The right to pursue doctoral studies does not include funding, a contract of employment, or teaching tasks at the university. However, full-time doctoral students need funding to cover their living costs and potential research costs (travel costs, research materials, etc.). Funding options should be discussed with the supervisor already when planning to apply for a doctoral study right and writing a research plan.
Doctoral studies can be funded, for example, by a scholarship, by working as a researcher in a research project, by working as a doctoral researcher at the University of Eastern Finland (doctoral researcher position), or by studying part-time while at work. Doctoral researchers are themselves responsible for applying for a funding.
Salaried doctoral researcher positions
UEF doctoral researcher positions
The University of Eastern Finland has salaried positions for doctoral researchers enabling their engagement in full-time research.
These positions may be applied for by those already enrolled as doctoral researchers at the University of Eastern Finland and by those planning 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.
Shared doctoral researcher position system
In the shared doctoral researcher position system of the University of Eastern Finland, the doctoral researcher has two employment relationships at the same time: a part-time contract of employment both at the University of Eastern Finland and with an external employer.
The main task of the doctoral researcher is the doctoral dissertation in both employment relationships. Possible other duties may include, to a minor extent, teaching related to or promoting the doctoral dissertation.
When recruiting to the shared doctoral researcher position system, the usability of the expertise gained in doctoral studies for the business sector or society at large is assessed, in addition to the selection criteria of ordinary 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 for shared doctoral researcher positions with all organizations interested in strategic partnership. The contact person is the Head of Academic Affairs Kaisa Laitinen.
Doctoral researcher positions in projects
Research projects funded by, for example, the Research Council of Finland, Business Finland, or the European Union may offer doctoral researcher positions. Information about them can be found in Open positions.
Grants and Scholarships
Several foundations and associations grant funding for doctoral studies. Learn more about possibilities:
A a part-time (10%) contract of employment of grant-based researchers
Please, note that the university offers a part-time (10%) contract of employment for grant-funded researchers who have an external funding of 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 annually grants 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 Viva Engage group of each faculty.
Faculties also award grants for starting or finishing a dissertation:
- The Philosophical Faculty awards grants for starting (start-up grant) and finishing (finalization grant) dissertation work. Information about the start-up grant can be found on the doctoral programme’s website (Funding doctoral studies). Doctoral researchers in the final stages of their dissertation work can apply for the finalization grant. The grant application process is typically held twice a year, in spring and autumn. The call for applications is published in the FILOTO Doctoral Programme Viva Engage community (requires UEF login).
- Within the Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology, grants for periods of 1–3 months for finishing a dissertation are awarded by the faculty. An application submitted by application form, including the necessary appendices, is to be addressed throughout the calendar year.
- The departments/schools of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies award work grants for doctoral researchers to the 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 work grants is that the recipient is released from their actual duty for the grant period.
Doctoral studies alongside work
It is also possible to complete a doctoral degree alongside other paid work.
