The right to pursue doctoral studies does not include funding, a contract of employment, or teaching tasks at the University. However, full-time doctoral researchers need funding to cover their living costs and potential research costs (travel costs, research materials, etc.). Funding options should be discussed with the supervisor when applying for a doctoral study right and creating a research plan.
Doctoral studies can be funded by a scholarship, by working as a researcher in a research project, as a doctoral candidate at the University of Eastern Finland (doctoral researcher position), or by studying part-time while at work. Doctoral researchers apply for funding themselves.
Salaried doctoral reseacher positions
UEF doctoral researcher positions
The University of Eastern Finland has salary-paying positions for doctoral researchers enabling their engagement in full-time study.
These positions may be applied for by those enrolled as doctoral researchers at the University of Eastern Finland and by those applying to complete their doctoral degree at the University of Eastern Finland. The call for applications is open during spring term and detailed instructions for applying are published annually on the Open positions webpage.
The shared doctoral researcher position system
In the shared doctoral researcher position system at the University of Eastern Finland, the doctoral researcher has simultaneously two employment relationships: a part-time contract of employment both at the University of Eastern Finland and with an external employer.
In both employment relationships, the main task of the doctoral researcher is the doctoral dissertation. Possible other tasks may include, to a minor extent, teaching related to or promoting the doctoral dissertation.
When recruiting for the shared doctoral researcher position system, the applicability of the expertise acquired during doctoral studies for business sector or elsewhere in society is assessed, in addition to the other selection criteria of the doctoral programmes. The working life relevance of the external employer of the doctoral researcher is assessed by the management group of the doctoral programme in question.
The university is willing to negotiate shared doctoral researcher positions with all organizations interested in a strategic partnership. The contact person is the Head of Academic Affairs, Kaisa Laitinen.
Doctoral researcher positions in projects
Research projects funded by e.g. the Research Council of Finland, Business Finland, or the European Union may offer doctoral researcher positions. More information can be found in Open positions webpage.
Grants and scholarships
Several foundations and associations grant funding for doctoral studies. Learn more about different possibilities:
- EDUFI Scholarships
- The Finnish Government Scholarship Pool
- Research Professional (requires UEF login),
- Tiedejatutkimus.fi
- Foundation Deadlines (in Heimo, requires UEF login)
- UEF Research Funding Yammer (in Heimo, requires UEF login)
A part-time (10%) contract of employment for grant-based researchers
Please note that the university offers a part-time (10%) contract of employment for researchers who have been awarded a grant for at least 12 months.
Grants and scholarships awarded by the university
In the Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology, Teollisuusneuvos Heikki Väänänen’s Fund awards grants annually for wood-related scientific research at the University of Eastern Finland. Faculty of Health Sciences awards grants from foundations and funds. Open calls are published in the Viva Engage group of each faculty.
Faculties also award grants for starting or finishing a dissertation:
- The Philosophical Faculty awards annually two-month grants for starting or finishing a dissertation through a separate call for applications. The call for applications is published in Viva Engage.
- The Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology awards grants for 1–3 months for finishing a dissertation. An application submitted by an electronic form, including the necessary appendices, is to be addressed throughout the calendar year. Please, see the instructions for the doctoral thesis supervisor.
- The departments/schools of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies award work grants for doctoral researchers to start their doctoral research (start-up grant), depending on the financial situation of the department/school. The application form and instructions are available online.
A compulsory precondition for the work grants is that the recipient is released from his/her actual duty for the grant period.
Doctoral studies alongside work
It is also possible to complete a doctoral degree alongside other paid work.