online phd programs finland

Doctoral admissions

You can search for doctoral programmes on the application portal Studyinfo.fi , or you can contact the universities directly about the doctoral study and research options they offer. Check the application times and procedures, eligibility requirements and other details with the university you are interested in. The following links will take you to each university's Doctoral studies and research info pages.

• Aalto University
• University of Helsinki
• University of Eastern Finland
• University of Jyväskylä
• University of Lapland
• LUT University
• University of Oulu
• Hanken School of Economics
• University of the Arts Helsinki
• Tampere University
• University of Turku
• University of Vaasa
• Åbo Akademi University  

Doctoral / PhD funding opportunities

See the advice on doctoral level scholarships  to learn where you can search for doctoral level research funding. The universities may also offer paid doctoral and post-doc positions, see below.

Academic research positions and jobs

Announcements for doctoral and post-doc researcher positions at Finnish universities can also be found on academic recruitment sites like:

• Jobs in Finland / Academic
• Academicpositions.fi

Early career researcher info & advice

Information, advice and guidelines for early career researchers - compiled by the Finnish Union of University Researchers and Teachers (FUURT)

Scientific research in Finland

Research.fi is a service offered by the Ministry of Education and Culture where you can learn more about the Finnish science and innovation system and policy, and research conducted in Finland.

• Research.fi

Doctoral Programmes

Faculty of built environment.

Doctoral Programme in the Built Environment  (DPBEN)

Faculty of Education and Culture

Doctoral Programme of Education and Society  (DPEDU)

Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences

Doctoral Programme in Engineering and Natural Sciences  (TLTO)

Doctoral Programme in Engineering Sciences  (TTITO)

Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences

Doctoral Programme of Humans and Technologies  (DPHAT)

Doctoral Programme in Media, Communication and Performing Arts  (DPMCP)

Doctoral Programme in Language Studies  (DPLA)

Doctoral Programme of Computing and Electrical Engineering  (DPCEE)

Faculty of Management and Business

Doctoral Programme in Administrative Sciences, Business Studies and Politics  (DPHKP)

Doctoral Programme in Business and Technology Management  (TOTO)

Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology

Doctoral Programme in Medicine, Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering  (DPMBBE)

Faculty of Social Sciences

Doctoral Programme in Literary Studies  (DPLS)

Doctoral Programme in Health Sciences  (DPHS)

Doctoral Programme in History  (DPHI)

Doctoral Programme in Psychology and Logopedics  (DPPL)

Doctoral Programme in Social Sciences  (DPSS)

Doctoral Programme in Medicine  (DPMD)

Doctoral Programme in Philosophy  (DPPH)

International Doctoral Programme in Epidemiology and Public Health  (IPPE)

Additional information on doctoral studies

Structure and duration of doctoral studies.

In addition to the doctoral dissertation, the requirements for a doctoral degree include 40 ECTS credits of other studies, which you should plan to support your doctoral research. The structure of the other studies can be found in the curriculum of your doctoral programme.

For full-time doctoral students, the target time of completing the doctoral degree is four years. Part-time students may take longer to complete their degree.

Doctoral dissertation

To earn a doctoral degree, students must complete a dissertation and defend it in a public examination. Students prepare a dissertation to demonstrate their ability to produce original scientific knowledge in the field of their research. Writing the dissertation requires that the student is capable of conducting independent scientific research.

Tampere University Doctoral School

The Doctoral School supports the development of diverse, multidisciplinary and international expertise among doctoral researchers and works to promote employability of our doctoral graduates.

You will be able to select courses that meet your needs over 50 courses that the Doctoral School offers each year. We give Finnish and English-taught courses both online and in a physical classroom environment.

The Doctoral School hosts regular events for doctoral researchers such as Orientation Day, morning coffees and open seminars. You get to meet other doctoral researchers, network and receive peer support.

Our courses and events provide you with the opportunity to gain experience of multidisciplinary and international teamwork while making effective progress towards your degree.

