CIF Finland, the Finnish branch of the Council of International Fellowship, runs this International Professional Exchange Program (IPEP) for social work and human services professionals from other countries.
Participants spend three weeks in May on lectures at the University of Helsinki and agency visits around Helsinki, then about a week of individual placement in another Finnish city, living with host families throughout.
Benefits & funding
- No participation fee.
- Host families give a private room, breakfast and dinner on weekdays, and all meals at weekends.
- CIF Finland pays travel within Finland connected to the program.
- Placement cities have included Lappeenranta, Ekenäs, Turku, Oulu, Rovaniemi and Hamina, chosen around your wishes.
- You pay your international travel and insurance.
Eligibility
- An education in social work, social welfare, human services or a related field.
- At least two years of professional experience in those fields.
- Proficiency in English, the program language.
- No nationality, residence or age limit is stated.
- You must certify that you will take out health and accident insurance once accepted; answering No means refusal.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Experience required
≥ 2 yrs
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Application process
- 1Complete the CIF IPEP application form in English.
- 2Send it through the CIF national branch or contact person in your country, who adds a recommendation letter.
- 3If your country has neither, email it directly to info@ciffinland.org.
- 4If you need financial support, send CIF International’s grant request form at the same time.
- 5Apply by the November 2026 deadline; the exact day is not yet published.
Program timeline
2026 application deadline (passed)
Nov 23, 2025
2026-11
2027 application deadline, exact day not yet published
2027 program
May 7, 2027 to May 29, 2027