🇫🇮 Finland · Scholarships
Scholarships and financial aid for studying in Finland — government, university, and international programs.
Quick answer
Finland's main national award is the Finland Scholarship (for non-EU/EEA students starting a fee-charging master's), which combines a tuition-fee waiver with a relocation grant, alongside each university's own scholarships. EU/EEA students study tuition-free. Explore options on Study in Finland and university sites and apply by the deadline.
Finland’s official student financial aid is administered by Kela and mainly depends on residence, status and study facts. Non-EU/EEA tuition-fee scholarships are usually offered by universities and should be checked directly with each institution.
- Kela student aid for foreign citizens is conditional and not automatic.
- Study in Finland summarises tuition and scholarship practice for international students.
- Doctoral, exchange and EU-funded schemes can have separate calls and deadlines.
Step-by-step
- 1
Map the funding landscape
Map Finnish funding: the Finland Scholarship (fee waiver + relocation grant for non-EU/EEA master’s) and university scholarships.
- 2
Check eligibility and deadlines
Confirm eligibility (level, nationality, grades, language) and note that scholarship deadlines are often months before course start.
- 3
Prepare your documents
Prepare transcripts, a language-test score, reference letters, a strong personal statement and (for research) a proposal.
- 4
Apply to the scheme and university
Submit the scholarship application and, where required, a separate university/admission application by each deadline.
- 5
Interview, results and acceptance
Attend any interview or selection stage; if awarded, formally accept the scholarship and your study place.
- 6
Handle visa, funds and conditions
Apply for your student visa, arrange disbursement, and note any conditions such as progress requirements or a return/service obligation.
Checklist
- Funding sources identified (government / university / private)
- Eligibility + deadlines confirmed
- Transcripts + language test + references
- Personal statement / research proposal
- Scholarship + university applications submitted
- Interview / selection completed
- Offer accepted + funding terms understood
- Student visa + disbursement + any bond/return rules
Official authorities
- Kela — student financial aid
Official student-aid guide.
- Study in Finland — scholarships
Official scholarship overview for international students.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Finland Scholarship?
A national award for non-EU/EEA students starting a fee-charging master’s, combining a first-year tuition-fee waiver with a relocation grant.
Do EU students pay tuition in Finland?
No — EU/EEA students study tuition-free; tuition and the related scholarships apply to non-EU/EEA students.
Do universities have their own scholarships?
Yes — Finnish universities offer their own tuition-fee scholarships, often tied to your admission application.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.