Required previous studies

Here you can find the admission requirements concerning your educational background.

To be eligible to apply for doctoral studies, you must have completed at least a Master's degree, and in order to be admitted to studies for the Doctor of Science (Economics and Business Administration) degree, the degree must also include 36 ECTS in the desired major and 6 ECTS in Economics.

In addition to the general requirements, the subjects below have chosen to apply subject specific requirements. See subject-specific requirements.

Master's degree

Master's degree from a recognised university or university of applied sciences

  • The Master's degree must have good grades and include a comprehensive research-based thesis.
  • Bachelor-level degrees from a university or university of applied sciences as well as qualifications obtained from MBA programmes are not considered sufficient for admission.
  • In case the degree is a double degree/joint degree, the university/universities which issued the degree certificate/certificates must be recognised institutions and the degrees must grant access to the same level of studies in the country where the institutions are located.
  • If you graduate after the application deadline, read the information on provisional documentation here.

Requirements for the Doctor of Science (Economics and Business Administration) degree

  • at least a Master's degree in economic sciences including 36 ECTS in the desired programme and 6 ECTS in Economics.

Requirements the Doctor of Philosophy degree

  • at least a Master's degree with a research topic that Hanken covers.

Subject-specific requirements 

Finance

  • The applicant must have taken enough courses in Asset Pricing and Corporate Finance and has at least 5 credits in Econometrics.
  • The applicant's Master's thesis should have received a minimum evaluation of "good" (on the scale excellent, very good, good, satisfactory, fair) or equivalent, or be of corresponding standard in cases where grades are not given.
  • Admission to doctoral studies in Finance with specialization in Statistics requires that the applicant has taken enough courses in Asset Pricing, Corporate Finance, Econometrics, Statistics, Probability and Mathematics. 

Economics

  • The applicant's Master's thesis should have received a minimum evaluation of "good" (cum laude approbator) or be of corresponding standard in cases where grades are not given. The applicant's previous studies in Economics should have been evaluated with the general grade "good". 
  • The applicant should fulfil the same requirements as stated above. The applicant must have written a Master's thesis in a field relevant to Economics. 
  • The previous studies in Economics must meet the GPA requirements, i.e. the studies must have received at least a grade of good or 3 on a scale of 1–5.

 

Doctor of Science or Philosophy?

  • Doctoral researchers who get accepted for studies for the Doctor of Science (Economics and Business Administration) degree can complete a Licentiate of Science (Economics and Business Administration) degree. Students who are accepted for studies for the Doctor of Philosophy degree cannot complete the Licentiate degree.
  • A doctoral researcher who has been accepted for studies for the Doctor of Philosophy degree can complete supplementary studies during their doctoral studies to be able to apply for admission to the Doctor of Science (Economics and Business Administration) degree. The change of degree title within the programme is based on a separate written application, and the final decision is made by the Rector.