The academic subjects of the Doctoral Programme in Particle Physics and Universe Sciences (PAPU) include theoretical physics, astronomy and physics (specialization lines of space physics and particle and nuclear physics). PAPU covers theoretical, experimental and observational research fields in elementary particle physics, cosmology, astrophysics, space physics and planetary astrophysics.

The activities of the doctoral programme are concentrated at the Division of Particle Physics and Astrophysics within the department of Physics. The total number of graduate students within the doctoral programme is around 60. Students carry out their research projects in the Department of Physics and many other institutes, e.g. Helsinki Insitute of Physics, the Finnish Meteorological Institute and the Finnish Geodetic Institute.