Kansan Sivistysrahasto - Scholarship

Antti Jussi Kosonen Fund scholarship

You will receive a one-off grant of approximately 300 EUR to 2,000 EUR, depending on what you need it for. As a guide: Around 500 EUR is awarded for hobbies, around 800 EUR for travel and materials as part of vocational training, around 1,000 EUR for a university dissertation, an artistic work or a club project, and around 2,000 EUR for a PhD thesis. The amount depends on the purpose of your project, how well you justify it, and how beneficial it is to society. The money comes from the Antti-Jussi Kosonen Fund, a regional fund of the Kansan Sivistysrahasto (KSR) Foundation. It supports studies, the arts, hobbies, culture and civic engagement in the North Karelia region of Finland. In 2026, a total of 21,800 EUR was awarded.

Who can apply

• Where you live: You live in the North Karelia region of Finland, including Heinävesi.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply. The key requirement is that you live in the region.
• Who it is for: Young people, adults, groups and organisations. You can also submit the application on behalf of a child or young person, for example in relation to their hobby.
• What you can fund: Studies and further education, independent art, leisure activities, involvement in civil society organisations, or academic research relating to the labour movement and society. All areas are eligible, with the exception of medical research.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online via the KSR application portal. Select the main category ‘Kansan Sivistysrahaston pääjako’ and leave it to the foundation to allocate the specific fund. The application window is open only in August; the deadline for applications is 31 August. Neither letters of recommendation nor attachments are required. All applicants will be informed of the outcome by email.

If you are exploring further funding opportunities in Finland, our guide Scholarships in Finland brings together a wide range of options beyond this regional grant.