NATURALLY FINLAND Scholarships for Studies and Research in Finland www.studyinfinland.fi
The Centre for International Mobility CIMO, an organisation operating under the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture, offers services and expertise to encourage crosscultural communication. CIMO administers scholarship and exchange programmes and is responsible for implementing EU education, training, culture and youth programmes at national level. To support the internationalisation of educational and training institutions in Finland, CIMO offers training, information, advisory services and publications. CIMO also promotes and organises international trainee exchanges. In addition, CIMO advances the teaching of Finnish language and culture in universities outside Finland, as well as arranges summer courses in Finnish language and culture for international students. CIMO is also committed to raising the international profile of Finnish education and training and promotes the opportunities that exist in Finland to participate in student, trainee and youth exchanges. Contents CIMO Scholarships 3 I Scholarships for master s studies 4 II Scholarships for postgraduate studies and research III Other programmes and awards Useful links 11 10 5 12/2011 Erweko, 4000. Photos: Satu Haavisto. Layout: Satu Salmivalli. ISBN 978-951-805-471-2 (print), ISBN 978-951-805-472-9 (pdf)
CIMO Scholarships 3 The Centre for International Mobility CIMO awards and administers scholarships for students and researchers. CIMO does not have any scholarship programmes or other financial assistance available for degree studies at bachelor s or master s level in Finland; scholarships are mainly intended for postgraduate students who have completed a master s degree. Through its scholarship programmes, CIMO supports the internationalisation of teaching and research by forging links and encouraging academic mobility between institutions of higher education in Finland and abroad. Scholarships are available for applicants from all countries. Each CIMO scholarship programme has its own eligibility criteria, application procedures and deadlines. A scholarship normally consists of a monthly allowance intended to cover living expenses in Finland for a single person. The amount of a scholarship varies according to the scholarship programme and academic qualification of the applicant. No additional expenses such as travel, housing, or insurance are covered by a scholarship.
I Scholarships for master s studies Finnish studies and research: scholarships for advanced studies of the Finnish language at Finnish universities CIMO awards scholarships to students of Finnish language and culture at universities outside Finland for advanced master s studies in Finnish universities or for collecting material in Finland for their master s thesis in their home university. The scholarship is intended for a maximum of one term. 4 Students apply directly to CIMO. Application deadlines are on 30th April for the autumn term, and on 31st October for the spring term. The applicant must establish contact with the host university before applying. The application should preferably be made in Finnish and must include a CV, a summary of studies completed, a study/research plan, a reference from the Finnish teacher, with assessment of the Finnish language skills of the applicant, and an acceptance letter from the host university. More information and application forms available from: CIMO Scholarships www.cimo.fi/scholarships_to_masters_students_in_finnish Scholarships provided by higher education institutions Finnish universities and universities of applied sciences (also known as polytechnics) may collect tuition fees from non- EU/EEA students enrolled in some selected master s degree programmes. There are special scholarships available for students on these programmes provided by the institution in question. Some Finnish higher education institutions may offer a small number of scholarships or grants for international students and researchers, although this is relatively rare. You should check the possibility of any such financial aid directly with the institution you are interested in. More information and links available from: www.studyinfinland.fi Institutions Tuition fees
II Scholarships for postgraduate studies and research CIMO awards scholarships for postgraduate students and young researchers who have completed a master s or a doctoral degree. CIMO has a number of scholarship programmes for doctoral studies and research at Finnish universities. They are targeted at all academic fields, with the exception of the scholarships for advanced degree students of the Finnish language, which are specific to that particular field. There are two types of scholarships: individual scholarships which young researchers apply for themselves, and host fellowships which are applied for by the relevant department of the Finnish higher education institution wishing to host researchers and postgraduates. 5 CIMO Fellowships The CIMO Fellowships programme is open to young researchers from all countries and from all academic fields. The scholarship period may vary from 3 to 12 months. The scholarships cannot be applied for post-doctoral studies. The visiting researcher does not apply for the fellowship directly; rather, it is his or her responsibility to establish contact with the Finnish host university. The relevant department of the host university in turn applies to CIMO for the grant. Applications should be submitted at least 5 months before the intended scholarship period. More information available from: CIMO Scholarships
CIMO India Fellowships The aim of the programme is to enhance academic mobility between Finland and India. The CIMO India Fellowships are offered for postgraduate studies, research, and teaching at universities in Finland. The scholarship period may vary from 3 to 12 months. The CIMO India Fellowships are applied for by a Finnish university department wishing to host the visiting student or researcher from India. Applications by the Finnish institutions should be submitted at least 5 months before the intended scholarship period. 6 More information available from: CIMO Scholarships Finnish Government Scholarship Pool The Finnish Government offers scholarships of 3 9 months for doctoral studies and research at universities in Finland. The Finnish Government Scholarship Pool programme is open to young researchers from all academic fields. The scholarships cannot be applied for post-doctoral studies or research. The scholarships are based mainly on cultural agreements or similar arrangements between Finland and the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Mongolia, Namibia, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, and Ukraine. An applicant must be a national of one of the above-mentioned countries. He or she must also intend to pursue postgraduate studies as a visiting student, participate in a research project, or teach at a higher education institution or public research institute in Finland. Contact with the Finnish host institution must be established before applying.
