Information on the Fulbright U.S. Student Program for the Prospective Host

Who Is a Fulbright Student Grantee?

The Fulbright U.S. Student program awards grants for U.S. students for one year study or research period in Finland. The grantee’s grant term in Finland has one of the following purposes:

to complete a full master’s or doctoral degree
to take courses as a non-degree student
to conduct research*
to conduct research* and take courses

* A research student comes to Finland to conduct individually designed research project in an institution selected by the grantee themself. The project can include working as part of a research group or working on an independent research project. Research student works under a supervision of a research adviser provided by the host institution.

Background of the grantee

The Fulbright student grantee must hold a minimum of Bachelor’s degree and does not need to be enrolled in a U.S. university during the Fulbright period in Finland. Thus, the grantee’s research or studies in Finland are not necessarily included in a degree in the U.S.

The Fulbright program is very selective and all the grantees have gone through a thorough screening process in the U.S. and in Finland.

When is the grant applied?

The candidate applies for the Fulbright student grant approximately one year prior to starting studies/research in Finland. The grant selections are normally published each year in April and the Fulbright period starts in the following fall semester.

What benefits does the Fulbright U.S. Student grantee receive?

The grantee receives a monthly grant (EUR 1000 -1500), a travel allowance (USD 1600), and a residence permit allowance through the Fulbright program as well as additional support services, networking opportunities, and a supplemental accident and health benefit.

Some of the grants also include a separate scholarship to cover tuition fees during the first year of studies. The tuition scholarship is granted for the second year of studies provided that the grantee has been successful in their studies during the first year.

Also, some of the grants provide the grantee an opportunity to participate free of charge in a Fulbright Finland Foundation pre-approved summer school in Finland consisting of courses in Finnish language, culture, and society, pending availability of suitable programs.

What Is the Role of the Finnish Host Institution?

Whether the grantee's purpose in Finland is to study or conduct research, the host institution is expected to provide the grantee with all the support services available for international students and visitors at the host institution, such as orientation and tutoring.

The role of a Finnish institution hosting a research student

Research student's host responsibilities are described in detail in the Commitment to Host a Fulbright Research Student form.

The role of a Finnish institution hosting a student wishing to take courses/complete a full degree

Inform the applicant about the university application procedure and deadlines
Provide a letter of admission after the candidate has been accepted to a degree program or given a right to take courses at the university (for example as a visiting student). Often however, the university application period has not started before the Fulbright grant application period ends, and thus the candidate is not able to attach such a statement to his/her Fulbright application. In this case, the candidate needs to submit the university application as soon as the university application period opens. The candidate is requested to send a verification of the submission to the Fulbright Finland Foundation ([email protected]). An automated message from the application system about successfully submitting the application is sufficient for this purpose.