Finnish Society of Forest Science - Scholarship

Finnish Society of Forest Science grant

You will receive a research grant that covers your living costs while you do forest science research for 3 to 12 months. This is intended to be your main source of income during this period. The grant is tax-free up to the maximum amount set by the Finnish tax authorities (in 2025, this was up to 2,249 EUR per month; the maximum amount for 2026 has not yet been published). It may also cover research costs, provided you can provide supporting documentation, including a research stay abroad lasting more than two weeks. As a bonus, you may publish an article free of charge in the journal ‘Silva Fennica’. The Society also awards travel grants for conferences and short research stays abroad, as well as smaller grants for language courses, publication projects and study trips for students. The prize is awarded by the Finnish Society of Forest Science (Suomen Metsätieteellinen Seura), which was founded in 1909.

Who can apply

• Level: You are a PhD student at a Finnish higher education institution or a postdoctoral researcher at a Finnish research organisation, and you obtained your PhD less than five years ago. The five-year period is extended in the event of parental leave or military or civilian service.
• Field: Your work is in forest science or a closely related field, such as forestry or forest biology.
• Your doctorate: You are not eligible for the research scholarship if you have already obtained a doctoral degree in another subject area or at a foreign university.
• Nationality: Open to all nationalities. Ukrainian researchers working at a Finnish research institution may apply at any stage of their career.
• No second income: This benefit must be your main source of income. You must not undertake any other employment that amounts to more than 15% of a full-time post.
• Not covered: Undergraduate students, students at universities of applied sciences and those writing Master’s theses are not eligible for funding. A supervisor cannot submit an application on behalf of a student.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted via the association’s online funding portal. The application deadline for the current round begins on 19 January 2026 and ends on 20 February 2026 at 16:00 (4 p.m.). Decisions will be made by mid-March, and you will be able to access the funding from 1 May 2026.