���ʵ���

As a doctoral researcher, you will receive rigorous training in theory and methods, close mentorship from internationally recognised faculty, and early opportunities to publish in leading journals and present at major academic conferences. You will join a large, research-active, and globally diverse unit with more than twenty nationalities represented – a community that values openness, collaboration, and academic freedom. Alongside world-class academic training, you will benefit from Finland’s unique combination of excellent education, inclusivity, and work–life balance.

Graduates of the programme go on to build academic careers at leading universities in Europe and beyond, as well as research positions in international organisations. You will leave Aalto equipped with the skills, networks, and scholarly mindset to shape the future of entrepreneurship research and teaching.

What we are looking for

We welcome applicants who are motivated to pursue an academic career and who bring curiosity, independence, and a willingness to contribute to our research community. Strong candidates combine well-developed writing and analytical skills with critical thinking, professionalism, and resilience. They should be able to work well both independently and collaboratively, and be highly open to feedback as part of the iterative process of research.

Our doctoral community is intentionally diverse, with backgrounds ranging from management and economics to sociology, psychology, philosophy, and the arts. What unites our researchers is their drive to study entrepreneurship as a phenomenon that shapes, and is shaped by, society.

Research and training

Our doctoral programme combines structured coursework with flexibility for independent research. In the first years, doctoral researchers develop methodological and theoretical expertise through advanced courses in philosophy of science, qualitative and quantitative methods, and entrepreneurship theory.

As the dissertation progresses, students focus increasingly on their own research: collecting and analysing data, developing research papers, and shaping their dissertation project. This work is complemented by active participation in research seminars, workshops, and international conferences, with the aim of refining their ideas, receiving feedback, and publishing in top academic journals.

Current research themes include:

• Entrepreneurial responses to grand challenges
• Entrepreneurship and population ageing
• Everyday entrepreneurship
• Micro-entrepreneurship in the Global South
• Psychological processes underlying entrepreneurial actions
• Regional and institutional embeddedness of entrepreneurship
• Social and sustainable business venturing

Faculty and supervision

Each doctoral researcher is assigned a primary supervisor whose expertise aligns with the student’s research interests and methodological approach. Supervision at Aalto combines rigour with collegiality: our faculty are active scholars, publishing in top journals and serving on editorial boards, while supporting doctoral researchers in developing the ability to produce excellent research both independently and in collaboration with others.

Our faculty regularly publish in journals such as Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Business Venturing, and Organization Studies. Members of the unit also serve as editors at Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice and Journal of Business Venturing Insights.

Supervising faculty include:

• , Professor
• , Associate Professor & Head of Doctoral Programme in Entrepreneurship
• , Associate Professor & Head of the Entrepreneurship Unit (ENTU)
• , Assistant Professor
• , Assistant Professor

→ More information about our faculty and their research can be found on the ENTU website:

Research community and environment

The Entrepreneurship Unit is one of the most international and diverse communities at Aalto University, with more than twenty nationalities represented. Doctoral researchers are treated as colleagues from day one, contributing actively to seminars, research groups, and publications. Our culture is open, inclusive, and egalitarian: we value both independence and collaboration, encouraging students to develop their own research while also engaging as active members of an interdependent academic community.

Within Aalto, doctoral researchers benefit from direct links to hubs such as the Aalto Startup Center and the Design Factory, which provide opportunities to connect research with practice. The university is also closely connected to the wider Nordic entrepreneurial scene, and doctoral researchers are able to engage with events such as the globally renowned Slush conference, one of the world’s most influential gatherings for startups and investors. In addition, Aalto regularly hosts leading international scholars who deliver keynotes, run doctoral workshops, and hold one-to-one sessions with our students.

Career pathways

Most of our graduates pursue academic careers. Entrepreneurship has been one of the fastest-growing subfields within management and business studies over the last decades, creating opportunities for both research-oriented and teaching-oriented positions. Our programme also provides doctoral researchers with the chance to develop teaching skills, for example through involvement in Aalto’s Master’s Programme in Sustainable Entrepreneurship.

Beyond academia, graduates also develop skills valued by international organisations, policy think tanks, government agencies, and selected corporate research roles.

Recent alumni include:

• – Professor, Leuphana University Lüneburg
• – Assistant Professor, Audencia Business School
• – Postdoctoral researcher, Aalto University School of Business  
• – Postdoctoral researcher, Aalto University School of Business

Degree structure and coursework

The doctoral degree consists of 60 ECTS of coursework:

• General research studies (18 ECTS): Philosophy of science, advanced qualitative and quantitative methods, academic writing, and transferable skills.
• Research field studies (42 ECTS): Advanced entrepreneurship theory, research seminars, and electives in management and social sciences tailored to the dissertation topic.

This coursework is complemented by doctoral seminars, research workshops, and participation in international conferences, ensuring a balance of methodological rigour and domain-specific expertise.

→ See full details: Curriculum 2024-2026 | Aalto University

Funding and support

Doctoral researchers at Aalto benefit from a supportive and research-driven environment, which includes financial support.

Funding is guaranteed for the first two years, typically through the School of Business. Beyond this period, continued support is available through the School, the Entrepreneurship Unit, or competitive external foundations. Most of our students also successfully secure additional funding for international mobility, fieldwork, and conference participation.

Early in their doctoral journey, students are introduced to funding opportunities and receive guidance in grant writing, an important skill for future academic careers.

Life as a doctoral researcher

Doctoral studies at Aalto are both intellectually demanding and personally rewarding.

“Living and researching in Finland has shaped not just my academic thinking, but also how I envision contributing to academic life in the future. What stands out to me is the strong social fabric of this country, the mutual respect, the trust, and the calm sense of safety. It creates a space where both life and research feel meaningful.’’

Canan Keleş, Doctoral Researcher

“Talk to someone before you apply. Finland, and Aalto in particular, is known for being approachable, and most researchers and professors are genuinely happy to chat if you show interest in their work. That one conversation can help clarify a lot and give you a better sense of whether the programme is right for you.”

Nicole Hußmann, Doctoral Researcher

Why Finland and Aalto?

Finland is consistently ranked among the best countries in the world for quality of life, safety, and education. It is also ranked the , offering  doctoral researchers a stable and inclusive environment with a strong culture of work-life balance.

Aalto University is Finland’s leading business school, internationally recognised for management and entrepreneurship research. The Entrepreneurship Unit is a highly research-active and globally diverse group, with particular strengths in sustainability, inclusion, and entrepreneurship’s societal impact more broadly.

Together, Aalto and Finland offer doctoral researchers a unique combination of research excellence, supportive community, and inspiring environment.

Application process

We invite applications from motivated candidates who aspire to an academic career and who wish to contribute to advancing entrepreneurship research.

→ If you are considering applying, start by reviewing the detailed programme information and answers to frequently asked questions here: Aalto Doctoral Programme in Business, Economics and Finance | Aalto University

→ For more information about the Entrepreneurship Unit and our ongoing projects, please visit the ENTU website:

For further questions on the admission process, contact: 

Aalto School of Business Doctoral Programme
doctoralprogramme-biz@aalto.fi