Scholarships for Studying in Finland: A Comprehensive Guide
Finland is quickly becoming a popular study destination for international students. With high-quality education, a safe environment, and affordable costs compared to other EU countries, Finland has a lot to offer. However, the living and tuition costs can still seem prohibitive for students coming from outside the EU/EEA.
The good news is there are numerous scholarships available to help fund your studies in Finland. By securing financial support, you can follow your academic dreams without taking on excessive debt or financial stress.
This comprehensive guide explores the wide range of Finland scholarship options for international students across various study levels. Read on to learn what’s available and top tips to boost your chances of success when applying.
Overview of Scholarships for Studying in Finland
There are three main scholarship categories available:
Government-Funded Scholarships
The Finnish government and associated public agencies offer various competitive scholarship programs to attract top talent from around the world. Two major options include:
- Finland Scholarships: Funded by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture, this program provides scholarships for talented non-EU/EEA students to pursue eligible Master’s degrees taught in English at specific universities in Finland. It covers the first year’s tuition fee and provides a minimum €5,000 grant for relocation and living expenses.
- EDUFI Scholarships: Offered by the Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI), these scholarships fund 3-9 months of doctoral research or study at Finnish universities and research institutes. They are open to PhD students and researchers from select countries in Asia, Africa, South America and Europe.
University-Based Scholarships
Many Finnish universities and universities of applied sciences (UAS) offer scholarships specifically for their degree-seeking international students. These are often merit-based and the funding amounts, eligibility criteria and application procedures vary between institutions. Exploring individual university websites is the best way to find opportunities relevant to your chosen program and study level.
Some examples of Finnish universities with international scholarships include:
- University of Helsinki
- Aalto University
- Tampere University
- University of Eastern Finland
- Åbo Akademi University
External Funding Sources
Beyond government and university options, numerous external organizations also offer scholarships for studying in Finland. These include:
- Erasmus+: EU students can receive Erasmus+ grants to fund Finnish study exchanges or internships. These help cover living and travel expenses.
- Private foundations: Various Finnish foundations and associations fund scholarships for international students in Finland. Examples include the Kone Foundation, the Finnish Cultural Foundation and the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation.
- International organizations: Global organizations like the Fulbright Center and DAAD also offer scholarships for study/research in Finland for specific student nationalities.
As you can see, there are numerous funding opportunities available from a range of sources. The key is thoroughly researching all options to find scholarships suited to your nationality, study level, academic background and subject area.
Eligibility Criteria Overview
Scholarship eligibility criteria vary between programs but generally include factors like:
Nationality and residence: Most government-funded scholarships are limited to non-EU/EEA students living abroad. Some university scholarships are open worldwide. Others target specific countries/regions.
Academic merit: Strong grades, exam scores, academic publications etc. can improve your chances for competitive programs.
Study level: Many scholarships are for graduate (Master’s, PhD) students but some undergraduate programs exist too.
Subjects/majors: Some disciplines like technology, STEM subjects and business are priorities for certain scholarships.
Language skills: Finnish or Swedish language skills may be required depending on the program. English-taught programs typically need proof of English proficiency.
Application documents: References, transcripts, essays, and motivation letters are commonly required.
As you research different scholarships, check that you meet all posted eligibility requirements before applying to maximize your chances of success.
Key Tips for Finding and Applying for Scholarships
Finding and securing funding for studies in Finland takes effort and planning. Use these tips to boost your success:
1. Start your scholarship search early
Finland scholarship deadlines often fall between January and April, but some are earlier. Begin researching 9-12 months before you intend to start studies in Finland. This gives you time to find the best funding options and prepare quality applications.
2. Thoroughly research all potential scholarship sources
Finding relevant scholarships takes dedication. Here are some useful resources to aid your search:
- Study in Finland: Offers a database of various study grants and scholarships in Finland.
- University websites: Check sites of your desired Finnish universities for their international student funding options.
- ScholarshipPortal: Database for searching Finland scholarships by study level, subject, nationality etc.
