How to apply for scholarships to study in Finland

A scholarship is an award of financial aid given to a student for the purpose of furthering the student’s education. Scholarships are usually awarded based on criteria’s such as academic performance, diversity, field of study, country of origin or any other purposes deemed necessary by the donor or founder of the award.

Where to find a scholarship

Many universities have introduced scholarship programs for incoming international students who are required to pay tuition fees.

A number of governmental and non-governmental bodies, including educational charities, provide financial assistance to a range of students seeking education abroad. You can also approach commercial and industrial companies in the fields related to your specialization.

There might be scholarships, grants and student loans provided by your local government as well. Inquire about the different options from the Ministry of Education in your own country.

Should I apply for scholarships?

The competition for scholarships are often hard as there is a limited number of awards, however, it is always worthwhile applying for the ones relevant to you. You should begin your research early on as some scholarships require you to apply a year before your courses starts.

Although the competition for a scholarship might be hard, a couple of days of work can potentially generate a significant reduction in your tuition fee. Many students often think they don’t have a chance, thus the scholarship recipients are usually students who were willing to put the time and effort in the application.

University scholarships

Most universities in Finland have a scholarship program that covers tuition fees for up to 50%. Below are listed Edunation’s partner universities that offer scholarships. Find more information about the amount of the scholarship and the requirements under each university.

LUT University:

Early Bird Fee (Rolling Admission)

If you accept your study place and pay the total tuition fee within two weeks from the offer, you will receive a 25 % discount from the tuition fee. The amount of early-bird tuition fee isEUR 7 500.This is valid only for master studies.

Bachelor’s degree scholarship

• 1st academic year, there are no Tuition Fee Waivers available
• 2nd academic year, 50% Tuition Fee Waiver will be granted for the students successfully completing the studies on the first academic year (min.of 60 ECTS credits)
• 3rd academic year, 100% Tuition Fee Waiver will be granted for the students successfully completing the studies on the first and second academic year (min.of 60 ECTS credits/year)

Master’s degree scholarship

During your 2nd academic year, you can have a tuition fee waiver:

• 50% Tuition fee waiver with a minimum of 60 ECTS credits with a minimum GPA of 3.75 OR
• 100 % Tuition fee waiver with a minimum of 60 ECTS credits with a minimum GPA of 4.00

Metropolia University of Applied Sciences:

Metropolia grantsscholarships of 3 000 € based on Finnish language skillsto students who are required to pay tuition fees, which you can only receive one scholarship per academic year.

A scholarship can be awarded based on a Finnish language level test completed during the academic year. Level tests can be performed in advance, i.e. if you have completed more than one level test in the previous year, they will be taken into account when granting scholarships for the following academic years.

The scholarship program applies to both bachelor’s and master’s programs.

Hanken School of Economics:

Applicants are to apply for a scholarship when applying to Hanken. All students admitted through rolling admission are to pay the tuition fee in full. After the application period has ended in May, and all students have been admitted, Hanken decides which student will be offered a scholarship. The scholarship is granted to the newly-admitted student on a merit-based system, where previous studies and high scores in aptitude and /or language tests are important.

• Applying for a scholarship will not affect your application to the Master’s Degree Programme.
• The scholarships at Hanken are merit-based. All scholarships are awarded based on the applicant’s academic excellence in the previous studies and applicable test score results.
• All scholarships requirements demand the receiving students to keep a good pace within their studies. Annual check-ups are done to ensure that the student will graduate within two academic years. After two academic years the scholarship ends, and the student is required to pay tuition fees for the remain of their studies.

Scholarships offered to fee-paying students

All Scholarships offered at Hanken are fortwo academic years.

• Hanken Premium Scholarship:
  • Covers the full tuition fee and 8 000 EUR/year living expenses
• Hanken Honours Scholarship:
  • Covers the full tuition fee
• Hanken Support Scholarship:
  • Covers 50% of the tuition fee
• GBSN Scholarship for students from developing countries:
• Hanken School of Economics offers two scholarships to students currently studying at or alumni ofGBSNmember schools from developing countries.
• GBSN scholars will receive the Hanken Premium Scholarship, which covers full tuition fee for two years and 8000 EUR/year for living expenses.
• Read more about GBSN scholarships at theofficial GBSN site.
• The GBSN member schools are listedhere.

Turku University of Applied Sciences:

Students who start their studies in 2021 or later: Students can apply for a scholarship after the 1st academic year. TUAS grants scholarships based on Finnish language skills. The scholarship is 4 000 EUR and the student can receive one scholarship per academic year by completing a Finnish language level test.

Students who started their studies before 2021: Students can apply for a scholarship after the 1st academic year. All students who complete 55 ECTS study credits during the first academic year, are granted a 30 % scholarship of the 2nd year’s tuition fee.

Häme University of Applied Sciences:

Scholarships are available for fee paying degree students at HAMK.Starting from November 2020 scholarships are granted based onFinnish language skills.The aim of HAMK’s scholarshipprogramis to support thefuture employment of international degree studentsinFinlandby encouraging students to gaingood level of Finnish language during their studies.

Studentscan be awarded with ascholarshipstwiceduring their studies based on their level of Finnish languageandprovided that they complete60ECTS credits per academic year.The Finnish language skills are evaluatedbyexam results orHAMK’s Finnish languageteacher’s written certificate.

1.SCHOLARSHIP: BASIC USER OF FINNISH LANGUAGE (CERF LEVEL A2): 3200 €

• Paid once, the earliest after the first academic year
• Bachelor’s degree studentshave the opportunity togain Finnish language level A2 by taking part inFinnish language studiesoffered by HAMK and studying independently.
• Language level assessment is based on theCommon European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment(CEFR)

2. SCHOLARSHIP: INDEPENDENT USER OF FINNISH LANGUAGE – (CERF LEVEL B1): 6500 €

• Paid once, the earliest after the first academic year. If the studentis awardedwithScholarship 1, they can be awardedwithScholarship 2 after the second academic yearthe earliest.
• HAMK encourages students to aim at Finnish languagelevel B1and will support and offer guidance. B1 is an advanced level requiring long-term commitment to studying Finnish.

