University Of Lapland: €6,000 Master's Grant, Living Not Covered

The University of Lapland Scholarship provides tuition-fee support for eligible international students applying to selected degree programmes at the University of Lapland in Finland. For current international Master’s admissions, the main scholarship provides €6,000 per academic year and can cover the full two-year normative duration if the student meets the academic progression conditions.

The scholarship is not a fully funded scholarship because it does not cover living expenses. Students should therefore prepare separately for accommodation, food, transportation, insurance, residence-related costs, and other personal expenses during their studies in Finland.

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Brief Description

Host university: University of Lapland
Country: Finland
Main location: Rovaniemi
Study levels: Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes, depending on the programme
Scholarship type: Tuition-fee scholarship
Master’s scholarship: €6,000 per academic year
Master’s scholarship duration: Up to two academic years
Study language: English for the international programmes covered here
Application platform: Studyinfo for the main international Master’s and Bachelor’s applications
Living costs: Not covered by the University of Lapland scholarship

About the University

The University of Lapland is located in Rovaniemi, Finland, and has a distinctive academic profile connected with Arctic and northern environments. Its programmes cover areas including social sciences, art and design, education, law, and other fields.

The university provides an international learning environment and offers several degree programmes taught in English. Students can also participate in international mobility, exchanges, internships, and multidisciplinary activities.

For international students, the university combines academic studies with the opportunity to live in Finnish Lapland. Several programmes have particular connections with Arctic research, sustainability, design, tourism, culture, and social sciences.

About the University of Lapland Scholarship

The Master’s Degree Scholarship is intended for applicants who are liable to pay tuition fees.
The current Master’s scholarship is €6,000 per academic year.
The scholarship can be awarded for the normative two-year Master’s degree period.
Scholarship selection is based on applicants’ success in the application process.
Scholarships are awarded to 20% of the intake in each degree programme.
The scholarship is connected to tuition fees rather than general living expenses.
Students receiving the scholarship still need to finance their living costs themselves.
The second-year scholarship depends on satisfactory academic progress.
Students must complete at least 60 ECTS in the first academic year.
A minimum GPA of 3/5 is required to retain the second-year scholarship.

Fields of Study

The current English-taught degree options relevant to international applicants include:

Arctic World Politics – Master of Social Sciences
Sustainable Art and Design – Master of Arts (Art and Design)
Tourism, Culture and International Management – Master of Social Sciences
Service Design Strategies and Innovations – Master of Arts (Art and Design)
Design – Bachelor and Master of Design, including the English-taught Design pathway and subsequent Master’s studies in Design for XR and Immersive Experiences.

The exact scholarship arrangement depends on the degree programme and admission route. The main €6,000 Master’s scholarship described by the university applies to applicants liable for tuition fees in the relevant Master’s admissions.

Target Group

The scholarship is particularly relevant to:

International students applying to eligible Master’s programmes.
Applicants from outside the EU/EEA who are liable to pay tuition fees.
Students with a relevant previous higher education degree.
Applicants who meet the academic requirements of their chosen programme.
Students who can demonstrate the required English-language proficiency.
Applicants interested in Arctic studies, tourism, culture, social sciences, art, design, or related fields.
Students prepared to study full-time in Finland.
Applicants able to finance living costs not covered by the scholarship.

Students who are EU/EEA citizens, Swiss citizens, or holders of qualifying Finnish residence permits may be exempt from tuition fees and therefore have different scholarship circumstances.

Scholarship Benefits

€6,000 tuition-fee scholarship per academic year for eligible Master’s applicants.
Potential scholarship coverage for the full two-year normative Master’s period.
Reduced tuition liability compared with paying the full annual Master’s tuition fee.
Scholarship consideration through the degree application process rather than a completely separate general scholarship application.
Continued support in the second year when the academic progression conditions are fulfilled.
Study in English in the eligible English-taught programmes.
Access to an international university environment in Finland.
Opportunities for international mobility, exchange, and internship experiences.
Access to multidisciplinary academic environments.
Opportunity to study subjects connected with Arctic, northern, cultural, social, tourism, sustainability, and design themes.

The scholarship itself does not provide a separate English-language course or language allowance. English proficiency is an admission requirement and must be demonstrated through one of the University’s accepted methods.