- EMN Finland: Provides information on scholarship opportunities for studies in Finland.
- Funding organization websites: Research Finnish foundations, associations and external groups offering international student scholarships.
Cast a wide net across these resources to discover all potential scholarship options open to you.
3. Carefully review eligibility criteria for each scholarship
Once you’ve identified relevant Finland scholarships, closely review the posted eligibility and application requirements for each one. Confirm you meet all criteria like academic background, nationality, study level/subject prerequisites before applying. This avoids wasting time applying for scholarships you won’t qualify for.
4. Start application paperwork early
Many Finland scholarships require extensive application documents like academic transcripts, reference letters, motivation essays etc. Give yourself ample time to request official paperwork from your university registrar. Also reach out to professors early for reference letters emphasizing your academic excellence.
5. Craft compelling application essays and materials
With competitive evaluation processes, you need to convince selection committees that you’re a worthy scholarship recipient. Your application essays should emphasize qualities like:
- Excellent academic performance and potential
- Passion and motivation for studying your chosen subject
- Relevant extracurriculars and accomplishments
- Future career goals and post-study plans
- How scholarship funding would enable your academic goals
Additionally, collect letters of recommendation that reinforce your academic merits and potential for success. Submit timely, complete applications following all posted instructions to further boost your odds.
Types of Finland Scholarships by Study Levels
Finland offers funding opportunities across undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels. Here’s an overview:
Undergraduate Scholarships
Undergraduate scholarship options in Finland are quite limited compared to other levels but some opportunities exist. As undergraduate degrees taught in English are still emerging in Finland, associated scholarship availability is still developing too.
A few key undergraduate options include:
- University foundation scholarships: Some Finnish university foundations offer a small number of undergraduate scholarships for international students. These are rare and highly competitive.
- Private organization scholarships: A small number of private groups like Finlandia Foundation National also fund some undergraduate study scholarships. Amounts are generally modest though.
- Country-specific programs: The government of Mexico offers scholarship funding for its citizens studying certain undergraduate degrees in Finland for example. Other governments may have similar niche programs.
Overall, self-funding is still the most common undergraduate support option currently. However, keep watch as more English-taught degree options emerge, likely bringing more associated undergraduate funding opportunities for internationals too.
Graduate (Master’s) Scholarships
The range of scholarships for international students pursuing Master’s degrees in Finland is far more substantial. Here are some top funding options:
- Finland Government Scholarships: The prestigious Finland Scholarship program, funded by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture, is open to eligible non-EU/EEA Master’s students at participating universities. It covers first-year tuition and €5,000+ towards living costs.
- University Scholarships: Many larger universities like Aalto University, University of Helsinki and University of Oulu offer competitive full or partial Master’s scholarships for international talents. Smaller universities may provide more modest awards.
- Erasmus Mundus: These EU-funded scholarships help non-EU students study certain Master’s programs across a consortium of EU universities including Finnish institutions.
- External organizations: Various private Finnish foundations and associations also offer Master’s scholarships like the Kone Foundation, the Finnish Cultural Foundation and more.
So while funding your full studies may still be challenging, Master’s students have quite extensive Finland scholarship opportunities to tap into.
Doctoral (PhD) Scholarships
For doctoral students, even more generous and substantial Finland scholarship options exist whether pursuing full degrees or shorter research periods:
- EDUFI Scholarships: EDUFI doctoral scholarships allow PhD students worldwide to conduct 3-9 month research or study visits at Finnish universities. Funding includes monthly grants of €1,500+ and other benefits.
- University scholarships: Most large Finnish research universities offer a roster of competitive PhD scholarships to attract global research talent. These provide multi-year funding packages.
- Individual research project grants: PhD students can apply for funding from various Finnish foundations/associations to support expenses for specific PhD research
projects related to issues like social justice, environment, culture and more.
Between the high PhD scholarship availability and standard practice of universities providing paid doctoral study positions, Finland offers exceptional PhD funding opportunities in a world-class research environment. These funding options allow doctoral students from across the globe to access top-notch research supervision while removing financial barriers.
