Application for doctoral programmes starts 1 September 2025

The University of Jyväskylä has 18 doctoral programmes. Depending on the doctoral programme and specialisation option it is possible to pursue a doctoral degree in philosophy, education, economics and business administration, sport sciences, psychology, technology, health sciences and social sciences. You can apply for doctoral training if you have completed a relevant master’s degree awarded by a university, a relevant master’s degree awarded by a university of applied sciences or a relevant study programme abroad which in the awarding country gives eligibility for doctoral training.

About 230 new students join our doctoral programmes each year. 28% of them come from abroad. To be awarded a doctorate, the student admitted to a doctoral programme must complete the required studies, demonstrate independent and critical thinking in the field of research, write a doctoral dissertation, and defend it in public. The content and subject of the dissertation are limited so that it is possible for students to complete the dissertation in three to four years when studying full-time.

Applications for admission to the doctoral programmes are organised twice a year. For the application round in autumn 2025, the deadline for applications is 30 September 2025 at 15:00. The doctoral study right of accepted applicants starts in January 2026. The next application period will be in spring 2026. The doctoral study right of applicants accepted in the application period of spring 2026 starts in August 2026.

The online application form is available in the Studyinfo.fi portal and application guidelines are on JYU’s website.

This is a call for applications for study rights in the doctoral programmes of the University of Jyväskylä. If you are interested in applying for a position as a Doctoral Researcher, please check the Open vacancies.