Finnish Doctoral Programme in Oral Sciences (FINDOS-Turku) - Admission Criteria and Instructions for Applicants

1. Check the application period and requirements.
2. Read the instructions of the Faculty of Medicine and the Doctoral Programme carefully!
3. If you are going to verify your language skills with a language test, make sure that you book your test time well in advance. It is the applicant’s responsibility to make their own language test arrangements.
4. Get the required signatures in time and prepare the appendix documents as pdf's.
5. Applications for the right to study for a doctoral degree are submitted in the Studyinfo system, and applications for the position of doctoral researcher are submitted in the University of Turku's recruitment system (Talentti) by filling in the electronic application form and attaching pdf attachments to the application. Please note that if you are applying for both the right to study and the doctoral researcher position with an employment contract, you must submit your application with attachments in both application systems.
6. Remember to apply in time. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be processed.
7. Keep the original degree certificates and other relevant educational documents at hand during the application process.

Specific admission requirements in FINDOS

• Suitable Academic Degree (Licentiate of Dentistry or equivalent, MSc level e.g. in biology, biochemistry or biomaterials). Dental and medical students at the university of Turku may receive the right to study for a doctoral degree already before obtaining the Licentiate degree. Link to he eligibility criteria.
• Research plan approved by the supervisor.
• Research area in the field of oral sciences.

An application should

• Contain a scientifically significant and feasible thesis project which thematically fits in the scope of the scientific fields represented by FINDOS.
• Demonstrate that the applicant is motivated and has potential to develop into an independent researcher.
• Demonstrate that the applicant will significantly benefit from the four-year PhD training program.
• Include structured research and study plans approved by the supervisor.

The supervisor

• Please read carefully the current requirements on the Faculty of Medicine's instructions webpage under section Supervision
• Represents the scientific fields of FINDOS.
• Can provide the doctoral researcher with adequate supervision and scientific training.
• Actively participates in the development of the FINDOS curriculum.

The Follow-up committee for doctoral training

• More information and current requirements are available at the Faculty of Medicine Study guide for doctoral studies - chapter 4.4 (pdf)

During the application period 25 August 2026 – 8 September 2026, you can apply for:

a) The right to pursue a doctoral degree in the University of Turku Finnish Doctoral Programme in Oral Sciences (FINDOS-Turku) at the Faculty of Medicine from 1 January 2027 onwards.

b) A fixed‑term doctoral researcher position with an employment contract

c) Both of the above (a and b)

When applying for a right to study

• You are required to have completed a relevant Master’s degree awarded by a university or a university of applied sciences, or a relevant study programme abroad which in the awarding country gives eligibility for the corresponding level of higher education (Universities Act 558/2009, 37§). The degree that gives eligibility for admission must be completed by the application deadline;

• You must meet the University of Turku language proficiency requirements. Link to the Graduate School’s web page on language requirements;

• You must meet the faculty and doctoral programme requirements for granting the right to pursue a doctoral degree. Carefully read the application guidelines of the Faculty of Medicine and the requirements of the Doctoral Programme. More information is provided under “Criteria for granting the right to pursue a doctoral degree”.

When applying for a fixed-term doctoral researcher position under an employment contract (open only in the autumn application round)

• You must hold an active study right to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Turku in the Faculty of Medicine, Finnish Doctoral Programme in Oral Sciences (FINDOS-Turku). In addition, when acquiring the degree or otherwise, you are required to have demonstrated the ability to undertake postgraduate studies and the capacity to complete a doctoral degree in accordance with the research plan.  (University of Turku Rules of Procedure 13.12.2024).

• or if you have not yet been granted right to pursue a doctoral degree, you must apply for the right to pursue a doctoral degree in the Finnish Doctoral Programme in Oral Sciences in this call via the Studyinfo (Opintopolku) service (see the instructions under “How to apply for the right to pursue a doctoral degree”). The right to pursue a doctoral degree is a prerequisite for being selected for a position of a doctoral researcher;

• You are planning to pursue or pursuing your first doctoral degree;

• You have not previously received four years of full‑time funding for doctoral studies.

• The doctoral researcher position requires working in Finland and the place of work is Turku. 

