Finland Scholarships 2026: What International Students Must Know
Ads promising “fully funded Finland government scholarships” covering tuition, travel, and living costs are circulating widely online — and they are completely false.
The reality: Finland has no government scholarships for international bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD degree students. The Finnish Ministry of Education does not fund degree-seeking international students. Some fake ads even misuse Finnish government logos illegally.
What Actually Exists
Individual Finnish universities offer their own tuition fee waivers for top applicants — but these are not government-funded and do not cover living costs. Key facts:
- Waivers cover 50–100% of annual tuition (€8,000–€18,000/year)
- Living costs (€800–€1,200/month) remain entirely your responsibility
- Waivers are highly competitive and merit-based
- Some universities offer progress-based scholarships after your first year
Universities with known waivers: Aalto, Helsinki, Turku, Oulu, Tampere, Eastern Finland (UEF), and LUT University.
The Only Real Government Scholarship
The EDUFI Fellowship is Finland’s sole government-funded scholarship — exclusively for doctoral researchers and visiting scholars, offering €1,500–€2,100/month for 3–12 months. You cannot apply directly; your host university applies on your behalf.
Estimated Monthly Living Costs
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Housing | €400–€700 |
| Food | €200–€300 |
| Transport | €30–€60 |
| Health insurance | €50–€100 |
| Other | €100–€140 |
| Total | €800–€1,200 |
For a residence permit, you must prove approximately €12,000–€15,000 in available funds annually — even with a tuition waiver.
How to Apply for a Tuition Waiver
- Search programmes at www.studyinfo.fi and check the “Tuition fees and scholarships” section
- Visit the university’s official website for waiver details
- Apply for admission and the scholarship simultaneously — most share the same deadline
- Prepare a strong application: GPA, motivation letter, and recommendation letters all matter
- If awarded, prove sufficient living funds for your residence permit
Trusted Sources Only
- www.studyinfo.fi — official Finnish admissions portal
- www.studyinfinland.fi — general study information
- Individual university websites (endings in .fi)
Red flags to avoid: Any ad promising fully funded government scholarships, websites requesting upfront fees, agents claiming you don’t need to prove living funds, or misuse of Finnish authority logos.