phd student salary finland

Employment as a doctoral researcher

The University of Helsinki (UH) annually allocates funding to doctoral programmes for salaried positions (employment contract).  

The next application period for salaried positions will be on 29.08.-14.09.2023.   

Salaried doctoral researcher positions are aimed at enabling full-time work on doctoral dissertations and doctoral studies, with the goal of completing a doctoral degree in four years. The exact duration of employment, its’ start and end dates are determined in the employment contract.  

The salary and other further details concerning the employment relationship are available in the call for applications (available when the call is open). 

You can apply for a salaried position in a doctoral programme if you are currently a doctoral student at the University of Helsinki or are planning to pursue a doctoral degree.  

If you already have a doctoral study right at the University of Helsinki, you can apply for a salaried position, if you have not yet spent a total of four years with a UH funded doctoral researcher salary. 

Please read your doctoral programme’s instructions below. 

Applications for a salaried position in a doctoral programme are submitted by completing the application form and enclosing the required attachments.  

If you do not yet have the right to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Helsinki, you can apply for the right in the September study right call or in the spring at the latest. Please note that this may result in your employment beginning later than 1 January 2024.  

If you are offered a salaried position, you must apply and be awarded the right to pursue a doctoral degree in your doctoral programme within the six-month trial period.  

Please note that you may apply for a UH-funded doctoral candidate position from a maximum of two doctoral programmes. If an applicant has submitted more than two applications, the two most recently dated will be considered and reviewed. 

If you already have the right to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Helsinki, you may also apply for a salaried position from another doctoral programme that suits your research profile.  

 If you receive a salaried position from another doctoral programme, you will need to change your doctoral programme. This means that you may need to reapply for study right if your faculty or target degree changes. This application should be made in the spring at the latest. Please note that this may affect the start date of your potential employment. If you are applying for a salaried position in more than one doctoral programme, please complete a separate application form for each one.  

You will find more instructions on applying from the doctoral programme specific instructions below. 

On these pages you will find information on how to use the recruitment system.  

Further information can be requested by writing to  phd-positions(at)helsinki.fi  

The Doctoral Programme in Integrative Life Science (ILS) is an international doctoral program providing structured training in life sciences areas requiring multidisciplinary skills and capability engage in multiprofessional cooperation. The Life Science areas in Finland share a strong component of multidisciplinary approaches bridging research in basic biosciences, computational sciences and medicine. The research groups affiliated in ILS represent the highest quality life science research in Helsinki. Their research interests cover nearly all aspects of modern life sciences ranging from molecular medicine and developmental biology to biophysics and systems biology. The integrative aspect of research may occur on various levels: versatile approaches to the research question, different levels of complexity (e.g. molecular, cellular, tissue level), or diversity of methodology used.

ILS them­atic research areas:

• Proteomics and Metabolomics
• Genetics and Genomics
• Developmental Biology and Physiology
• Cell and Molecular Biology
• Bioinformatics and Systems Biology
• Biochemistry, Biophysics and Structural Biology

You can find ILS degree structure in the Instructions for students (select ILS from the dropdown menu).

The doctoral programme is offering 5 positions, starting in January 2024. Doctoral researcher positions funded by the University of Helsinki are primarily aimed at young researchers who are at the beginning of their doctoral studies. The salaried positions are for 1–4 years of full-time work and the length of the employment contract is determined by the stage of the applicant's doctoral thesis. Only full years may be applied for.

In addition to doctoral programme-specific positions, University of Helsinki Doctoral School allocates 10 strategically targeted doctoral researcher positions for the four-year period 2024–2027 in a thematic call. Theme of the call is Multidisciplinary research on One Health including a global dimension and the appointees in this call are selected among the high-scoring 4-year applicants in all doctoral programmes by a separate multidisciplinary thematic evaluation panel. If you want to apply for these positions, please fill out the ‘Thematic call’ section in the application form.

One Health is understood in its widest scope referring to an integrated, unifying approach to balance and optimize the health of people, animals and the environment. The global dimension may be evident in the research proposals in the spirit of global responsibility, with a special focus on Africa. Groundbreaking basic research, open-minded curiosity and cooperation that transcends boundaries are supported. The projects are expected to increase our knowledge towards building a sustainable future by finding solutions to both local and global issues and thereby benefiting the global community.

In addition, University of Helsinki Research Foundation allocates 10 positions to high-scoring 4-year applicants in all doctoral programmes. The Foundation emphasizes multidisciplinarity and the applicant's ability to explain which societal problems or questions the research aims to answer.

You can apply for the salaried positions in ILS if: 

• You already have the doctoral study right at the University of Helsinki
• You have an MSc, MD or equivalent degree. If you do not yet have the right to pursue a postgraduate doctoral degree, you must apply for a doctoral study right in the September 2023 application period (1.–14.9.2023) or in January 2024 at the latest. In this case, please read carefully the instructions for doctoral study right applicants .
• You can apply for the position if you have not yet graduated. However, your Master’s thesis must graded at the time of the application  AND a relevant academic degree (MSc, MD or equivalent) in a field suitable for thesis project must be completed and obtained before 31.12.2023. Note that you must apply for the study right in the January 2024 call of the doctoral program and that you must receive the right to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Helsinki within the 6-month trial period of the employment.

