Assistant Professor / Associate Professor and Professor of Special Education — University of Helsinki, Finland Full Time

Special Education Professor — University of Helsinki, Finland

If you hold a doctorate in special education or a closely related field and have been looking for a permanent academic position at a world-class research university, this Special Education Professor opportunity at the University of Helsinki, Finland deserves your serious attention. The Faculty of Educational Sciences is accepting applications for not one but three tenure-track and fixed-term positions — assistant professor, associate professor, and full professor — all in Special Education. The roles begin on 1 January 2027, and the application deadline is 11 August 2026.

Quick Job Overview

About the Employer

The University of Helsinki is Finland’s oldest and largest institution of academic education and research, founded in 1640. It is a genuinely international scientific community of roughly 40,000 students and staff members, and it consistently ranks among the top one per cent of the world’s research universities. The university operates across four campuses in Helsinki and is a member of the League of European Research Universities (LERU).

The Faculty of Educational Sciences is Finland’s leading unit for research and teaching in education, teacher training, and related disciplines. It conducts research on human growth, development, and learning across the entire lifespan — from early childhood through to ageing. The faculty is known for its strong international orientation and its commitment to evidence-based practice, making it a particularly attractive environment for researchers who want their work to have real-world impact.

What This Role Involves

The successful appointee will conduct and develop research in special education at both a national and international level, and teach across the Faculty’s bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programmes. The primary research focus is on learning difficulties, disabilities, and the learning and wellbeing of children, adolescents, and adults. This is a field that sits at the intersection of education, psychology, and social policy — and the University of Helsinki is one of the strongest places in Europe to pursue it.

Research in this discipline at Helsinki seeks to generate and support evidence-based education and practice that promotes inclusion and learning in early childhood education settings, schools, and society more broadly. You will need experience with a broad range of research methods and the ability to develop them further. A significant part of the role also involves acquiring Finnish and international research funding, so a track record of successful grant applications — or at least clear evidence of the potential to win them — is important.

Teaching is another central component. While the primary teaching language is Finnish, some teaching may be delivered in English. The appointee is expected to supervise theses at all levels, contribute to curriculum development, and engage actively with the academic community. There are also administrative duties, and the university values scholars who follow developments in their field, participate in public engagement, and collaborate with international partners.

It is worth noting that this is not a single position but rather a combined recruitment for three levels — assistant professor, associate professor, and full professor — within the same field. Applicants are asked to clearly indicate which position they are applying for in their motivation letter. The assistant/associate professorship follows the University of Helsinki’s tenure track system, meaning it begins as a fixed-term appointment with the possibility of progressing to a permanent position. The full professorship is a fixed-term locum position running until 31 May 2031.

If you are exploring other education and teaching jobs internationally, this role is one of the strongest academic positions currently open in Scandinavia. You might also be interested in the Associate Professor position at the University of Oslo or the Lecturer role at the University of Auckland — both are comparable faculty-level roles at research-intensive universities.

Required Skills and Qualifications

For Assistant/Associate Professor (Tenure Track):

• An applicable doctoral degree
• Demonstrated capability for independent scholarly work
• Requisite teaching skills
• Evidence of publications and the willingness to advance your academic career through them
• Success in securing external research funding (considered a significant asset)
• Experience in domestic and international research projects

For Full Professor:

• An applicable doctoral degree
• Advanced academic qualifications
• Experience in leading scholarly research
• Evidence of success in securing external research funding
• International collaboration in your research field
• Academic leadership skills
• Ability to deliver teaching based on top-level research and to supervise doctoral researchers

Language Requirements:

Proficiency in Finnish (the language of instruction) is required. Good English skills are also necessary, as some teaching is delivered in English. At least satisfactory skills in Swedish are expected, though a person not educated in Finland in Finnish or Swedish may be granted an exemption from the Swedish requirement. The University provides support for language learning, which is genuinely helpful if Finnish is not your first language.

Salary, Benefits, and Relocation Support

The salary is based on the job requirement scheme for teaching and research personnel in the salary system of Finnish universities. For assistant and associate professors, the placement is at level 7, resulting in an annual gross salary ranging from €56,000 to €70,000 depending on qualifications and experience. Full professors are placed at levels 8–10, with annual gross salaries between €67,000 and €100,000. In addition to the base salary, each appointee receives a personal performance-based component. The employment contract includes a six-month probationary period.