Applications for the right to pursue a doctoral degree are submitted via the Studyinfo (Opintopolku) service and applications for fixed‑term doctoral researcher position with an employment contract are submitted via the University of Turku recruitment system (Talentti) by completing an electronic application form and submitting the required attachments.

Note that if you apply for both the right to pursue a doctoral degree and a doctoral researcher position with an employment contract, you must submit applications with the required attachments in both systems (see details below).

The required attachments are described in more detail at the end of the Call of Applications (Appendix 1 & Appendix 2).

Links to the application forms will be published on the University of Turku Graduate School web pages.

How to apply for the right to pursue a doctoral degree

Apply for the right to pursue a doctoral degree by filling the electronic Studyinfo form and submitting the required attachments (see Appendix 1). The Studyinfo form opens at the start of the application period on 25 August 2026 and closes on 8 September 2026 at 23:59 (local time in Finland). A link to the Graduate School web pages where the links to the application forms will be published.

In this application round, you may apply for admission to up to two doctoral programmes at the University of Turku. You may only have one valid doctoral degree study right at the University of Turku at a time.

Late applications will not be considered. The chosen study programme (doctoral programme) cannot be changed and the application cannot be amended after the application period has ended.

The Studyinfo service is used solely to apply for the right to pursue a doctoral degree; if you also wish to apply for a fixed‑term doctoral researcher position, you must submit a separate application for that position (see the instructions under “How to apply for a fixed‑term doctoral researcher position with an employment contract”).

How to apply for a fixed‑term doctoral researcher position with an employment contract

Doctoral researcher positions are applied for by completing the electronic application form in the University of Turku recruitment system (Talentti) and submitting the required attachments (see Appendix 2). The recruitment form opens at the start of the application period on 25 August 2026 and closes on 8 September 2026 at 23:59 (local time in Finland).

Doctoral researcher positions will be advertised in the University of Turku’s Open Positions and on the Graduate School web pages at the beginning of the application period.

Applicants must submit all required attachments by the application deadline; late applications will not be processed and the chosen doctoral programme cannot be changed nor can the application be amended after the deadline.

Selection to a doctoral researcher position requires an active right to pursue a doctoral degree in the Finnish Doctoral Programme in Oral Sciences (FINDOS-Turku); if you have not yet been granted study right, you must apply for one in Studyinfo (see “How to apply for the right to pursue a doctoral degree”). 

Attachments to the application when applying for a right to pursue a doctoral degree

Please ensure that all attachments are high-quality, easy-to-read, full-colour scans or photographs of the entire required document. Attachments must be submitted in PDF format. Attachments that do not meet these requirements may be rejected. Name each attachment so that the file name clearly indicates both your name and the document type (for example: surname-firstname-CV).

All application documents are recommended to be written in English.

1) Degree certificate and transcript of study records

Attach to the electronic application form:

• the scanned or electronic original certificate of the higher university degree (e.g. Master’s degree),
• the scanned or electronic original transcript of study records of the higher university degree,
• other study certificates relevant to the selection criteria (for example, studies completed outside the degree that relate to the doctoral degree you are applying for).

If the documents are not in Finnish, Swedish or English, you must also submit an official translation into one of those languages; an official translation is accepted if issued by the degree‑awarding university or produced by an authorised translator. A Diploma Supplement (DS) issued by a European higher education institution may be accepted instead of an English translation of the degree certificate and transcript, provided it contains the details of the study records.

2) Certificate of language proficiency

The University of Turku follows the Rector’s decision (8.6.2026) that defines acceptable ways of verifying language proficiency. You should read the University of Turku’s guidance on language proficiency carefully: Link to the webpage on language requirements.

As an attachment to your application, you must include a scanned certificate of a language test approved by the University of Turku, unless the guidance states otherwise.

3) Research plan (max. 5 pages)

When preparing the research plan you must follow the principles of good scientific practice (link to TENK’s guidelines on good scientific practice). The research plan may be checked with the Turnitin OriginalityCheck plagiarism‑detection system. Any use of artificial intelligence (AI) as an aid in preparing the research plan must be clearly declared in the application.

