Goals of the Module:
To be confident in how to get started with preparing for your grant term, including the U.S. university application process. Gaining a deeper understanding of the Fulbright Finland Foundation and its grant programs.
STEP 1: Fall Orientation in Turku (Fri-Sat Oct 10-11) in conjunction with the American Voices Seminar
Pre-materials
- Watch the recording of the panel discussion: U.S. Professors’ Insights on Graduate Admission and Visiting Scholar Placement - Tips for Finnish Candidates (from 1:07:00 to 1:33:00)
Get to know your fellow grantees:
- 2025-26 Finnish graduate grantees (selected in fall 2024)
- 2024-25 Finnish graduate grantees (selected in fall 2023)
- 2025-26 U.S. grantees in Finland
The event in Turku will be your first orientation into learning about the practicalities of this stage of your Fulbright journey. You will also learn more about the Fulbright Finland Foundation and its programs and have a great chance to begin networking by meeting the 2025-26 Finnish cohort of current U.S. Fulbrighters in Finland, and alumni.
Your travel costs (using affordable transportation, i.e. train or bus) and accommodation will be covered by the Foundation. If you live outside of Finland and will be travelling to the event from abroad, please contact your program coordinator to discuss your travel arrangements. Further details on the orientation (including accommodation information) will be sent by your program coordinator closer to the event.
Program
The orientation begins before lunch on Friday and ends after lunch on Saturday. The program and itinerary will be published here closer to the event.
TASK 1:
Send your portrait photo (to be used in our public materials) and your dietary restrictions to your program coordinator by email by September 11, 2025.
Purchase your round-trip tickets to the event (train or bus). Arrival in Turku should be by 9:45 on Friday and departure at 15:30 (at the earliest) on Saturday. Hotel reservations will be made on your behalf by the Foundation.
STEP 2: IIE Enhanced Placement Service (particularly for degree-seeking and non-degree students)
We understand that the university application process requires lots of time and effort. As a grant program benefit, the Foundation offers you an opportunity to receive a personal placement service through our cooperating agency in the U.S., the Institute of International Education (IIE).
IIE Placement Advisors are field-specific specialists in U.S. higher education and university admission. They will help you locate suitable universities with funding opportunities out of the about 1 000 higher education institutions providing graduate-level education in the U.S. You will also be guided in the U.S. university application process and provided waivers for U.S. university application fees and TOEFL and GRE test vouchers.
The Foundation highly recommends taking advantage of the IIE Placement Service.
Learn more:
- An overview of IIE placement services: Academic Placement Services General Webinar (Recording)
- Recap of the IIE Placement Service on Fulbright Online
Applying to MA or PhD programs in the U.S is an art form of it's own. Ask previous grantees, your professors, current students in the programs that you're interested in (or those who just recently graduated from that program) for any extra tips regarding how you'd fit into that program, and how to build your application documents. Talking to international students in the program gives a good picture of what is the work-culture and social life in the department like. To my experience, people are happy to help and share their experiences. Honestly, grad school experience in the U.S can be very hard, although rewarding and amazing as well, so spend as much time as you can (and connect with as many people to help you) to find a program that is a good fit for you, and to find an advisor who you want to work with for multiple years. Don't apply to schools if you don't really want to go there or live in that area for a number of years. (Graduate Grantee 2023-24)
TASK 2:
Please inform your program coordinator by email whether you will be using the IIE Placement Services or not by September 22, 2025.
STEP 3: Standardized Tests
TOEFL and GRE are common standardized test requirements for U.S. universities.* These tests usually do not concern Visiting Student Researchers. However, requirements vary across universities, thus it is best to check directly with the host institutions you have in mind.
We strongly recommend you take the tests as soon as possible as the test dates get filled up quickly. It is important to select a date that leaves you enough time for score reporting, admission application and, if needed, retesting. Some universities have early application deadlines, for example, in November.
It is possible to borrow TOEFL and GRE preparation and practice books from the Fulbright Finland Foundation. Please get in touch with your program coordinator for pick-up arrangements.
You can familiarize yourself with American standardized tests on our webpage Kieli- ja tasotestaus.
Registration links:
TOEFL www.ets.org/toefl
GRE www.ets.org/gre
*If you take part in the IIE Placement Service, IIE provides vouchers for taking standardized tests for free.
TASK 3:
Check the test requirements of your planned U.S. host institution and register for the tests if needed. Ask your program coordinator for test vouchers if you are taking part in the Placement Service. Send your program coordinator your score reports after completion.
Additional resources:
The following materials will help you get familiarized with the graduate application process:
Please note that these pages are for the Fulbright Finland Foundation grantees only and not to be shared publicly.
