Kuopio Diocese - Scholarship

Benefit

You will receive a one-off grant from the Reino Ylönen Memorial Fund. The amount is not fixed: each year, the Fund awards two-thirds of its annual net income as grants, the amounts of which are determined on a case-by-case basis (a previous grant amounted to 5,000 EUR). The funds are used to support postgraduate studies, academic research or international church work. The fund is administered by the Diocese of Kuopio (Kuopion hiippakunta) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, and its cathedral chapter (tuomiokapituli, the diocese’s governing body) decides who receives the funding.

Eligibility

The fund supports two types of project, each of which is subject to different rules.

• Research strand: You hold a Master’s degree in Theology (teologian maisteri) and are undertaking postgraduate studies or conducting academic research. This research is related to the Diocese of Kuopio in Finland.
• International diaconal strand: You carry out church-related work that establishes international links for diaconal work (the Church’s social and charitable activities). Connections with peoples related to Finland are of particular importance in this regard. No specific qualification is required for this role.
• Nationality: You are a Finnish national.

How to apply

Please send an informal application by email, setting out your reasons and attaching the relevant supporting documents. The deadline for applications is 31 August 2026 at 15:00. The Cathedral Chapter will then decide who will receive funding.

If you are exploring further funding opportunities in Finland, you will find additional options in our guide Scholarships in Finland.