Please note that the application form requires you to upload a copy of your degree diploma (MSc, MD or equivalent). If you have not yet obtained the degree diploma, you can upload an official transcript of your studies thus far.

Applications for a salaried position are submitted via the University of Helsinki recruitment system.

The application period will  open on the 29th of August 2023 and close on the 14th of September 2023 . The application form is open during the application period. You will find the application form for each doctoral programme during the open call period from the University of Helsinki Open positions webpages.

Mandatory attachments for all applicants are: copy of your degree diploma, CV, and research plan.

• To ensure the equal treatment of applicants, CV must follow the template of the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity TENK. The application may be rejected if the instructions are not followed.
• LINK to the CV template
• Layout: Font Arial/Calibri size 11 or similar if not using Word
• Row min 1,15
• Maximum length of CV: 2 pages
• To ensure the equal treatment of applicants, you must use research plan structure presented in the template and follow the maximum number of characters including spaces indicated in the template. The application may be rejected if the instructions are not followed.
• LINK to the research plan template
• Copies of your degree diploma and transcript of studies (or transcript of studies only, if you have not graduated yet)
• LINK to the approval form
• All attachments need to be combined as one pdf file and attached to the ‘CV/Ansioluettelo’ section of the application. The maximum size of the combined file is 5 MB.

When applying for a funded position, please use the English application form and write the whole application in English . Other applications will not be considered.

Please note that you may apply for a UH-funded doctoral candidate position from a maximum of two doctoral programmes . If an applicant has submitted more than two applications, the two most recently dated will be considered and reviewed.

Please note that even though the application closes at midnight, we advise you to submit your application earlier. We will not answer your question about the application, or the application form, after 16.00 EEST on the day the application closes.

In order to be eligible for evaluation, a Recommendation letter must be completed by the primary supervisor in separate e-form by  September 18th, 2023 at 16:00 EEST. It is the applicant's own responsibility to ask the supervisor to send a recommendation letter via e-form. The recommendation letters need to written in English. Recommendation letters are not accepted after the deadline.

ILS-specific questions to the supervisor’s recommendation letter:

• Please indicate in the supervision letter the current and planned funding for the thesis project (obtained and planned grants)
• How is the day-to-day supervision organized?
• How will the research environment support the proposed research?

There is also a separate question regarding supervisor training. If you have completed supervision training, please provide the date and the name of at least the most recent course. You don’t need to attach any certificates, but please be ready to provide one later if asked.

In ILS, the applicants are evaluated based on their written applications by an external panel. Top candidates are invited to a critical thinking assignment. ILS board makes the final decisions based on scores from both written applications and the critical thinking assignment. The decisions are blinded so that external panel members do not see the scores from other members and the board members do not see the names of the applicants when making the final decisions.

ILS-specific evaluation criteria

Please note, that the research question must represent fundamental research in one or more of the scientific fields covered by ILS:

The integrative aspect of research may occur on various levels: versatile approaches to the research question, different levels of complexity (e.g. molecular, cellular, tissue level), or diversity of methodology used.

STEP 1: Written applications

External panel will use the following criteria when evaluating the written applications:

• Fit to the program (PASS/FAIL)
• Success in previous studies and/or research merits (weight: 40%)
• Feasibility and quality of research plan and its scientific significance; integrative aspect of the proposed research project (the integrative aspect of research may occur on various levels: versatile approaches to the research question, different levels of complexity (e.g. molecular, cellular, tissue level), or diversity of methodology used) (weight: 40%)
• Motivation and potential of the applicant to develop into an independent researcher (weight: 10%)
• Quality of the research environment and supervision arrangements (weight: 10%)

If the applicant’s supervisor has completed supervision training, the external panel score will be multiplied with a coefficient of 1.1.

STEP 2: Critical thinking assignment

Top candidates will be invited to participate in a critical thinking assignment in Helsinki on Monday, 23rd of October, 2023. The assignment evaluates problem solving, writing coherence, and ethical reasoning of the candidates. Students are given written materials (in English) and 90 minutes to prepare a 1–2-page essay based on the materials (in English). Materials cannot be read in advance. Applicants’ possible special needs will be taken into account.

More details about the assignment will be given to selected candidates approximately a week before the assignment.

Top applicants will be ranked by adding together the score of the external panel evaluations (weight: 70 %) and the score of the critical thinking assignment (weight: 30 %). The applicants’ scores will be anonymized to ensure unbiased selection.

The maximum of one doctoral candidate per supervisor per application year can be appointed to the UH-funded doctoral candidate position.

The board of the doctoral programme makes a proposal regarding appointment of salaried doctoral researcher positions. The director of the relevant employment unit makes the final decision on the appointments. 

All applicants will be personally notified of the decisions by the end of November. The names of the applicants selected for the positions will be published on the doctoral programme’s web pages (if the applicant has given permission).

Please note that applications for the right to pursue a doctoral degree are processed according to a different schedule by the responsible Faculty. The relevant faculty makes decisions regarding study rights and applicants are personally notified in a separate notification to salary positions. If you are applying also for the study right, please read carefully the instructions for doctoral study right applicants from your doctoral programme webpage.

