Research and Medical Studies

What is the Research Track?

Combining medical research with clinical work is a crucial part of modern healthcare. In Finland, medical students can work on a dissertation alongside their studies or participate in a pilot-phase research track, which leads to doctoral school and dissertation research.

The research track in Finland is integrated into medical education, allowing students to conduct research without extending their studies beyond six years. The structure varies slightly between universities, but based on my experience, research is done both during the summer and, when possible, throughout the academic year.

In Oulu, a pilot of dedicated research track is currently in place, lasting two years (preclinical phase). The official research track structure is still under development.

Funding and Flexibility

Although university education in Finland is practically free, doctoral students can also receive funding for their research work. In my case, funding has been gathered from personally applied grants and research group grants, making it somewhat fragmented. Most students focus their funding on the summer months when they have more time to dedicate to full-time research.

How to Join the Research Track?

In Finland, the medical school admission process is the same for all applicants, regardless of whether they are interested in a research career. Admission is based solely on entrance exam performance, which, in my case, was already a rigorous test.

Students can apply to the research track early in their studies, but apart from strong motivation, there are no strict criteria. The Oulu pilot track does not guarantee students a research group but helps them familiarize themselves with different groups and research environments during their first two summers.

Currently, a student who has completed preclinical studies can apply to doctoral school if their GPA is above 3/5 and they have found a supervisor for their dissertation. It is also possible to apply to doctoral school without being part of the research track, meaning participation is not a prerequisite for dissertation research.

Mentorship and Supervision – How to Join a Research Group?

In my experience, mentorship in Oulu largely depends on the student’s initiative and the availability of a supervisor. Most mentoring is provided by the dissertation supervisor and the research group.

I appreciate that in Finland, joining the research track does not require extensive prior research experience, lowering the threshold for students to get involved in research and making it accessible to more people.

International Perspectives on Research Training

Discussing research with a friend studying in the MD-PhD program at McGovern Medical School in Houston gave me insight into how study structures and mentoring practices vary between educational systems.

There, research-oriented students follow a distinct academic path, starting from the medical school admission process. The research track is more structured, with systematic mentorship throughout both research and clinical training. Unlike in Finland, the research phase is a clearly separate period placed between preclinical and clinical studies.

Although the training paths differ, it is encouraging to see the many ways in which research and clinical work can be combined into a meaningful whole.

The Future of the Research Track

Oulu is developing a new official research track based on the ongoing pilot project. I am eagerly awaiting the release of its structure and the improvements it will bring for students interested in dissertation research. I hope this initiative will contribute to making Finnish medical research more efficient and competitive.

What Are the Benefits of Research During Medical Studies?

In Finland, most doctors who complete a dissertation move into clinical work, though some also continue their research careers.

For me, participating in research during my studies has been valuable in many ways. It has given me a head start in clinical studies, deepened my understanding of preclinical topics, and, most importantly, motivated me to study subjects that currently seem distant.

I hope to apply what I have learned in the future to advance research in my future specialty and improve patient care.

Author

Sini Koivu