Scholarship Application Process Overview
While application processes differ across specific scholarships, most will share the following general stages:
1. Submit online application
This requires:
- Personal + contact details
- Educational history (institutions, majors, grades)
- Academic documents (transcripts, English test scores, references etc)
- Short personal statement and/or research proposal
- Supplementary essays (motivations, goals etc)
2. Initial screening
Scholarship committees review and shortlist the strongest applicants for further assessment based on eligibility and academic excellence.
3. Interview phase
Being shortlisted leads to the interview round with the selection panel, typically conducted remotely via platforms like Zoom or Skype. The interviews allow the panel to further assess your academic prowess and personal qualities.
4. Final decisions
Following the interviews, scholarship committees make their final selections and announce scholarship recipients.
5. Acceptance paperwork
To secure your scholarship funding, you’ll need to complete paperwork sent by the relevant university or scholarship body related to formally accepting the funding package.
While securing competitive Finland scholarships takes substantial effort, those who invest the time are rewarded with the opportunity to access top-quality education and research in an environment consistently ranking highly for quality of life. For ambitious students looking to develop global professional networks, Finland represents an exceptional place to establish your foundations.
Answers to Common Questions:
What types of degrees can I study in Finland on scholarships?
You can study a wide spectrum of undergraduate and graduate degrees completely or partially funded on Finland scholarships. Virtually all majors are covered from technology, business and design fields at institutions like Aalto University to natural sciences, social sciences and humanities degrees at comprehensive universities like University of Helsinki.
For research students, doctoral scholarships support PhD research across diverse fields like ICT, health, environment, education policy and more depending on your chosen university’s key research strengths.
So Finland scholarships cater to almost any subject specialization at Master’s or doctoral level. Undergraduate options are still more limited currently.
What costs do Finland scholarships cover?
Funding coverage differs widely but many Master’s and PhD Finland scholarships package include:
- Tuition fee coverage (partial to full amounts)
- Monthly living expense allowance
- Housing support
- Insurance costs
- Relocation lump sums
- Research funding
- Conference/travel allowances
Undergraduate and short-term scholarships may cover smaller sums like travel, housing or materials expenses rather than full packages.
Always carefully confirm what elements are included with any scholarship offer to complete your own budgeting. Never assume all your costs will be covered. Factor in potential out-of-pocket expenses too.
If I’m not awarded a Finland scholarship, what are my options for financing studies?
Beyond scholarships, international students in Finland can combine funding from sources like:
Student loans from Finland or your home country – many international students take low-interest student loans from the Finnish government or banks back home. Understand repayment requirements before borrowing.
Family contributions – Parents’ support can help cover expenses not handled via scholarships/loans. Be realistic about what sums your family can reasonably contribute as expectations are high for international fees.
Part-time employment – University cities have student jobs like hospitality, retail, tutoring etc. However, work permits often restrict hours for non-EU residents. The income can supplement costs though.
Crowdfunding platforms – Sites like GoFundMe allow you to fundraise for studies from extended family, friends and broader community networks. Provide plenty of transparency on how funds raised will be used to inspire donor trust.
With careful planning, combining multiple funding streams can make high-quality Finland education accessible even without full scholarship funding!
Conclusion
From merit-based government programs like the prestigious Finland Scholarship to the array of funding offered directly by universities, Finland delivers abundant scholarship opportunities for ambitious international students at graduate level and beyond.
While undergraduate and short research visit funding is still quite limited, students pursuing full Master’s and PhD degrees can tap into a true wealth of options. By thoroughly researching relevant scholarships, crafting compelling applications and skillfully managing other finances, students worldwide can access Finland’s outstanding education and research environment.
The substantial investments made into attracting global talent has rapidly strengthened Finland’s reputation as an international study destination. For scholars seeking a high quality of life alongside academic excellence, Finland delivers on both counts!
ALSO SEE: