Finland is a leading name in the world when it comes to quality education, and Finland’s attitude towards its vision and approach to education has been seen as a role model for numerous educational institutions from all over the world.
What makes studying in Finland so special? Apart from its quality education, Finland’s higher education policy is grounded upon providing ultimate guidance for its students no matter where they come from. Therefore, the Ministry of Education and Culture in Finland offers several scholarships for skillful and passionate international students looking for a degree program in the country. Read more to find out about Finland Scholarships for master’s and doctoral students.
Finland Scholarships for International Students
Funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture in Finland, Finland Scholarships are considered the most privileged types of scholarships in Finland, awarded to the most skilled and ambitious master’s and doctoral students in the world. The scholarships are granted to international students coming from non-EU/EEA countries who are in charge of paying the tuition fees at Finnish universities.
To be granted a scholarship program in Finland, international students should look for the eligibility criteria, admission process, required materials, and admission deadlines of each program they intend to apply. Hence, it is of great importance for international students to consider their university applications and the scholarship options each university or program offers.
Finland Scholarships for Master’s Degree Students
The Ministry of Education and Culture in Finland offers scholarships for international students from non-EU/EEA countries to provide financial support to pursue their academics and master their skills during their comprehensive study programs.
The scholarship aims to help master’s students who are to pay for the tuition fees at certain participating Finnish universities, including the University of Helsinki and Aalto University, and ten other universities. Scholarship admissions may differ at each university, so we advise international students to visit the participating university’s web page for more detailed information.
1. University of Helsinki
International master’s students from non-EU/EEA countries are eligible to apply for the Finland Scholarship at the University of Helsinki, and the grant ranges from 50% to 100% of the tuition fee, depending on the program. The duration of the Finland Scholarship is two academic years for full-time students who take at least 55 ECTS in a year.
International students can apply for the Finland Scholarship while applying to a master’s program at the University of Helsinki. The scholarship grants a €5,000 relocation fee each year for students who can successfully earn 55 ECTS by the end of the first year. The admission process is held at the same time as the master’s program applications; students should choose the master’s program, provide the necessary documents, and later apply for the scholarship with the same application they used for their master’s applications. Accordingly, application deadlines for Finland Scholarships are the same as the master’s program application deadlines.
2. Aalto University
Aalto University is among the 13 participating Finnish universities offering Finland Scholarships to international students. Since it is a merit-based scholarship, international students are evaluated based on their academic skills in a highly competitive environment. The university grants 100% of the tuition fees and a one-time grant of €5,000 for relocation in the first year.
International students must apply for the Finland Scholarship simultaneously with their master’s program applications, and the scholarship results are announced with the program admission results for international students. The duration of the scholarship is two years for full-time master’s students, yet the relocation grant is paid only once during the first year of the program.
Finland Doctoral Scholarship
Doctoral programs are free for all international students in Finland, yet students still need a financial grant to cover their expenses during their studies. The Ministry of Education and Culture in Finland administrates doctoral scholarship programs for Ph.D. students coming from non-EU/EEA countries, called Finland Fellowships, and participating Finnish universities are the same as in master’s scholarships.
Some Finnish universities offering Finland Fellowships include the University of Oulu and the University of Turku. Admission procedures and evaluation criteria can differ at each university, so it’s best to find the related web page to get detailed information.
1. University of Oulu
The University of Oulu offers the Finland Fellowship Program for doctoral researchers from non-EU/EEA countries to support them in their doctoral training at the university. Since doctoral education is free for everyone in Finland, the scholarship does not apply to the tuition fees; instead, Finland Fellowship provides the first-year salary of the student for his or her research work, which is equivalent to €40,000 as well as €2,000 for relocation expenses.
The application process to the Finland Fellowship Program starts with doctoral applications at Oulu, and the university has two application periods starting in January and July. Evaluation criteria involve research interests, academic transcripts, scientific quality of the research, feasibility, and significance of the research, and more.
2. University of Turku
The University of Turku is another public research university in Finland in which non-EU/EEA international students can pursue their doctoral studies for free and with the Finland Fellowship grant. Turku’s admission criteria to doctoral programs and Finland Fellowship award are merit-based, and only a few skillful international students are awarded each year to continue their research at the university.
International students who are offered a Finland Fellowship grant can conduct their research with a researcher salary provided by the University of Turku Graduate School, and their position is secured by at least one fixed-term doctoral researcher’s employment contract. Additionally, international doctoral students are granted a one-time payment of €2,000 for relocation.
Finland Fellowship program applications start at the same time as the fixed-term doctoral researcher positions, which usually start in late August and last until mid-September.
With their generous awards and offers to study at the world-class universities in the country, Finland Scholarships are one of the best reasons to consider studying in Finland for master’s and doctoral studies. If you’re ready to enhance your academic and professional skills without needing to worry about financial issues, apply today and become one of the luckiest and most talented students in Finland.
We hope that this article was helpful! If you want to learn more about studying requirements in Finland then make sure to also check out Study in Finland page! And if you are still thinking of what study program to pursue? Check out Available Programs in Europe for more study options!
