🎓 Aalto University Scholarships — Full Guide 2025/26

✅ What scholarships Aalto offers

• The main scheme is the Aalto University Excellence Scholarship — a tuition-fee waiver for non-EU/EEA students admitted to English-taught programmes. It can cover 100% of tuition (Category A) or 50% (Category B). (Aalto University)

• Through the updated 2025+ scholarship programme, there are also variants like: scholarships for Aalto bachelor’s graduates continuing to master’s, “additional-term” scholarships, and “reserve scholarships.” (Aalto University)

• Note: Aalto’s scholarship only waives tuition fees — it does not cover living costs, housing, food, transport, health insurance, etc. (Aalto University)

👥 Who is eligible

You are eligible to apply for Aalto’s scholarship if:

• You are a non-EU/EEA citizen liable for tuition fees. (Aalto University)

• You apply for admission to a bachelor’s or master’s programme taught in English and tick the scholarship option in the same application form. Scholarships aren’t awarded separately later. (Aalto University)

• Your academic record and application meet high merit — scholarship awards are merit-based and competitive. (Aalto University)

• You agree to full-time study and complete the degree within the standard timeframe (2 years for master’s, 3 years for bachelor’s) to maintain the waiver. (Aalto University)

📄 What the scholarship covers — and what you must still plan

✅ Covered by Scholarship ❗ Not Covered — You Must Provide

100% or 50% of tuition fees Living expenses: housing, food, transport, health insurance, books, personal expenses

For the normal duration of your degree Travel costs to/from Finland, relocation, visa or residence-permit fees

💡 For context: tuition for non-EU/EEA students at Aalto master’s programmes tends to be in a range (before scholarship).

So even with a scholarship, you need to budget for life costs in Finland.

🔎 How competitive & realistic are the scholarships

• Scholarships at Aalto are very limited in number. Each programme may grant few or none — depending on quotas and demand. (Aalto University)

• The selection is merit-based and competitive: only top-achieving applicants (based on academic background, application strength) are considered. (Aalto University)

• According to one source, Aalto has roughly 36 scholarships listed under its master’s programmes (as of recent data) — which gives a rough sense of scale relative to total applicants. (Masters Portal)

• In 2025, the scholarship programme served students from more than 20 nationalities across four continents — showing diversity and global reach. (Aalto University)

What this means for you: treating the scholarship as a possible bonus is wise. It is not guaranteed — plan as if you have to cover living costs yourself even if you get tuition waiver.

📝 How to Apply for Aalto Scholarship – Step by Step

1. Prepare your admission application — make sure you meet the eligibility for your chosen master’s or bachelor’s programme (degree requirements, language, portfolio/test scores if required).

2. Tick the scholarship option in the same application form — there is no separate application later. (Aalto University)

3. Submit all required documents on time — transcripts, diplomas, motivation letter, possible portfolio or test scores as per programme requirements.

4. Wait for admission + scholarship decision — scholarship decisions are made together with admission decisions by the programme’s selection committee. (Aalto University)

5. If awarded: accept the scholarship terms by the deadline (as defined in the offer) — otherwise the waiver becomes invalid. (Aalto University)

6. Plan your budget — even with tuition waived, make sure you can fund living costs in Finland (housing, food, basics).

💡 What I Recommend (Your Strategy)

If I were you and applying to Aalto:

• I would apply for the scholarship — because if lucky, tuition savings are major.

• But I would prepare a backup plan: ensure I have some savings or part-time income potential to manage living costs.

• I would polish my application: strong grades, good motivation letter, any extra certificates or portfolio (if needed) — because scholarships are merit-based and competitive.

• Keep a realistic mindset: treat the waiver as a bonus, not a guarantee.