Get to know the Doctoral School

Doctoral studies can be financed in a variety of ways and admittance to a doctoral programme does not guarantee funding. Students are recommended to contact their supervisor before starting their doctoral studies to discuss their funding options. Funding options for doctoral studies are at least the following:

• Employment at the University (either project funding or a separate doctoral education funding)
• Scholarships and grants
• Student financial aid  (if eligible)
• Adult Education Allowance of the Education Fund  (if eligible) (motion to terminate the allowance was submitted to the parliament on 15 February 2024)
• Doctoral education pilot at Tampere University

The Doctoral School of Industry Innovations

The Doctoral School of Industry Innovations (DSII) offers Doctoral Researchers a unique opportunity to undertake dissertation research, gain a thorough understanding of product development, tackle real-world business challenges and expand their professional networks. Tampere University hires a Doctoral Researcher to complete a four-year, company-sponsored dissertation project under the joint supervision of a university professor and a company representative. 

Read more about DSII

Finland Fellowship

Finland Fellowship is a new funding option awarded by Tampere University as part of the national Finland Scholarship programme. Non-EU/EEA applicants to Doctoral programmes are eligible to apply. The Finland Fellowship contributes to the salary paid Tampere University and includes a 2000 EUR arrival allowance. The Finland Fellowship funding is available from 2022 to 2024. It is funded by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture. Positions funded with the Finland Fellowship funding are published as part of open positions at Tampere University.

Read more about working at Tampere Universities

Additional information on applying

Detailed information on applying to a doctoral programme is available in the admission requirements of the programme and our webpage Applying to Doctoral programmes.

Applying to doctoral programmes

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University of Eastern Finland and Ponsse to engage in closer cooperation in forest bioeconomy, technology and economics

Understanding climate warming impacts on carbon release from the tundra, an international career in gerontology led to a professorship in eastern finland, lisa gohlke, m.soc.sc: doctoral defence in human geography, joensuu, tomi saleva, msc: doctoral defence in mathematics, joensuu, augustine-moses gaavwase gbagir, msc: doctoral defence in physical geography.

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Doctoral Programme in Educational Studies

The Doctoral Programme in Educational Studies offers research training for postgraduate students pursuing doctoral degrees in the field of education, home economics and craft science. The research themes of the doctoral degree programme cover education, training, teaching, learning, development and instruction, well-being, learning environments and teacher education, and related social and cultural issues. The Doctoral Programme provides an opportunity for multidisciplinary and multimethodological research in education. The research may also focus on specific issues related to craft science and home economics. The disciplines included in the doctoral programme are adult education, special education, educational science, home economics, craft science and early childhood education. The doctoral programme is also open to doctoral students pursuing a doctorate in mathematics and science if the topic of their doctoral research is related to the research themes of the doctoral programme.

Research areas in the doctoral programme

The supervision of doctoral researchers is connected to the School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education, and the fields of Education and Adult Education as well as Special Education at the School of Educational Sciences and Psychology. 

Research areas of the School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Educati…

Research areas of the School of Educational Sciences and Psychology

How to apply?

Please, read carefully the admission criteria and all other available instructions to check up that you are an eligible applicant to the Doctoral Programme in Educational Studies. If you have questions or if you are unsure about your eligibility, contact amanuensis of the Doctoral Programme before submitting your application. Start preparing supervisory arrangements in good time - finding supervisors can take for a long time. You must contact potential supervisors  and discuss your doctoral research ideas and plans with them before submitting the application. Prepare your research plan carefully, it is important part of your application. Prepare also other application documents carefully. Allow enough time to complete and submit the online application form at Studyinfo.fi.

Philosophical Faculty

• Doctor of Philosophy (Education), Licentiate in Philosophy (Education)

Subjects: adult education, special education, educational science, early childhood education, home economics and craft science

• Doctor of Philosophy

Subjects: adult education, educational science, home economics and craft science  

Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology

• Doctor of Philosophy, Licentiate in Philosophy

Subjects: physics, chemistry, mathematics, computer science

Admission criteria

Eligible applicants for doctoral studies in the Doctoral Programme in Educational Studies must have completed by the end of the application period

Master's degree with science of adult education, special education/pedagogy, education, early childhood education, home economics or craft science as their major subject or completed advanced studies in any of these subjects or

Master's degree in some other relevant field of study or Master's degree at a university of applied sciences in a relevant field of study

Candidates applying from the Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology are expected to have a subject teacher's qualification in physics, chemistry, mathematics or computer science, and the topics of postgraduate studies are related to learning, teaching or teacher education in these subjects.

