Aalto University Scholarships for International Students

Fully established in the year 2010, Aalto University is here to show that a young university can make it big. A merger between Helsinki School of Economics, Helsinki University of Technology, and the University of Art and Design Helsinki, Aalto University aspires to become a multidisciplinary university on the back of three expert institutions. Here, we will be looking at some of the best scholarships at Aalto University for international students.

Each contributing school has its set of accolades. The Helsinki School of Economics, established in 1911, was the first Nordic school to receive all three seals of approvals from business school accreditation bodies worldwide – AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS. The Helsinki University of Technology – established in 1849, is the pioneer of technical teaching in Helsinki. Their expertise created the four centers of excellence in Aalto today: School of Chemical Engineering, School of Electrical Engineering, School of Engineering, and School of Science. Lastly, the University of Art and Design Helsinki, established in 1822, is world-renowned as the largest Nordic art and design school.

Located in Espoo, its Otaniemi campus – complete with a business incubator and technology park – is shaping up to be a Silicon Valley of its own. Using its youth as an institution to move further, Aalto University specializes in the future-looking disciplines of Science and Technology, Design, and Business, with key priorities on research and internationalization. They combine technical practices, innovative processing, and market dynamics to provide multidisciplinary solutions to sustainable energy, health, and living environments.

Aalto ranks highly worldwide, and their key priorities reflect well in rankings. QS Rankings placed Aalto at 112th place out of 26,000 universities all over the world, with the highest marks given to the university’s quality of research. Times Higher Education has ranked Aalto as part of the top 250 out of 1,600 top universities, over-indexing on internationalization. Times has also ranked the university at 28th place for the top young universities (under 50 years of age).

Standing on the shoulders of giants, Aalto University is a young contender ready to catapult into the future – be a part of it early on with their competitive scholarships.

Aalto University Scholarships

Undergraduate Scholarships at Aalto University

1. Aalto University Scholarship Programme

  • Scholarship Amount: 50-100% tuition fee waiver
  • Eligibility Criteria: All non-EU/EEA fee-paying students
  • Scholarship Link

The most sought-after tuition-free scholarship plan offered by the school for international students, the Aalto University Scholarship Programme is available for all non-EU/EEA students eligible for admission to Aalto University the next semester. However, slots are limited and are determined by academic evaluation of eligible non-EU/EEA students per course. Available scholarships fall under two categories: category A, which is 100% tuition fee waiver, and category B, which is 50% tuition fee waiver. While tuition is subsidized, living and school-related expenses are not covered by the scholarship.

To apply, scholarship entry forms are found on a separate section of the same application form for preferred study option/s. The results will be announced alongside admission decisions. Once accepted, the scholarship is valid for the entirety of one’s stay in Aalto’s programs – three years for full-time undergraduates, and two years for full-time postgraduates. This is subject to regular monitoring and renewal per semester to ensure academic requirements are kept up to standards.

2. Aalto Incentive-Based Scholarships

  • Scholarship Amount: 1,500 EUR per academic year
  • Eligibility Criteria: Those who complete 60+ ECTS credits in one academic year, based on an approved personal study plan
  • Scholarship Link

Some semesters may be harder than others, so understandably, the consistency of maintaining a scholarship may seem daunting. There are also other students with potential who might have missed the cut for scholarships during admissions. Aalto unlocks more talent by creating a scholarship program that reverses the sequence.

Unlike traditional scholarships, the Aalto Incentive-Based Scholarship is rated on a per-year basis. Available for both fee-paying and tuition-waived students, the scholarship program rewards those who perform through reimbursement of 1,500 EUR at the end of the academic year. Applications are found in the email specific to incentive-based scholarships sent out at the end of the Spring Term. The best part is that this scholarship at the University of Aalto can be availed multiple times, and consistency across years is not required.

3. Aalto University 7th Term Scholarship

  • Scholarship Amount: 100% tuition fee waiver
  • Eligibility Criteria: An approved study plan for the 7th semester
  • Scholarship Link

For those who have deviated from the standard timetable of six terms for undergraduate studies, Aalto also has them in mind. The university offers what is called a 7th term scholarship, a tuition-waived extra semester for students to finish their needed credits and requirements (i.e., thesis) to be eligible for graduation.

This requires a fully detailed study plan for the semester that is approved by admissions. Strictly no further extensions will be allowed. Calls for applications appear around April or May, but may also be accommodated on a case-to-case basis.

Postgraduate Scholarships at Aalto University

1. Scholarships for Aalto Bachelor’s Programme Graduates continuing in Aalto Master’s Programmes

  • Scholarship Amount: 100% tuition fee waiver for four semesters of Master’s
  • Eligibility Criteria: Fee-paying undergraduate students of Aalto bachelor’s programs (taught in English) with a final grade point average of 3.80 or above, graduating after 6 semesters
  • Degree Offered: Master’s
  • Scholarship Link

For undergraduates in Aalto university who wish to pursue further studies in the university, Aalto University offers a full-tuition scholarship for those interested in Master’s program. This is offered for fee-paying international students with a final grade of 3.80 and above, and have incurred no delays in their stay in Aalto.

2. Aalto University 5th Term Scholarship

  • Scholarship Amount: 100% tuition fee waiver
  • Eligibility Criteria: An approved study plan for the 7th semester
  • Degree Offered: Master’s
  • Scholarship Link

Similar to the 7th term scholarship, Aalto offers its master’s degree students the option to take one extra semester after the normative four semesters to finish necessary final requirements for graduation. A prerequisite is a fully detailed and approved study plan for the semester, with no further extensions.

3. Scholarships in International Double Degree Programs

  • Scholarship Amount: Up to 100% tuition fee waiver for classes taken at Aalto University
  • Eligibility Criteria: All non-EU/EEA fee-paying students
  • Degree Offered: Master’s
  • Scholarship Link

Aalto University offers master’s programs that are in partnership with external universities. For these programs, only the classes taken with Aalto University will be eligible for Aalto University scholarships. These scholarships are available on an application basis.

More scholarship opportunities can be found on their official scholarship website.

 

I hope that this article was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Europe Scholarships Page.