• Admission services: [email protected]  (questions regarding the study right application process)
• Salary positions general info: [email protected]  (questions regarding the UH-funded positions)
• ILS office:  [email protected]  (questions regarding the ILS degree requirements and other programme-specific questions)
• Doctoral Programme in Integrative Life Science (ILS)

ILS received altogether 97 applications. All eligible application were evaluated by an external evaluation panel. The external panel decided to invite 19 top candidates to a critical thinking assignment that was arranged on October 23. The ILS board made the final decisions based on the combined scores from the external panel and the critical thinking assignment. The applicants were anonymized to ensure unbiased selection.

The funding was awarded to (in alphabetical order):

Giovanna Dashi, 3 years (supervisor Markku Varjosalo)

Olivia Dreilinger, 4 years, UH Science Foundation position (supervisor Claudius Kratochwil)

Onur Deniz, 2 years (supervisor Ville Hietakangas)

Matea Radešić, 4 years (supervisor Peter Sarin)

Two selected applicants did not give permission to publish their names.

Funding your doctoral studies

The most common ways to fund doctoral studies are

• work contract(s) as an employed doctoral researcher in a research project, research group or department, see open positions (availability depends on the School)
• personal grant(s) or scholarship(s) from foundations or funding agencies

Some Aalto schools also offer funded doctoral researcher positions (duration varies). Sometimes doctoral students are employed in a research institute or in an other job where they can contribute the majority of their working hours towards their doctoral thesis. Students permanently living in Finland might also be entitled to student financial aid. The eligibility criteria are available on the webpage of Kela .

Different type of funding agencies and sources for funding

• List of national funding calls at Research.fi (previously called Aurora database)
• International foundations providing funding for doctoral studies
• International or national doctoral programmes funded by EU or Finnish government
• Grants given by other governments for their citizens, such as CSC in China
• Grants given by your prior home university to pursue for doctoral degree at abroad
• National and international research projects (Business Finland - previously Tekes, Academy of Finland, EU) lead by a professor at Aalto
• Finland Fellowship -  funding opportunity for new doctoral students in 2022-2024. Applicants for Finland Fellowships must be citizens of nation in Africa, Central America or South America. See How to apply for doctoral studies? (aalto.fi) for more information.

List of noteworthy Finnish foundations for doctoral students

• Alfred Kordelin Foundation  (grants to promote science, literature, art and public education)
• Emil Aaltosen säätiö  (grants for several research fields, for Finnish speaking researchers)
• Foundation for Aalto University Science and Technology (grants for MSc and doctoral theses and research visit for researchers at Aalto Schools CHEM, ELEC, ENG, SCI and Department of Architecture)
• HSE Support Foundation  (Business research, Economics; for Aalto University School of Business and individuals associated with it)
• Henry Ford Foundation  (in Finnish; motorized traffic and agriculture)
• Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation  (high-level international research, arts and culture)
• Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation  (grants for several research fields)
• KAUTE Foundation  (scientific research in business and engineering)
• Kone Foundation  (grants for research in humanities, social sciences, environmental research and artistic research)
• Foundation for Municipal Development  (research on municipalities)
• Foundation for Economic Education  (research on business and economics)
• Maj and Tor Nessling Foundation  (environmental protection)
• OP-Pohjola Group Research Foundation  (economic research, priority on cooperative banking operations)
• Paulo Foundation  (medical and economic research as well as fine arts and music)
• Finnish Drainage Foundation (MVTT) (research and education in soil and water technology, the improvement of rural water management, the construction of field drainage and as well as addressing the environmental issues concerning agricultural fields in Finland)
• Suomen Arvopaperimarkkinoiden Edistämissäätiö  (only in Finnish)
• Finnish Cultural Foundation  (several research fields)
• Tekniikan edistämissäätiö (TES)  (only in Finnish; Research on technology)
• Technology Industries of Finland Centennial Foundation  (fields represented by the Federation of Finnish Technology Industries)
• Finnish Work Environment Fund  (development of working-life)
• Vuorineuvos Tekn. ja Kauppat. tri h.c. Marcus Wallenbergin Liiketaloudellinen Tutkimussäätiö  (only in Finnish; Business research, company management perspective)
• Yrjö Uitto Foundation (Business research; see info on HSE Support Foundation webpage )
• Fortum ja Neste säätiö Fortum and Neste Foundation
• Finnish Academy of Science and Letters' grants for young scientists
• Finnish Natural Resources Research Foundation
• Vilho, Yrjö ja Kalle Väisälän rahasto

Instructions for finding funding and managing travel costs

Where to find funding.

Check out the grant bulletin boards and funding calls

• Grants and awards
• Grants and awards outside Aalto University
• Research funding calls
• Säätiörahoitus tutkimushankkeisiin
• Vuosittaiset tutkimusrahoitus-koulutukset

Travel-related costs

Students can apply for a travel grant to cover study-related travel expenses.

• Opiskelijoiden matka-apuraha, matkajärjestelyt ja kulukorvaukset
• Matkavakuutus
• Konferenssien rekisteröitymismaksut
• Pikaohje matkustajalle
• Säätiörahoitus tapahtumiin ja matkoihin

School-specific funding information

In Aalto ARTS doctoral students' own activeness in pursuing funding is very important, as the departments can offer a salaried positions only to a minority of their doctoral students.

Some departments are able to offer funding for the last 3-6 months to finalize the manuscript for pre-examination, ask for possibilities from your supervising professor.

