The university will have 14 doctoral programmes in 2026
The rector has decided on the new doctoral programmes at the University of Helsinki on 28.8.2025 (HY/13262/00.00.06.00/2025). As of January 1, 2026, the University of Helsinki has 14 doctoral programmes for the completion of doctoral degrees.
The preparations were based on a review of the programmes, the University of Helsinki Doctoral School’s implementation plan, and input from discussions and statements across several forums. The new doctoral programmes are based on the proposals made by the Faculty Councils to the rector.
Applications in spring 2026
The new programmes will start operating on 1 January 2026 and they will become available on Studyinfo in spring 2026. The first new doctoral researchers will start in the doctoral programmes in August 2026, which is also the start of the four-year curriculum period of the new doctoral programmes.
Teaching in the spring 2026 term will be based on the teaching programmes already confirmed for the 2025–2026 academic year. The previous doctoral programmes will remain in the University’s academic administration systems until the end of the spring 2026 term, with doctoral researchers completing studies in and graduating from the programmes until 31 July 2026.
The new programmes will be responsible for their predecessors’ management and steering group work from 1 January 2026.
Any valid right to complete a doctoral degree granted before 1 August 2026 will continue to apply to the doctoral programmes outlined in the rector's decision. A change to the doctoral programme in which a doctoral researcher has the right to study will not alter the assigned faculty or target degree.
The Doctoral School will publish more detailed instructions on the effects of the reform on doctoral studies and graduation on the Studies Service Instructions page in autumn 2025.
You can read the Questions and Answers on the reform of the doctoral programmes in Flamma.
Call for applications for programme directors and steering groups
The application period for the new directors of doctoral programmes for the term 2026–2029 was held on 15–29 September. The selection process is led by the dean of the responsible faculty of each doctoral programme with the help of senior advisors in doctoral education. You can read more about the call from the Flamma page Management of Doctoral Education.
The application period for the members of the steering groups of the new doctoral programmes for the term 2026–2029 will open in October, when the programme directors have been selected. This ensures that the new directors can participate in the composition of the steering groups together with the dean.
The Association of Doctoral Researchers at the University of Helsinki (HYVÄT) is organising a call for doctoral researcher representatives for the term 2026–2027.
From 2023 to 2025 the University of Helsinki prepared a reform of its doctoral programme framework as part of implementing its strategic plan. The current programme structure had remained largely unchanged since 2014. The reform preparations were guided by the need to clarify the programme portfolio, strengthen the profile of each programme and improve administrative effectiveness
The new doctoral programmes offer a multidisciplinary research environment, diverse training and networking opportunities, and working life connections in the field for doctoral researchers.