The Fulbright-Idman Grant provides Finnish students an opportunity to pursue a master's degree in the U.S. and expand their horizons through cultural immersion. Senior secondary school (lukio) graduates from the Tampere City Region who have completed a bachelor's degree by the application deadline are eligible to apply for this grant.
The application round for the academic year 2024-25 is now closed.
The Purpose of This Program
The purpose of the grant is to enable the awardees to carry out master studies at U.S. universities and at the same time act as ambassadors for the Fulbright Finland Foundation programs, Finland, and their home institution, sharing their culture and contributing to the relations between Finland and the United States. You can learn more about the background and history of the Fulbright Finland Foundation programs here.
You can apply for the grant program if you plan to complete a master's degree in the United States and are a senior secondary school graduate (lukio) from the Tampere City Region (Tampere, Kangasala, Lempäälä, Nokia, Orivesi, Pirkkala, Ylöjärvi).
The Fulbright Finland Foundation works together with the Idman Foundation to increase U.S. study opportunities for Finns. Idman Foundation was founded on the will of Minister Karl Gustaf Idman (Secretary of State) in 1962. The foundation grants scholarships for senior secondary school graduates from the Tampere City Region to continue their studies in universities in the U.S.
We provide you with a wide range of benefits and support services to prepare you for your upcoming journey:
Grant: The grant will be provided for the whole duration of the master's degree studies in the U.S. based on real costs. The grant can beup to USD 70 000 per academic year.
Help in the U.S. university application process including support for locating suitable universities with funding opportunities: This recommended free-of-charge university placement service helps you find those U.S. universities that best match your specific academic and professional goals as well as provide opportunities for receiving financial support. In addition, the service includes waivers for U.S. university application fees and TOEFL and GRE test vouchers. This service is provided by the Foundation’s U.S. program partner Institute of International Education (IIE). Read more about the service here.
Personal advising and guidance services: Supporting you before and during the grant term.
Orientation training: Extensive orientation training to the U.S. culture, higher education system, and details for the upcoming Fulbright period including online materials, virtual meetings, and orientation day in Helsinki.
Networking opportunities:Enabling you to build connections professionally and internationally in Finland and the U.S. As a Fulbright grantee, you are provided an opportunity to participate in the Fulbright enrichment activities (seminars, events, and workshops) allowing you to connect with fellow grantees from around the world and local community members. In addition, you will be joining a global network of 400 000+ alumni as well as the Fulbright Finland alumni community.
Free visa: J-1 visa for you, and J-2 visa for family members who travel with you.
The benefits of joining a Fulbright program go beyond the grant term, read the full list of benefits here.
Eino Rautanen, 2021-22 ASLA-Fulbright Graduate Grant grantee visited Washington DC with other Fulbrighters.
Application Requirements
Ambassadorial Requirements
A cultural ambassador of Finland: You are motivated to learn about other cultures and share your own. The grantees contribute to the enhancement of Finland-U.S. relations by acting as Ambassadors of their home country and promoting cultural understanding.
Representing a Fulbright Finland Foundation grant program: You can seek additional funding but you are primarily a representative of the Fulbright Finland Foundation grant program you are selected for.
Motivated to learn and share: You are motivated to develop your field of specialization and share your knowledge and learning during and after the grant term. After the grant term, you are interested in engaging as an alum.
Academic Requirements
Tampere City Region senior secondary school (lukio)graduate: You have graduated from a senior secondary school in the Tampere City Region (Tampere, Kangasala, Lempäälä, Nokia, Orivesi, Pirkkala, Ylöjärvi).
A bachelor’s degree: You have completed your bachelor's degree in a university or university of applied sciences by the end of the application period.
If, for administrative reasons, you have not obtained the degree certificate but have completed all courses and the thesis required for your degree by the last day of the application period, you are eligible to apply for the grant program. Please include an informal certificate provided by your institution as proof of the completion of your degree requirements. This certificate needs to state when you will obtain the official degree certificate. Once you receive the official certificate, please email a copy of it to us immediately.
Start of studies: Your full-time studies in the U.S. begin in the fall of 2024.
Study objective: You plan to complete a master's degree in the U.S. This grant is primarily for candidates seeking their first master's degree.
Willingness to apply to multiple universities:At the time of applying, you do not have to have a study place in the U.S. Yet, you are prepared to apply to several universities you would like to study at. Your university list needs to be balanced and include a backup plan. You will receive help in creating a balanced university list.
Accredited institution: The U.S. universities you apply to must be accredited by a recognized accrediting agency or association as recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. Check the institutions' accreditations here.
