Glo­bal Mu­sic Schol­ar­ships

Key points about the scholarship

The Global Music scholarship is a new initiative as part of the funding from the Elsa Brule Centre for Global Music and Community Engagement.

The Global Music Scholarship creates opportunities for students who would otherwise not be able to begin or continue global music studies at Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki.

The scholarship strives for equality, widening access to studies for those who are starting from different positions and need the financial support to be able to study.

The scholarship will fund activities in the focus areas of intercultural artistic work, community engagement, research, staff development, and the global scholarship programme.

In brief

• Global Music students coming from outside the EU/EEA are eligible to apply for a scholarship to begin or continue their studies.
• Scholarships may be applied for on an annual basis provided the student is progressing with their studies within normative target graduation times 
• For new students, applications are linked to admissions processes and entrance auditions.
• Current students are able to apply for them annually by the 1 May each year.
• Scholarships are awarded by the Global Music Department as part of the funding from the Elsa Brule Centre for Global Music and Community Engagement.
• Scholarship may be used to supplement tuition fees or cover relocation, or both, as well as other living expenses as needed to enable you to begin or continue your studies.

Scholarship amounts

There are four levels of scholarships available to apply for:

1. First-year Global Music Scholarship (EUR 10,000)

This scholarship is intended for new global music bachelor or master students who have not received a Finland Scholarship or other similar scholarship. Scholarship may be used to cover relocation and other living expenses, as well as tuition fees.

If you wish to use part of the scholarship to cover your first-year tuition fee, please state this in your application form. The remaining part of the scholarship will be paid to your Finnish bank account after arriving in Finland.

The scholarship cannot be paid to a foreign bank account.

2. Supplementary first-year Global Music Scholarship (EUR 2,500) (Intended for 1st year global music students who receive a Finland Scholarship)

This scholarship is intended for new global music master’s students who have received a Finland scholarship. Scholarship may be used to cover relocation and other living expenses. The scholarship will be paid to your Finnish bank account after arriving in Finland.

The scholarship cannot be paid to a foreign bank account.

3. Continuing Global Music Scholarship (1 year) (EUR 5,000)

This scholarship is intended for continuing global music students to supplement living expenses or tuition fees, or both, for the period of 1 year.

4. Continuing Global Scholarship (1 semester) (EUR 2,500)

This scholarship is intended for continuing global music students to supplement living expenses or tuition fees, or both, for the period of 1 semester.

Who is eligible?

• Global music students who are not citizens of the European Union or European Economic area and who are liable to pay tuition fees.
• New first year global music students may apply at the same time as applying for the study place.
• Continuing global music students may apply annually.
• Scholarships are only awarded for the period of one year at a time.

Global Music Scholarships are available until 2027.

Please note that smaller scholarship amounts may be awarded depending on the situation of the applicant and the total number of applicants each year.

Applying for the scholarships

New first year global music students

Applicants can apply for the Global Music scholarship at the same time as applying for the study place. You will be notified of the decision personally at the same time as you receive the admission results.

Global Music Scholarships are awarded for one academic year at a time based on students’ applications. Scholarship decisions are made annually.

You must state on the Study Info application form if you want to apply for a Global Music scholarship. Scholarships are awarded based on success in the entrance auditions.

The scholarships are personal, and you will be notified of the decision personally at the same time as you receive the admission results.

Continuing global music students

Continuing global music students who are non-EU/EEA citizens may apply for the Global Music scholarship annually, provided their studies are progressing within the normative graduation time.

You must re-apply for the Global Music Scholarship by the 1^st of May each year. Scholarships may be awarded for a maximum of one year at a time.

Scholarships are awarded based on the progress of studies and study performance. You may receive a scholarship within the target graduation time of your degree.

Scholarship applications are assessed by the head of department, vice-head of department, study planner, and are then finally approved by the vice-dean. Scholarship decisions cannot be appealed against.

We will send students more detailed information by email before the start of the Global Scholarship application process each year.   

Important taxation info about scholarships

The university is obliged by law to report all of its scholarships to Finnish tax authority on annual basis.

Scholarships in Finland are generally tax free up to the value of € 24 475,56 per calendar year (as in 2022; the amount varies a bit every year). The amount exceeding the set limit is generally subject to tax.

The set limit includes scholarships paid in Finland by a non-public entity including, but not limited to, any combination of University of the Arts Scholarships (fee-waivers), Incentive-Based Scholarships, travel grants, one-off payments and living-expense scholarships you may get from the university for your studies.

Please note that in Finland each academic year is divided over two tax years (that is, calendar years). If your combined scholarships and grants exceed the value of € 24 475,56 (example for the calendar year 2022), the amount exceeding the set limit is generally subject to tax and you may be contacted by the Finnish tax authority.