Olga and Kaarle Oskari Laitinen Foundation - Scholarship

Olga and Kaarle Oskari Laitinen Foundation research grant

You will receive 2,196.30 EUR per month for 3 to 12 months of full-time legal research. Over a total period of 12 months, the total amount is 26,355.60 EUR. The scholarship is awarded by the Olga and Kaarle-Oskari Laitinen Foundation, which is administered by the Finnish Bar Association (Suomalainen Lakimiesyhdistys). As part of the same annual call for applications, two further grants are offered: a study grant of up to 6,000 EUR for advanced postgraduate legal studies in Finland or abroad, as well as for research stays abroad; and a publication grant, which covers the costs of proofreading, printing and other expenses associated with a legal publication following its publication.

Who can apply

• What you research: You are working on a PhD thesis in law, or have already completed your PhD and are now carrying out further research.
• Doctoral status: If you are a PhD student, you must be eligible to be awarded a doctoral degree by the application deadline.
• Field of study: You work in the legal sector.
• Full-time commitment: You must be working full-time as a researcher for the entire duration of the grant. A paid secondary employment of up to 20% full-time hours is permitted.
• No double funding: You are not currently in receipt of any other equivalent full-time research scholarship.
• Nationality: All nationalities can apply.
• University: You can be at any university.

How to apply

You apply online via the system on the Finnish Bar Association’s website as soon as the application window opens in May. The application deadline is 19 May at 14:00. You do not need any letters of recommendation. The only exception is if you are applying for a PhD: in this case, your official principal supervisor will submit a statement via a separate system. Decisions will be announced by the end of August. The funding period runs from 1 October 2025 to 2027, and your work must begin by the end of 2026.