Student applications 2012

In the call of 2012, Hecse is offering both funded and adjunct PhD positions.

Important dates

  • 28 June - 15 July 2012: The pre-application call is open
  • 15 July 2012: Deadline for pre-applications (3.45pm EET)
  • 15 July 2012: Pre-application call is now closed!
  • 24 August - 21 September 2012: The full application call is open
  • 21 September 2012: Deadline for full applications (3.45pm EET)
  • 1 October 2012, 9.00-12:00, Kumpula: Steering group meeting
  • 1 October - 15 October 2012: Evaluation of applications
  • 24 October 2012, 10:00-13:00, Kumpula: Steering group meeting
  • 30 October 2012, 9:30-11:30, Otaniemi: Board meeting
  • 1 November 2012: Notification of accepted applications

Full applications

Full applications can only be submitted by applicants with a committed supervisor in Hecse. Applications are submitted electronically and should include the following parts:

  • a filled-in application form

  • a PhD studies portfolio (in one pdf file, see description in FAQ) including
    • a letter of introduction
    • a curriculum vitae
    • relevant diplomas
    • transcripts of studies
    • an English language certificate
    • a research and study plan for the whole period of PhD studies including a financing plan
    • a publication list with contribution explanations
    • copies of at most three publications

In addition, the selected supervisor must submit a recommendation letter. At most two additional recommendation letters by other senior researchers may be submitted.

Please see the FAQ for detailed information.

Steps for submitting an application

  1. If you do not have a supervisor within Hecse, please see the list of supervisors. It is your responsibility to find a supervisor in your preferred field. Contact the supervisor and ask kindly if she or he would be interested in supervising you through your PhD studies.

  2. Fill in the application form and submit it.

  3. Submit your PhD studies portofolio by using EasyChair. The portfolio should be in a pdf format (one file only).


    Note that you must create an EasyChair account to be able to submit your portfolio. Please follow the instructions on the web page.

    When you submit your portfolio, please make sure that you tick the box for being the corresponding author, enter the title and a short abstract (4 lines) about your intended PhD research, and add at least two key words referring to your research. This information will make evaluating the applications easier. Thank you!

  4. Ask your supervisor (and also possibly your instructor, if you have one) to submit a recommendation letter(s).

  5. Ask at most two other senior researchers to submit recommendations.

Registration if accepted

Accepted applicants must register for PhD studies at the university of their supervisor. For the registration, certified copies of diplomas must be submitted (translated into English if they are not in Finnish or Swedish).

N.B. According to the policy adopted by Hecse and some other doctoral programmes, if you apply for a position in Hecse and are accepted (for a funded or adjunct position, it does not matter), and choose not to accept the offer, then you are NOT allowed to apply to Hecse again.

More information

Please see the FAQ or contact hecse-admin@cs.helsinki.fi or the coordinator directly at

Hecse Coordinator Petri Kontkanen
Room A324
Department of Computer Science
P.O.Box 68 (Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2b)
FI-00014 University of Helsinki
Finland