Fulbright-University of Turku Scholar Award

Purpose of the Grant Program

The award is meant for conducting research and/or lecturing in any field represented in the eight faculties and four independent units at the University of Turku. 

Faculties at UTU:

• Education
• Humanities
• Law
• Medicine
• Science
• Social Sciences
• Technology
• Turku School of Economics

In addition, research activities and learning take place at independent units, e.g. at Turku Bioscience Centre and Turku PET (Positron Emission Tomography) Center – both acknowledged worldwide for their quality research. Moreover, Faculty of Social Sciences hosts the national John Morton Center.

Applicants are encouraged to contact the host department, faculty or research program to work together in designing the activities.

The award is jointly funded by the University of Turku and the Fulbright Finland Foundation.

Benefits

The award is available for visits of 3–12 months. It includes:

• Monthly grant of 2,700-4,000 EUR (approx. 2,900-4,400 USD*) depending on rank of scholar, paid out in euros in monthly installments.
• One-time travel allowance of 1,800 USD.
• Residence permit allowance based on the actual permit fees (incl. grantee and accompanying family members)
• Housing for the scholar and their accompanying family arranged and paid for by the host university.
• Work facilities and administrative support (including help and advice for relocation and orientation, Finnish for beginners courses, staff training, and sports services).
• Orientation and support services provided by the Fulbright Finland Foundation in Helsinki. For example, the Foundation will arrange a four-day arrival orientation in Helsinki for all U.S. Fulbright grantees at the end of August each year (orientation is also arranged in January for grantees arriving for the spring semester).
• Fulbright Finland mid-year activities and networking opportunities (such as the American Voices Seminar at the University of Turku) each year.
• The grantee will also be eligible, free of charge, to participate in a Fulbright Finland pre-approved summer school in Finland consisting of courses on Finnish language, culture and society, pending availability of suitable programs.

* amounts in USD are subject to change due to currency fluctuations.

Support for Grantees with Disabilities

Extra funding support is available for grantees with disabilities. If you have a disability that would cause additional costs for the grant term, contact the Foundation to discuss reasonable accommodations. Send your self-assessment with a description of the disability and the specific accommodations requested to the Foundation ([email protected]) by the grant application deadline.

Please note that disclosing the need for disability accommodation does not affect the review and selection process.

Eligibility

A candidate for the Fulbright-University of Turku Scholar Award must hold a Ph.D. degree (or other terminal degree) and should have several years’ teaching and research experience in their field. The candidate must be a U.S. citizen. Proposals for medical research involving clinical training, patient care or patient contact are not eligible. Please contact the Fulbright Finland Foundation if you have any questions about the eligibility of your project.

U.S. Scholar Program eligibility guidelines and review criteria are published on the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program website.

In Finland, the applications are evaluated according to the evaluation criteria set by the Fulbright Finland Foundation Board.

Applicants residing in Finland are not eligible to apply for this award.

University of Turku

The University of Turku (UTU) is an inspiring and international academic community of 25,000 students and staff in Southwest Finland. The University of Turku was founded as the first Finnish-language university in the country in 1920. The main campus is located in the historical city centre of Turku, renowned as the best Student City in Finland.

The University of Turku is a valued member of the global scientific community and is regularly ranked among the best universities in various international university rankings. The University builds a sustainable future with multidisciplinary research, education, and collaboration. Close national and international research collaboration strengthens the University’s position among the leading research universities in the world.

Research at the University is profiled through the following five multidisciplinary themes which create platforms for networking, business collaboration, innovation and strategic partnerships:

• New technologies and digitalisation
• Health, diagnostics and drug development
• Children, young people, and learning
• Cultural memory and social change
• Biodiversity and sustainability 

The University offers a wide choice of international Bachelor's and Master's degree programs in English. In addition, it is a home for the University of Turku Graduate School which consists of 16 Doctoral Programs with approximately 2,000 doctoral researchers from over 70 countries.

Located only 150 kilometers west of the capital city of Helsinki, Turku is very well-connected, including daily ferry and air connections to Stockholm, Sweden. Turku itself also offers a variety of both cultural and sport activities and events as well as opportunities to relax on nature trails or by the seaside. Active student life, easy and well-functioning public transport, and affordable housing are Turku's great assets.

How to Apply?

The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program competition for 2026-27 opens in February 2025.

The U.S. program partner in the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program is the Institute of International Education IIE. Applications are submitted through IIE and forwarded to discipline-based peer review committees in the U.S. Applications that pass this initial peer review in the U.S. are forwarded to the Fulbright Finland Foundation in Helsinki to be reviewed by the Foundation’s review committees. The Fulbright Finland Foundation makes the funding decisions and final selections of the grantees.

Additional information and detailed application instructions are available from the Fulbright Finland Foundation and the Fulbright Scholar Program websites.

The Fulbright Finland Foundation encourages potential applicants to contact the office directly with any questions.

Resources for Hosts:

• Instructions for writing invitation letters and a checklist for a U.S. scholar's host

Further Information

NOTE: Late June, July and early August are traditionally summer vacation months in Finland and responses to inquiries may be delayed. Applicants are advised to contact the Finnish host institution well ahead of time to solicit an invitation letter for their application.

Applicants are encouraged to contact the host department, faculty, or research program to work together in designing the grant activities. Please contact the contact persons at the university in any general questions about the university or if you need assistance in locating a potential host at the university.

Useful links:

• Fulbright Finland Outreach Ambassadors
• Fulbright Grant Programs & Destination Finland
• University of Turku
• University of Turku Research
• City of Turku
• Visit Turku
• This is Finland

What is the Fulbright Finland Foundation?

The Fulbright Finland Foundation is a private, independent, not-for-profit organization based in Helsinki, Finland. The Foundation’s aim is

• to promote a wider exchange of knowledge and professional talents through educational contacts between Finland and the United States, and
• to support the internationalization of education and research in Finland, and help U.S. and Finnish institutions create linkages.

What Makes the Fulbright Finland Foundation Programs Unique?

• In addition to the grant, the Fulbright Finland Foundation offers the grantees several additional benefits and free support services, as well as access to a global, multi-professional network.
• We are looking for applicants who want to impact the future and to make a difference – applicants who want to facilitate positive change, develop and advance their own profession or discipline, and find solutions to national and international challenges in their field.
• The grantees also act as ambassadors for the Fulbright Finland Foundation, their home country, and their home organization and, in this way, do their part in sharing their home country and culture while contributing to the relations between Finland and the U.S.

The Fulbright-University of Turku Scholar Award program is part of the global Fulbright program operating in over 160 countries worldwide.