For the FINDOS-Turku research plan, please see the guidelines (pdf) and additional points (pdf).

4) Copy of valid passport

Attach a copy of your valid passport or official identification card with photo and information on citizenship.

If you have a Finnish personal identity code and you have entered it on the application form, you do not need to attach a copy of your passport.

5) Curriculum Vitae of the applicant, including a list of publications when applicable.

We recommend that you prepare your CV based on the TENK researcher CV template: Link to the template for researcher’s Curriculum Vitae.

6) Motivation letter (max 1 page)

The motivation letter is one page long freeform document, which includes the reasons for applying for the doctoral studies in the Finnish Doctoral Program in Oral Sciences (FINDOS-Turku).If the applicant has a right to study for a doctoral degree at another university or in another doctoral programme at the University of Turku, the applicant must provide reasons for changing over to FINDOS-Turku. A student may hold only one doctoral degree study right at the University of Turku at a time.

7) Supervision and study plan

Fill in electronically, print and sign together with the supervisor/-s and the head of subject. NB! At least one of the supervisors should have access to UTU IT-systems (utu user account). Additional information is available at the Faculty of Medicine webpage, under the “Supervision” section

8) When only one supervisor for doctoral training is proposed, the supervisor’s justified plea for approval of only one supervisor must be attached to the application.

See Before applying / Doctoral training at the Faculty of Medicine > Supervision at Faculty of Medicine instructions

Attachments to the application when applying for doctoral researcher position with employment contract

Fill in the electronic application form. The attachments listed below must be submitted as part of the Talentti system’s electronic application form unless otherwise instructed. Ensure that all attachments are high‑quality, easy‑to‑read, full-colour scans or photographs of the entire required document. Attachments should be submitted in PDF format. Attachments that do not meet these requirements may be rejected. Name each file so that the filename clearly shows both your name and the document type (for example: surname-firstname-CV).

In addition to the attachments listed below, the applicant must prepare the following information in the application form:
• a summary of the research plan (maximum 1,000 characters),
• an implementation plan, i.e. a realistic description of the execution of the doctoral research, including other sources of funding and the schedule, as well as a plan for completing the degree. Furthermore, applicants applying for a fixed-term doctoral researcher position for a defined subproject must clearly specify the content and implementation of the subproject, including its timetable. This should describe a clearly defined research task for the period applied for, producing a concrete outcome (e.g. data collection, article, chapter, or analysis).

All application documents are recommended to be written in English.

1) Curriculum Vitae of the applicant, including a list of publications when applicable.

We recommend that you prepare your CV based on the TENK researcher CV template: Link to the template for researcher’s Curriculum Vitae.

2) Research plan

The research plan must be up to date. When preparing the research plan you must follow the principles of good scientific practice (link to TENK’s guidelines on good scientific practice). The research plan may be checked with the Turnitin OriginalityCheck plagiarism‑detection system. Any use of artificial intelligence (AI) as an aid in preparing the research plan must be clearly declared in the application.

3) Degree certificate and transcript of study records

Attach to the electronic application form:

• the scanned or electronic original certificate of the higher university degree (e.g. Master’s degree),
• the scanned or electronic original transcript of study records of the higher university degree,
• other study certificates relevant to the selection criteria (for example, studies completed outside the degree that relate to the doctoral degree you are applying for).

If the documents are not in Finnish, Swedish or English, you must also submit an official translation into one of those languages; an official translation is accepted if issued by the degree‑awarding university or produced by an authorised translator. A Diploma Supplement (DS) issued by a European higher education institution may be accepted instead of an English translation of the degree certificate and transcript, provided it contains the details of the study records.

4) Motivation letter (max 1 page)

The motivation letter is one page long freeform document, which includes the reasons for applying for the doctoral studies in the Finnish Doctoral Program in Oral Sciences (FINDOS-Turku).If the applicant has a right to study for a doctoral degree at another university or in another doctoral programme at the University of Turku, the applicant must provide reasons for changing over to FINDOS-Turku. A student may hold only one doctoral degree study right at the University of Turku at a time.

