University of Helsinki Scholarships in Finland 2027 | Fully Funded Study Opportunities
The University of Helsinki’s own scholarship page makes two things clear before anything else: most of its tuition fee waivers cover only half of the fee, and none of them cover living costs. If you are a Pakistani applicant planning for autumn 2027, that is the starting point for your budget. The application window is 5 to 19 January 2027, and there is no separate scholarship form.
This guide covers the University of Helsinki Scholarship Programme for international master’s degrees. It explains who can apply, what a 50% or 100% waiver is really worth, the English scores the university accepts for the 2027 intake, and where Pakistani applicants need extra care. It does not cover bachelor’s degrees, because the university says there are no tuition fee waivers for its English-language bachelor’s programmes.
Scholarship at a Glance
| Scholarship | University of Helsinki Scholarship Programme (tuition fee waivers) |
| Level | Master’s degrees taught in English (international master’s programmes) |
| Who it is for | Applicants from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland who are liable to pay tuition fees |
| Pakistani applicants | Eligible in principle. The official page sets no nationality list; the test is whether you are liable for tuition fees |
| What it gives | A waiver of 50% or 100% of tuition. The university says most waivers are 50% |
| Tuition fee range | €13,000, €15,000 or €18,000 per academic year, depending on the programme |
| Duration | Two years, full-time study of at least 55 ECTS per year, with progress checked after year one |
| Living costs | Not covered |
| Application window, autumn 2027 intake | 5 to 19 January 2027 |
| Application fee | One-time national fee of €100 for non-EU/EEA applicants |
| How to apply for the waiver | Tick the tuition fee waiver on the same Studyinfo form as your master’s application |
| When you hear | Together with your admission result |
What we could not confirm
The university’s scholarship page still described the 2025–26 round when we checked on October 29, 2026, and its “How to apply” page still showed the 2026 timetable. Only the 2027 application window and the English-language page (updated for the 2027 intake on 12 October 2026) were current. Treat the rules below as the latest published rules, and re-check the official pages when the 2027 instructions go up.
Who Can Apply
The university lists four conditions that every scholarship candidate must meet:
- You are eligible for the master’s programme you are applying to.
- You are liable to pay tuition fees. Citizens of non-EU/EEA countries without permanent residence status in Finland are liable.
- You meet the requirements for an entry visa and residence permit for Finland.
- You have excellent results in your previous studies and can show them in your application.
Two practical limits follow from this. If you are not liable for tuition fees, you cannot get a waiver, and PhD students are listed among those who are not liable. If your status changes later so that you stop being fee-liable, you lose the right to the scholarship. The university also lists a few exemptions, such as a Finnish permanent residence card or an EU Blue Card, so check the full list before you assume you are liable.
What the Waiver Is Worth
The scholarship is a tuition fee waiver and nothing else. You pay the remaining fee, if any, yourself, plus your own living costs. The table below is our own arithmetic based on the official fee range. It shows tuition only and is not an official figure.
| Programme fee per year | You still pay with a 50% waiver | You still pay with a 100% waiver |
|---|---|---|
| €13,000 | €6,500 | €0 |
| €15,000 | €7,500 | €0 |
| €18,000 | €9,000 | €0 |
The waiver does not remove other costs. The university says you also need money for rent, meals, transport and insurance, and you must pay the Student Union (HYY) membership fee and the student health fee to Kela. Tuition is paid before each academic year, and the page gives 31 August as the due date for the second year’s payment.
Reality Check
The university says the master’s programme itself chooses who gets a waiver, that only a very limited number are offered, and that most cover 50%. So a 100% waiver is an upside, not a plan. Build a budget that still works if you receive half, or nothing, and put your effort into a strong admission file, because the same academic assessment decides both your place and your waiver.
Key Dates for the Autumn 2027 Intake
| Step | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Application period | 5 to 19 January 2027 | Confirmed on the university’s application page. The page does not show the closing time. |
| Attachment upload deadline | Not yet published | In the 2026 round it was one week after the form closed (23 January 2026, 15:00 UTC+2). Do not assume the same gap. |
| Admission and scholarship results | Not yet published | In the 2026 round they came out between 7 and 15 April. |
| Academic year begins | 1 August | Stated on the university’s “How to apply” page. |
Do not confuse Helsinki’s dates with the national joint application. Study in Finland lists that round for English-taught programmes at other Finnish institutions as 7 to 21 January 2027, which differs from Helsinki’s own window. For Helsinki’s international master’s programmes, follow Helsinki’s dates.
Official 2027 application dates
How to Apply for the Waiver, Step by Step
- Pick a programme from the university’s list of international master’s programmes and read its admission criteria on Studyinfo. These pages show the programme-specific attachments and the fee for that programme.