Check out a list of foundations that fund artistic research and activities .

Starting your doctoral studies?

Full time doctoral students who are progressing in their studies will receive an after tax salary of approximately 25,000 € (depending on other income and tax deductions) in years 1 and 2 from a combination of salary and grants from foundations. From year 3 onwards the doctoral students are expected to find their own funding, either as a paid researcher or from foundations. The School may also offer some fully paid doctoral researcher positions for best applicants. Normally students manage to find funding for years 3 and 4.

Looking for financing to finalize your studies & research, for congress participation or for a stay at a university abroad?

This section also provides information on ways to finance various costs incurred in postgraduate studies. In addition to support for studying towards the doctoral degree, financial support is available for eg. material costs of dissertation research, participation in scientific conferences and related travel expenses.

FAQ on School of Business doctoral program funding (page requires login to aalto.fi)

Foundations

One way to finance your doctoral studies is to apply for a grant from a trust fund. See the Association of Finnish Foundations website for more information.

Some foundations are presented here in brief.

HSE Foundation – Scholarships and Grants

The funding objectives of the HSE Foundation are: • research projects • research and conference trips • international exchange of researchers and students • master’s theses and doctoral dissertations • teaching and development projects

The application periods for grants take place in February and September. HSE Support Foundation distributes 950 000€ worth of grants every year. Open grants are announced each year in the beginning of February and September on the Foundation’s website. Please check the deadline for applications.

Foundation for Economic Education

Foundation for Economic Education (Liikesivistysrahasto, LSR) primarily supports economic research and economic postgraduate studies.

In principle, only Finnish citizens can receive a grant from the foundation. For applicants with lengthy residency periods in Finland, citizenship is not an absolute necessity. Include in your application an up-to-date research and study plan including your research goals and methods, a one-page project description, and also describe your schedule and financing. When applying for a grant please note that the application forms are and should be completed in Finnish, but the essential project description and all other information is accepted in either English or Swedish.

Especially when applying for financing for the first postgraduate work (licentiate or doctoral thesis) the statement of the supervising professor is important. The statement must be submitted without a separate request either along with the application or within two weeks of the application deadline to the Foundation for Economic Education.

The Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation

The goal of this foundation is to promote Finnish research in economics and medicine and to maintain and support Finnish educational and research facilities. It also supports Finnish research in medical economics, overlapping with both the aforementioned fields.

  Economics, currency and wage theoretic research are given priority, and a secondary emphasis is given to financial and economic-political research. For the research in the field of medicine the work must be theoretically or practically important. In addition to research grants, also the postgraduate studies of those with a academic degree can be financed.

KAUTE- Kaupallisten ja teknillisten tieteiden säätiö

KAUTE economic sciences and technology foundation was founded by Finnish Association of Business School Graduates and Teekkaritoiminnan Edistämisyhdistys in 1956. The purpose of the foundation is to promote economic and technological research and education.

Vuorineuvos tekn. ja kauppat.tri H.C. Marcus Wallenbergin liiketaloudellinen tukisäätiö

The purpose of this foundation is to promote education and research in the area of top management, primarily in Finland but also internationally. This is done by distributing scholarships and paying lecture fees to visiting lecturers and by financing international scientific symposiums in Finland.

Based on the received applications, the foundation distributes grants for postgraduate studies and scientific research every year. Emphasis is also placed on research being focused on top management. The backgrounds of applicants are usually in universities of economy or technology or something similar. Travel scholarships to scientific symposiums abroad are also granted. The foundation may also participate in financing international management seminars in Finland.

The Finnish Cultural Foundation

The Finnish Cultural Foundation (Suomen kulttuurirahasto) is a private, non-profit foundation supporting the advancement of Finnish culture. The aim of the Finnish Cultural Foundation is to promote and develop the cultural and economic life in Finland. To further this aim, the foundation awards grants to individuals and groups for postgraduate and postdoctoral studies in the arts and sciences, for artistic work, and for any other work promoting culture in Finland. Grants can be applied in support of a licentiate thesis and the dissertation process and scientific research conducted subsequently. Research can be done in Finland or abroad. A grant for full-time scientific work requires that one isn’t working elsewhere at the same time. Meeting and lecture trips are only limitedly subsidized.

Heikki and Hilma Honkanen Foundation

The Heikki and Hilma Honkanen Foundation distributes scholarships to young, talented Finns in support of studies and research. In addition to student scholarships, the board may also decide to distribute researcher scholarships for licentiate and dissertation work in selected fields of science. This foundation and its scholarships are only for Finnish nationals.

Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation

The purpose of the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation is to promote and support cultural and economic development in Finland. Scholarships are primarily granted for dissertation work, subsequent research, and towards research groups.

International and national foundations

Many foundations provide funding possibilities for doctoral studies. On the table below you can find a list of some of the prominent Finnish foundations which could provide funding. Please note that the application periods given on the table below are only approximate times and the information is based on previous year's application rounds. Please check the correct times directly from the foundation's pages.