All fields of study are welcomed: Your studies during the grant term are in or close to your own field. Only studies or research including patient care or other patient contact are excluded.
Visa Requirements
J-1 Visa: You will travel to the U.S. with an exchange visitor visa (the J-1 visa) organized by the Fulbright program.
Finnish citizenship and residence:You must be a Finnish citizen. You cannot have Finnish-American dual citizenship or a permanent residence permit in the U.S.
The grant cannot be given to an applicant who already resides in the U.S. You have to start your studies in the U.S. with the ASLA-Fulbright grant.
Previous stay in the U.S. (for both applicant and family members): Due to the 12-month bar and 24-month bar regulations, if you and your family members have visited the U.S. with a J-1 or J-2 visa within the past 24 months, please contact the Foundation when writing your application.
Two-year home country residency requirement: Grantee cannot apply for a work permit or an immigration visa to the U.S. immediately after the end of their grant term. One has to reside in their home country for two years after the grant period is over to get a work permit or an immigration visa. However, regular tourist visits and, for example, studying in the U.S. is possible. Read more about the requirement here.
Application Instructions and Tips
Please note that we only accept applications that are submitted by the application deadline with all required attachments.
Application instructions: Please follow the application instructions while filling in the application.
Application checklist: This is a mandatory item to be submitted along with your application. Please utilize the checklist to make sure you have attached all necessary documents to the application. Download the checklist.
The Selection Process
You can learn more about the selection process and criteria below:
Evaluation Criteria: The applications are evaluated according to the Fulbright Finland Foundation’s evaluation criteria available here. In addition, the following Idman Foundation’s criteria is applied: ”When selecting the scholarship recipients, the Idman Foundation emphasizes the student's ability to network and influence the future of Pirkanmaa as well as the importance of the scholarship for the student's own development.”
Instructions and Tips for Required Documents
You can reference our tips for guidance in preparing your application.
In this event, U.S. professors and alumni give you advice on selecting suitable U.S. universities and graduate programs or hosts for research visits as well as shed light on the U.S. university application process. You will also receive tips for applying to the Fulbright programs.
Application deadline
May 16, 2023
Interview invitations emailed to the selected applicants
Min. one week before the interviews
Interviews
August 14-16, 2023
Interviews are conducted virtually.
Final selection results published
Mid-September 2023
Taking the language and aptitude tests if needed (e.g. GRE, GMAT, TOEFL)
Immediately after the results are published or earlier
Depending on your choice of universities and the deadlines of those universities.
Orientation training
Late September 2023 - May 2024
We provide self-study tools and online and in-person training sessions for you to prepare for your upcoming year. Please see the details below.
Fall orientation session and American Voices seminar in Turku
October 6-7, 2023
Planning for the Fulbright term and guidance for the next steps. Participation in the seminar and opportunity to network with other grantees in your program and current U.S. Fulbrighters in Finland. The Foundation will reimburse the travel and accommodation costs for grantees living outside Turku.
Pre-Departure Webinar
March/April 2024
Online training on the next steps for preparing for your stay in the U.S. and meeting with your program-specific cohort.
Pre-Departure Orientation Day and Award Ceremony in Helsinki
May 13, 2024
Training event for all the Foundation's grantees for the academic year 2024-25. The Foundation will reimburse grantees' travel costs.
The introductory orientation courses in the U.S.
August 2024
Opportunity to meet fellow Fulbright grantees from around the world and familiarize oneself with U.S. culture and higher education. The courses are voluntary (no accommodation costs are involved, and a travel grant will be awarded for the travels within the U.S.).
The studies/research visit in the U.S. begins
August/September 2024
First grant installment
September 1, 2024
Second grant installment
January 2, 2025
Study Experiences in the U.S.
Take a look at the stories and video interviews of previous Finnish Fulbright grantees.
The Fulbright Finland Foundation is a private, independent, not-for-profit organization based in Helsinki, Finland. The Foundation’s aim is
to promote a wider exchange of knowledge and professional talents through educational contacts between Finland and the United States, and
to support the internationalization of education and research in Finland, and help U.S. and Finnish institutions create linkages.
What Makes the Fulbright Finland Foundation Programs Unique?
In addition to the grant, the Fulbright Finland Foundation offers the grantees several additional benefits and free support services, as well as access to a global, multi-professional network.
We are looking for applicants who want to impact the future and to make a difference – applicants who want to facilitate positive change, develop and advance their own profession or discipline, and find solutions to national and international challenges in their field.
The grantees also act as ambassadors for the Fulbright Finland Foundation, their home country, and their home organization and, in this way, do their part in sharing their home country and culture and contributing to the relations between Finland and the U.S.