Applicants must have

completed at least 60 ECTS credits in the major subject or other applicable subject of the doctoral degree

completed advanced studies with the grade "good" or higher

completed Master's thesis or an equivalent final thesis with the grade "good" or higher

sufficient English skills in order to complete the doctoral studies. The applicant can verify her/his English skills with an attachment to the application according to selection criteria

two supervisors, one of which is a professor from the doctoral programme. Supervisor consent form KASVA 

• a research plan of high quality approved by the supervisors

The board of the Doctoral Programme in Educational Studies will assess the quality of the applicant's research plan and its relevance to the research topics of the programme.

Further details on selections criteria, instructions for making application and attachments required can be found in Studyinfo-service.

English language skills

Eligible applicants for doctoral studies must have sufficient English skills in order to complete the doctoral studies. Doctoral students are expected to be able to write scientific texts, participate in teaching, and communicate fluently with university staff in English.

The applicant can verify her/his English skills with an attachment to the application. These attachments must include a degree diploma, transcript of studies and a Diploma Supplement if the applicant has:

English as foreign language included in at least a Bachelor-level degree conducted in a Nordic country (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) or in an EU/EEA country;

At least 20 ECTS university-level studies in the subject of English Studies completed in a Nordic or in an EU/EEA country;

Master's thesis written in English when Master's degree is completed in a Nordic country or in an EU/EEA country;

Bachelor's or Master's degree completed in English language in a Nordic country or in an EU/EEA country or Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States;

Doctoral Degree completed in a Nordic country or in an EU/EEA country or Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States;   

Secondary education and final examination completed in English (for example International Baccalaureate) in a Nordic country or in an EU/EEA country or Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States.  

In other case, the applicant is to prove her/his language skills in English with an English language test:  

TOEFL paper-based: Total score 600 and Writing 4.0;

TOEFL Internet-based and Special Home Edition of TOEFL iBT: Total Score 100 and Writing 22;

IELTS (Academic) on paper, on computer or online: Overall Score 6.5 and Writing 5.5;

PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English), min. 59 points;

C1 Advanced (CAE), pass levels A, B or C / C2 Proficiency (CPE), pass levels A, B, C or level C1 Certificate;

National Certificate of Language Proficiency (YKI). Skills level 5 or 6 in the reading comprehension, writing and speaking subtests. 

For more information on the tests, please contact the language testing organizations.

Please note that a written statement by the applicant, prospective supervisor, English teacher, etc., is not an adequate proof of the applicant's sufficient English skills.

Research plan

Research proposal for the application, doctoral programme in educational studies.

When applying for doctoral degree studies, a research plan must be enclosed with the application. The student prepares the plan with his/her supervisors, and it must be approved by them. The research plan must cover the entire doctoral dissertation. If the research topic and materials change substantially during the studies, a new plan must be made. If the changes are significant, approval must be sought from the faculty. The research plan is usually drafted in Finnish or English. The maximum length of the research plan is ten pages (A4, single-spaced, Times or Arial 12 pt, 2-3 cm marginals).  

The research plan should apply the following structure: 

Title of the research and the name and contact information of the postgraduate student

Background - a short summary of the theoretical background of the research with necessary sources (including the methodological basis) - a description of earlier research related to the topic  - a description of what remains unknown about the research topic and an explanation of the research's relevance on a national and/or international scale

Aims and research questions - the aims of the research clearly defined and presented  - the research hypotheses or assumptions

Materials and methods - a description of the research methods and materials used, and the grounds for choosing the particular methods - a description of how the data and materials will be handled and used (also after the research has been completed) - a working plan, a plan for different stages of the work

Schedule and funding plans - a description and a schedule for the different stages of the work - the funding plan and funding sources of the research

The ethical aspects of the research - the ethical aspects of the research (e.g. whether the research requires statements from ethics committees or statutory research permits; possible permits should be attached to the research plan) 

Publication plan - the means and mode of publishing and/or presenting the research results

Applications of research results - an estimation of the applications and the social significance of the research results

References - a list of the references cited in the research plan 

The names of the persons and units participating in the research project

Funding doctoral studies

The right to pursue doctoral studies does not include funding or a contract of employment or teaching tasks at the University. However, full-time doctoral students need funding to cover their costs of living and potential research costs (travel costs, research material etc.). Funding options should be discussed with the supervisor already when planning to apply for a doctoral study right and creating a research plan.

