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Aalto Doctoral Programme in Science

The Doctoral Programme in Science is a multidisciplinary programme with a unique combination of science, technology and business. The research done is committed to high standards of international excellence and the aim is to educate doctoral students in different research fields to tackle increasingly complex societal challenges in areas such as energy, environment, health and well-being. The doctoral programme offers a four-year doctoral programme in physics, mathematics, biomedical engineering, computer science or industrial engineering and management.
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Degree:

Doctor of Science (Technology)

Application period:

8 Jun 2024 – 5 Dec 2024

Language of instruction:

Finnish
English
Swedish

Duration:

4 years, full-time

Eligibility:

Relevant master’s degree awarded by a Finnish university or a Finnish university of applied sciences, or a corresponding degree completed abroad

Field of study:

Technology and Engineering

Credits:

Organising school:

School of Science

Choose doctoral studies at the School of Science

The research at our school focuses on advanced energy solutions, condensed matter and materials physics; creation and transformation of technology based business; data science and artificial intelligence; health technology; neuroscience; and software engineering.

Through our internationally-acclaimed high-level research we aim to make a significant impact on society.

A gold-plated cryostat sits half open with many cables coming out from the bottom.

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Your path to doctoral studies at the School of Science

  1. You need to have a supervising professor who is willing to supervise your doctoral studies, and to ensure that your expertise and research interests align with those of the research group. There are several possibilities to accomplish this step: 
    • Apply for a salaried doctoral researcher position at Aalto. Salaried doctoral researcher positions are advertised at Aalto University Open positions.
    • If you are interested in full-time studies but there are no open positions at the moment, please directly contact a professor in charge of your intended research field to discuss the possible supervision of doctoral studies. Professors may also have information on other funding possibilities (such as grants), as well as on upcoming positions that are not yet announced.
    • If you are employed elsewhere but wish to pursue doctoral studies, that is possible either as a full-time or part-time student, depending on your situation. In this case, please contact the potential supervising professor directly. Note that to pursue the degree, you need to reside in Finland at least part of the study time.
    • In some cases it is also possible to start pursuing doctoral studies without funding (part-time doctoral studies). In this case, please contact the potential supervising professor directly. Note that to pursue the degree, you need to reside in Finland at least part of the study time. Non-Finnish citizens need therefore to take into account the income requirements of the Finnish Immigration Service. 
  2. After agreeing with the supervising professor, apply for the study right in our doctoral programme (in addition to a possible working contract at Aalto) - see instructions below. Please note that you are not a doctoral student before you are officially admitted to the doctoral programme, even if you already have a salaried doctoral research position.

Note: Before applying for the salaried positions and/or contacting the potential supervising professor(s), please check below the requirements and qualifications needed for applying for the study right in our doctoral programme.

Discover your research topic and find a supervising professor

Research activities at the departments are arranged under research groups. If your research interest aligns with one of the research groups, it will be easier to find a doctoral study place.

Find research groups under our Department pagesResearch fields and supervising professors in the School of ScienceIn addition to the departments' and research groups' pages, you can use Aalto University's research portal for finding the professors who are researching the area in which you want to do your doctoral research. Before applying for doctoral studies you should be aware of the research done and researchers working in the field of your interest.

Aalto University's research portal for finding our researchers and research projects

More information on discovering your research topic and finding a professor

Basic information on doctoral studies

How to apply?

The Doctoral Programme in Science invites applications continuously (applications will not be processed in July). The more exact application times can be found below.

Before submitting the application, each applicant must contact a supervising professor who is responsible in their intended research field to doctoral studies and the supervision of the studies. Applicants are urged to ensure that their expertise and research interests are commensurate with the research group (and those of the supervising professor of their studies) that they apply to.

Application dates & deadlines

Applies to all applicants, with the exception of applicants for part-time doctoral studies in the research field of Industrial Engineering and Management.

2024

Deadline for applications Admission decisions are made
11.1.2024 25.1.2024
30.1.2024 15.2.2024
7.3.2024 21.3.2024
11.4.2024 25.4.2024
7.5.2024 23.5.2024
4.6.2024 20.6.2024
8.8.2024 22.8.2024
12.9.2024 26.9.2024
3.10.2024 24.10.2024
29.10.2024 14.11.2024
5.12.2024 19.12.2024

Applicants to the research field of Industrial Engineering and Management

  1. Applications are invited from full-time applicants to the research field of Industrial Engineering and Management once a month. The application deadlines are identical with those of other research fields in the programme, please see deadlines above.
  2. Applicants to part-time doctoral studies in the field of Industrial Engineering and Management may apply twice a year.

Application periods 2024: part-time applicants, Industrial Engineering and Management

Application period Admission decisions are made
18.3.–11.4.2024 23.5.2024
21.8.–12.9.2024 24.10.2024

Required appendices for all applicants

Please submit the following appendices in Studyinfo.fi when using the Electronic application form.

In the application form, please choose Doctoral Programme in Science as a study programme ("Add study programme").

The study plan, research plan, supervision plan and funding plan must all be approved and signed by both the applicant and the supervising professor. Upon his or her signature of the documents, the professor in charge of the research field agrees to act as the supervising professor of the applicant.

After reading the instructions and getting all the documents ready, fill in the application, attach all the required documents (and the additional appendices required for those with master's degree elsewhere than at Aalto University) and send it.

Additional appendices required for those with master's degree elsewhere than at Aalto University

Applicants with a master’s degree or education earned elsewhere than at Aalto University (or at one of its predecessors) must also provide the following documents:

Contact us

If you have any questions about admissions and application instructions, you can contact [email protected]

In case of programme-specific questions and inquiries, you may also contact the Learning Services of the Doctoral Programme in Science.

Departments of School of Science

Department of Mathematics and Systems Analysis

Our main research areas are algebra and discrete mathematics, analysis, applied mathematics and mechanics, stochastics and statistics, and systems analysis and operations research.

Green plastic triangle on a white board,

Department of Computer Science

We are an internationally-oriented community and home to world-class research in modern computer science.

Computer Science building front entrance, Aalto University, photo Matti Ahlgren / Tietotekniikan talon sisäänkäynti, Aalto-yliopisto

Department of Industrial Engineering and Management

We conduct world-class research and education focusing on the creation and transformation of technology-based business.

Students sitting and talking together

Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering

We study system-level dynamic functions of the human brain, mind and body.

Illustration of combined TMS and EEG methods

Department of Applied Physics

The Department of Applied Physics pursues vigorous research in physical sciences and creates important industrial applications.

A group of seven researchers observe a complex piece of machinery in the center of the photo.

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