Study options

Doctoral Programme in Chemical Engineering

The Aalto Doctoral Programme in Chemical Engineering comprises six research fields that focus on: forest products technologies; chemical engineering; industrial biotechnology; materials science and nanotechnology; metals and minerals processing; and energy technology. The Departments of Bioproducts and Biosystems (Bio2), Chemistry and Material Science, and Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering are jointly responsible for the programme.
Doctoral students in the lab

Degree:

Doctor of Science (Technology)

Application period:

13 Sep 2024 – 5 Dec 2024

Language of instruction:

Finnish
English
Swedish

Duration:

4 years, full-time

Eligibility:

Relevant master’s degree awarded by a Finnish university or a Finnish university of applied sciences, or a corresponding degree completed abroad

Field of study:

Technology and Engineering

Credits:

Organising school:

School of Chemical Engineering

Choose doctoral studies at the School of Chemical Engineering

Our purpose is to drive sustainable chemical engineering for bio- and circular economy.

The research at our school focuses on forest products technologies, chemical engineering, industrial biotechnology, materials science and nanotechnology, metals and minerals processing and energy technology.

A gold-plated cryostat sits half open with many cables coming out from the bottom.

Doctoral education pilot

We are hiring 178 new doctoral researchers - get your doctorate from Aalto

CIMANET

CIMANET Doctoral Education Network

Circular Materials Bioeconomy Network: From bio-based resources to advanced materials (CIMANET).

Doctoral education pilot
Helena Sederholm photographed in a lab setting, wearing a blue sweater.

Alternatives to fossil-based fibres – Helena Sederholm develops sustainable textiles

Today’s outdoor clothing mainly relies on oil-based fibres and chemicals that are harmful for the environment. In her doctoral research, Helena Sederholm develops environmentally friendly water-repellent textiles. She follows the example of nature.

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Matteo

Matteo Iannacchero, a developer of bio-based yarns: ‘I value the freedom of science’

In his doctoral research conducted at Aalto University’s Bioinnovation Center, Iannacchero uses machine learning to develop ecologically sustainable electronic yarns. This is an opportunity to come up with something completely new.

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Sahar

Sahar Babaeipour dreams of entrepreneurship – but before that, she wants to graduate as a doctor

The doctoral research conducted by Sahar Babaeipour, a doctoral researcher at Aalto University’s Bioinnovation Center, aims at a more sustainable packaging industry.

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Your path to doctoral studies at the School of Chemical Engineering

  1. You need to have a supervising professor who is willing to supervise your doctoral studies, and to ensure that your expertise and research interests align with those of the research group. There are several possibilities to accomplish this step: 
    • Apply for a salaried doctoral researcher position at Aalto. Salaried doctoral researcher positions are advertised at Aalto University Open positions.
    • If you are interested in full-time studies but there are no open positions at the moment, please contact a professor in charge of your intended research field to discuss the possible supervision of doctoral studies. Professors may also have information on other funding possibilities (such as grants), as well as on upcoming positions that are not yet announced.
    • If you are employed elsewhere but wish to pursue doctoral studies, that is possible either as a full-time or part-time student, depending on your situation. In this case, please contact the potential supervising professor directly.
    • If you are in the process of applying for external funding for degree studies in our doctoral programme, please contact the potential supervising professor directly. Note that to pursue the degree, you need to reside in Finland at least the half of the study time. Non-EU citizens therefore need to follow the income requirements of the Finnish Immigration Service (researcher’s permit). 
  2. After agreeing with the supervising professor, apply for the study right in our doctoral programme (in addition to a possible working contract at Aalto) - see instructions below. Please note that you are not a doctoral student before you are officially admitted to the doctoral programme.

Note: Before applying for the salaried positions and/or contacting the potential supervising professor(s), please check below the eligibility requirements and qualifications needed for applying for the study right in our doctoral programme.

Discover your research topic and find a supervising professor

Research activities at the departments are arranged under research groups. Your research interest must match with one of the research groups and the focus of the department.

In addition to the departments' and research groups' pages, you can use Aalto University's research portal for finding the professors who are researching the area in which you want to do your doctoral research. Before applying for doctoral studies you should be aware of the research done and researchers working in the field of your interest.

Aalto University's research portal for finding our researchers and research projects

More information on discovering your research topic and finding a professor

Doctoral theses published in the School of Chemical Engineering

Basic information on doctoral studies

How to apply?

Application processing cycle for doctoral study right is organized four times a year. The first call in the autumn 2024 closes on 12 September 2024 at 23:59 (UTC+3) and the second call closes on 5 December 2024 at 23:59 (UTC+2). Please see the application deadlines in the table given below. All given times are in Finnish time.

Only applications with all the required application documents will be processed. Complete applications are processed within the next two months for the doctoral committee meeting, after the application period has ended. Incomplete applications will be rejected, unless the missing materials are sent by the deadline given.

Application deadlines 2024
Tuesday 30 January 2024 at 23:59
Friday 7 June 2024 at 23:59
Thursday 12 September 2024 at 23:59
Thursday 5 December 2024 at 23:59

Applicant must submit the electronic application and all required attachments within the deadline. Only complete applications will be processed. The spring season 2025 application period ends on 8 May 2025 at 23:59 in Finnish time. 

Link to the application form

The right to pursue a degree will be valid only after the Dean has granted the right and the applicant has accepted the offer of admission. The applicant has two weeks time to accept the offer and cannot postpone the start of the right to pursue a degree.

Please note that from 1 August 2016 onwards students may accept only one study place leading to a higher education degree in Finland during one academic term (Universities Act 558/2009).*

*Higher education degrees include bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees awarded by universities as well as degrees from universities of applied sciences. The academic terms run from 1 August to 31 December and 1 January to 31 July. The acceptance of a study place is binding and cannot be canceled. Even if the student postpones the commencement of studies or gives up her/his right to study, the student cannot accept another study place leading to a higher education degree starting the same academic term.

Contact us

If you have any programme-specific inquiries or questions about admissions and application instructions, please contact [email protected]

The Departments of the School of Chemical Engineering

Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering

Sustainable future with high performance products

Researchers in the lab

Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems

Enabling bio and circular economy

Lignocellulose samples by Mohamed Magd. Photo: Valeria Azovskaya

Research infrastructure

We develop local and global networks

Image from the Aalto Bioproduct centre

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