University of Helsinki: funding, eligibility and deadlines

What the funding covers

A tuition-fee waiver of 50% or 100%. Master's fees are €13,000, €15,000 or €18,000 a year depending on the programme, so the waiver is worth up to €36,000 over two years.
Most awards are 50% waivers; full waivers are few.
One Finland Scholarship per master's programme for a newly admitted student, which adds a €5,000 grant to the waiver in the first year.
Waivers run for two years if you make full-time progress (at least 55 ECTS credits a year). They do not pay living costs.

Citizens of non-EU/EEA countries who are liable for tuition fees (those without permanent EU/EEA residence).
Excellent results in previous studies — the scholarship is merit-based and decided by each programme.
Admission to an English-taught master's programme at the University of Helsinki.

Choose up to the permitted number of master's programmes and check each one's entry requirements.
Apply for the programme and the scholarship on the same online application form — tick the scholarship option.
Upload your degree certificates, transcripts, language certificate and any programme-specific documents by the application deadline (the main round closes in early January).
Scholarship decisions arrive with, or shortly after, the admission results in spring.

Plan your budget around a 50% waiver unless you are told otherwise — a full waiver is the exception.
Finnish residence permits require proof of funds for living costs, separate from tuition.
You must keep a full-time pace (55 ECTS a year) or you lose the waiver in year two.

Counting back from the next typical deadline (≈ Jan 8, 2027). Steps marked NOW are already due if you start today.

Oct 16, 2026Research the route in depth — confirm eligibility, costs and every required document

Oct 30, 2026Ask your referees (for a PhD, email potential supervisors with a short, specific pitch)

Nov 13, 2026Write the first full draft of your motivation letter or statement of purpose

Nov 27, 2026Order transcripts and certified translations · book any language test

Dec 11, 2026Second draft — get feedback from someone who reads critically

Dec 25, 2026Finalise every document and complete the online form

Jan 1, 2027Submit — never on the last day

Jan 8, 2027Typical deadline

Page reviewed Sep 24, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will check it against the official source.