Doctoral studies can be funded for example by a scholarship, by working as a researcher in a research project, by working as a doctoral candidate at the University of Eastern Finland (doctoral student position), or by studying part-time while at work. Doctoral students apply for funding themselves.

Read more about funding options of doctoral studies on Kamu Student handbook .

Application period

The application form for the Doctoral Program in Educational Studies on Studyinfo.fi is open during the spring semester from the beginning of January until the last weekday of May, and during the autumn semester from the beginning of August until the last weekday of November. Always check the exact application deadlines from Studyinfo.fi. Applications are processed as needed during the semester, and the granted study right begins in the same semester.  

What is Studyinfo.fi?

Studyinfo.fi is the official national admissions portal with all the up-to-date information about study programmes leading to a degree in Finland.

Apply via Studyinfo

Fill in the online application for the programme at the studyinfo portal, dissertation and studies, requirements for doctoral dissertations, doctoral dissertation at the philosophical faculty  .

An eligible doctoral dissertation may be a monograph or a collection of research articles. A collection of research articles refers to an entity consisting a sufficient number of scientific publications of manuscripts, which examine the same set of problems, and an independently compiled summary based on them. At the Philosophical Faculty the article-based dissertation contains at least three peer-reviewed articles, two of which must have been accepted for publication and the third accepted for the review process. If the publications include collaborative works, the doctoral candidate must attest to his/her independent contribution either in the summary or in a separate appendix. The doctoral candidate must be the first author (responsible author) of at least three articles. A collaborative publication may be included in no more than two person's licentiate theses or doctoral dissertations.  

Requirements and evaluation of a Doctoral Dissertation at the Philosophical Faculty .

Studies and degree structure

The studies leading to the doctoral degree available in the doctoral programme in Educational studies comprise the doctoral dissertation, as well as doctoral studies of 50 ECTS.

• transferable skills studies (10-15 ECTS) contain philosophy of science and ethics, scientific writing skills and academic and other working life skills
• studies in the discipline and field of research (35-40 ECTS) contain research methods, research seminars and other discipline-specific postgraduate studies.  

Detailed information of the degree structure and study requirements in UEF Study Guide in Peppi .

Amanuensis Kaisu Kortelainen will answer queries concerning the Doctoral Programme in Educational Studies and postgraduate studies at the Philosophical Faculty, [email protected].

Further information about guidance and supervision in doctoral studies .

Instructions and forms for doctoral studies

You can find information for different phases in the doctoral education on Kamu Student handbook :

• Doctoral education at the University of Eastern Finland
• Starting doctoral education
• Doctoral curriculum and study requirements
• Internationalisation in doctoral education
• Guidance and support in doctoral education
• Support for doctoral research
• Funding of doctoral education
• Wellbeing of doctoral researcher
• Permission for public examination and pre-examination of doctoral dissertation
• Publishing of doctoral dissertation

News and events

Dissertation press releases in educational studies, finding one’s strengths and networks is crucial in tomorrow’s world of work, a memorable research exchange in finland, university of eastern finland and university of namibia expand collaboration to social sciences, enhancing thai teachers’ media skills in digital learning environments, learning analytics can provide meaningful data on learning and teaching, improving teacher education in palestine.

All dissertations

Upcoming examinations in Educational Studies

All examinations

Further information on the doctoral programme

Kaisu Kortelainen

Academic affairs specialist.

Student and Learning Services, University Services

kaisu.​kortelainen​@uef.fi

+358505623565

Markku Niemivirta

School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education, Philosophical Faculty

markku.​niemivirta​@uef.fi

+358505189827

Jaana Viljaranta

School of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Philosophical Faculty

jaana.​viljaranta​@uef.fi

+358503256093

Doctoral Programmes

Rector of the University of Turku has appointed 16 doctoral programmes for the term 1.8.2021 - 31.7.2025.

