi ).

Questions on research plans and prospective supervisors:

• Criminology and Criminal Policy: Research Director Noora Ellonen ( noora.ellonen [at] tuni.fi (noora[dot]ellonen[at]tuni[dot]fi) )
• Gender Studies: University Lecturer Marja Peltola ( marja.peltola [at] tuni.fi (marja[dot]peltola[at]tuni[dot]fi) )
• Peace and Conflict Research: Professor Tarja Väyrynen ( tarja.vayrynen [at] tuni.fi (tarja[dot]vayrynen[at]tuni[dot]fi) )
• Social Anthropology: Professor Laura Huttunen ( Laura.Huttunen [at] tuni.fi (laura[dot]huttunen[at]tuni[dot]fi) )
• Social Policy: Professor Marita Husso ( marita.husso [at] tuni.fi )
• Social Psychology: Associate Professor Melisa Stevanovic ( melisa.stevanovic [at] tuni.fi ) 
• Social Work: Professor Riikka Korkiamäki ( riikka.korkiamaki [at] tuni.fi (riikka[dot]korkiamaki[at]tuni[dot]fi) )
• Sociology: Professor Semi Purhonen ( semi.purhonen [at] tuni.fi (semi[dot]purhonen[at]tuni[dot]fi) )
• Youth Research: Professor Päivi Honkatukia ( Paivi.Honkatukia [at] uta.fi (paivi[dot]honkatukia[at]tuni[dot]fi) )

For more information on applying

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Degree programme   Postgraduate degree (University)

Degree earned: Doctor of Philosophy , Doctor of Social Sciences

Extent of studies: 240 ECTS

Planned duration: 4 years

City: Tampere

Tampere University and Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK) constitute the Tampere Universities community. Our areas of priority in research and education are technology, health and society. Tampere University: +358 (0)294 5211 Tampere University of Applied Sciences : +358 (0)294 5222

Tampere Peace Research Institute

Doctoral Programme

TAPRI is the only higher education institute in Finland that offers a Doctoral Degree in Peace and Conflict Research.

All doctoral students of Peace and Conflict Research are members of the Doctoral Programme in Social Sciences that includes the following disciplines: Social Anthropology; Social Policy; Social Psychology; Social Work; Sociology; Gender Studies; and Peace and Conflict Studies.

The Doctoral Degree takes approximately four years and is worth 240 ECTS credits. Doctoral studies require independent research and a Doctoral dissertation. The aim of the programme is to offer education in research that provides diversified skills for working in demanding specialist and research duties.

Postgraduate studies enhance general theoretical and methodological skills, train students to work in multidisciplinary research groups and develop their ethical and practical working life skills. A graduate of the doctoral programme knows the theories and the methods of his or her own discipline exceedingly well, has a broad knowledge of social research and its issues, and can evaluate the significance of the various research approaches and methods.

TAPRI organizes supervision and its own research seminar. Doctoral students in Peace and Conflict Research become a member of TAPRI community with senior researchers and MA students. In the selection process of potential applicants we are emphasizing convenience of suggested research topic to focal points of research at TAPRI and availability of appropriate supervisors. The priority areas of research are: Feminist Peace Research, Peace Mediation and Peacebuilding, Everyday Peace and Global Mobility.

Application period twice a year (application periods in April and October)

If you are interested apply for the Doctoral Programme in Social Sciences. You can find our admission requirements at Tampere University’s Admissions page and explore the curriculum .

Doctoral admissions

You can search for doctoral programmes on the application portal Studyinfo.fi , or you can contact the universities directly about the doctoral study and research options they offer. Check the application times and procedures, eligibility requirements and other details with the university you are interested in. The following links will take you to each university's Doctoral studies and research info pages.

• Aalto University
• University of Helsinki
• University of Eastern Finland
• University of Jyväskylä
• University of Lapland
• LUT University
• University of Oulu
• Hanken School of Economics
• University of the Arts Helsinki
• Tampere University
• University of Turku
• University of Vaasa
• Åbo Akademi University  

Doctoral / PhD funding opportunities

See the advice on doctoral level scholarships  to learn where you can search for doctoral level research funding. The universities may also offer paid doctoral and post-doc positions, see below.

Academic research positions and jobs

Announcements for doctoral and post-doc researcher positions at Finnish universities can also be found on academic recruitment sites like:

• Jobs in Finland / Academic
• Academicpositions.fi

Early career researcher info & advice

Information, advice and guidelines for early career researchers - compiled by the Finnish Union of University Researchers and Teachers (FUURT)

Scientific research in Finland

Research.fi is a service offered by the Ministry of Education and Culture where you can learn more about the Finnish science and innovation system and policy, and research conducted in Finland.

