Support for doctoral researchers fleeing from Ukraine
Although the EDUFI Fellowship programmes have ended, doctoral researchers fleeing from Ukraine are welcome to explore opportunities for continuing their doctoral research at the University of Turku. There are different ways to engage in doctoral research at the University of Turku, depending on your current doctoral study right and your plans for completing your degree.
Interested in continuing your doctoral studies at the University of Turku?
We encourage doctoral researchers from Ukraine to explore the University of Turku’s doctoral programmes and the research opportunities they offer. The University of Turku Graduate School (UTUGS) consists of 17 doctoral programmes covering all disciplines at the University.
If you are interested in pursuing a doctoral degree at the University of Turku, please explore the doctoral programmes and identify a programme that matches your research interests. You can then apply for the right to pursue a doctoral degree during the application period.
Applications for doctoral studies are submitted through the Studyinfo (Opintopolku) service. Please note that admission is only possible during the application periods, and applicants should prepare their application and make the necessary arrangements with their prospective supervisor in advance.
>> How to apply to doctoral studies at the University of Turku (utu.fi)
Already hold a doctoral study right in Ukraine?
If you already have a doctoral study right at a Ukrainian university, there are different ways to continue your research at the University of Turku.
Visiting researcher
You may come to the University of Turku as a visiting doctoral researcher and conduct part of your research here while remaining enrolled at your Ukrainian university. A visiting researcher does not receive a doctoral study right at the University of Turku. Arrangements for a research visit are made with a suitable research group or supervisor at the University of Turku.
Cotutelle – joint doctoral supervision
You may also pursue your doctoral degree jointly at your Ukrainian university and the University of Turku through a Cotutelle agreement. Under a Cotutelle arrangement, you remain a doctoral researcher at both universities and complete one doctoral dissertation under joint supervision. The degree is awarded by both universities.
A Cotutelle agreement is established between the University of Turku and the Ukrainian university on a case-by-case basis. To establish a Cotutelle agreement, you must have a doctoral study right at both universities, and the study right at the University of Turku must be obtained through the normal application process. The arrangement requires supervisors at both universities and genuine academic collaboration and mobility between the two institutions.
>> Further information on Cotutelle (utu.fi)
Please note: The EDUFI Fellowship programmes have ended
The EDUFI Fellowship for doctoral researchers from Ukraine is no longer accepting applications. The Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI) also discontinued the general EDUFI Fellowship for foreign doctoral researchers at the end of 2025. The University of Turku therefore cannot currently support new applications through these fellowship programmes.