Initial Steps for Graduate Students 2027-28

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Learning objectives of the Module: Gain confidence in how to begin preparing for your grant term and participation in the Fulbright Program, including navigating the U.S. university application process. Deepen your understanding of the Fulbright Finland Foundation and its grant programs. Initiate networking within the Fulbright Finland Foundation community.

STEP 1: Fill in the Grantee Information and Consent Form

To comply with European privacy regulation standards (GDPR), we ask you to complete the Grantee Information and Consent Form.

TASK:
By September 10, submit the Grantee Information and Consent Form.

STEP 2: Share about your award on social media

If you are active on social media, we encourage you to share about your award on different platforms

STEP 3: Familiarize yourself with the Placement Service

This section particularly concerns 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 that degree-seeking students, in particular, take advantage of the IIE Placement Service.

  • Participate in the Placement Service Webinars: Starting September 9, 2026, IIE organizes important webinars on the Placement Service, university application process, and testing. Find your field-specific webinar dates here and be sure to participate in all relevant sessions.
  • In addition, please check out the placement resources on Fulbright Online, such as field of study guides and application checklists. You can login in for Fulbright Online with these credentials:

 

TASK:
On September 14, attend the general Placement Service webinar. 
Register for and attend any other relevant webinars in your field starting September 9.
 

TASK:
By September 16, confirm your participation in the Placement Service by emailing FINstudents@fulbright.fi.

Learn more:

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)
 

STEP 4: Submit your portrait photo 

We will need your portrait photo for use in Foundation materials, such as grantee lists.

TASK:
By September 16, email your photo to FINstudents@fulbright.fi.

STEP 5: Register and purchase your tickets to your first Fulbright Finland Orientation in Turku 

The orientation takes place in conjunction with the American Voices Seminar at the University of Turku between October 8 and 10, 2026. Please travel by train or bus, unless coming from outside Finland, and purchase a round-trip ticket. Hotel reservations will be made on your behalf by the Foundation.

The program begins on Thursday at 13:00 and ends on Saturday in the late afternoon. The Thursday programs are optional, as well as the program starting from lunch on Saturday. Please keep in mind that these parts of the program are excellent opportunities to connect with current U.S. scholars and students in Finland representing a wide range of U.S. universities, as well as with local alumni of the program, and are therefore highly recommended. Before booking your tickets, please see the detailed schedule for the full list of events in Turku in the itinerary.

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, contact your program coordinator to discuss your travel arrangements. Make sure to save the tickets and receipts for reimbursement purposes.

TASK:
By September 16, fill out the registration form  and 
book your tickets to Turku at your earliest convenience.

STEP 6: Register for Standardized Tests

TOEFL and GRE are common standardized test requirements for degree-seeking students at U.S. universities. Placement Service can advise you on university-specific test requirements. 

These tests usually do not concern Visiting Student Researchers. However, requirements vary across universities. Thus, check the test requirements directly with the host institutions you have in mind.

We strongly recommend taking the tests as soon as possible after your selection, as test dates fill up quickly and you will need the results when deciding which universities to apply to and when submitting your applications. 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. 

As part of the Placement Service, the Foundation will provide you with vouchers that allow you to take standardized tests free of charge. Request the vouchers from us before registering for the tests.

When you register for the TOEFL or GRE, make sure to have your scores sent directly to IIE by entering the code 2326.

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

TASK:
Email your test dates and test score reports to FINstudents@fulbright.fi as soon as available.

STEP 7: Get to know your fellow grantees

STEP 8: Participate in the Fulbright Finland Orientation in Turku 

The Orientation in Turku takes place between October 8 and 10, 2026, with October 8 being an optional day. This will be your first orientation into learning about the practicalities of this stage of your Fulbright journey and your next steps. You will also learn more about the Fulbright Finland Foundation and its programs and have the opportunity to meet the 2026-27 U.S. Fulbrighters in Finland, the Foundation alumni, and staff.

The majority of the program in Turku is together with the U.S. grantees, with a couple of sessions specific to Finnish Graduate Grantees only. This provides many opportunities to connect with U.S. grantees and alumni representing a variety of fields and institutions. We recommend you take full advantage of all of these opportunities. 

 Program

By October 19, submit your orientation travel reimbursement claim, including original travel tickets and receipts. 

 

Please note that these pages are for the Fulbright Finland Foundation grantees only and not to be shared publicly.