• Research.fi

Apply for doctoral studies

Here’s how to apply for doctoral studies at Åbo Akademi University:

1) Check to see whether you are eligible to apply for doctoral studies.

You must have completed

• an appropriate university Master’s degree or
• an appropriate vocational higher education degree or
• an appropriate foreign education, which provides eligibility for equivalent doctoral-level studies in the country in question.

In general, you are required to have completed advanced studies in your chosen major subject or possess corresponding knowledge either within or in addition to a prior degree.

2) Familiarise yourself with the doctoral programmes and the strategic research profiles at Åbo Akademi University.

Doctoral programmes at Åbo Akademi University have one or more major subjects. The specific criteria for admission and content of doctoral programme studies vary by faculty, programme and subject.

3) Contact a professor in your desired major subject.

Together with a professor, discuss your interest in research and plans for doctoral studies in relation to the subject’s research and any supervisors involved.

4) Draft a research plan (max 10,000 characters) in consultation with the supervisor recommended by the professor/subject.

The research plan is a required attachment to the application for doctoral studies. The research plan may be checked for plagiarism. You write the plan according to the advice you get from your assigned supervisor and the instructions in the individual studyplan ( max 10,000 characters (incl spaces) + references).

5) Fill out an individual study plan for doctoral studies together with your assigned supervisors and head of subject.

The individual study plan (ISP) is a required attachment to the application for doctoral studies. The ISP specifies the rights and obligations of the doctoral student and supervisors. The ISP must be signed by the applicant, the potential supervisors and the head of subject before attachment to the application. If all parties cannot sign a hard copy of the plan, it is allowed to scan and sign each in their turn, or, to attach several signing pages (as PDF or photo) to the ISP. If all other technical solutions are impossible, the parties can give their approval by email. Then, the emails should be printed as PDF and attached to the ISP. The main issue is that the approval by all parties must be documented.

6) Submit your application in the application portal Studyinfo within a deadline.

Only fully completed applications will be given consideration. A complete application contains the following appendices:

• copies of your certificates showing completion of Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees or equivalent degrees; the verified copies should include transcript of records ( verified = for instance, a third party confirms the copy to be true by writing date and signature on the copy )
• Your individual study plan for doctoral studies ( NB! Must be signed by the applicant, potential supervisors and the head of subject before attachment to the application, cf section 5 above! )
• Your research plan

How to submit an application

• Go to the national application portal Studyinfo
• Search for the doctoral programme that you want to apply to.
• Click on the doctoral programme of your choice in the search results.
• Click on Application ongoing > Show study programmes available for application > Fill in application form. The function is active only during application periods, starting from approx. one month before the deadline.
• Fill in the application and attach the appendices.

When the faculty has reached a decision on your application, you will receive a written notification from Research Services. NB! You need to accept your right to study within the deadline in the notification on the admission.

7) Application deadlines

Each academic year, there are four application periods for doctoral studies. Applicants fill out and submit their application in the portal Studyinfo .

The application deadlines for the academic year 2023-2024 have closed.

The application deadlines for the academic year 2024-2025 are, as follows:

8) On tuition fees

For now, there is no tuition fee for doctoral students. On the other hand, there are no scholarship programmes for doctoral students. Hence, as a doctoral student you are expected to provide financially for yourself.

Do you have questions? Please, contact Research Services by e-mail: graduateschool@abo.fi

Doctoral programmes at Åbo Akademi University

All doctoral programmes at Åbo Akademi University have a basic structure comprising a total of 240 credits.   Degree Studies Dissertation/Thesis Doctoral degree 40 credits

Facts on the Graduate School at Åbo Akademi University

The Graduate School at Åbo Akademi University is an umbrella unit for Åbo Akademi doctoral programmes. The purpose of the Graduate School at Åbo Akademi

About Åbo Akademi University strategic research profiling

Åbo Akademi University focuses its research on these strategic themes: Solutions for Health, Minority Research, Technologies for a Sustainable Future, and The Sea.

Centres of Excellence

With the support from the Åbo Akademi University Foundation, Åbo Akademi University has appointed Centres of Excellence in Research since 2006.

Research Information System AboCRIS

Here you will find more information on the research information system AboCRIS.

Do research with us

Read more on research at Åbo Akademi University.

Updated 25.4.2024

PhD Gender Studies programs in Finland

Gender studies.

University of Turku

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings is the only global university performance table to judge research-intensive universities across all of their core missions: teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.

Deadline information

Best universities with gender studies in finland.

Bachelor Gender Studies programs in Finland

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PhD Gender Studies programs in Finland

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