Selection criteria and evaluation of applications

Applicant’s research topic must fit the profile of the doctoral programme. The doctoral programme’s steering group will evaluate applications after the deadline and may use external experts as necessary. Research plans submitted with applications may be checked with Turnitin OriginalityCheck for plagiarism in accordance with the University’s quality system; the use of artificial intelligence and how it was used in preparing the research plan may also be assessed.

Criteria for granting the right to pursue a doctoral degree

Granting the right to pursue a doctoral degree requires that the applicant:

• meets the eligibility criteria determined in the Universities Act (558/2009, Section 37); More information is provided under “Requirements for applicants”.
• meets the University of Turku language proficiency requirements;
• fulfils the requirements set by the Faculty of medicine and Finnish Doctoral Programme in Oral Sciences (FINDOS-Turku) for granting the right to pursue a doctoral degree

Selection criteria for fixed‑term doctoral researcher position with an employment contract

Applicants selected for UTUGS fixed‑term doctoral researcher positions must meet the eligibility requirements defined in the University of Turku Rules of Procedure (13.12.2024).

In the selection of applicants for funded doctoral researcher positions, particular attention is paid to the quality and feasibility of the research plan, as well as the realism of the proposed timetable. In addition, the applicant’s academic and research merits, and their capability and motivation to complete a doctoral degree are taken into account. Furthermore, the applicant’s research topic must fit within the profile of the Doctoral Programme.

For applicants who have previously been granted the right to pursue a doctoral degree, progress in doctoral research and doctoral studies will also be assessed; prior funding received for the completion of the doctoral degree may be taken into account when determining the duration of a doctoral researcher position.

In the FINDOS-Turku Doctoral Programme, applications are sent for external evaluation by experts in the field. Some applicants may be invited for an interview. Please note that, due to the tight evaluation schedule, invitations for interviews will be sent on short notice. Based on the scoring of the applications and interviews, the steering committee of the Doctoral Programme makes a proposal on the selection for funded doctoral researcher positions.

Decisions on the right to pursue a doctoral degree

The Dean of the Faculty of Medicine decides on the granting of the right to pursue a doctoral degree on the basis of the doctoral programme steering group’s proposal. All applicants will be notified of the decisions personally by 30 November 2026.

An admitted applicant must confirm acceptance of the study place in accordance with the instructions given in the decision by 15 December 2026 at 23:59 (local time in Finland). If the admitted applicant does not give the notification by the end of the allotted time period mentioned above, the applicant forfeits the study place.

A person admitted to more than one university or polytechnic degree programme only notifies the one educational institution at which they choose to accept the study place. Notification, i.e. accepting a study place, is binding and may not be cancelled or changed later. According to Finnish university legislation, an applicant may accept only one study place leading to a higher education degree in Finland during one academic term (autumn term 1 Aug – 31 Dec or spring term 1 Jan – 31 Jul). This rule applies to all higher education, i.e. Bachelor’s and Master’s level degrees awarded by Finnish universities of applied sciences, Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees awarded by Finnish universities, and Licentiate and Doctoral degrees awarded by Finnish universities. This regulation is not applied to study rights received in transfer student selections, from the Åland University of Applied Sciences, from the Police University College, and from institutions of higher education outside Finland.

Applicants who have completed their prior degree in a country other than Finland and who are granted a right to pursue a doctoral degree in this call, need to deliver either the original degree certificates or certified copies of the original degree certificates and their translations to the University of Turku, as instructed in the admission notification, on 8 March 2027 at the latest. If the admitted applicant does not deliver the required certificates by the deadline, they forfeit the study right. A link to the the instructions on delivering certificates and country-specific requirements.

Decisions on the fixed‑term doctoral researcher position with an employment contract

The decision on appointment to a doctoral researcher position is made by the head of the relevant department or unit on the basis of the doctoral programme steering group’s proposal. All applicants will be notified of the programme’s decision personally and the names of the persons offered positions will be published on the doctoral programme web pages; selected applicants must confirm acceptance of the position in accordance with the instructions in the decision.

FINDOS-Turku

Faculty of Medicine

Contacts:

Director of the FINDOS-Turku Ulvi Gursoy, ulvgur@utu.fi

Coordinator Maiju Kannisto, findos@utu.fi