The University of Helsinki Scholarship Programme provides financial support to outstanding international students who wish to pursue a Master’s degree at the University of Helsinki in Finland. The programme aims to attract academically talented students from around the world and support them in completing advanced studies at one of Finland’s leading research universities.
The scholarship is primarily intended for students from outside the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland who are required to pay tuition fees in Finland. Applicants can compete for either a 50% or a 100% tuition fee waiver, depending on their academic achievements, previous study results and overall application assessment.
The University of Helsinki offers nearly 40 international Master’s programmes taught in English across different academic fields. These programmes generally last two years and require 120 ECTS credits.
For the 2027 intake, the application period for international Master’s programmes is scheduled from 5 to 19 January 2027. Applicants must apply for admission and request a tuition fee waiver through the same application form.
Degree Level
The University of Helsinki Scholarship Programme supports students applying for eligible international Master’s programmes.
- Degree Level: Master’s
- Standard Duration: Two years
- Study Requirement: Full-time
- Programme Scope: 120 ECTS credits
The scholarship is not available as a general funding award for undergraduate or doctoral studies.
Available Subjects
The University of Helsinki offers nearly 40 English-taught international Master’s programmes across different academic disciplines.
Available academic areas include:
- Agricultural Sciences
- Biological Sciences
- Computer Science and Information Technology
- Data Science
- Economics and Business
- Education
- Environmental Sciences
- Food Sciences
- Humanities
- Law
- Mathematics and Statistics
- Medicine and Health Sciences
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences
- Natural Sciences
- Social Sciences
- Sustainability and Global Studies
The exact programmes and specialisations available for the 2027 intake should be checked through the university’s official Master’s programme directory.
Some programmes may have different tuition fees, admission criteria, or scholarship arrangements.
Benefits
The University of Helsinki Scholarship Programme provides tuition fee reductions to selected international Master’s students.
100% Tuition Fee Waiver
The university offers a limited number of scholarships covering the full tuition fee for the selected Master’s programme. Recipients do not have to pay tuition fees for the period covered by the award, provided they meet the scholarship conditions.
50% Tuition Fee Waiver
Students may also receive a scholarship covering half of their annual tuition fee. This reduces the financial cost of studying at the University of Helsinki, although recipients must pay the remaining tuition amount themselves.
Scholarship Duration
The tuition fee waiver is available for two years, corresponding to the standard duration of most international Master’s programmes. Continuation into the second year depends on satisfactory academic progress and compliance with the scholarship requirements.
Study at a Leading Finnish University
Recipients can pursue postgraduate education at the University of Helsinki, a research-intensive institution offering English-taught Master’s programmes in a wide range of academic disciplines.
Access to Academic and Research Opportunities
Students can benefit from the university’s research environment, academic expertise, international learning community, and facilities available to enrolled students.
Important Funding Information
The scholarship does not provide:
- Monthly living allowance
- Free accommodation
- Travel or airfare expenses
- Food or personal expenses
- Separate health insurance funding
- General relocation expenses
Students must demonstrate that they have sufficient financial resources to cover their living costs in Finland. The university awards only a limited number of tuition fee waivers, and most available awards cover 50% of tuition fees.
Eligible Nationalities
The scholarship is intended for international students from countries outside the European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland who are required to pay tuition fees at the University of Helsinki.
Applicants from countries such as Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Brazil and other eligible non-EU/EEA countries may apply if they meet the tuition-fee liability and admission requirements.
However, nationality alone does not determine eligibility. Applicants must also meet the university’s rules concerning residence permits and tuition fee exemptions.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following conditions to be considered for the University of Helsinki Scholarship 2027:
- Applicants must apply for an eligible international Master’s programme at the University of Helsinki.
- They must be liable to pay tuition fees under Finland’s tuition fee regulations.
- Applicants must generally be citizens of countries outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland.
- They must meet the academic admission requirements of their selected Master’s programme.
- Applicants must hold a completed bachelor’s degree or an equivalent first-cycle higher education qualification by the required deadline.
- They must demonstrate excellent academic performance in their previous studies.
- Applicants must meet the English-language requirements of their selected degree programme.
- They must fulfil the requirements for obtaining an entry visa and residence permit for Finland.
- Applicants must submit a complete admission and scholarship application within the official application period.
- They must provide all required academic documents and supporting materials.
Academic Excellence
The scholarship is competitive and intended for students with excellent academic achievements. The university considers previous academic performance, success in earlier studies, motivation, and the overall quality of the application.
Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee a scholarship.
Tuition Fee Liability
Applicants must be responsible for paying tuition fees at the University of Helsinki to qualify for the university’s scholarship programme.
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens are generally exempt from tuition fees. Certain residence permit holders in Finland may also qualify for an exemption. Applicants should review the official tuition fee rules before applying.
