Mid-Career Professional Development Award
Finland
Number of recipients
In addition to being a prestigious academic exchange program, the Fulbright Program is designed to expand and strengthen relationships between the people of the United States and citizens of other nations and to promote international understanding and cooperation. To support this mission, Fulbright Scholars may be asked to give public talks, mentor students, and otherwise engage with the host community, in addition to their primary activities.
The aim of the award is to allow professionals in various fields to take a sabbatical leave of four to five months from normal work duties to pursue further education or training that would enhance their professional development and the field at large. Applicants should be at a point in their careers when maximum benefit will ensue from this period of professional enrichment. The focus of the award cannot be aimed at academic research or lecturing projects.
Applicants should create projects that may include studies, practical experience in actual operations, visits to organizations in their professional field, public lectures, or other appropriate professional experiences. Their project plans should include a concrete description of the planned activities during the grant period as well as the expected benefits for completing the project for their professional field.
Please note that the MCPD awards, which are unique to Finland, use the Fulbright U.S. Scholar application form. However, the MCPD award is not meant for academic research.
Applicants must arrange affiliation and include a letter of invitation from the host institution in Finland. Possible affiliations include government organizations, universities, museums, art institutions, non-profits and private businesses, among others. See examples of the projects of previous Mid-Career Professional Development program grantees on the Fulbright Finland Foundation website.
Awards must begin in August/September 2025 or January 2026, or must be separately agreed upon with the host institution and the Fulbright Finland Foundation.
All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).
Note: Late June, July, and early August are traditionally summer vacation months in Finland, and responses to inquiries may be delayed. Applicants are advised to contact the Finnish host institution well ahead of time to solicit an invitation letter for their application.
During the selection process, some applicants may be invited to a virtual call in mid-January 2025.
The award is meant for mid-career professionals with a minimum of seven years of experience. Emphasis is on professional qualifications and expertise. A university degree is not required.
Proposals for medical research involving clinical training, patient care, or patient contact are not eligible.
Fulbright Finland Foundation
Information on the Mid-Career Professional Development Program on the Fulbright Finland Foundation website
This is Finland (Finnish culture, politics, history, society etc.)
Visit Finland
The monthly grant is €2,700 EUR (approx. $2,900), paid out in euro in monthly installments.
Please note: amounts in USD are subject to change due to currency fluctuations.
Housing benefits are not available for scholars in the Mid-Career Professional Development Program, who arrange and pay for their own housing.
A one-time travel allowance of $1,800 is provided.
Also, a residence permit allowance is provided - based on the actual permit fees (incl. grantee and accompanying family members).
K-12 education in Finland is generally free or heavily subsidized (some special schools, such as private international schools, may charge tuition). Instruction in English is available in Helsinki and other bigger cities at kindergartens, elementary and secondary schools, as well as at the university level, however, many of them require an aptitude test and sometimes entry is competitive.
For details about the Finnish education system, please visit the Ministry of Education and Culture, which provides greater insight into education at all levels across Finland.
The MCPD grantee will receive the full support services provided by the Fulbright Finland Foundation for all Fulbright grantees in Finland.
The Fulbright Finland Foundation in Helsinki arranges a four-day orientation seminar for scholars at the end of August, which scholars arriving for the fall semester are expected to attend. An orientation meeting is also arranged for scholars arriving in January. In addition, the Fulbright Finland Foundation organizes seminars and other events throughout the academic year for the Fulbright scholars to deepen their understanding of the Finnish culture.
Final grant amounts will be determined prior to the start of the academic year and are subject to the availability of funds. The United States Department of State and the Fulbright Commission in the host country reserve the right to alter, without notice, participating countries, number of awards and allowances.
Finland
To learn more about Fulbright U.S. Scholar awards in Finland for 2025-26, please view our archived webinar and slides to hear directly from the Fulbright Commission, IIE staff, and U.S. Scholar alums regarding award details, the scholar experience, and application guidance.
Finland is a Nordic country the size of California located in northern Europe and is part of the European Union. It is rather sparsely populated (5.6 million people) and has extensive nature: forests, coastline, and lakes. The six largest cities host approximately 60% of the population; urban environments are closely linked to nature. It is a country that has a well-organized and efficient society. The general infrastructure, both public and private services, is considered very effective. Well run public services such as transportation, police, education, and healthcare are fundamental and highly regarded parts of the society. The arts and design, cultural life, nature, and sports are highly valued. Finland ranks as one of the world’s most stable nations and has been named one of the safest and least corrupt countries in the world, which makes it an easy place to live and travel.
Finns believe strongly in equality and education, and the country is especially known for its effective and free education system. Finland has two types of higher education institutions: universities and universities of applied sciences (UAS). Finnish higher education institutions engage in world-leading research and offer high-quality academic programs. On a national level, research and development is highly emphasized. The Finnish government is committed to the target of raising research and development expenditure to four per cent of GDP by 2030. Together with a welcoming and intriguing environment, Finland offers interesting opportunities for American researchers, teachers, and professionals. English is widely used at the university level.
The academic year in Finland is based on a two-semester system. The official academic year starts on August 1 and ends on July 31. However, in the fall semester, lectures are usually scheduled between September and mid-December, and in the spring semester, between early January and May. Typically, there is no teaching during the summer and on public holidays.
Finland has a strong Fulbright program with a unique history. The program has an important role in supporting the internationalization of education and research in Finland, helping U.S. and Finnish institutions create linkages, and promoting a wider exchange of knowledge and professional talents through educational contacts between Finland and the United States. The program has grown in recent years due to the close cooperation of the Fulbright Finland Foundation with Finnish universities, research institutions, governmental agencies, and private foundations, as well as to U.S. and Finnish alumni contributions. Most of the program’s funding currently comes from Finland.
The Fulbright Finland Foundation offers awards to U.S. scholars to teach or pursue research in Finland. The majority of awards are available to scholars in all disciplines, but some awards are limited to certain fields. In nearly all categories, housing is provided for the grantee. Awards are also available for professionals for career development.
The Fulbright Finland Foundation also provides information for Finnish institutions, which applicants are encouraged to utilize when contacting prospective hosts.
Read more about Finland:
Fulbright Finland Foundation website
Fulbright Finland News Magazine
Visit Finland
This is Finland
Scott E. Buchanan - Fulbright Bicentennial Chair in American Studies 2019-20
David Dorman - Fulbright-Saastamoinen Foundation Distinguished Chair in Health and Environmental Sciences 2021-2022
Visit the Fulbright Finland Foundation website to see grantees from previous years.
Visit our Scholar Directory to view and search all Fulbright alumni. You can also learn more about Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors.
Fulbright Finland Foundation encourages potential applicants to visit its website for further information and contact the office directly with any questions.
Program Manager, Scholar Programs
Email: USscholars@fulbright.fi
Tel: +358 44 5535 275
Coordinator
Email: USscholars@fulbright.fi