University of Lapland Scholarship Duration

Master’s Degree

Standard Master’s programme duration: 2 years.
Total degree scope: normally 120 ECTS.
Scholarship duration: up to 2 academic years.
Second-year scholarship depends on satisfactory academic progress.
At least 60 ECTS with a GPA of at least 3/5 is required during the first academic year to retain the second-year scholarship.

Bachelor’s Degree

The current English-taught Bachelor’s route at the University of Lapland is the Design programme.
The Bachelor’s degree has a target duration of 3 years and 180 ECTS.
The current Bachelor’s scholarship structure is different from the Master’s scholarship.
There is no Bachelor’s scholarship for the first year under the current published scheme.
Eligible students may apply for €3,000 scholarships for the second and third years when they meet the stated progression conditions.

University of Lapland Scholarship Requirements

Applicants must first satisfy the admission requirements of their chosen degree programme. For Master’s applications, this generally includes an appropriate previous higher education degree, official academic documents, proof of English proficiency, identification, and any programme-specific documents required by the chosen programme.

Important requirements include:

Hold a relevant Bachelor’s or equivalent higher education degree for Master’s admission.
Meet the academic background requirements of the selected programme.
Submit an official transcript of records.
Provide the required degree certificate or acceptable evidence of graduation.
Demonstrate English-language proficiency through an accepted method.
Provide a passport, national identity card, or qualifying Finnish residence permit copy.
Submit programme-specific application documents where required.
Provide authorised translations when documents are not in Finnish, Swedish, or English.
Upload the required documents through the application system.
Meet the academic progression conditions to retain a scholarship for the following year.

Admission Requirements by Degree

Master’s Degree in Arctic World Politics

A relevant Bachelor’s degree or equivalent higher education qualification.
Academic background suitable for the programme.
Required official degree certificate and transcript.
Proof of English proficiency.
Identification document.
Programme-specific application materials where required.
Ability to demonstrate academic preparation relevant to politics, international relations, social sciences, or related interdisciplinary areas.

Master’s Degree in Sustainable Art and Design

A suitable previous higher education degree.
Academic preparation relevant to art, design, or an appropriate related field.
Required degree certificate and transcript.
Proof of English proficiency.
Identification document.
Programme-specific application materials required by the admission criteria.
Evidence of suitability for advanced studies in sustainable art, design, interdisciplinary work, and related creative practices.

Master’s Degree in Tourism, Culture and International Management

A suitable Bachelor’s degree or equivalent higher education qualification.
Academic background appropriate for the programme.
Official transcript and degree certificate.
Proof of English proficiency.
Identification document.
Any programme-specific documents requested in the admission criteria.
Academic preparation relevant to tourism, culture, management, or related areas.

Bachelor’s Degree in Design

An eligible upper-secondary qualification or equivalent qualification giving access to higher education.
Required educational documentation.
Proof of English proficiency.
Identification documentation.
Programme-specific application materials or selection requirements.
Ability to demonstrate suitability for design studies according to the programme’s admission criteria.

Service Design Strategies and Innovations Master’s Degree

A suitable Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification.
English-language proficiency.
Programme-specific eligibility and application requirements.
Required academic documentation.
The application follows the programme’s own admission route because it is an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s programme.
Scholarship opportunities for this programme are separate from the standard University of Lapland Master’s scholarship and can include Erasmus Mundus funding for selected students.

Application Instructions

Step 1: Choose the Degree Programme

Review the English-taught programmes offered by the University of Lapland.
Select a programme matching your previous education and academic interests.
Read the programme-specific admission criteria carefully.
Check whether your educational background meets the eligibility requirements.
Review the scholarship conditions before submitting the application.

Step 2: Prepare Your Academic Documents

Prepare your degree certificate.
Prepare your complete official transcript of records.
Make sure the transcript contains course titles, grades, credits, and grading information.
Obtain authorised translations if your documents are not in Finnish, Swedish, or English.
Prepare any programme-specific documents.
Check whether your country has special document-verification requirements.

Step 3: Prepare Proof of English

Check the University’s accepted English-language qualifications.
Arrange an accepted language test when required.
Alternatively, determine whether your previous education qualifies as an accepted method of demonstrating English proficiency.
Remember that the University requires proof of English proficiency from applicants, including native speakers, under its published Master’s requirements.

Step 4: Complete the Online Application

Create or access your application through the relevant Studyinfo application route.
Enter your personal information accurately.
Select your chosen degree programme.
Complete every required section.
Upload the required application documents.
Apply for the applicable scholarship through the degree application where the scholarship is included in that application process.
Review the application carefully before submitting it.

Step 5: Submit the Application

Submit the completed application through the designated application system.
Upload all required electronic attachments.
Do not rely on email attachments for the standard application-document submission process.
Check that every uploaded document is readable.
Keep copies of your application and submitted documents for your records.

Step 6: Follow Any Additional Instructions

Monitor the email address used in your application.
Check Studyinfo for possible requests or conditions.
If your admission is conditional, provide the requested verified documents according to the University’s instructions.
Follow country-specific document-verification requirements when applicable.
Complete any required actions to maintain your offered study place.

Documents Required for Registration

For the application and subsequent admission process, students should be prepared to provide:

Degree certificate or acceptable graduation document.
Official transcript of records.
Authorised translations when required.
Proof of English-language proficiency.
Passport, national identity card, or qualifying Finnish residence permit.
Programme-specific application documents.
Verified or officially certified educational documents when requested.
Additional country-specific verification documents when applicable.
Documents confirming completion of studies for applicants who graduate after applying.
Any additional documents requested by the selected programme.

Important Tips

Read the admission criteria for your exact programme rather than relying only on general scholarship information.
Choose a programme that clearly matches your previous academic background.
Check English-language requirements before preparing the application.
Request official academic documents early enough to avoid administrative problems.
Make sure names and personal details are consistent across your documents.
Use clear, complete scans of every required document.
Obtain authorised translations rather than translating academic documents yourself.
Check whether your country has special educational-document verification requirements.
Prepare financially for living expenses because the University scholarship does not cover them.
Remember that retaining a second-year Master’s scholarship requires the required academic progression, including 60 ECTS and a minimum 3/5 GPA in the first academic year.

Important: The University of Lapland Scholarship should not be described as a fully funded scholarship. The Master’s scholarship reduces tuition fees, but students remain responsible for their living expenses.

Academic planning matters: Receiving a scholarship for the first year does not automatically guarantee the scholarship for the second year. Students must satisfy the University’s academic progression conditions.

The University of Lapland Scholarship can reduce the tuition burden for eligible international Master’s students, particularly those applying to the University’s English-taught programmes. However, applicants should consider the scholarship as tuition support rather than complete financial sponsorship and should prepare a separate budget for living and other study-related expenses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the University of Lapland Scholarship fully funded?

No. The current Master’s scholarship provides tuition-fee support but does not cover students’ living costs. Applicants must independently finance accommodation, food, transportation, insurance, and other personal expenses.

How much is the University of Lapland Master’s Scholarship?

The current Master’s Degree Scholarship is €6,000 per academic year for eligible tuition-fee-paying students. It can cover the normative two-year Master’s period when the academic progression conditions are fulfilled.

Who can apply for the scholarship?

The scholarship is relevant to applicants who are liable to pay tuition fees and who apply to eligible Master’s degree programmes. Applicants must also satisfy the admission requirements of their selected programme.

Does the scholarship cover living expenses?

No. The University explicitly states that scholarship recipients must finance their living expenses themselves.

Do I need IELTS to apply?

Applicants must demonstrate English-language proficiency using one of the University’s accepted methods. IELTS Academic is one accepted method, but the University also provides other accepted ways of proving language proficiency.

Can I apply for more than one Master’s programme?

The main Joint application uses one application form through which applicants can select their degree-programme choices according to the University’s application rules. Applicants should carefully follow the instructions provided for the relevant application round.

What documents are required for Master’s admission?

The standard documents include a degree certificate, transcript of records, proof of English proficiency, identification, authorised translations when required, and programme-specific documents. Additional verification may apply depending on the country where the degree was awarded.

How long is a Master’s degree at the University of Lapland?

The Master’s programmes discussed in the international admissions information generally have a normative duration of two academic years and 120 ECTS.

Can I keep the scholarship for the second year?

Yes, provided you satisfy the University’s academic progression requirements. For the current Master’s scholarship, students must complete at least 60 ECTS during the first academic year with a GPA of at least 3/5 to retain the second-year scholarship.

Does the University offer Bachelor’s scholarships?

Yes, but the Bachelor’s scholarship structure differs from the Master’s scholarship. Under the current published scheme, there is no scholarship for the first Bachelor’s year, while eligible students may receive €3,000 scholarships for the second and third years when they meet the required academic conditions.

University of Lapland: €6,000 Master’s Grant, Living Not Covered