Doctoral Programme in Biology, Geography and Geology (BGG)

Doctoral programme in clinical research (dpcr), doctoral programme on educational policy, lifelong learning and comparative education research (keveko), doctoral programme in history, culture and arts studies (juno), doctoral programme on inequalities, interventions and new welfare state (dpinvest), doctoral programme in languages and translation studies (utuling), doctoral programme in law, doctoral programme on learning, teaching and learning environments research (oppi), doctoral programme in nursing science (dpnurs), turku doctoral programme of molecular medicine (tudmm), doctoral programme in exact sciences (exactus), doctoral programme in technology (dpt), doctoral programme of social and behavioural sciences, doctoral programme of turku school of economics, drug research doctoral programme (drdp), finnish doctoral program in oral sciences (findos turku).

• Suomeksi (FI)
• In English (EN)

Doctoral Programme in Business and Management

The Doctoral Programme in Business and Management offers a possibility to study and conduct research leading to a doctoral degree in the research field of Economics and Business Administration. The doctoral programme enables graduates to become professional researchers in the academic sector and to work in demanding expert and developmental tasks in companies and public sector organizations.

The doctoral programme belongs to LUT Business School, the research of which focuses on sustainable value creation, entrepreneurship and international business as well as digitalization and business analytics. The overall objective of research conducted in the school is to provide explanations of the factors that lead to sustainable business renewal, i.e. approaches that will ensure that companies are successful in international competition and, at the same time, operate in a way that is economically, ecologically and socially sustainable.

Research is conducted in international and national research groups and in close cooperation with companies. In addition to companies, other actors that provide funding for research include Research Council of Finland, the EU and Business Finland.

Doctoral degree

A doctoral degree, Doctor of Science (Economics and Business Administration), includes doctoral studies (40 ECTS credits) and research leading to writing publications and a dissertation that has to be defended publicly. During doctoral education the student acquires a theoretical knowledge of the research field and topic in question, skills in applying scientific research methods and capabilities to generate new scientific knowledge and to understand its impact to practice.

Those selected for doctoral education will be expected to have research skills which will be verified for example on the basis of the completion of a selection of courses before being approved as doctoral students. Those entering into the doctoral programme for the field of Economics and Business Administration are usually recruited to become a part of a research group, which are formed of professors, post-doctoral researchers and doctoral students. In these groups, the practices of scientific work open up to the junior researcher to their whole extent.

Further information

Paavo Ritala

LUT Business School

Applying for Doctoral Studies

Doctoral School

In collaboration.

Doctoral Programme in Fine Arts

The Academy of Fine Arts offers doctoral education that emphasises high-quality artistic work and related research in the field of fine arts.

Why study here?

Come and conduct research at the Academy of Fine Arts, where art and the artist are the focal points. Research subjects – whether embodied in the research question or the method, material or objective of research – cover the meaning, practices, techniques and methods of art, as well as the principles and institutional arrangements that determine the production, reception, training and application of art.

About the studies

Doctoral studies provide students with the abilities and the opportunity to conduct independent and creative artistic research. Artistic research is a field of multidisciplinary research that focuses on the artist and art. Graduates of our programme are artist-researchers who develop and renew arts, as well as the making, research and teaching of arts. The programme admits new students every other year.

They engage in a diverse and critical dialogue with the different actors in society. As experts in their field, they create art and produce information, knowledge, and insights based on art-related practices that can be applied in the arts and also in other sectors of society.

Our doctoral programme develops the artist-researchers’ ability to apply their skills as artists, researchers, teachers, and experts.

Structure of the degree

The Doctor of Fine Arts degree extends to 240 ECTS credits, which corresponds to four years of full-time studies.

The degree consists of the doctoral thesis project (170 cr) and doctoral studies in fine arts (70 cr), which includes 60 cr of mandatory studies and 10 cr of elective studies.

Teaching during the academic year takes place over 7 intensive seminar weeks and is arranged together with the Theatre Academy’s Performing Arts Research Centre (Tutke). The more detailed course information can be found in the study guide .

Thesis project

The doctoral thesis project in fine arts can include art exhibitions, exhibition curating, individual artworks, artistic processes or experimental arrangements and their articulation, conceptualisation and theorisation. Typically, a doctoral thesis project consists of one or several visual art components (a maximum total of 140 cr) as well as a written component (30-170 cr). In addition, the thesis project must be available as an electronically archivable documentation. The artistic components are public artistic research findings. The written component runs parallel to the visual art components and justifies the research approach and goals in relation to other research and practices within the field. On a discretionary basis, the doctoral thesis project can also consist exclusively of research in written form.

