Department of Finance

Doctoral Programme in Finance

The Doctoral Programme in Finance at Aalto University School of Business is intended for candidates of excellent academic background and intellectual ambition who are motivated in producing research at the highest international level and pursuing careers in the academic and business world.

The placement record of Aalto Finance PhDs is excellent. Our academic placements include Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, ESCP Paris, Ohio State University, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, University of Miami, Imperial College Business School, Luxembourg School of Finance, Catholic University of Lisbon and London Business School. The Aalto Doctoral Programme in Finance provides a solid basis for starting an international academic career.
PhD lecture in Finance, photo: Roope Kiviranta

Structure of the programme

The 4-year Aalto Finance doctoral programme resembles the US-style programme. One and a half years at the beginning of the studies are devoted mostly to intensive course work that is followed by research for the doctoral dissertation. Aalto Finance doctoral students follow the course curriculum of the Graduate School of Finance (GSF), the national doctoral programme in Finance. GSF offers yearly 5-7 core doctoral Finance courses. In addition, students take Economics doctoral courses offered by the Helsinki Graduate School of Economics.

Course Curriculum of doctoral studies in FinanceThe local courses are complemented by intensive Finance doctoral courses organized within the Nordic Finance Network (NFN), which is a collaborative Nordic network for research and doctoral training among the Finance departments in the Nordic countries. All teaching in the doctoral programme is in English and there are no tuition fees.

List of former doctoral students' academic placements.

Read about Assistant Professor Petra Vokatá's experiences as a Finance doctoral student at Aalto University School of Business 

Applications

New students will be accepted once a year. Application period will open on December 12, 2024 and the deadline for applications is January 9, 2025.

Details about the application process (under "How to Apply?")

Funding

There are no tuition fees for the doctoral programme at Aalto University School of Business. The School commits to providing funding for at least the first two years for accepted doctoral candidates who proceed successfully with their doctoral studies and research. From year three onwards the studies are funded by research projects, grants from foundations, the finance department or a combination of these. All Finance doctoralstudents have received funding throughout their studies, subject to performance.

For more information about the Aalto Doctoral Programme in Finance, please download our brochure (PDF) below.

Aalto Doctoral Programme in Finance Brochure, pdf, attachment
898.75 K

For your questions regarding the doctoral programme, please e-mail [email protected]

  • Published:
  • Updated: