The Nordic Youth Grant for the Arctic

Calling Nordic Youth: Be Part of the Arctic Encounter 2025!

Apply now to join the Arctic conversation and become one of 12 young Nordic representatives to attend the Arctic Encounter Symposium in Alaska! This unique opportunity will allow you to connect with leading experts, network with like-minded peers, and explore innovative solutions for a sustainable future in the Arctic.

Ready to make a difference in the Arctic?
Don’t miss your chance—apply for the travel grant today!

Arctic Encounter Symposium

The Arctic Encounter Symposium is an annual gathering to confront shared interests and concerns as we look north to the last emerging frontier – the Arctic.

Dive into exciting discussions on climate action, indigenous rights, and sustainable development, all while connecting with leaders and fellow enthusiasts from around the globe. Join us to shape the conversation and be part of the movement to protect this vital region!

The symposium takes place in Anchorage, Alaska 2-4 April 2025. Learn more about the Arctic Encounter Symposium on their website.

The Travel Grant 

Fulbright Denmark in collaboration with the Nordic Fulbright Commissions and the Fulbright Finland Foundation offer a unique opportunity for 12 representatives of Nordic youth to attend the Arctic Encounter Symposium in 2025 in Alaska. If selected as a grantee, you will receive travel grant benefits in the amount of USD 3,500 to supplement the costs of:

• Plane tickets
• Potentially hotel during layover
• ESTA expenses
• International transfer fees
• Accommodation
• Local transportation
• Insurance
• Meals
• Participation fee for the symposium

Fulbright Denmark will book your hotel as well as pay for your participation at the Arctic Encounter Symposium and deduct the cost from your grant benefits. You will book your own plane tickets based on your travel preferences shortly after receiving your travel grant.

Other Benefits

• Connect with Leaders: Engage directly with policymakers, indigenous leaders, researchers, industry innovators and many more.
• Expand Your Network: Build lasting connections with 12 like-minded Nordic peers and professionals dedicated to sustainability and Arctic issues.
• Enhance Your Career: Gain international experience that will enrich your CV and enhance your future academic or career opportunities.
• Cultural Immersion: Immerse yourself in the unique Arctic environment and culture, gaining first-hand insights into its challenges and opportunities

Eligibility

We encourage applications from bachelor's students in all fields of study enrolled at institutions in Finland. In your motivational letter, please share how your professional, educational, or personal experiences have inspired your interest in the Arctic.

Applicants who pass an initial screening will be invited for a compulsory interview via Zoom, and selected nominees will be notified by the end of January at the latest.

An ideal candidate should:

• be proficient in English;
• be interested in the pertinent issues in the Arctic;
• be between 18 and no older than 26 years old in April 2025;
• be from one of the Nordic countries (Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden and Iceland)
• have at least one semester left of their undergraduate (bachelor's) studies, and therefore be committed to returning to their home institution following completion of the program;
• be mature, responsible, independent, confident, open-minded, tolerant, thoughtful, and inquisitive;
• be willing to respectfully engage with fellow participants representing different backgrounds and different points of view;
• be willing and able to fully participate in an intensive seminar; 
• be comfortable with travel, prepared to share living accommodations (if needed), and able to adjust cultural and social practices different from those of their home country;
• be able to participate in the online pre-departure online seminar on March 5 as well as the homecoming seminar on April 16;
• be prepared to submit a short final report about your stay;
• have a passport valid 6 months beyond the end of the travel to the U.S.;
• be able to travel to the U.S. with the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

How to Apply?

Please submit the completed application form as well as all the required supplements here by December 12, 2024.

• APPLICATION FORM

Documents required to be included with the application form (PDF format):

• Personal Statement: The essay should be written in English, no more than 500 words. Please address the following questions and any other pertinent information:
  • What about your background and/or interests makes you a relevant participant for the Arctic Encounter Symposium 2025?
  • How will you contribute to the program?
  • How do you expect your participation in the symposium to affect your local community or region/country and how will you share your newly gained knowledge afterwards?
  • How will the participation affect you personally or professionally?
• Curriculum Vitae (CV): Maximum 2 pages.

The applicant is responsible for saving all the required attachments in the application system by the deadline.

Questions

Please do not hesitate to contact [email protected], cc: [email protected], if you have any questions or concerns regarding this grant.

Program Partners

Fulbright Denmark, in collaboration with the Fulbright Finland Foundation and Nordic Fulbright Commissions, offers this unique opportunity for 12 representatives of Nordic youth to attend the Arctic Encounter Symposium in 2025 in Alaska.

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.