The 2025-2026 application is now closed. The 2026-2027 competition will open in Spring 2025.

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Current U.S. Student

United States citizens who are currently enrolled in undergraduate or graduate degree programs are eligible to apply.If you are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at a U.S. college or university, you will apply through that institution, even if you are not currently a resident there. Find the Fulbright Program Adviser on your campus.

U.S. Citizen but not a Student

If you are a U.S. citizen, will hold a bachelor’s degree by the award start date, and do not have a Ph.D. degree, then you are eligible to apply. Non-enrolled applicants should have relatively limited professional experience in the fields (typically 7 years or less) in which they are applying. Candidates with more experience should consider applying for the Fulbright Scholar Program.

The Getting Started page will provide information on eligibility and next steps.

Artist

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program welcomes applications in the creative and performing arts. Arts candidates for the U.S. Student Program should have relatively limited professional experience in the fields (typically 7 years or less) in which they are applying. Artists with more experience should consider applying for the Fulbright Scholar Program.

Creative & Performing Arts projects fall under the Study/Research grant category and are available in all countries where Study/Research grants are offered.

FPA

U.S. Professor/Administrator

If you are a U.S. citizen and a professor or administrator at a U.S. institution and are interested in applying for a Fulbright Scholar Award, you will need to apply through fulbrightscholars.org.

To support your students in applying for a U.S. Student Program award, please connect with the Fulbright Program Adviser at your institution.

Non U.S. Citizens

If you are a non-U.S. citizen interested in applying for a Fulbright Award to the United States, you will need to apply through the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy in your home country. Find out more information on the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program or Fulbright Foreign Student Program.

Finland


2 Open Study/Research Award

Accepted Degree Levels
  • Bachelor's
  • Master's
  • Doctoral
Grant Period
August Start
Grant Length
9 Months
Award Type
Open Study/Research
Award Profile

The award is targeted for doctoral degree studies or doctoral research visits to any Finnish university chosen by the candidate. Research institutions can also be considered. Please contact the Fulbright Finland Foundation before applying for the grant if you are planning to visit a research institute. 

For information on doctoral studies in Finland, please see Study in Finland website.

Grant Length
9 Months
Grant Period
August Start

Grant term begins in early September. In exceptional circumstances, the Fulbright Commission may consider beginning the grant period later in the year. If this is your preference, please indicate it explicitly in your application.

The Fulbright Finland Foundation organizes an Arrival Orientation in Finland in the capital city region in late August. The orientation is a compulsory part of the grant program.

Orientation
Pre-Departure and In-Country Orientation
Candidate Profile

This award is primarily targeted for current Doctoral candidates coming to conduct their doctoral research in Finland and for students seeking to complete a full doctoral degree program in Finland.

What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?

Please find videos, blogs, and articles about the Fulbright U.S. Student alumni's experiences in Finland at the Fulbright Finland Foundation website: https://www.fulbright.fi/grant-programs-to-finland/fulbright-us-student-program

You can also follow the grantees' activities on the Foundation's social media channels:

- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fulbright.finland/

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fulbrightfinland/

Eligibility
Residency in host country NOT permitted in year prior to grant
Indicate how many months is considered residency:
4 Months
Dual citizens of this country are eligible

Please see further information on the Finnish Fulbright Commission's website.

Degree Level of Applicant
  • Bachelor's
  • Master's
  • Doctoral
Foreign Language Proficiency
Not Required

Finnish or Swedish language proficiency is not required unless it is needed to successfully complete the project / study plan. Applicants do not necessarily need Finnish or Swedish in order to be able to study in Finland. Finnish universities have a wide selection of programs and courses taught in English.

English is widely spoken in academic circles and in the country as a whole. Candidates should consult the academic department as to the availability of courses and programs in English, as well as the possibility of successfully conducting research in English. Some study of local languages prior to arrival is encouraged in order to promote deeper engagement with the host community.

Fulbright Proposal Types
Independent Study/Research:
Yes
Graduate Degree Enrollment:
Yes
Affiliation
Independent Study/Research:
Letter required for independent study or research at deadline
Graduate Degree Enrollment:
Letter of acceptance required prior to grant start

Candidates are responsible for establishing contact and securing an affiliation with a Finnish institution of higher education, research or other acceptable organization and are required to apply independently for admission to the university and comply with their application deadlines.

Research students

Research students must submit the "Commitment to Host a Fulbright Research Student" form with the Fulbright grant application. The form needs to be filled in and signed by your host.

Degree students

Attach your university acceptance letter to your Fulbright Application if you have received it already. However, if you don't have the university admission letter by the Fulbright application deadline due to the university application schedule, explain this situation and the university application schedule clearly in your Fulbright application and submit the university application as soon as the university application period opens. 

Please see more specific affiliation instructions in the Affiliation section on the Finnish Fulbright Commission website.

University admission guidelines can be found on the university websites or by contacting the International Coordinator at the school or department to which you wish to apply.

Affiliation Fees/Tuition
Affiliation Fees/Tuition offered at discretion of host university/Award

Please see details on the cost of study in Finland and the university provided scholarships at the Study in Finland website and from the Finnish Fulbright Commission website.

Award Benefits
  • A stipend broadly based on the cost of living in the host country. These funds may be used by the grantee to support housing, meals, and incidental costs during the grant period.
  • International travel benefits
  • Accident & sickness health benefits
  • 24/7 mental health support line for urgent and non-urgent situations
  • 12 months of non-competitive eligibility (NCE) hiring status within the federal government
Stipend Amount

This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.

1900 monthly stipend amount in
€ [Euro]

The Award includes:

  • a monthly grant (EUR 1 900) for 9 months
  • a travel award (USD 1 600)
  • residence permit allowance (included for accompanying family members as well)

Please see further information on the benefits on the Finnish Fulbright Commission's website.

 

Additional Grant Benefits
  • Mid-year seminar

The grantees are provided with many enrichment events during the academic year, including the American Voices seminar in the fall and the Mid-year meeting in the spring.

Estimated Cost of Living

Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.

Tuition

  • In Finland, tuition fees are not charged for Doctoral studies, or degree courses offered in Finnish or Swedish. 
  • Please see more details on tuition fees and university-provided scholarships on the Study in Finland website and on the universities' websites.
  • The student is responsible for finding out if fees apply and for covering fee costs.

Budgeting 

  • Please find living cost information on the Study in Finland website and on the universities' websites.
  • We have also collected living cost information on the Foundation's website.
  • Please note that whether your status at the Finnish university entitles you to student-discounted meals, travel, and housing, has a significant effect on your total budget. For example, doctoral students are not entitled to subsidized meals, travel discounts, low-cost student housing, or Student Health Services. Thus, make sure you find out what benefits you will be entitled to as a student in Finland by contacting your host university’s International Office well before arriving in Finland. 
Dependents
Dependent financial support is NOT available
Housing Arrangements

Grantees are responsible for arranging their own housing for the grant term. They are provided with tips and support during the process.

 

Fulbright Program Management Contact
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Contact
Karoliina Kokko: usstudents@fulbright.fi
Additional Online Resources
Study in Finland website (including university search engines): https://www.studyinfinland.fi/