Walter Ahlström foundation - Scholarship

Walter Ahlström Foundation grant

You will receive a scholarship for a postgraduate technical programme, a PhD thesis or study visits to Finland. Scholarships for PhD theses and study visits are generally between 3,000 to 5,000 EUR. Larger research projects may receive a higher amount, and a longer-term project can be funded for up to 3 years. You can also apply for study-related travel, for example to attend an international scientific conference or undertake a research stay abroad. The grant is provided by the Walter Ahlström Foundation (Walter Ahlströmin säätiö), which was established in 1926 to support young engineers in Finland.

Who can apply

• Degree: You hold a Master’s degree or a higher academic qualification.
• Field of study: Your research must fit one of the foundation's industrial sectors: forest products (wood processing), electrical engineering, power engineering or the metal industry. Research on telecommunications, 5G, 6G, artificial intelligence or medical applications is funded only if it clearly links to one of these sectors.
• Age: You are under 35 years old.
• Residence: You have a Finnish personal identification number (social security number). This applies to Finnish nationals and people who are permanently resident in Finland.
• University: Any university is fine. You’re not tied to any particular one.
• What counts: The Executive Board favours clear, concise proposals that demonstrate long-term added value for Finnish industry and the economy.

How to apply

Register and submit your application via the Foundation’s online funding system. The application window runs from 1 November to 31 December. The Board reviews all applications once a year and decides who will receive funding.

How realistic are your chances?

In recent years, around 30% applicants have received funding, which is roughly one in three. In one funding cycle, there were 78 applicants.