Please note: the students who have started their degree studies before 2020, will continue to be awarded with scholarship based solely on study progression. The scholarship programme that was in place at the start of their studies, will be applicable for the whole duration of the studies.

Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences:

At SeAMK all first-year degree students, who are required to pay a tuition fee, will beautomaticallygranted a scholarship, which covers30% of the tuition fee. This means you will only need to pay 70% of the first year’s tuition fee.

To be eligible for a scholarship after the first academic year, you must complete a minimum of60creditsduring the previous academic year in a bachelor’s degree program. The amount of the scholarship after the first academic year30% of the tuition fee.

SeAMK offers also aone-off scholarship of 1000 euroif you achieve B1 CEFR level in Finnish language.

Satakunta University of Applied Sciences:

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT FOR BACHELOR LEVEL STUDENTS FOR SEPTEMBER 2021 INTAKE

The Early Bird scholarship is a discount of 1,500 € on the tuition fee of the first study year at SAMK. All the new students who have been selected and who have accepted the study place and paid the tuition fee at the latest on 9th of April, 2021 (September 2021 intake) are rewarded an early bird discount of 1,500 €. The discount will be given from the first year’s payment. Detailed instructions on how to pay the tuition fee will be sent along with the acceptance letter. This offer is valid only for the first year of studies.

Early Bird Discount in 2021 is available only for students who are applying for January 2021 application period (1.1.2021 – 19.1.2021).If the student applies later, the early bird discount is not applicable.

FULL TUITION FEE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR BACHELOR STUDIES

A Full Tuition Fee scholarship will be awarded on the basis of theoverall assessment of the previous studies, meaning previous success in studies, possible letters of motivation, and capacity to act as the Student Ambassador at SAMK. The scholarship is granted for 3-4 years upon completion of at least 60 ECTS credits year academic year. The number of annual new awardees is a maximum of ten (10).Other SAMK scholarships are not available for students who have beengranted a Full Tuition Fee Scholarship.Full tuition fee granted student is responsible toparticipate in SAMK Student AmbassadorProgramme.

SUCCESS IN STUDIES SCHOLARSHIP

During the studies, students can apply for a scholarship after each study year and get50 % of the paid fee backby progressing well in studies.A student can get a scholarship if he/she:

• completes 60 ECTS credits during the academic year, and
• the weighted average of the studies during the academic year is at least 3.5., and
• the student’s achievements have to be among the best fifth compared to other students in the degree program that same year, liable or non-liable to pay a tuition fee.

FINNISH LANGUAGE SKILLS SCHOLARSHIP

SAMK grants scholarships based on Finnish language skills. Scholarships are awarded for students who gain at least the basic skills (level A2) of the Finnish language during their degree studies at SAMK.

1. Scholarship: Basic User of Finnish language (CERF level A2): 1,500€

• Paid once, after the first academic year at the earliest
• Bachelor´s degree students have the opportunity to gain level A2 by taking part in Finnish language studies offered by SAMK and by studying independently.

2. Scholarship: Independent User of Finnish language (CERF level B1): 3,000€

• Paid once, after the first academic year at the earliest. If the student is awarded with Scholarship 1, he/she can be awarded with Scholarship 2 after the second academic year, at the earliest.

THE STUDENT AMBASSADOR SCHOLARSHIP

The Student Ambassador Scholarship Programme has been created for students who have an interest in becoming involved in international activities in SAMK during their studies. The Student Ambassador Scholarship offers successful students an annual award of 200–500€. The Student Ambassador Scholarship can be granted more than once.

Arcada University of Applied Sciences:

BACHELOR’S DEGREES

Arcada offers scholarships for enrolled bachelor’s students. The scholarship covers a maximum of50% of the tuition fee. Students can be awarded a scholarship from the second year on, depending on their study achievements. To be eligible for a scholarship, the applicant needs to complete a minimum of 60 ECTS credits during the academic year.

Kajaani University of Applied Sciences:

An Early Bird scholarship is available if you accept your study place offer within 2 weeks after receiving the letter of acceptance. The Early Bird scholarship covers50% of the tuition fee.

A scholarship of3000 €is possible from the second year onwards, given that the student meets the minimum requirement of 55 credits per academic year.

The students have the opportunity to getone academic year for freeif they pass the national Finnish language test and receive 55 credits.

You need to apply for the scholarship with a separate application.

THE STUDENT AMBASSADOR SCHOLARSHIP

The Student Ambassador Scholarship Programme has been created for students who have an interest in becoming involved in international activities in SAMK during their studies. The Student Ambassador Scholarship offers successful students an annual award of 200–500€. The Student Ambassador Scholarship can be granted more than once.

Other scholarships

Apart from university scholarships, there are also other private and government scholarships offered for international students. Here we have listed a few.

• You can apply for an Erasmus scholarship through the Erasmus Mundus for full degree studies. However, the number of scholarships and the universities they offer it for is limited. At the moment, LUT University is the only Edunation partner university taking part in Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees. More information about the scholarship can be found here.

• educations.com is offering a scholarship of up to 5000 EUR to study a master’s degree at a university in Europe. The scholarship will be awarded for the fall 2020 semester and is open to students of any nationality. Their ideal candidate is someone who is globally-minded and motivated to make positive change in the world. Learn more and apply on the educations.com website.

Study in Finland and Europe! You can contact us atcontact@edunation.coor call us at +358 50 354 8603 for further information.