The Fulbright-Aalto University Graduate Award is a Fulbright U.S. Student Program award offered by the Fulbright Finland Foundation with Aalto University.
It funds American graduates to study or research at master’s or doctoral level at Aalto, chiefly to complete a full master’s degree.
Benefits & funding
- EUR 1,000 a month for 9 months, plus a US$1,600 travel award
- Full-tuition scholarship from Aalto (annual fees EUR 15,000–20,000 by field); the second master’s year is also covered if first-year studies go well
- Residence permit allowance at actual cost, including accompanying family
- Accident and sickness benefits, a 24/7 mental health line and a pre-approved Finnish language and culture summer school
Eligibility
- US citizens or nationals at the deadline; permanent residents are not eligible; dual US–Finnish citizens may apply
- A bachelor’s degree conferred before the grant starts (graduating seniors may apply)
- Aimed at a full Aalto master’s; doctoral and master’s exchange students may be considered when qualified master’s applicants are lacking
- Not eligible: PhD holders, or anyone who lived abroad five or more of the six years before the deadline
- Not eligible: residence in Finland (4 months or more) in the year before the grant
- No Finnish or Swedish needed unless the project requires it
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.
“Applicants who currently hold or will hold a doctoral degree (Ph.D.) by the national application deadline. … Anyone who has resided abroad for five or more years in the six-year period preceding the national application deadline. … Residency in host country NOT permitted in year prior to grant” Eligibility
Eligible nationalities
USA
Education required
Bachelor Enrolled · Bachelor
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Application process
- 1Submit the Fulbright online application, choosing this award, with three recommendation letters by 6 October 2026; ask your campus Fulbright adviser about any earlier campus deadline.
- 2Apply separately to Aalto for admission (7 December 2026 – 5 January 2027 for autumn 2027 master’s programmes); no affiliation letter is needed for the Fulbright application.
Program timeline
6 October 2026
Fulbright deadline (2027–28 cycle, closed)
Aalto master’s application period
7 December 2026 – 5 January 2027
recommended / not recommended notice
End of January 2027
final selections, on a rolling basis
Spring 2027
Late August 2027
compulsory arrival orientation; grant begins early September