English Language Requirements
Applicants must satisfy the English-language requirements of their selected international Master’s programme.
The university accepts specified English-language qualifications and other recognised ways of demonstrating proficiency, depending on the programme’s admission criteria.
Accepted methods may include:
- IELTS Academic
- TOEFL iBT
- Cambridge English qualifications
- Other accepted proof of English proficiency listed by the university
There is no single English test score that applies to every Master’s programme. Applicants should check the specific requirements of their chosen degree programme.
Required Documents
Applicants should prepare the documents required for admission to their selected Master’s programme. These may include:
- Completed online application form.
- Bachelor’s degree certificate or proof of graduation.
- Official academic transcripts.
- English-language test results or other accepted proof of proficiency.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV), if required by the programme.
- Motivation letter or statement of purpose, if required.
- Programme-specific supporting documents.
- Passport or other identification information.
- Documents related to tuition fee exemption status, if applicable.
Academic Documents
Applicants must provide official transcripts and degree certificates according to the university’s document instructions. Documents issued in languages other than those accepted by the university may require official translations.
English Language Certificate
Applicants must submit acceptable proof of English proficiency if their previous education does not meet the university’s language exemption rules.
Programme-Specific Documents
Some Master’s programmes require additional materials, such as a CV, motivation letter, portfolio, writing sample or other evidence of relevant academic preparation.
Applicants should follow the document checklist for their selected programme rather than assuming that every programme requires the same materials.
How Winners Are Selected
The University of Helsinki awards tuition fee waivers through a competitive academic assessment.
The selection process considers:
- Previous academic performance.
- Excellence and success in earlier studies.
- Overall academic suitability for the selected Master’s programme.
- Motivation to study at the University of Helsinki.
- Information provided in the scholarship application.
- The strategic objectives of the university and individual degree programmes.
The selected Master’s programme evaluates both the admission application and the scholarship request.
Only a limited number of tuition fee waivers are available. Most awards cover 50% of tuition fees, while a smaller number may cover the full tuition fee.
Applicants receive their scholarship decision together with their official admission results. Successful candidates must accept the scholarship agreement according to the university’s instructions.
Scholarship Renewal Requirements
The tuition fee waiver is normally awarded for two years, but students must maintain satisfactory academic progress.
To qualify for continuation of the scholarship into the second year, recipients must:
- Study full-time.
- Complete at least 55 ECTS credits during the academic year.
- Maintain the conditions of the scholarship agreement.
- Continue to meet the university’s eligibility requirements.
The university reviews students’ academic progress after the first year. Failure to meet the required study progress or other scholarship conditions may affect the continuation of the tuition fee waiver.
Application Procedure
Applicants can request a University of Helsinki tuition fee waiver while applying for an international Master’s programme. There is no separate scholarship application form.
Step 1: Explore the Master’s Programmes
- Visit the official University of Helsinki website and review the English-taught international Master’s programmes available for autumn 2027.
Step 2: Select Your Preferred Programme
- Choose a Master’s programme that matches your previous education, academic background, and career objectives.
- Carefully review its admission criteria, tuition fee, and required documents.
Step 3: Check Your Eligibility
- Confirm that you meet the academic, English-language, and tuition-fee requirements.
- Make sure you are eligible to apply for a scholarship under the university’s tuition fee regulations.
Step 4: Prepare Your Documents
- Collect your bachelor’s degree certificate, academic transcripts, English-language proof, and other programme-specific documents.
- Follow the official document requirements and translation instructions.
Step 5: Apply Through Studyinfo
- Submit your application through the Finnish national Studyinfo application portal during the official application period.
Step 6: Request a Tuition Fee Waiver
- Select the scholarship option in the same application form.
- Applicants can apply for either the 50% or 100% tuition fee waiver category.
Step 7: Submit All Required Attachments
- Upload the documents required for both admission and scholarship consideration.
- Make sure your application is complete before the deadline.
Step 8: Wait for the Admission and Scholarship Results
- The selected Master’s programme evaluates the admission and scholarship applications.
- If you receive a scholarship, the result will be communicated as part of your official admission decision.
Step 9: Accept the Scholarship
- Successful applicants must follow the university’s instructions to accept the scholarship agreement.
- A tuition fee waiver becomes effective after the required acceptance procedure and other eligibility conditions have been fulfilled.
Application Deadline
The application period for the University of Helsinki international Master’s programmes starting in autumn 2027 is:
- Opening Date: 5 January 2027
- Closing Date: 19 January 2027
Applicants must submit their admission and scholarship applications during this period through the official application system.
The application form is not available outside the application period. Applicants should also check the document submission instructions for their selected programme, as supporting-document deadlines may differ from the application deadline.