Finalizing funding (2 - 6 months) for completing a doctoral thesis manuscript for the pre-examination

• Only available for the doctoral students of Aalto CHEM
• Application calls are open for two times per year. Finalizing funding for spring 2024 must be applied between 3 October - 6 November 2023, and funding call for autumn 2024 will be open between 3-31 May 2024.
• Please see the more information about the funding from the application form
• The next funding call for spring season 2024 will be open in 3 Oct.- 6 November 2023. Presently applicable funding must start within timeline January – June 2024.

https://link.webropolsurveys.com/S/8EFE9A1908C6E263

We do not know when the next call for doctoral student funded positions will be organized. We will inform you about the call by e-mail and as a news item in aalto.fi, when it is time for the next call.

The next application period will take place in 25 August 2023 - 14 September 2023 at 3 pm .

The Dean of the Aalto University School of Engineering will open the call for applications for funded four-year positions in Doctoral Programme starting in January 2024. The number of open positions is 5-8, and EUR 33.000 per year has been allocated for each position. 

Funded doctoral student positions are open for students having a study right for doctoral degree in Aalto ENG and for those applying for study in right in the autumn 2023 application period. More information on applying for a study right is presented on the Application instructions web page . Positions are primarily intended for students who are in the early stages of their doctoral dissertation . Only one of each professor's applicants can be admitted for a funded position this year.

The doctoral programmepositions will be filled in parts: 24 months + optional 24 months, based on mid-term evaluation. New Aalto ENG Doctoral Programme positions will be available every year.

The following admission criteria will be emphasized:

• Study performance (B.Sc. and M.Sc.) – M.Sc. average grade clearly above the general average
• M.Sc. thesis – grade 4 (very good) or higher
• Applicant has been deemed by the supervising professor (in his or her statement) as having true potential for earning the degree within 4 years from getting study right (this statement should be e-mailed directly to  [email protected] )
• Research and publication proposal including timetable
• Publications
• Previous funding
• Motivation letter

The applicant is requested to present in the application documents that he/she meets the requirements listed above.

Required application documents:

• Application form / Hakulomake (open 25 August 2023 - 14 September 2023)
• Transcript of records
• Research and publication proposal and planned timetable
• CV and list of publications
• Report on previous funding (if granted)
• Statement by the supervising professor. The statement should include an account of all the projects for which additional compensation is paid. Professors who supervise several applicants must rank their applicants in order of preference. This document should be e-mailed by the professor to [email protected] .

Applications for funded doctoral student positions are submitted using the electronic Studyinfo-form (Opintopolku-form). Note! If you are applying for both a doctoral study right and a funded position, you should fill out BOTH forms in Studyinfo. Application for doctoral studies

The deadline for applications is on 14 September 2023 at 3 p.m. All the application materials must be submitted in electronic format (pdf).  

For additional information on the application procedure, please contact Planning officer Ritva Viero, [email protected] ,  +358 50-597 0610.

At Aalto School of Science, the full-time doctoral students primarily work for university research projects in school's departments or in other research units. Those applying for a full-time right to pursue a doctoral degree must have funding secured for at least 6 months (e.g. from the employer, or through project funding or a grant). The financing of studies must always be discussed with the supervising professor. The supervising professor can give more information about research projects in the research field.

Research costs as deductible expenses

Certain costs related to doing doctoral studies and completing the degree can be reported as deductible expenses. The costs can be for example language check services, thesis printing, and book orders. For more information, please contact your tax office at vero.fi/en. Tax office's instructions are available on their website only in Finnish (vero.fi).

Incentive scholarships and awarding thesis work

Aalto University has in place an incentive scholarship scheme rewarding achievement. Scholarships are awareded for articles and doctoral theses that have been completed according to specific criteria. Aalto doctoral thesis awards celebrate the most meritorious theses.

Incentive scholarships for doctoral students

A set of 500e and 2000e incentive scholarships are awarded by application for doctoral students who meet the conditions given.

Aalto doctoral thesis awards

Top ten percent of doctoral theses are awarded annually at Aalto University

• Published: 11.5.2023
• Updated: 28.3.2024

Master, PhD and Postdoc Scholarships

• Comparison of Salary of PhD Students in Europe

This post concerns the Comparison of the Salary of PhD Students in Europe. The purpose of this post is to compare the salaries of PhD students in Europe. The table includes ten countries in Western Europe. In this post, the salaries of PhD students in different European countries including Denmark , Germany , Switzerland , Sweden , Finland , Austria , Norway , Ireland , France , Netherlands and the UK . are compared.

A comparison of the salaries of PhD students in Europe

In the chart below you will find the minimum and maximum gross (before tax) salaries for PhDs in various European countries. The list will grow as more countries are added. PhD students in Europe earn varying salaries depending on the country, the institution they are affiliated with, and their field of study. We, therefore, present a table showing the minimum and maximum before-tax salaries of PhD students in Europe.

Comparison of PhD students’ minimum salaries (before tax) in Europe

The average minimum salary for a PhD student in Europe is €2,600 per month. It is important to note that this figure includes all the different fields and not just science or engineering. The values listed here include the minimum salaries of PhD scholarships and funded positions.

The average salary for a PhD student in Europe varies depending on the country as well as the university. The highest average salary was found in Denmark with €49,802 per year and the lowest was found in Ireland with €16,000 per year.

Chart of Comparison of PhD students’ Minimum Yearly Salaries (before tax) in Europe

Comparison of PhD students’ maximum salaries (before tax) in Europe

The average maximum salary for a PhD student in Europe is around €3,500 per month. The figure in this table includes all different fields, not just science or engineering. It also includes the maximum salaries of PhD scholarships and funded positions.

