Doctoral Programme in Education and Psychology, autumn 2026

Eligibility criteria

You can apply to a doctoral programme if you have completed

1. a relevant master’s degree awarded by a university;
2. a relevant master’s degree awarded by a university of applied sciences; or
3. a relevant study programme abroad which in the awarding country gives eligibility for the corresponding level of higher education.

The higher education institution that granted the foreign degree must be an acknowledged part of the country’s official national education system. The institution must be on the list of higher education institutions that are entitled to grant degrees in the country or listed as an acknowledged higher education institution by an international organisation (e.g. UNESCO).

The University of Jyväskylä requires that a student selected for doctoral studies has at least a grade of Good (3/5) or equivalent for the master’s thesis if the thesis is evaluated. Please read more at https://www.jyu.fi/en/doctoral-education/apply-to-doctoral-studies/eligibility-requirements.

The University of Jyväskylä requires that the applicants for doctoral studies have proficiency in Finnish or English at the admission stage. The language proficiency requirements are described in detail at https://www.jyu.fi/en/doctoral-education/apply-to-doctoral-studies.

In addition to the above, in the specialisation of education the following detailed selection criteria will be applied:

·       In order to complete a PhD (Educ.) degree, applicants must have completed at least advanced studies in education, adult education, special education, or early childhood education with good grades.

·       In order to complete a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in the specialisation in Education, applicants must have completed basic and subject studies in education (at least 60 credits) or other applicable equivalent in scope and level, in educational sciences. Applications for the right to pursue doctoral studies must be accompanied by documentation of applicable studies and a written statement from the supervisor on the suitability of the applicant's studies in educational sciences for studies in educational sciences. Eligibility for applicable background studies will be assessed after the application period has ended.
Note: From 1997 onwards, pedagogical studies completed at a Finnish university, comprising at least 60 credits, are sufficient for direct eligibility. Vocational teacher training corresponds to basic studies in educational sciences in terms of eligibility and is not sufficient on its own for eligibility. In the case of international degrees, the content, level, and scope of educational studies are always assessed on a case-by-case basis.

In addition to the above, in the specialisation of psychology the following detailed selection criteria will be applied:

·       Applicants who have completed a master's degree in psychology or an equivalent foreign degree are eligible to apply for the right to complete a doctorate in psychology PhD (Psych.).

·       Applicants who hold a degree that qualifies them for admission may be granted the right to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree. Degrees or degrees supplemented by higher education studies that provide the skills needed to conduct doctoral research in psychology or interdisciplinary psychology are considered suitable as a basis for the right to complete a PhD. Eligibility for applicable background studies will be assessed after the application period has ended.

In addition to the above, in the specialisation of cognitive neuroscience the following detailed selection criteria will be applied:

·       The target degree in cognitive neuroscience is a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree, which can be obtained by applicants who have a degree that qualifies them for admission. Degrees or supplementary higher education studies that provide the skills needed to complete a doctoral dissertation in cognitive neuroscience are considered suitable for the PhD degree. Eligibility for applicable background studies will be assessed after the application period has ended.