• Professor, Academy of Fine Arts, Academy of Fine Arts
• +358503473969
• [email protected]

Maiju Loukola

• University Lecturer, Artistic research Academy of Fine Arts, Academy of Fine Arts
• +358504720344
• [email protected]

Denise Ziegler

• Professor, Artistic research Academy of Fine Arts, Academy of Fine Arts Visiting researcher, Academy of Fine Arts, Academy of Fine Arts
• +358504080197
• [email protected]

Contact information for the doctoral programme

Further information about the admission process.

[email protected]

Other inquiries concerning doctoral education and research at the Academy of Fine Arts

Minna Luomala Planning officer (doctoral education) [email protected] tel. +358 50 4018 630

Michaela Bränn Specialist (research) [email protected] tel. +358 40 63 13 553

More about the research and study activities

Target degree and length of study.

Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA)

You can apply to

Application period.

The next application period will be in autumn 2024. The studies begin in autumn 2025.

Application languages

English, Finnish, Swedish Read more about the language skill requirements

Tuition fee

There is no tuition fee in the doctoral programme.

Supervising teacher

Mika Elo Professor

Academy of Fine Arts

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Deadline to apply to Penn State Additive Manufacturing and Design (AMD) graduate program

Penn State’s Additive Manufacturing and Design (AMD) graduate program offers a Master of Science (MS) degree, Master of Engineering (MEng) degree, and Graduate Certificate, providing students and working engineers a unique opportunity to become technically outstanding experts in additive manufacturing (AM) in residence at University Park or online via Penn State World Campus.  

With more than 60 leading AMD faculty  working in emerging areas of additive manufacturing and design, our program prepares engineers to enhance and advance manufacturing concepts. Our 1-2 year program options  integrate core courses across the multidisciplinary fields integral to AM so you can grow as a leader in AM and help accelerate industry advancement and adoption of AM.  

To learn more about the AMD program, please visit amd.psu.edu .   

Upcoming Fall 2024 application deadlines:

Thank you,   

Dr. Beese and Jaclyn 

Allison M. Beese, Ph.D.  

Professor, Materials Science and Engineering and Mechanical Engineering 

Associate Head for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Materials Science and Engineering 

Director, Additive Manufacturing & Design Graduate Program ( http://www.amd.psu.edu ) 

Co-Director, Penn State CIMP-3D ( http://www.cimp-3d.org ) 

Associate, Institute for Computational and Data Sciences 

Pennsylvania State University | 327 Steidle Building, University Park, PA 16802  

https://sites.psu.edu/beeseresearchgroup/  

Jaclyn Stimely  

Assistant Director, Additive Manufacturing & Design Graduate Program  

Pennsylvania State University

The 230 Building, Room 104, Innovation Blvd. University Park, PA 16802 

Online vs. In-Person Graduate Programs

• Publication date April 17, 2024
• Categories: Grad School

Introduction  

In today’s competitive job market where specialized degrees and knowledge are increasingly valued, the decision to pursue a graduate degree can mean big things for your career and personal development. It takes careful consideration of lots of factors, including your career goals, financial situation, lifestyle, and learning style.  

Whether you are weighing the pros and cons of virtual or in-person graduate degrees as a seasoned professional or as an undergraduate, this blog aims to provide you with the insights and resources needed to make an informed decision.      

Online Graduate Programs  

Online Graduate programs are just like in-person courses, with a few key differences. Every school and program will have its own structure and benefits, here are some of the generalized pros and cons of online programs:  

Pros of Online Graduate Programs  

One positive attribute of an online program is its accessibility . If you have a stable network and reliable computer, you can access schools from all over the world! This opens your possibilities greatly- so long as they have an online program, you can apply for it!   

Generally, online programs are considered lower in cost than traditional schools. You won’t need to pay for a meal program or find new housing in an unfamiliar area. You will most likely just pay for tuition and fees, on top of the expenses you already pay for.  

