EDUFI Finland Fellowship Scholarships

The EDUFI Finland Fellowship Scholarships are awarded by the Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI) and hosted by universities across Finland. This fully funded fellowship supports doctoral research and short study visits at the doctoral level, giving international researchers the chance to work in Finland for a set period.

It is open to foreign doctoral researchers in any field who are working on a doctoral project, including those at a foreign university planning a study visit. The grant covers living expenses at EUR 1,900 per month for 3 to 12 months. Applications run year round but must reach EDUFI at least five months before the planned start. Read on for eligibility, benefits and how to apply.

• A monthly grant of EUR 1,900 for the fellow.
• Funding for 3 to 12 months of doctoral research work in Finland.
• For candidates working on a doctoral project at a foreign university, funding for a study visit of 3 to 6 months, unless they are Ukrainian doctoral researchers covered by the exception, who may receive 3 to 12 months.
• The grant is intended to cover the fellow's living expenses in Finland.
• The university pays the grant to the fellow as a personal grant and invoices EDUFI for it as a lump sum, at the earliest once the fellow's arrival in Finland is confirmed and at the latest three months after the fellowship starts.
• The grant can be split over several periods if this is agreed separately with EDUFI.
• The fellow may make conference visits abroad during the fellowship, and if the fellowship period is longer than six months it may include short visits abroad to gather research material and data, with the combined length of those visits not exceeding one month.

The fellowship is for post-graduate study and research, meaning work toward a doctoral degree. It funds the start of a doctoral research project, the completion of a double degree in Finland, or a study visit by a post-graduate student working on a doctoral project outside Finland. Post-doctoral research is not eligible.

The fellowship is open to all fields of study at Finnish universities.

The fellowship is available to all foreign nationals. The candidate must be a non-Finnish post-graduate student.

• The applicant must be a researcher or teacher at a Finnish university department.
• The applicant must be hosting, or about to host, the fellowship candidate.
• The applicant must commit to common objectives with the fellowship candidate.
• The applicant must provide facilities and equipment for the research fellow's use.
• The applicant must supervise the research.
• The fellowship candidate must be a non-Finnish post-graduate student, meaning someone who holds at least a master's degree.
• The candidate must not yet have arrived in Finland, or must have been in Finland for no longer than one year when the application is submitted. This limit does not apply to Ukrainian doctoral researchers who have been forced to flee Ukraine due to the Russian invasion in 2022 or later.
• The applicant must not already hold EDUFI Fellowship funding for another doctoral researcher at the same time. This limit does not apply to Ukrainian doctoral researchers who have been forced to flee Ukraine due to the Russian invasion in 2022 or later.
• The applicant must have submitted the requested reports on the use of any previously awarded EDUFI Fellowship grants.
• The applicant must have taken into account possible sanctions imposed by Finland and the European Union, for example on Russia or Belarus.
• A doctoral researcher who has already received 12 months from the EDUFI Fellowship or from the EDUFI Fellowship for doctoral students from Ukraine programme is no longer eligible.

1. Confirm that a researcher or teacher at a Finnish university department will act as the applicant and host, and that the department will supervise the research and provide facilities and equipment.
2. Check that the doctoral candidate is a non-Finnish post-graduate student who has not yet arrived in Finland or has been in Finland for no more than one year at the time of application.
3. Fill in the EDUFI Fellowship application form, which is available in Finnish, Swedish or English. The form includes detailed instructions and a list of required annexes.
4. Prepare the annexes listed on the form, including the motivation letter justifying the invitation of the candidate, evidence of the candidate's academic competence, experience and previous research output, and a research plan with a risk analysis and mitigation plan.
5. Sign the form and send it with the annexes by email to Kirjaamo(at)oph.fi, using "EDUFI Fellowship" as the subject line.
6. Submit the application at least five months before the planned start of the fellowship. Applications are accepted at any time during the year.
7. Allow approximately three months for processing, noting that processing takes longer in the summer. The decision is sent to the applicant.
8. If the fellowship is awarded, the university pays the grant to the fellow as a personal grant and invoices EDUFI for the lump sum once the fellow's arrival is confirmed and no later than three months after the fellowship starts.