Beyond salary, the University of Helsinki provides a strong benefits package: occupational health and fitness services, professional development opportunities, and access to a first-class research and teaching environment. Finland’s public sector employment also comes with the country’s standard social security benefits, including generous parental leave, pension contributions, and healthcare.

For international applicants, the University goes further than most. They offer comprehensive relocation services, settling-in support, training and events specifically designed for international staff, a UniBuddy programme that pairs new arrivals with experienced colleagues, and the HEI LIFE Spouse Network to support partners of international hires. The University’s International HR Services team assists non-EU/EEA citizens with the residence permit process. This is not a visa sponsorship in the traditional corporate sense — it is a university-wide commitment to helping international academics make a smooth transition to life and work in Finland.

Work Permit / Visa Note

The University of Helsinki explicitly offers relocation services and residence permit support for international appointees through its International HR Services team. The job listing confirms that the chosen applicant is expected to reside in Finland while employed by the University, and the Faculty provides assistance in relocation. For non-EU/EEA citizens, Finland requires a residence permit for employed persons, and the University assists with this process. EU/EEA citizens do not need a work permit but must register their right of residence. The University’s support for spouses (HEI LIFE Spouse Network) and the UniBuddy programme are additional signals that this is an institution experienced in — and genuinely welcoming to — international hires.

Who This Role May Suit

This assistant professor special education Finland position is a strong fit for researchers in special education, educational psychology, or inclusive education who hold a doctoral degree and want to build or advance an academic career at a top European university. If you have a solid publication record, experience with competitive research funding, and a genuine commitment to research that improves the lives of learners with difficulties and disabilities, this role deserves serious consideration.

The assistant professor level could suit an early-career researcher who has recently completed a doctorate and has demonstrated the potential for independent scholarly work. The associate professor level is more appropriate for someone with a stronger track record of publications, funding success, and teaching experience. The full professor position is aimed at established academics with significant leadership experience and an international reputation in the field.

If you are currently working outside Finland and are considering a move, the University’s comprehensive relocation support and the high quality of life in Helsinki make this a practical as well as an intellectually attractive option. Finland consistently ranks among the world’s best countries for education, safety, work-life balance, and happiness — factors that matter enormously when you are making a significant life decision.

How to Apply Officially

All applications must be submitted through the University of Helsinki’s official recruitment system. You can access the application page directly at the University of Helsinki careers portal. Clearly indicate in your application which position — assistant/associate professor or full professor — you are applying for, and link your PDF documents to the relevant position in the recruitment system.

The application deadline is 11 August 2026 at 23:59 EEST. Please note that the degree requirement must be met by the end of the application deadline.

Required Documents

• A motivation letter or written application (clearly stating which position you are applying for)
• CV (maximum 10 pages)
• A numbered list of publications, with the 10 most relevant highlighted in bold
• A research and teaching development plan (maximum 2 pages)
• A report on research activities and achievements (1–3 pages)
• A separate teaching qualifications e-form (available through the recruitment system)

After the application period closes, shortlisted candidates will be asked to submit up to 10 publications of their choice for review by external evaluators. Shortlisted candidates will also be invited for an interview and a demonstration of teaching skills.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to speak Finnish to apply?
Yes, proficiency in Finnish is required because it is the primary language of instruction. However, some teaching can be in English, and the University provides language learning support. If Finnish is not your first language, you would be expected to develop your proficiency, and the University actively helps with this.

Can I apply for more than one level?
The listing allows you to indicate which position you are applying for. If you believe you qualify for multiple levels, it is best to clearly state this in your motivation letter and explain your reasoning. The assessment committee will evaluate your qualifications relative to the level you are targeting.

Is this a permanent position?
The assistant and associate professor positions are on the tenure track — they begin as fixed-term appointments with the possibility of advancing to a permanent position based on performance. The full professorship is a fixed-term locum position running until 31 May 2031.

Will the University help with my residence permit?
Yes. The University of Helsinki’s International HR Services team assists non-EU/EEA citizens with the residence permit process. They also provide broader relocation support, including settling-in assistance and a buddy programme for new international staff.

Disclaimer

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