A historic UK university courtyard with stone buildings.

Finland August 2026 intake: non-EU Master's application round typically December 2025 — January 2026

University of Oulu International Scholarship

The University of Oulu is a leading research university in northern Finland, internationally known for wireless communications, information technology, and biosciences. For non-EU/EEA students admitted to its English-taught Master's programmes, Oulu offers tuition-waiver scholarships in tiers — commonly a full (100%) waiver for the strongest applicants and a partial (e.g. 50–75%) waiver for others, with the exact bands set each admission cycle. The award is assessed on academic merit from your Master's application. For Sri Lankan applicants, Oulu is a strong option in ICT, electrical/telecommunications engineering, and the sciences: a first-class or upper-second Bachelor's from Moratuwa, Peradeniya, Colombo, SLIIT, or similar, with relevant projects, is a credible base. Confirm the current waiver tiers and any first-year grant for your specific programme, as Oulu revises these annually.

University of Oulu

University-funded

emoji_events Award Overview

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Value

Full or Partial Tuition Waiver (tiered)

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Strength Areas

ICT, Telecoms, Biosciences

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Application

Assessed with Master's admission

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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Non-EU/EEA Citizen

The waivers are for fee-liable students from outside the EU/EEA. Sri Lankan citizens are eligible. EU/EEA students study tuition-free and do not use this scheme.

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Academic Merit

Waiver tier scales with academic merit assessed from your Master's application. A first-class or strong upper-second Bachelor's from a recognised Sri Lankan university in a relevant field, with good core-subject grades, is the competitive baseline.

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Admission to an Eligible Master's

You must be admitted to an Oulu English-taught Master's programme participating in the scholarship scheme. The waiver attaches to admission — most programmes assess it automatically.

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English Proficiency

Typically IELTS Academic 6.5 (no section below 5.5) or TOEFL iBT 90+. Sri Lankan applicants from English-medium degree programmes may qualify via an MOI/exemption route — check Oulu's language-requirement page for your programme.

account_tree Application Process

Apply to the Master's via Studyinfo / Oulu

Submit your Master's application in the application round Oulu uses, with transcripts, degree certificate, CV, motivation letter, and English evidence. The non-EU round usually closes in January.

Automatic scholarship assessment

For most programmes the tuition waiver is assessed automatically from the same application. Check your programme page in case a tick-box or extra statement is needed.

Admission + scholarship decision

Admission results are issued in spring; the waiver tier is communicated with or shortly after the offer.

Accept and apply for the residence permit

Accept your place, then apply for the Finnish student residence permit via Migri, showing your offer, scholarship letter, and funds for costs not covered by the waiver.

Why University of Oulu?

Oulu is a research university in a compact, student-friendly northern Finnish city with deep strengths in wireless communications and IT — it has long-standing links to the telecoms industry. It offers high-quality English-taught Master's degrees with lower living costs than southern Finland.