The Aalto University Scholarship is a tuition fee waiver for non-EU/EEA students admitted to Master's programs at Aalto University in Finland. There is no separate scholarship form. When you apply for a Master's program through Finland's national Studyinfo.fi system, Aalto considers you for the waiver automatically, on merit. The catch is simple and worth stating up front: the waiver covers tuition only. Living costs are yours to pay. The full scholarship details are summarised separately if you want a quick reference.
For a Pakistani student, this is a realistic option because the eligibility is defined by citizenship outside the EU/EEA, and Pakistan falls in that group. Whether it is the right option depends almost entirely on one question: can you fund your living expenses in Finland for the length of your program? If the answer is yes, this is one of the cleaner scholarships to apply for, because the work you put in is the same work you would do for admission anyway.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Funding | Partial funding: full tuition fee waiver, no living-cost coverage |
| Level | Master's (all Aalto University Master's programs) |
| Applications open | Expected in December |
| Deadline | Around January 9, aligned with the Studyinfo.fi Master's deadline |
| Country | Finland |
| Provider | Aalto University |
| Official site | Aalto scholarships and tuition fees |
A tuition waiver, and only a tuition waiver
The scholarship is a full tuition fee waiver for the duration of your program. That is the whole award. There is no monthly stipend, no housing allowance and no travel grant attached to it, which is why it is listed as partial funding even though the tuition part is complete.
This matters more than students expect. A lot of applicants read "full waiver" and mentally file the scholarship as fully funded. Then the admission letter arrives and they realise they still need to show they can pay for rent, food, transport and everything else for the whole program. If your family cannot support that, a tuition waiver on its own will not get you to Helsinki. Work out your living budget before you apply, not after. Our guide on bank statements and proof of funds is a good place to start that planning.
The source does not list a tuition fee amount or a living-cost figure, so check the current numbers on the official Aalto tuition and scholarships page before you plan your budget.
Why there is no scholarship form to fill in
Most scholarships ask for a separate essay, a separate form, sometimes a separate deadline. Aalto does not. You apply for a Master's program through Studyinfo.fi by the deadline, and that application is what the university uses to decide the waiver. There is no second step.
That sounds easy, and in terms of paperwork it is. In terms of competition it is not. The awards are merit-based and the number of waivers per program is limited. So your Master's application is doing two jobs at once: getting you admitted, and putting you ahead of other admitted students for a waiver. An application that is good enough to get in may still not be strong enough to get the scholarship.
Admission does not equal a waiver
This is the single most common misunderstanding. Being admitted to an Aalto Master's program does not guarantee the scholarship. Each program has a capped number of awards. Some admitted non-EU students will receive the waiver, and some will be offered a place without it. Go in knowing that the second outcome is possible, and decide in advance whether you would accept a place without the waiver.
Who is eligible, and where Pakistani applicants trip up
The eligibility list is short. You need to be a non-EU/EEA citizen, which includes Pakistani nationals. You need a Bachelor's degree of 180 ECTS or 3 years. And you need proof of English proficiency.
- Citizenship outside the EU/EEA
- A Bachelor's degree equal to 180 ECTS or 3 years of study
- Proof of English proficiency
The Bachelor's requirement is the one to think about. If your degree is shorter than that, or in an older format, confirm how Aalto assesses it before you pay for an English test or anything else. The English requirement is also stated without a specific test or score in the information we have, so check the exact accepted tests and minimum scores for your program on the official site. Requirements can differ between programs.
The scholarship covers all Aalto University Master's programs, so there is no restriction on field. Aalto is a technical and design university with strong links to Nordic industry and startups, and the university sits near Helsinki within Finland's technology and design ecosystem. If your interests are in engineering, technology, design or business with an industry angle, the fit is natural. If you want something Aalto does not teach, this scholarship does not help you.
The four documents that carry your application
The document list is short, and because there is no scholarship essay, each item has to pull its weight.
- Your Master's application submitted through Studyinfo.fi
- Academic transcripts
- Degree certificate
- English test scores
Your transcripts are probably the most important item here, since merit is the basis for the award. Make sure they are complete, legible and match your degree certificate exactly in name spelling and dates. If you need verified or attested copies, start early. Our documents checklist for international scholarships covers the general preparation in more detail. Check Aalto's program pages for any extra material your specific program asks for, such as a motivation letter or portfolio, since those would also feed into the merit assessment.
Working backwards from a deadline around January 9
Applications are expected to open in December, and the deadline falls around January 9, aligned with the Studyinfo.fi Master's deadline. That is a short window, and it overlaps with winter holidays in many places. The exact date can shift from year to year, so confirm the deadline on the official portal before you plan anything around it.
Here is how we would approach it as a Pakistani applicant:
- Before December: choose your program, read its specific requirements and sit your English test so the score is ready.
- Also before December: collect transcripts and your degree certificate, and get any verification or attestation done.
- When applications open in December: create your Studyinfo.fi account and fill in the application early rather than in the last days.
- By the deadline around January 9: submit the complete application with all documents uploaded.
- After submission: there is nothing else to send for the scholarship. Use the waiting time to plan your living-cost funding.
The biggest timing risk is the English test. If you wait until December to book it, you may not get results before the deadline. Book it early.
Who should apply, and who should think twice
This scholarship suits a student with a strong academic record, a clear reason for choosing a specific Aalto program and a realistic plan to cover living costs. For that student, it is a low-effort application with a real chance of removing the tuition bill.
It suits students less if they are depending on a scholarship to cover everything. In that case, treat Aalto as one application among several and look at fully funded options in parallel. Our all Finland scholarships guide lists other Finnish options you can compare it against.
A few mistakes we would steer you away from:
- Treating "automatic consideration" as a reason to submit a rushed application. The waiver is decided by the same application, so a weak one costs you twice.
- Assuming admission means funding. The awards are limited per program.
- Ignoring living costs until the offer letter arrives.
- Applying to a program only because it looks less competitive, without a genuine interest in it. Merit is judged on the whole application, and a poor fit tends to show.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Aalto University Scholarship guaranteed for all non-EU applicants?
No. It is merit-based with a limited number of awards per program, so admission alone does not guarantee the scholarship.
Can Pakistani students apply?
Yes. The scholarship is for non-EU/EEA citizens, which includes Pakistani nationals, provided they meet the degree and English requirements.
Do I need to submit a separate scholarship application?
No. There is no separate scholarship form. You are considered automatically when you apply for a Master's program through Studyinfo.fi by the deadline.
Does the scholarship cover living expenses?
No. It is a full tuition fee waiver for the program duration. Living costs are not covered, so you need to budget for them separately.
Is it only for certain subjects?
No. It applies across all Aalto University Master's programs.
When is the deadline?
Around January 9, in line with the Studyinfo.fi Master's deadline, with applications expected to open in December. Confirm the exact date on the official portal each year.
Before you apply, read the current rules on the official Aalto University scholarships page and check the Aalto University Scholarship page for the full details.