Scholarship Criteria
Scholarship Criteria Starting From Fall Semester 2024
This criteria only applies to those who start their studies on 1.8.2024 and onwards.
The prerequisite for a scholarship is that the student
- is from outside the EU/EEA and subject to tuition fees
- has paid for the tuition fee
- has enrolled as an attending student at VAMK during the scholarship application period
- whose studies have progressed within the regular target schedule for the degree in question taking into account the student´s possibility to participate in studies due to the duration of the residence permit process.
- complies with the normative duration of the study
- has never been subject to disciplinary measures at VAMK based on the VAMK Degree Regulations
A student who is exempt from tuition fees cannot apply for the scholarship.
As for Joint Degree students, the same rules of granting scholarships are followed, with regard to the regular completion schedule of the degree.
The tuition fees and scholarships of transfer applicants and students who have changed degree programmes are determined based on the start date of their original right to study.
All students subject to tuition fees are informed of the criteria regarding the scholarship on a regular basis during their studies. The criteria and guidelines remain accessible and visible to students during the application period.
The non-EU/EEA student who is liable to pay tuition fees, can apply for scholarship based on the national certificate of language proficiency in the Finnish language (YKI certificate, read more about the national certificate of language proficiency).
The amount of the scholarship based on the YKI certificate in the Finnish language is 4000 EUR when the student has paid the tuition fee in full for the academic year. The scholarship can only be applied and granted once per academic year on the basis of the student’s application.
Please see the available test dates for National Certificates of Language proficiency
Student must submit a copy of the language certificate as an attachment to his/her electronic application within one (1) month after receiving the accepted YKI certificate from test organizer. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively. YKI test results will be reviewed by the scholarship committee on a monthly basis.
Student is responsible for covering all costs of taking the Finnish language test.
Requirements for the Application of the Scholarship based on Finnish Language Skills
Student can apply for scholarship in different academic years, given that aforementioned criteria is met and student progresses in language path.
We want to encourage our international degree students to study Finnish – Please find more information on Finnish language learning path at VAMK
Bachelor Degree – First Year
- Accepted YKI certificate at the basic level (grade 2) (Equivalent to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages level A2)
Bachelor Degree – Second Year
- Accepted YKI certificate (grade 3) at the intermediate level (Equivalent to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages level B1)
Bachelor Degree – Third Year
- Accepted YKI certificate (grade 4) at the intermediate level (Equivalent to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages level B2)
Master Degree
- Master degree student can apply for language based scholarship on the basis of any of the aforementioned YKI level during normative study right. The normative study right means the target time for degree. The target time is one (1) year for a 60-credit master degree and one and half (1,5) years for a 90-credit master degree.
Student cannot get more than one scholarship (4000 EUR) per academic year, although one would have participated and obtained both the intermediate and basic level certificates. In this case, scholarships must be applied during different academic years.
Scholarship can be granted in connection with graduation to a bachelor degree student on the basis of VAMK shared values; active activities as a member of the higher education community and/or in working life, or some other way of working, attitude or commitment in accordance with our values, in which our values of sympathy, pioneering, customer orientation and openness are manifested. Additionally, graduation in normative study time and excellent academic performance will be taken into consideration.
The amount of scholarship is 4000 EUR. Scholarships are proposed to the scholarship committee by educational units.
The number of merit based scholarships are limited: 1 student quota for each bachelor degree programme.
- A student subject to tuition fees is entitled to an Early Bird discount of the tuition fee if they have applied for VAMK and confirmed the place of study within seven (7) days of the publication of admission results. The discount is 1500 EUR, reduced from the first academic year tuition fee.
- Early bird discount is not applicable to transfer students or students applying through Open UAS.
- Further conditions for the Early Bird discount may be specified in the Studyinfo service, as well as in letter of acceptance sent to the student.
The scholarship committee processes the scholarship proposals that have been prepared and that are then sent to the rector for approval.
Members of the scholarship committee:
- Director of Administration (chair)
- Head of Student Services (presenter and draftsperson)
- Financial Manager
- Representative of the Student Union VAMOK
- Executive assistant (secretary, Education Services)
The scholarship decision cannot be appealed against with an administrative court due to the ban on appeals defined in Section 60 of the Polytechnics Act of Finland (932/2014).
The student has right to claim for rectification to a scholarship decision the scholarship committee of VAMK within 14 days of the date on which the rector of VAMK made the scholarship decision. The claim for rectification must include the student’s name, their contact information and their grounds for the rectification.
The scholarship committee will prepare a draft decision on the claim to be resolved by the rector of VAMK. The rector’s decision on a claim cannot be rectified or appealed against.
Students who start their studies prior to this follow the previous scholarship criteria.
