PhD Start Up Grant at the University of Eastern Finland 2026
Applicant criteria
- NationalityNo specific nationality required
- AgeNo specific age required
- GenderBoth
Opportunity criteria
- Opportunity FieldReligion and Philosophy
- Job locationFinland
- DegreePhd
- Deadline2026-11-30
Opportunity description
The University of Eastern Finland offers a doctoral start-up grant to help new doctoral researchers begin full-time work on their dissertation. Applicants apply for the grant alongside their application for doctoral study rights in the Philosophical Faculty’s Doctoral Programme (FILOTO). The grant provides €1,500 per month for two months, and the deadline in the current application period is November 30, 2026.
About the PhD Start Up Grant
The grant is intended to give recipients time to start their doctoral research in line with their research plan. It also supports the preparation of a funding plan and applications for further funding for the doctoral project. Admission to doctoral studies does not itself include funding, and the start-up grant is competitive rather than automatic.
Applicants must apply through Studyinfo as part of their application for the right to pursue doctoral studies in FILOTO. The application also requires a statement from the proposed main supervisor. The statement must describe the applicant’s current and future funding situation and needs, and explain why the applicant should receive the grant. The main supervisor submits it directly to the faculty through the electronic form used for the doctoral study application. Applicants should discuss the grant with their prospective main supervisor before submitting. Incomplete applications will not be processed.
The doctoral programme covers humanities, theology, psychology, speech therapy, education, home economics and crafts. Doctoral admission requirements include a relevant higher university or polytechnic degree, relevant prior studies and a suitable research plan. Applicants must have at least two committed dissertation supervisors. The main supervisor must be employed by the Philosophical Faculty and hold a docent title or equivalent scientific qualifications; all supervisors must hold doctoral degrees. Applicants must also provide written supervision commitments.
Grant applications are assessed on the scientific significance and innovativeness of the research, the doctoral project’s funding plan, the feasibility of the work plan and the main supervisor’s statement. Affiliation with a research group is an advantage. A recipient must begin using the grant within three months of the decision, and the two-month period must be continuous. The grant requires full-time work on the doctoral research. After the grant period, the recipient must send the faculty a written report on how the grant was used; the main supervisor must also report on its contribution to the project’s progress.
Who Should Apply
This grant is for prospective doctoral researchers who qualify to apply to FILOTO and have a research project that can be supported by the programme’s supervisors. Applicants should have discussed supervision and funding with their proposed main supervisor and be ready to work exclusively on their doctoral research during the grant period. The grant is not available to someone who already has the right to pursue a doctoral degree in the Philosophical Faculty.
Key Highlights
- Grant amount: €1,500 per month for two continuous months.
- Apply through Studyinfo alongside the FILOTO doctoral study application.
- The grant must be started within three months of the award decision.
- Annual doctoral application periods: August 1–November 30 and January 1–May 31.
- Current application-period deadline: November 30, 2026.
Explore more grants and funding opportunities, browse doctoral and other study funding, or view more opportunities for youth.
Benefits
- A grant of €1,500 per month for two continuous months.
- Funding for a period of full-time work on the doctoral dissertation.
- Support for starting the research in line with the research plan and preparing a plan and applications for further funding.
Eligibility criteria
- Meet the doctoral programme’s admission eligibility: hold an applicable higher university or polytechnic degree, or a foreign qualification that provides eligibility for corresponding higher education in the country where it was awarded.
- Have at least 30 credits of studies in the doctoral degree’s major field or an appropriate related field by the application date. Psychology doctorate applicants must hold a Master’s degree in psychology from a Finnish university or an equivalent foreign degree.
- Have at least two committed dissertation supervisors, all holding doctoral degrees. The main supervisor must be employed by the Philosophical Faculty and be a docent or have equivalent scientific qualifications. Written supervision commitments are required.
- Submit a high-quality research plan prepared according to programme guidelines and demonstrate sufficient academic proficiency in Finnish or English. Applicants who need to demonstrate English proficiency through a test must meet one of these requirements: TOEFL iBT overall 92 with at least 22 in writing; IELTS Academic overall 6.5 with at least 6.0 in writing; PTE Academic overall 62 with at least 54 in writing; C1 Advanced overall C or 180 with at least 162 in writing; C2 Proficiency overall C1 or 180 with at least 162 in writing; or YKI level 5 in reading comprehension, writing and speaking. Different examinations may be combined. TOEFL, IELTS and PTE certificates are valid for two years and must be valid when applying; results must be verifiable through the organiser’s online service.
- Discuss the grant application with the prospective main supervisor before submitting and provide the supervisor’s statement on the applicant’s funding situation, needs and suitability for the grant.
- Not already hold the right to pursue a doctoral degree in the Philosophical Faculty.
- Begin using the grant within three months of the decision and use it for two continuous months of full-time doctoral research. The recipient may not have full-time paid employment during the grant period or combine the grant with another working grant. The grant cannot be awarded to someone employed by the University of Eastern Finland during the same calendar year in a position that included doctoral research duties. A recipient employed by the university in another position must be released from those duties during the grant period. If the recipient receives other funding for the doctoral research, the faculty grant is cancelled.
Ready to apply?
PhD Start Up Grant at the University of Eastern Finland 2026