Chart of Comparison of PhD students’ Maximum Yearly Salaries (before tax) in Europe

This chart compares the minimum and maximum PhD salaries (before taxes) in different European countries.

It is very interesting that even though Denmark has the highest minimum PhD salaries, Switzerland has the highest maximum PhD salaries. It shows that the salary of a PhD student in Switzerland could differ significantly among Swiss universities.

Remarks about the salary of PhD students in Germany and the UK

Regarding the table above, there are a few remarks. Germany does not have a minimum salary for PhD students, so they could do their PhD without a salary. Furthermore, if PhD students receive a stipend or scholarship, the numbers might be very different (generally lower than the salaries listed above). Throughout the UK, the values in the table represent the annual stipend of PhD students. Since this is a stipend, the student does not pay any taxes on it, so we can also call it after-tax income. The last thing to note is that the maximum value is more reserved for exceptional cases (especially in Switzerland). We recommend you read the salary pages of each country if you want to know the exact salary allocation and the details.

Interested in discovering the salary figures for PhD and postdoctoral positions in Europe?:

• PhD Salary in Denmark
• Postdoc Salary in Denmark
• Salary of a PhD student and Postdoc in Norway
• PhD Salary in Switzerland
• Salary ladder for PhD students in Sweden
• Salary of PhD student and Postdoc in Germany
• Salary of PhD and Postdoc in Ireland
• Salary of Postdocs in France
• Salary of PhD student and Postdoc in the UK
• Professors’ salary in the UK
• Salary of PhD student and Postdoc in the Netherlands
• Salary of PhD student and Postdoc in Finland
• Salary of PhD student and Postdoc in Austria
• Salary of Marie-curie postdoctoral fellowship
• Salary of PhD student in Marie-Curie ITN
• Doctorate Degree Business Administration Salary

Fully Funded PhD Positions with Salary

• Germany – Fully Funded PhD
• Switzerland – Fully Funded PhD
• Denmark – Fully Funded PhD
• UK – Fully Funded PhD
• Sweden – Fully Funded PhD
• Finland – Fully Funded PhD
• Netherlands – Fully Funded PhD
• Norway – Fully Funded PhD
• Belgium – Fully Funded PhD
• Austria – Fully Funded PhD
• Australia – Fully Funded PhD
• France – Fully Funded PhD
• New Zealand – Fully Funded PhD
• Canada – Fully Funded PhD
• USA – Fully Funded PhD
• Luxembourg – Fully Funded PhD
• Spain – Fully Funded PhD
• Italy – Fully Funded PhD
• Iceland -Fully Funded PhD

All academic positions (the latest ones) will be updated by the Fastepo Team. Also, please follow our Facebook page to not miss any new vacancies. Alternatively, if you don’t enjoy reading text, check out our YouTube channel for videos about PhDs and Postdocs.

Related Post

Increasing phd stipend 2023-2024 in uk, professors salary in the uk, phd salary in sweden.

