Doctoral graduates of Aalto University in working life

Below are results of the survey conducted in late 2025 for doctoral alumni who graduated in 2022. The response rate at Aalto University was 40%. 

Majority of doctorates in expert positions

On average, respondents were satisfied with the career opportunities provided by obtaining a doctoral degree. This was also reflected by the fact that three-quarters of the respondents were not unemployed job seekers after earning their doctoral degree. Over half of the respondents were employed in a company, and a quarter were working at a university. About seven percent of the respondents worked in the public sector, and about one percent were entrepreneurs.

Two out of three doctoral graduates worked in expert roles. More than 80% worked in research work, design and development. About 15% of the respondents worked in management and supervisory positions.

Doctoral graduates are generally satisfied with the career opportunities

Almost half of the respondents reported that their job responsibilities had become more demanding due to their degree, and 68 percent said that the doctoral degree had provided them with more meaningful work assignments. Almost half of the respondents felt that their doctoral training had given them a better status both at their workplace and in the labour market. On average, respondents assessed that they have been able to effectively utilise the knowledge gained from their doctoral education in their current work.

Respondents identified problem solving skills, anlytical and sytematic thinking skills, the ability to learn and adopt new information, self-management skills and co-operation skills as the most important attributes in their current roles. They also reported to have developed most in these skills during their studies. In addition to the above-mentioned, knowledge and skills related to the research area, methodology, research methods as well as scientific communication have developed most during their studies.  Respondents felt that the importance of the ability to integrate knowldge, thinking skills and self-regulatory skils will increase over the next five years. 

To explore detailed results of doctoral career monitoring, go to the Finnish education administration's reporting portal Vipunen (in Finnish). 

More information on doctoral career tracking

Antti Susiluoto
antti.susiluoto@aalto.fi

Minna Söderqvist
minna.soderqvist@aalto.fi