Sibelius Academy Foundation awards Graduation grants to support students’ graduation within the normative timeframe
The Sibelius Academy Foundation awards financial support to the academy’s students who graduate within the normative timeframe for studies. Funding for the grants is allocated from investment income earned by the Sibelius Academy Foundation. The application period will begin on 4 December. The application period will end on 22 January 2023 at 16:00 (Finnish time), and applications submitted after the deadline will not be processed.
Who can apply for the grant?
A Sibelius Academy student is eligible to apply for the grant if they graduate between 1 January, 2023 and 31 December, 2023 within the normative duration of studies, as defined in the Universities Act (section 40).
Master’s students who have applied for the grant and graduated within the normative timeframe will be awarded a grant of 500 to 1,000 euros, while bachelor’s students who meet the same criteria will receive a grant of 200 to 500 euros. The final amounts of the grants may be larger than the sums listed here. The amounts of the grants will be determined after the application period has expired.
Target duration of studies leading to a degree as defined in the Universities Act:
- First-cycle & second-cycle degree (bachelor’s studies 3 years + master’s studies 2.5 years): 5.5 years
- Second-cycle degree (master’s studies): Master of Music 2.5 years and Master of Arts (Art and Design) 2 years
The normative timeframe for the student’s degree is calculated by the academic affairs staff based on the data recorded in Uniarts Helsinki’s student register concerning the number of academic terms when the student has registered for attendance as well as the student’s graduation date.
Why does the Foundation support students’ graduation within the target duration of studies?
The aim is to support students’ graduation within the normative timeframe because it benefits current graduates as well as future students. Graduation is one of the turning points in life, as students move on from their academic safety nets and take the first steps on their personal career paths, as winding and uncertain as they may be. The purpose of the grant is to offer financial support at this important transitional stage.
From the perspective of the Sibelius Academy and the entire Uniarts Helsinki, the graduation of new generations of students is not only a matter of fulfilling the university’s core mission in society, but also a matter of ensuring high-quality operating conditions in the future, as well: the funding that the university receives from the Ministry of Education and Culture is largely based on the number of completed degrees at the university. The number of graduates who complete their degree within the normative timeframe, specifically, also has its own impact on funding. If the number of graduates is low several years in a row, the university’s funding will decrease in relation to other Finnish universities. Cuts in resources will have a range of effects on the environments in which current and future students study
Will this support be available in future years?
The Sibelius Academy dean has determined that a corresponding grant that supports graduation within the normative timeframe is available for application in 2022–2024. The policy for after the year 2024 will be decided in early 2024, when we see how the incentive has affected graduation levels. A student is eligible to apply for the grant if they graduate by the end of December within the year of the normative timeframe. The amount of the grant may vary each year, because it is determined based on the development of the market value of the Foundation’s investments. The aim is to offer grants of roughly the same value also in upcoming years, however
More information
Anni Pokki
Foundation Office
anni.pokki@uniarts.fi
050 476 69 61