• How can you study MSc/PhD in Germany without Funding?
• PhD degree in Austria
• PhD in Austria
• PhD in Belgium
• PhD in Canada
• PhD degree in Denmark
• PhD in Finland
• PhD Programs in France
• How to apply for a PhD in Germany?
• PhD in Iceland
• PhD in Italy
• PhD in Luxembourg
• PhD in Netherlands
• PhD in New Zealand
• PhD in Norway
• PhD in Spain
• PhD in Sweden
• PhD Degree in Switzerland
• How to apply for PhD in UK?
• EU Funded Positions in Australia
• EU Funded Positions in France
• EU Funded Positions in Germany
• EU Funded Positions in Luxembourg
• EU Funded Positions in Spain
• EU Funded Positions in UK
• PhD in Biology
• PhD in Business and Finance
• PhD in Computer Sciences
• PhD in Education
• PhD in Engineering
• PhD in Law and Social Sciences
• PhD in Health and Medicine
• PhD in Psychology
• PhD in Sciences
• Undergraduate and Postgraduate Scholarships at Deakin University
• PhD Scholarship and Postdocs at Australian National University
• 600 Scholarships at University of Melbourne
• Scholarships at the Center for Quantum Technologies
• International fellowship of Cancer Research Institute
• Fully Funded Joint PhD and Academic Jobs at University of Melbourne
• Scholarships in Canada
• Scholarships in Iceland
• Renault Foundation Scholarships
• DAAD Research for University Academics
• DAAD Architecture Scholarship
• Graduate Music Scholarships (DAAD)
• DAAD Art Scholarship
• DAAD Bilateral Exchange of Academics
• DAAD scholarship Development-Related (EPOS)
• DAAD scholarship for Iranian students
• DAAD University Summer Courses
• DAAD Working Internships in Science and Engineering (WISE)
• How to write a good Marie Curie project proposal?
• Chevening Scholarship (UK)
• Rhodes Scholarships For international students
• University of Manchester Scholarships
• Scholarships and Academic Jobs at University of Birmingham
• Google Scholarships
• Newton Fellowship
• Scholarships at British Private Post University (BPP Scholarships)
• Undergraduate Scholarships at Trinity College Dublin in Ireland
• Postgraduate Scholarships at Trinity College Dublin
• Scholarships and Postdoc Jobs at Boston University (BU)
• Institute for Advanced Study Funding and Fellowships
• Scholarship Universe Purdue
• Scholarships at Our Lady of the Lake University
• Scholarships and Awards at Bellarmine University
• Google Scholarship, Internships and Fellowships
• Scholarships for international students at Lincoln University
• Scholarships at Rider University in USA
• James S. McDonnell Foundation Fundings in the USA
• Coca Cola Scholarship
• PEO International Scholarships, Grant and Loan
• Scholarships at University of Texas at Arlington (UTA Education)
• Scholarships for South Asian Citizens
• Udacity Scholarships
• Student Loan
• How to find a Postdoc Position?
• Postdocs in Austria
• Postdocs in Belgium
• Postdocs in Canada
• Postdocs in Denmark
• Postdocs in Finland
• Postdocs in France
• Open Postdoc Position at the RWTH Aachen University Hospital (Aachen, Germany)
• Postdocs in Italy
• Postdocs in Luxembourg
• Postdocs in Netherland
• Postdocs in New Zealand
• Postdocs in Norway
• Postdocs in Spain
• Postdocs in Sweden
• Postdocs in Switzerland
• Postdocs in the UK
• Postdocs in the USA
• Comparison of Salary of Postdoc in Europe
• Salary of PhD and Postdocs in Austria
• PhD and Postdoc Salary in Luxembourg
• Salary of PhD and Postdocs in Finland
• Salary of PhD and Postdocs in France
• Salary of PhD and Postdocs in Germany
• Salary of PhD and Postdocs in Ireland
• Salary of PhD students in Marie-Curie ITN
• Salary of Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship
• Top 20 countries with the highest salary of Marie-Curie Fellowship
• Salary of PhD and Postdocs in the Netherlands
• PhD and Postdoc Salary in Norway
• Salary of PhD students in Switzerland
• PhD Salary in UK
• Comparing Postdoc Salaries in the UK
• Academic Email: How to email a Professor for inquiry?
• Application Letter (also known as cover letter)
• Six essential steps to get your article published
• How to write a strong Application Letter?
• How to prepare an eye-catching CV for academics?
• How to write a good project proposal?
• Cover Letter Preparing Service
• Interview Questions of Academic Position
• IELTS Listening Test
• IELTS Reading Test
• How much does it cost to live in Switzerland as a student?
• How much does a university cost in Switzerland?
• How much does it cost to study in Sweden?
• How much does it cost to live in Sweden as a student?
• How to apply for a master’s degree in Canada?
• How much does it cost to study in Austria?
• How much are the tuition fees in Denmark?
• How much does it cost to live in Germany?
• Bachelor in the UK
• Master’s Degree (MS) in the USA
• Best Master of Public Health (MPH) Programs
• Master degree in Austria
• Master Programs in the UK
• Master’s degree in Denmark
• How much does it cost to study in Germany?
• Best city to study in Germany
• PhD Degree Requirements
• Top Online MSW Programs
• Online Colleges with Financial aid in different study subjects
• Business Free online courses
• Online MBA Scholarships
• Online MBA in the UK
• Online Master of Public Health (MPH) at Baylor University
• Baylor University Online Programs
• Purdue Health and Nursing Online Master Degrees
• Purdue University Online MBA
• Computer and Information Technology Purdue University (Online)
• Top 10 Online Nurse Practitioner Programs
• Fastest and Cheapest RN to BSN Online
• Online Doctorate in Nursing
• Online Criminal Justice Degree
• Harvard Business School Free Online Courses
• Computer Sciences free online Programs
• Free online Programs in Data and Engineering Science degree
• Online Medical and Health Free courses
• Education and teaching free online courses
• Online Doctoral programs in Higher Education Administration
• Online PhD Programs at Liberty University
• Top Online Program at West Coast University
• Online PhD Programs at Grand Canyon University
• Fastepo’s Golden Service
• Finding Position or Scholarship
• CV Preparing Service
• Advertise on Fasteo
• EDI Statement for Fastepo

25,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. Take the first step today

Meet top uk universities from the comfort of your home, here’s your new year gift, one app for all your, study abroad needs, start your journey, track your progress, grow with the community and so much more.

Verification Code

An OTP has been sent to your registered mobile no. Please verify

Thanks for your comment !

Our team will review it before it's shown to our readers.

• Study in Europe /

PhD in Finland for International Students 2024: Scholarship, Online, Requirements, Salary

• Updated on  
• Dec 26, 2023

Finland ranks #1 for its higher education according to the World Economic Forum. The North European country attracts students worldwide with its top-notch universities, cutting-edge research, and stunning natural beauty. So if you have made up your mind to pursue your research, this blog will be your one-stop guide to pursuing your PhD in Finland in 2024. We will look at the country’s top universities, best PhD programs , scholarships, entry requirements and application process. So, lace up your boots, prepare for an intellectual expedition, and let’s unravel the secrets of securing your dream PhD in Finland!

Also Read: Study in Finland for Indian Students  

This Blog Includes:

Why pursue a phd in finland in 2024, top universities offering phd in finland, phd in finland: program structure, tuition fees and funding, scholarships for phd in finland, entry requirements, documents required, application process, future scope.