Another benefit to online programs is flexibility . You can take your classes anywhere, and perhaps even any time. Asynchronous classes, like most of the online classes at WPI , can be taken at any time. Synchronous courses are live, with all participants logging in at the same time. At WPI, our online courses integrate the latest technologies in web, videoconferencing, digital recordings, simulations, virtual chat, and discussion boards to provide an engaging and immersive learning experience!  

Considerations for Online Graduate Programs  

While these programs have a lot of benefits, there are some considerations to online programs, depending on your educational goals. Online grad programs lack face-to-face interactions . While digital learning allows people from all over to interact virtually, those who enjoy in-person socialization may find traditional classrooms more fulfilling.  

Students who opt for online learning will also have to develop personal accountability . Deadlines may be more flexible in an online course, so students will need to motivate themselves to set aside the right amount of time to complete work.   

“Regular” life can be a distraction when it comes to online programs. Work, family, pets, and regular responsibilities can make it difficult to focus at home. Setting aside some personal time and space with limited distractions will make it easier to get work completed. An upside to remote learning as well is that you can take your work on the go outside of the home, such as to a nearby coffee shop or library.  

In-Person Graduate Programs  

In-person graduate programs can provide a completely different higher education experience. Traditional classroom settings may be better suited for fields of study that require research, lab work, or other hands-on learning. Let’s look at some pros and cons of in-person graduate programs.  

Pros of In-Person Graduate Programs  

Some students find that they enjoy the social interaction and sense of belonging that in-person programs bring them. They can interact with other students face-to-face, work on projects and research together, and build meaningful connections outside of classwork. Many people find that making connections is difficult in an online environment, and if that is an important part of their education experience, they prefer in-person classes for that reason.  

In-person programs often bring a sense of the “traditional college experience” . This may be important for people who never got to experience what living on campus is like! Living in a dorm, studying in the library, meeting up with friends, and eating at the dining hall contribute to that traditional campus atmosphere that enhances personal growth and social development.  

Starting an in-person program may also mean having to move to a new location. Some people may find this fresh start to be exciting, an opportunity to start “fresh” . The change of scenery may just be the thing to get you inspired and ready to learn! Of course, not everyone chooses to relocate, and they prefer to find a university closer to their own home. Whether you choose to relocate or not, the most important thing is finding a learning environment that suits your needs.  

Another pro of in-person classes is networking opportunities . Engaging in face-to-face interactions with classmates, professors, and professionals in the field provides invaluable networking opportunities. Building relationships and connections in person can lead to mentorships, job opportunities, and collaborations that may not be as easily accessible in online settings.  

Considerations for In-Person Graduate Programs  

Something to consider when it comes to in-person programs is the fixed schedules and location restraints . You will have to attend classes on campus, at a specific time. You will need to adjust your schedule to accommodate these classes. That might not be ideal for some people, especially if they have demanding jobs or responsibilities.   

Another thing to consider is the additional time to commute . If you do not live on campus, you will have a larger time commitment to think about when deciding your program type. Big cities may also have more traffic, meaning you may need to leave earlier to get to your class on time.  

If you are attending an in-person program, you may need to factor in a larger cost , especially if you need to move to your new location. Additional expenses such as rent or housing, meal plans or groceries, and others will add up. Your new school’s location may have a higher cost of living, so make sure you can afford the new place. If you already live in the same area as your school, this may not be a significant factor for you.    

In-person graduate programs may be best suited for students looking for the traditional college experience. They are also well-suited for students who will need access to labs and equipment for research and learning purposes. Attending classes in person can be difficult for people who need flexibility and do not have the means to relocate if need be.

Which Graduate Program Type Should You Choose?  

The choice of whether you should take an in-person or online course is up to you. You should consider the following questions to help you make your final decision:  

• What are my academic goals?
• What is my personal learning style? 
• How will I get assistance if I am struggling in this program? 
• Will I need or want to use equipment for my research, like in a laboratory setting? 
• Am I financially prepared to make this decision? 
• How will this program benefit me in the long run? 
• Is this a credible program that employers will recognize? 
• Can I commit to this program’s time requirements? 

Worcester Polytechnic Institute stands ready to meet your higher education aspirations. With an extensive array of over 50 degree options—including master’s, certificates, and PhD programs—there’s a perfect fit for every ambition. Discover more about pursuing a graduate degree at WPI today!  

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