Åbo Akademi University Scholarships for Students

The Åbo Akademi University Foundation and Åbo Akademi University hold a number of grant funds in trust; on a yearly basis scholarships are announced from these funds to students at Åbo Akademi University. Most of the scholarships come from funds that are held in trust by the ÅAU Foundation.

The application period for student scholarships will be 1-15.9.2026 at 23.59. Detailed information about the scholarships can be found in the scholarship application.

The scholarship funds and their criteria are presented in the application form. The scholarship criteria are determined by regulations established according to the wishes of the donors. To apply for scholarships, you must be registered as attending in a degree programme at Åbo Akademi. Exchange students are not eligible for scholarships.

In general, first-year students are not eligible to apply for these scholarships. Only study attainments that are recorded in the student register and completed during the previous academic year, and entered into study register Peppi no later than 15 September 2026, will be considered in the scholarship evaluation process.

The scholarships are divided into three categories:

1. General Scholarships
   • Can be applied for by all degree students who are registered as attending.
2. Department-Specific Scholarships
   • Intended for students within a particular subject area or department.
3. Special Scholarships
   • Have specific requirements, such as place of residence, field of specialization, or personal circumstances.

Applications are submitted through stipendier.abo.fi via the Rimbert system. First, create a profile, then select the appropriate application form by choosing the department in which you study. If you hold an active study right in two departments, you can proceed within a single application form.

Bachelor’s and Master’s Students

Carefully review which scholarships you are eligible to apply for and familiarize yourself with the scholarship regulations. Travel grants may be applied for either after the travel has begun or before the trip starts, but only once per trip.

Please note: If you submit more than one scholarship application, only the most recently submitted version will be processed.

Scholarship Regulations

The general scholarship regulations and the regulations for individual scholarships can be viewed by contacting studievagledning@abo.fi. Extracts from the regulations, that is, the specific eligibility conditions, are available in the application form.

The scholarship descriptions include:

1. Special eligibility requirements for applicants.
2. Information on how often the scholarship is awarded and any special provisions regarding distribution.
3. Information on the scholarship amount.

Before applying for a scholarship, applicants should familiarize themselves with its regulations to avoid applying for scholarships for which they are formally ineligible. The most common requirement is that the applicant be Swedish-speaking. Therefore, scholarships are divided into two groups:

Scholarships with a language clause

• Intended for students whose native language is Swedish.

Scholarships without a language clause

• Can be applied for regardless of native language, or in some cases specifically by applicants whose native language is not Swedish.

The requirement of having Swedish as one’s native language varies between scholarships. In some cases it is an absolute requirement; in others, Swedish-speaking applicants are given priority. Therefore, you should not automatically disregard scholarships with a language clause if you meet the other requirements.

If a scholarship’s regulations state that it is intended for students of limited financial means, all applicants are considered, as students as a group are generally regarded as having limited financial resources.

Processing of Applications and Scholarship Decisions

Scholarships are awarded by the Rector of Åbo Akademi or by the faculties.

Applicants should expect the processing of scholarship applications to take approximately two to three months, although scholarships will be paid out no later than the end of December.

When a student is awarded a scholarship, the student must personally claim the scholarship (request payment). It is important to do this promptly. If the scholarship is not claimed within the specified time, it will lapse.

After the scholarship process has been completed, the names of scholarship recipients are published on Åbo Akademi’s website. Anonymity is only granted to recipients who have an official confidentiality marking issued by the authorities and/or who have received a scholarship based on a medical certificate or equivalent documentation. These individuals will be notified separately by email.

Scholarship decisions are generally based on the applicant’s academic achievements during the two most recent semesters in relation to the number of semesters registered as attending, while also ensuring that the wishes of the donors are fulfilled.

Only study attainments completed during the academic year 2025-2026 (1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026) and recorded in Peppi no later than 15 September 2026 will be considered.

Attendance Registration

To receive student scholarships, applicants must be registered as attending in degree studies at Åbo Akademi at the time of application.

Attachments

Scholarships requiring justifications or attachments are listed separately in the application form. More information can be found in the scholarship regulations.

Please note which scholarships require attachments and upload all attachments electronically (scanned or high-quality photographs) together with your application.

Name attachment files using:

• Your name
• A description of the attachment
• The scholarship fund number(s) for which the attachment is relevant

(The fund number should be omitted if the attachment concerns maternity, paternity or parental leave, or military/civil service.)

Scholarships for Doctoral Researchers, Researchers and Employees

Scholarships intended for doctoral researchers, researchers and employees (sometimes from the same scholarship funds as those for degree students) are announced according to a separate application schedule.

Further information: Grants for researchers and doctoral students (login required).