- Prepare documents early. The university warns that language test results and educational documents can take a long time to obtain.
- Submit one application form on Studyinfo during the window. In the 2026 round you could apply to up to three master’s programmes on one form and edit the form until the period closed. The €100 application fee is collected inside the form, and there are no fee waivers.
- Request the tuition fee waiver on the same form, in the 50% or 100% category. There is no separate scholarship application.
- Upload the required attachments before the attachment deadline. Late attachments are not accepted.
- Read your admission email. If you receive a waiver, the result is in that email, and you must accept a scholarship agreement before the scholarship takes effect.
Documents and English Language Proof
Your application is only evaluated if the mandatory attachments are in place. Upload PDFs of good quality, one file per document, and do not add extras the programme did not ask for, such as recommendation letters. Extra attachments are ignored and slow down processing.
- Bachelor’s degree certificate, or your latest transcript if the degree is still incomplete (admission is then conditional)
- Transcript of records showing course names and grades. Credits and completion dates are recommended
- Official translations if documents are not in English, Finnish or Swedish, uploaded together with the originals
- A copy of your passport, national ID or residence permit
- Proof of English language skills
- Any programme-specific attachments listed in the programme’s admission criteria
Screenshots from My Studyinfo are not accepted as transcripts. At the application stage you only need good-quality copies. Officially certified or verified documents are needed only if you are conditionally admitted.
Accepted English tests (autumn 2027 intake)
| Test | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | Overall 6.5, with at least 6.0 in each section. General Training is not accepted |
| TOEFL iBT taken before 21 January 2026 | Total 92, with at least 22 in writing |
| TOEFL iBT taken on or after 21 January 2026 | Total 4.5, with at least 4 in each section |
| PTE Academic | Overall 68, with at least 61 in writing |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency | C1 Advanced: pass level A, B or C. C2 Proficiency: pass level A, B, C or a C1 certificate |
| YKI (Finnish national certificate) | Level 5 in all four sub-tests |
You cannot mix scores from different test reports. IELTS, TOEFL and PTE scores are valid for two years and must still be valid throughout application processing. The university also accepts some degrees and secondary school diplomas taught in English, under the rules on its language page.
What Pakistani Applicants Should Know
English-medium degrees. The university accepts an English-taught degree as language proof from a defined list of countries and regions. India, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Hong Kong and Singapore are on it. Pakistan does not appear on the list we read, so a Pakistani English-medium degree is not listed as proof, and a test such as IELTS Academic is the safer plan. Confirm this with Admission Services if you think you have another qualifying route. Attestation. The official pages we read describe no Pakistan-specific attestation route, and we did not verify any HEC or MOFA requirement for Helsinki, so we state none. What the university does say is that officially certified copies are not needed at the application stage. They are required only after conditional admission. Country schemes. The scholarship page lists separate options for students from Brazil, Chile, Colombia and the United States. It names none for Pakistan.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
If Half a Waiver Is Not Enough
The university mentions other funding, including small scholarships for degree students and a few country-specific schemes, but says that its own scholarships do not cover living expenses. If you are comparing master’s funding in Europe, our guide to the ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship Switzerland 2027 shows a scheme that pays a living allowance, with a much harder entry bar. For a different level or region, see our University of Sydney International Research Scholarships 2027 guide, or the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme 2027–28 if you plan a doctorate.
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for the scholarship after I am admitted?
The official page describes requesting the waiver on the same form as the master’s application and mentions no later route. If you missed it, ask Admission Services before assuming it is closed.
Are there scholarships for international bachelor’s applicants?
The university says there are no tuition fee waivers for applicants to its English-language bachelor’s programmes. A programme may give a Dean’s award of €1,000 to second and third-year students based on study performance.
Does the scholarship continue automatically for two years?
No. You must study full-time and earn at least 55 ECTS per year, and the university checks your progress after the first year before continuing the scholarship.
Official Sources
- University of Helsinki: Tuition fees and scholarship programme (waiver categories, eligibility, fees)
- University of Helsinki: Apply to international master’s programmes (2027 application window, application fee)
- University of Helsinki: How to apply (application steps and 2026 timetable)
- University of Helsinki: Eligibility to apply (degree and language eligibility)
- University of Helsinki: Proving your English language skills (accepted tests and minimum scores)
- University of Helsinki: Required application attachments (documents, translations, verification)
- Study in Finland: Joint application round (national joint application dates)
- Studyinfo.fi: Finnish national application portal (application form and programme admission criteria)
Information in this guide was checked against the official pages above on October 29, 2026.
Scholarship requirements, deadlines, and funding details can change. Always verify current information directly with the official provider before applying.
ScholarshipOrbit is an independent guidance resource and is not affiliated with the University of Helsinki, the Finnish National Agency for Education, or any organization mentioned above.
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