Finland is one of the most popular choices for international students to pursue a PhD. The #1 reason is that Finnish universities don’t charge a dime for tertiary education from any of its learners, international or otherwise. Its capital is also one of the safest cities in the world, with its breathtaking natural beauty and high living standards for students. 

The majority of Finnish people speak English and the universities also offer numerous programs in the English language. Moreover, international students can extend their visas post studies to search for work. Let’s go ahead and explore the country’s top institutes offering research opportunities

Finland has 13 universities and 22 universities for applied sciences (UAS). The former offers PhD in Finland supporting academic research and providing higher study opportunities based on the same. The latter, however, carries out applied R&D in activities that promote a specific industry. Given below is the list of top institutes offering research

Also Read: Study In Finland At The University of Helsinki

There are 2 types of PhD in Finland that students can enrol for a standard research PhD and a national doctorate program. In the national doctorate program, each discipline has an associated doctoral program across all the Finnish universities. These doctorates are generally fully funded. 

A standard research PhD, however, has a structure similar to a normal doctorate. You put a research proposal before a committee and pursue it independently by funding it yourself. 

The duration of a PhD in Finland is 4 years, with the academic year starting on 1 August and lasting until 31 July every year. Students usually have 2 semesters in autumn and spring, but they might have a third semester in the summer as well, depending on the course they are pursuing their doctorate in.

While the Bachelor and Masters programs might charge tuition fees from international (non-EU) students, PhD in Finland is currently tuition-free for all. But there are living expenses of EUR 700-1,250/month that students have to bear (varies for every Finnish city). There’s also a student union fee ranging from EUR 80-100 that doctoral candidates must pay to their institute. 

Also Read: Masters Programs in Finland

Even though PhD in Finland is completely free, there are some scholarships you can avail of as an international student to reduce your living costs there. Some of them are as follows with their eligibility and benefits:

To be eligible to pursue a PhD in Finland, students need to fulfil the following criteria. These are some general entry requirements that doctoral candidates must meet. For more program-specific information, you must check the university’s official website.

• A Masters degree (or equivalent) from a recognised institute.
• Language Proficiency tests: English ( IELTS , TOEFL ) or Finnish (YKI).

PhD in Finland without IELTS

Students can also pursue a PhD in Finland without IELTS through the following mediums:

• Previous degrees obtained from English-medium institutions.
• Standardized tests like TOEFL or PTE.
• Research publications or presentations in English.
• An interview in English by the university admissions committee.

Doctoral candidates need to have the following documents translated into Finnish and submitted during the application process for their PhD:

• Academic Transcripts from your previous institutions
• Degree certificates
• CV / Resume
• Letter of Motivation
• Research proposal
• 2 Reference letters
• Statement of purpose / Personal statement

Also Read: Finland Student Visa

Unlike other countries that advertise research projects, students must apply to a graduate school for a PhD in Finland. These schools offer multiple doctoral programs to students, who can choose a field of study to conduct their research. You should contact the university directly in advance to find out more about the programs they offer. After that, fill out the application form and submit it to the chosen institute along with the documents mentioned above.

Universities also fund students as doctoral candidates under a contract during their PhD in Finland. They receive a salary with social security benefits like other members of staff. In return, doctoral students assist the university by teaching undergraduates, demonstrating within labs or doing administrative work. Other roles and responsibilities are specified in the student’s contract and vary for each institute.

Ans. You can find your perfect PhD program through these resources: University websites National research databases (TUTKAS) – lists ongoing research projects across the country. Academic networks and societies

Ans. Although Finnish is the official language, the country offers most PhD programs in English, especially in science and technology fields. Universities often offer intensive Finnish language courses for international students who wish to learn the language during their studies. However, some humanities and social science programs require Finnish proficiency due to the nature of their research.

Ans. Yes, international students in Finland can legally work part-time (up to 25 hours per week) during their studies. This is a great way to gain practical experience, supplement your income, and blend into Finnish society. Universities often have student job boards or career centres that can assist you in finding suitable part-time work opportunities.

Related Reads:

We hope that you got a complete understanding of pursuing a PhD in Finland as an international student in this blog. Stay tuned to Leverage Edu to explore more courses and destinations to study abroad . Thank you for reading!

Disha Kaira

Disha is an electrical engineer turned writer passionate about bringing a spark (and accuracy) to whatever content she comes across. Whether it's UI/UX Design or writing blogs on abroad education, she relishes every chance to learn and test the limits of her creativity.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Contact no. *

Connect With Us

25,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. take the first step today..

Resend OTP in

Need help with?

Study abroad.

UK, Canada, US & More

IELTS, GRE, GMAT & More

Scholarship, Loans & Forex

Country Preference

New Zealand

Which English test are you planning to take?

Which academic test are you planning to take.

Not Sure yet

When are you planning to take the exam?

Already booked my exam slot

Within 2 Months

Want to learn about the test

Which Degree do you wish to pursue?

When do you want to start studying abroad.

January 2024

September 2024

What is your budget to study abroad?

How would you describe this article ?

Please rate this article

We would like to hear more.

Have something on your mind?

Make your study abroad dream a reality in January 2022 with

India's Biggest Virtual University Fair

Essex Direct Admission Day

Why attend .

Don't Miss Out