PhD Programme in Commercial Law
The PhD programme in Commercial Law at Hanken prepares researchers for challenging careers in research by providing an individually tailored program for each doctoral researcher. Hanken attracts doctoral researchers in many fields of Commercial Law, including Intellectual Property Law, Tax Law, Law of Corporate Governance and Labour Law. Hanken also currently hosts two important research centers related to the Department: the IPR University Center and the Hanken Center for Accounting, Finance and Governance.
Intellectual property law is one of the fields strongly supported by Hanken and the field has particularly attracted doctoral candidates. Hanken hosts the IPR University Center, which is a joint collaborative platform for intellectual property research and education among universities in Finland. The IPR University Center arranges guest lecture series and coordinates courses and workshops for national and international doctoral researchers. The IPR University Center at Hanken creates an ideal environment for IP studies and research for doctoral researchers. Additionally, intellectual property law also boasts several on-going research projects that are financed by the Finnish Academy of Science and Tekes. These projects provide a dynamic research environment for doctoral researchers. Read more about our projects here
Doctoral candidates are encouraged to work in close cooperation with other Finnish doctoral candidates in law. In addition, the Nordic Doctoral Network for Intellectual Property Law also provides cooperation with doctoral candidates in other Nordic countries; Sweden, Norway and Denmark. The Network arranges an annual seminar in one of the Nordic countries. In the past, doctoral researchers in intellectual property law have been encouraged to spend some time in research visits to the Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition in Munich, Germany.
Hanken also hosts the Hanken Center for Accounting, Finance and Governance. The problems of corporate governance are quite obviously at the core of research and education at the school. A deep understanding of the issues involved in establishing good corporate governance practices involves knowledge in most of the subjects taught at the school. The Center offers research and teaching that aims at improved corporate governance practices.
In addition to the doctoral dissertation, doctoral researchers are required to complete coursework of 60 ECTS. Upon approval of the degree supervisor, researchers are allowed to take doctoral courses offered at other universities in Finland or abroad. Normally the doctoral researchers graduate with a PhD after four years of full-time studies.
The subject of Commercial Law supports doctoral studies in many ways and may provide financial support, subject to satisfactory performance. (Financial support may include support for the attendance of conferences attendance.).
Admission is in autumn. We invite everyone who is interested to, in good time, contact their potential degree supervisor with a research proposal. Details about how to apply, financial support, prerequisites and more can be found at the general pages of doctoral studies Opens in new window .
Matti Kukkonen, Head of Subject of Commercial Law, Professor of Tax Law
Nari Lee, Professor of Intellectual Property Law