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Doctoral Researcher Positions at the University of Turku Graduate School, Doctoral Programme in Law (DPLAW)

  • //applyindex.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/finland.png Finland
  • University/Institute Name University of Turku
  • Attendance Type On Campus (Full Time)
  • Position Funding Type Research Assistantship (RA)
  • Application deadlineSeptember 11, 2025
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Position Details (PhD Research Project)

The Doctoral Programme in Law, Faculty of Law at the University of Turku invites applications for a fixed-term doctoral researcher position with an employment contract. The position of a doctoral researcher is set to begin on 1 January 2026 at the earliest and for the duration of a maximum of four years (up to until 31 December 2029). The employment contract needs to begin during the year 2026.

The Doctoral Programme in Law is responsible for the doctoral education in law as part of the University of Turku Graduate School (UTUGS). All fields of law are represented in the programme. The programme gives qualification for multidisciplinary doctoral dissertation research.

Job description

The positions are intended for full-time doctoral dissertation research. Duties other than those related to doctoral dissertation research, such as teaching duties, must be proportioned so as not to compromise the completion of the doctoral dissertation within the planned schedule. As a rule, up to 5% (a maximum of about 80 hrs per academic year) of the annual working time of the doctoral researcher can consist of teaching.

When determining the length of the employment contract, the funding previously granted for doctoral degree is taken into account, as well as the timetable and the stage of completion of the degree. The maximum duration of doctoral researcher position is four years. A person already awarded with a doctoral degree may not be appointed to a position of doctoral researcher with an employment contract.

The position of doctoral researcher with employment contract requires working in Finland. A doctoral researcher works in the Faculty of Law. The place of employment is Turku. The University of Turku offers flexible possibilities for remote work.

Who we are looking for

A fixed-term doctoral researcher position with an employment contract can be applied for by 

  • persons who have an active right to study for a doctoral degree at the Faculty of Law, University of Turku, and who have not received full four years of funding for their doctoral research.
  • persons who do not yet have a study right for a doctoral degree but have completed a Master’s Degree, other applicable higher education degree or a corresponding international degree and whose degree and research plan are in accordance with the research areas included in the Doctoral Programme. A right to pursue for a doctoral degree is a prerequisite for an applicant to be chosen for a fixed-term doctoral researcher position under an employment contract. Therefore, the applicant for the salaried position who do not have the right to pursue a doctoral degree have to apply for it by filling in an electronic form in My Studyinfo service, Doctoral Programme in Law (UTU).

The essential criteria of evaluation for the fixed-term positions of a doctoral researcher are:

  • The quality and feasibility of the research plan,
  • Applicant’s eligibility for postgraduate studies (academic performance, possible scientific merits, the progress of studies and research to the current date)

The final selection is based on comprehensive evaluation of applications (not on a single criterion) as the applicants can be at different stages of their doctoral dissertation process.  Most qualified candidates may be interviewed. 

When determining the length of the employment contract, the stage of the doctoral research and prior funding granted for pursuing a doctoral degree is taken into account. As a rule, the doctoral programme offers funding only to applicants who have not yet received funding for four year full-time work.

All applicants will be personally informed about the decisions. The names of the applicants who have been selected for the fixed-term doctoral researcher position under employment contract will be announced on the website of the doctoral programme by the 28 November 2025. 

Benefits

We offer you responsible and interesting tasks and the opportunity to develop your professional skills in a versatile operating environment. You get a professional and inspiring team to support your work. We take care of your well-being at work and the functionality of your everyday life, e.g. with the help of flexible working hours and our well-being services.

  • Possibilities to develop your expertise – We encourage our personnel to develop their professional expertise by offering versatile training and competence development possibilities which employees can take advantage of during their working hours. Also, the course offering of Open University is free of charge for our personnel.
  • Your well-being is important to us! – In addition to comprehensive occupational health care, our own well-being services monitor, support and develop the well-being of our personnel. You are entitled to use the CampusSport’s services at a personnel price.
  • We support your work-life balance – Flexible working hours and extensive remote work options help you balance work and leisure time. You also have access to long annual leaves.
  • An inspiring and supportive work community – We encourage each other and value working together!

Please read more about University of Turku as an employee from our Come work with us! pages.

The European Commission has awarded the University of Turku the right to use the HR Excellence in Research quality label. The label is a token of the University’s commitment to continuous development of the position and working conditions of researchers according to the guidelines set forth in the European Charter for Researchers. 

The university offers good support and orientation for international hires. Please learn more about the Finnish culture and relocation to Finland:

The University of Turku is among the top of the world’s universities in most rankings and among the best universities in the world in certain fields. Our high-quality basic research, a multidisciplinary research profile and close cooperation in research infrastructures creates the basis for international top research. Read more about University of Turku in international university rankings.

The University of Turku has several high-quality research infrastructures required for cutting-edge research. Learn more about the roadmap of research infrastructures and how the research infrastructure and expert teams offer tailored solutions for businesses and organizations.

Salary and trial period

The salary is based on the salary system of the University’s teaching and research staff. Salaries will consist of a task-specific salary component and a personal performance salary component. The task-specific salary component of a doctoral researcher varies between levels 2 to 4, depending on the stage of the doctoral degree. In addition, a personal performance salary component is paid. The salary of a doctoral researcher varies between € 2 400 and € 3 300, depending on the progress of the doctoral research and the experience and skills of the person concerned. The probationary period of 6 months applies.

How to apply

Submit your application through our online recruitment system. The closing date for applications is 12.9.2025 at 16.00 (Europe/Helsinki).

Applicants should enclose with their application:

  • research plan (guidelines)
  • CV (list of publications included)
  • degree certificate(s)
  • a transcript of records (on the previous degree)

Further information

For further information on the position please contact Dean, Professor Mika Viljanen, [email protected]
For further information on the application process please contact Coordinator Kirsi Tuohela, [email protected], tel. +358 50 329 0514

Doctoral Programme in Law

The University of Turku Graduate School (UTUGS) consists of doctoral programmes which cover all disciplines and the approximately 2,000 doctoral researchers of the University. 

The aim of the Graduate School is to provide systematic and high quality doctoral training for the doctoral researchers of the University of Turku. Each doctoral researcher has a personal supervisor and the progress of the doctoral dissertation is followed regularly. The aim of doctoral training is to train highly qualified experts with the skills required for both professional career in research and other positions of expertise.

Doctoral Programme in Law is responsible of the development of doctoral education, and it aims to ensure the high quality of the dissertations and enhance the internationalisation in the field of law. It aims to provide systematic, high-quality and supervised doctoral training within a controlled time frame. The Graduate School coordinates doctoral training at the University of Turku. Its academic structure and working methods meet the recommendations on the development of doctoral training given by the Academy of Finland.

The University of Turku is an inspiring and international academic community of 25,000 students and staff in Southwest Finland. We build a sustainable future with multidisciplinary research, education, and collaboration. With us, your work will have a significant impact and relevance in the changing world.

See our open vacancies

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Phone:
+358 29 450 5000
Email:
[email protected]

Location: 20014 Turun yliopisto

Information for the applicant

The application form cannot be saved as a draft. However, after submitting you can return to edit your application via the link you receive by email. The application can be edited until the application deadline.

You have 6 hours to complete your application before the timeout.

Instructions for submitting a job application

Research Areas & Fields of Study involved in the position

Position Start Date

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