Fulbright Finland Doctoral Award

Purpose of the Grant Program

The Fulbright Finland Doctoral Award is designed for U.S. students who wish to pursue doctoral studies in Finland. This includes both students visiting a Finnish university over one academic year for part of their doctoral research and those intending to complete their entire doctoral degree at a Finnish university.

If you plan to conduct your doctoral research at a Finnish research institute, please contact the Fulbright Finland Foundation well before applying to confirm whether the institute is an approved host institution.

Doctoral Studies in Finland

Finland offers excellent study and research opportunities in a wide range of disciplines. Finnish universities offer high-quality programs in humanities and social sciences, fine and performing arts, as well as science and technology. They also have a wide selection of special Doctoral programs taught in English. Visit the Study in Finland website and Studyinfo for more information.

For a doctoral program search, visit the Opintopolku website.

Language

An international student or researcher does not necessarily need to know Finnish or Swedish in order to be able to study in Finland. Many universities offer programs in English, and the language is widely spoken both in academic circles and in the country as a whole. Candidates should consult the academic department as to the availability of courses and the possibility of conducting research in English.

Benefits

The Fulbright Finland Doctoral Award EUR 1 900 per month (paid for nine months)
Travel allowance (USD 1600)
Residence permit allowance (based on the actual permit fees, including grantee and accompanying family members)
A supplemental accident and sickness benefit (ASPE)
Full support services provided by the Fulbright Finland Foundation
A variety of networking opportunities throughout the year in Finland
Education loan deferment: While on a Fulbright in Finland, U.S. student grantees have often been able to defer loans. Fulbright grants usually fall under the Graduate Fellowship deferment category. Grantees should confirm this with the lending institution.
Alumni who successfully complete the Fulbright U.S. Student Program are eligible for 12 months of non-competitive eligibility (NCE) hiring status within the U.S. federal government, with the possibility of extensions if certain criteria are met.
Opportunity to apply for additional funding from the Lois Roth Foundation. (This funding is applied for after arrival to Finland.)
Alumni network and activities provided for the grantees of the Fulbright Finland Foundation programs.
Fulbright Finland Centennial Travel Grant in Architecture, Design, and the Visual Arts: This additional grant can be awarded to U.S. or Finnish graduate student grantees representing any of the three fields to help cover their Fulbright project-related travel expenses in their destination country. No separate application is needed.

In Finland, there are no tuition fees for doctoral students.

Eligibility

The grant is targeted at doctoral studies in Finland, either for those visiting a Finnish university as a doctoral student or those planning to complete the full doctoral degree in a Finnish university.

You are eligible to apply for the program, if:

you are a U.S. citizen; and
hold a minimum of a Bachelor's degree.

Clinical Medicine is not recommended as a field of study.

Wondering whether you are a right fit for the Fulbright program in Finland? Read 2021-22 U.S. Fulbright Fellow Meg's blog post "Who is a Fulbright Finland Grantee", be inspired to celebrate diverse academic backgrounds, and apply!

Cost of study and living in Finland

Please read more on the cost of studying and living in Finland here.

How to Apply?

Please see the application instructions here.

Affiliation

Candidates are responsible for securing affiliation or study placement with a Finnish institution of higher education, research institution, or other acceptable organization. Please see tips below:

The affiliation confirmation content requirement varies according to your plans in Finland and the university application schedule. If you plan to take courses and pursue research, please see both points 2 and 3 below.

If you have any questions regarding the affiliation requirement or university letter, please contact the Foundation ([email protected]).

Evaluation criteria

The U.S. student grantees' final selection is made by the Fulbright Finland Foundation in Helsinki. The applications are evaluated according to evaluation criteria set by the Fulbright Finland Foundation Board.

Dependents

The Fulbright Finland Foundation does not provide maintenance for dependents. Candidates must ensure sufficient funds to support accompanying family members during their stay. Public schooling for children is easily available and free of charge. You will find more information on this topic in the "Bringing Your Family" section.

Grant Timeline

Please find the important deadlines and program-related schedules here.

U.S. Partner Organization Contact Information

Institute of International Education (IIE)
Britt Klein, Regional Program Officer, Europe, and Eurasia
Fulbright Student Scholar Program
Email: [email protected]

IIE hosts informational guidance sessions monthly on the US Student Fulbright program in each of IIE's regional centers and some university campuses via video conference. Information on the guidance session schedule can be found at fulbrightonline.org.

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 and contributing to the relations between Finland and the U.S.