Applicants must submit their applications to the appropriate authorities in their country. The scholarship authorities in each country select up to 10 candidates to be reviewed by CIMO before February 28th each year. An applicant should check the application deadline set by the authorities in his or her country as it may be earlier. CIMO will inform both successful and unsuccessful applicants about the outcome by June. An application must include a completed and signed application form, a CV, copies of the applicant s latest degree certificate, two letters of recommendation, a study or research plan (1 2 pages), an invitation from the academic supervisor in Finland, and a language certificate (in Finnish, Swedish or English). More information including a list of the scholarship authorities in each country and application forms available from: CIMO Scholarships 7 Finnish studies and research: scholarships for postgraduate studies and research at Finnish universities CIMO awards scholarships to post-graduate students and researchers of Finnish language and culture and Finno-Ugric languages who carry out their research outside Finland. Applicants should have at least a master s degree. Scholarships are available for post-graduate studies or research in a Finnish university or for short study visits. SCHOLARSHIPS OF 3 TO 12 MONTHS The scholarships for post-master s level studies or research in Finnish universities can be awarded from 3 to 12 months. The host university should apply for the scholarship on behalf of post-master s level students and researchers. The scholarship candidate should contact the host university about the application in good time before the deadline and send them a research plan (2 to 3 pages; including introduction, goals, work plan, work methods, expected results), a CV, including information about previous studies, publications, previous
visits to Finland, and a copy of degree certificate (minimum requirement a master s degree). There are two application deadlines per year: the 1st deadline is on 30 April and the 2nd on 31 October. SHORT-TERM SCHOLARSHIPS, 1 4 WEEKS Scholarships are available for short visits of 1 to 4 weeks relating to post-master s level studies or research. The scholarship can be used, for example, to visit archives, to attend seminars, to conduct interviews or to meet with supervisors. Pure conference trips are not eligible for the scholarship; the visit must include other type of work related to the applicant s studies or research, too. 8 The post-master s level student or researcher should apply for the scholarship independently at least two months before the planned beginning of the scholarship period. The application should describe the purpose of the visit and its significance to the applicant s studies or research and the contents of the seminar, if applicable. The following annexes are needed: description of the applicant s motivation, a research plan, a reference from the research supervisor, a CV, including information about previous qualifications (minimum requirement a master s degree), possible previous scholarships to Finland, and previous visits to Finland. More information available from: www.cimo.fi/scholarships_for_postgraduates_and_ researchers_in_finnish_language Scholarships for kindred peoples The scholarship period is from 1 to 9 months. The scholarships for kindred peoples are intended for post-graduate students and researchers who carry out post-master s level studies or research at universities in the Finno-Ugric regions of Russia, are members of Finn-Ugric peoples and study Finno-Ugric languages.
9 A Finnish university department specialised in the study of Finno-Ugric languages will apply for the scholarship for kindred peoples on behalf of the individual. There is a rolling deadline. The post-master s level student or researcher should contact a Finnish university several months before the proposed start of the scholarship period and send them a research plan (2 to 3 pages; including introduction, goals, work plan, work methods, expected results), a CV, including information about previous studies, publications, previous visits to Finland, and a copy of degree certificate. More information available from: CIMO Scholarships Scholarships for Kindred Peoples www.cimo.fi/scholarships_for_kindred_peoples
III Other programmes and awards Erasmus Mundus degree programmes and mobility scholarships 10 Erasmus Mundus master s and doctoral programmes already almost 150 in number provide a true European experience for students from all over the world. These topquality programmes have been developed jointly by several universities operating in at least three different European countries possibly also in other parts of the world. They last from one to two academic years and include studies in at least two countries. Studies lead to an officially recognised double, joint or multiple degree. Generous scholarships covering the whole degree study period are available both to European and non-european students and scholars. Erasmus Mundus is funded by the European Commission. Finnish universities are currently involved in the delivery of 14 high-quality Erasmus Mundus Master s programmes with a scholarship scheme. Alternatively, students, staff and scholars from targeted countries around the world even professionals working outside the Academia may apply for a scholarship under a specific action called Erasmus Mundus Partnerships (Action 2). These individual mobility scholarships are not linked to a specific study programme. The scholarship period can vary between 1 and 34 months (up to a full degree). Application and scholarship information is available from the website of each programme. Applicants should identify the Erasmus Mundus programme or scholarship of their interest and contact the coordinators of the programme directly. Application deadlines and availability of scholarships vary from course to course. More information about Erasmus Mundus and the list of selected Erasmus Mundus Masters Courses available from: The European Commission s server: http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus_mundus/ Erasmus Mundus Scholarships
Fulbright Program in Finland CIMO works together with the Fulbright Center in Finland and co-funds some of the grants awarded in the Fulbright Program for U.S. Citizens every year. More information available from: Other sources of funding Useful links EURAXESS Researchers in Motion http://ec.europa.eu/euraxess/ 11 The Researcher s Mobility Portal Finland http://www.aka.fi/eracareers Finnish Academy http://www.aka.fi In English Finnish Cultural Foundation http://www.skr.fi In English Grants Finnish National Fund for Research and Development (Sitra) http://www.sitra.fi In English Grants for Foreign Students in Finland The National Union of Finnish Students (SYL) http://www.syl.fi In English Nordic Academy for Advanced Study (NORFA) http://www.norfa.no In English Student Financial Aid The Social Insurance Institution of Finland (KELA) http://www.kela.fi English Students Financial Aid for Students National Technology Agency of Finland (Tekes) http://www.tekes.fi In English
Centre for International Mobility CIMO P.O. Box 343 FI-00531 Helsinki, Finland Tel: +358 20 7868 500 Fax: +358 20 7868 601 E-mail: cimoinfo@cimo.fi www.studyinfinland.fi Telephone service for international clients: +358 20 690 501 (Tue - Wed 13.00-16.00, Thu 13.00-17.00 +2 GMT) This brochure is printed on recyclable Edixion paper. The pulp used in its production is ECF pulp bleached without chlorine gas. The paper is manufactured using wood from sustainable forests.