About the opportunity
The University of Helsinki Doctoral School is inviting applications for funding to complete a doctoral thesis. The funding will be allocated to full-time doctoral researchers for a period of three months, with a contract of employment in one of the University of Helsinki Academic units. These positions are meant for finalizing the thesis work, allowing selected individuals to submit their doctoral theses for preliminary examination at the end of the employment. The goal is to fill 15 to 20 three-month dissertation completion positions. Priority will be given to applicants who have progressed with their doctoral thesis alongside their work without specific funding for their doctoral research.
Salary and benefits
- Three-month full-time contract of employment in one of the University of Helsinki academic units
- Dedicated protected time to finalize the doctoral thesis for preliminary examination
Who can apply?
- Must be a doctoral researcher in a doctoral programme of the University of Helsinki Doctoral School
- Must be registered as attending at the time of application and throughout the prospective employment
- The applicant's Thessa account must be up to date, with required annual reports and conclusions submitted and thesis committee meetings held by the end of the application period
- Must be sufficiently advanced in studies so that completion of the doctoral thesis for preliminary examination is feasible by the end of the three-month employment period
- Must not have received a grant or other funding to finalize the doctoral thesis
- Must not have previously received a doctoral researcher position funded by the University of Helsinki for a total of four years
- At least 75% of the doctoral thesis work must be completed by the end of the application period, and it must be possible to complete required degree studies before submitting the thesis for preliminary examination
Required documents
- A brief description of the doctoral dissertation research topic (maximum 100 words)
- An overview of the current status of the work
- A detailed work plan
- A timeline for submitting the thesis for pre-examination
- A report on funding received for doctoral research, including grants and employment contracts, using the funding sources template
When to apply
- Applications open on 28 September 2026
- Application deadline is 8 October 2026 at 23.59 Europe/Helsinki time
- The working period can start no earlier than 1 January 2027 and no later than 1 June 2027
How to apply
- Ensure all supervisor information, follow-up group members, thesis committee meetings, and annual reports are up to date in Thessa before the application period ends
- Prepare the required attachments saved as a single PDF file named LastName_FirstName_Date
- Submit the application via the recruitment system using the online apply button by the deadline
- Leave the motivation letter section and CV attachments empty as instructed
Additional information
- The maximum length of the attachment file is 2 pages and must not include a CV
- The work is carried out in Finland, and the position can be started while living in Finland or after arriving in Finland
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Advanced doctoral researchers at the University of Helsinki who have approximately 75% or more of their thesis completed and need a final dedicated push
- Candidates who have been balancing their PhD research alongside work without dedicated funding and now require a focused 3-month window to reach the pre-examination stage
- Researchers with completely up-to-date Thessa records and active supervisory committee oversight
What should you think carefully about?
- The funding duration is strictly limited to three months, making it suitable only for those whose manuscripts are genuinely close to completion
- Applicants who have already received a total of four years of University of Helsinki-funded doctoral researcher positions are ineligible
- Relocation to Finland is required if not already residing there, as the work must be carried out in Finland
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This opportunity directly supports doctoral candidates aiming to cross the finish line of their PhD journey by providing short-term financial backing and protected writing time. It is an ideal stepping stone for scholars looking to transition smoothly from doctoral research to dissertation defense and graduation without financial distraction.
Our take
Doctoral researchers at the University of Helsinki who are in the final stages of writing their thesis and meet all administrative pre-requisites in Thessa should seriously consider applying. Those who are still in the early or middle stages of their research or who have already exhausted their four-year funding limit should skip this call.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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