Fees and scholarships

Fees

Consortium fees and field course contribution

Annual consortium fees (participation fees) for the students from the Erasmus+ Programme Countries* are 4 250 EUR and for the students from the Erasmus+ Partner Countries** 8 500 EUR.

An additional 1 000 EUR is collected from students as a field course contribution towards accommodation and some of the meals provided during the European Forestry Field Course.

*) Erasmus+ Programme Countries are EU countries + North Macedonia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Serbia, Turkey and the United Kingdom***.

**) Erasmus+ Partner Countries include all other countries except the countries listed above.

***) Under the current Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF 2014-2020), the ongoing Erasmus+ programme will be implemented in relation to the UK or entities or persons established in the UK as if the UK remained a Member State, without disruption until the closure of the programme, in accordance with the provisions of the Withdrawal Agreement between the EU and the UK (Link to the agreement HERE).

Student Union membership fee and Kela health care fee

All admitted students are required to pay the Student Union fee of the University of Eastern Finland for the first academic year and the related fee of the second year host university during the second academic year. The membership in the Student Union comes with a variety of leisure time activities organised for free. Membership in the Student Union at UEF is mandatory for all degree-seeking students, and the Student Union membership fee is 75.00 EUR euros per academic year 2023-2024 (not included in the Consortium fee). For further information, please see the website of the Student Union.

All students need to pay a student healthcare fee to Kela for each academic term (36.80 EUR/term in 2023-2024). All students who are registered as attending for the current term and are studying for Master’s degree are entitled to FSHS services. For further information, please see Kamu Student Handbook.

Scholarships 2024

There will be NO Erasmus Mundus (EMJMD) scholarships available in 2024. There might be programme-specific scholarships available for the best applicants that can cover partly or totally consortium fees but no scholarships for living and travel costs. The number and amount will be decided within the student selection and the information on the possible award of the scholarship will be included in the notification of the admission results that will be sent to all accepted students by 12 April 2024.

EMJMD Scholarships (not available to those students who will start in August 2024)

Please note that if you have already received an EMJMD or an Erasmus Mundus Master Course/Joint Doctorate scholarship, you are not eligible for an additional EMJMD scholarship. You also cannot benefit from another EU-funded scholarship scheme while you are receiving an EMJMD scholarship. Annually, each student candidate can apply for an EMJMD scholarship to a maximum number of three different joint programmes, Erasmus Mundus Master’s Courses and Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate Programmes combined.

The comprehensive eligibility criteria

The EMJMD student scholarships will include student participation costs (including the consortium fees and full insurance coverage), a contribution to student travel and installation cost and a subsistence allowance for the entire duration of the EMJMD study programme. Details on the EMJMD student scholarship amounts are given below:

Contribution to the participation costs

8 500 EUR per year per scholarship holder from a Partner Country
4 250 EUR per year per scholarship holder from a Programme Country

Contribution to travel and installation costs

1 000 EUR per year per scholarship holder resident in a Programme Country for travel costs.
2 000 EUR per year for travel costs + 1 000 EUR for installation costs for a scholarship holder, resident in a Partner Country less than 4000 km from the EMJMD coordinating HEI.
3 000 EUR per year for travel costs + 1 000 EUR for installation costs for a scholarship holder, resident in a Partner Country 4 000 km or more from the EMJMD coordinating HEI.

Contribution to the subsistence costs

1 000 EUR per month for the entire duration of the EMJMD study programme (24 months maximum). Contribution to subsistence costs will not be given to the scholarship holders for the EMJMD periods (study/research/placement/thesis preparation) spent in their country of residence, nor to scholarship holders from a Partner Country for the EMJMD periods exceeding one trimester (i.e. 3 months or the equivalent of 15 ECTS credits) spent in any Partner Country.

EMJMD scholarships for students from Partner Countries

The above scholarships (max. 48 000 EUR) can be applied by the students whose citizenship is one of the Erasmus+ Partner Countries (see above). Partner Country students who are not residents nor have carried out their main activity (studies, training or work) for more than a total of 12 months over the last five years in any Programme Country are considered as Partner Country students. The five-year reference period for this 12-month rule is calculated backwards from the submission deadline of applying for an EMJMD scholarship.

Students with Partner Country citizenship who do not fulfil the Partner Country criteria defined above (12-month rule) count as Programme Country students. Students with a double nationality (of a Partner and of a Programme Country) must specify the nationality under which they submit their application.

Individuals who have already benefited from an Erasmus Mundus Master’s Course scholarship are not eligible for a second scholarship in order to follow the same or another Erasmus Mundus Master’s Course. Students benefiting from an Erasmus Mundus scholarship cannot benefit from another Community grant while pursuing their Erasmus Mundus Master’s studies.

A maximum of three students with the same nationality per Category can be awarded an EMJMD scholarship.

EMJMD scholarships for students from Programme Countries

The above scholarships (max. 39 500 EUR) can be applied by the students whose citizenship is one of the Erasmus+ Programme Countries (see above).

Students with a Partner country citizenship who do not fulfil the Partner Country criteria defined above (12-month rule) also count as Programme Country students. Students with a dual nationality (of a Partner and of a Programme Country) must specify the nationality under which they submit their application.

A maximum of three students with the same nationality per Category can be awarded an EMJMD scholarship

Self-paying students

Accepted self-paying students are highly encouraged to apply for scholarships or a student loan from other sources or to be prepared to fund their studies by themselves. Working while studying is challenging due to the mobility elements of the MSc European Forestry programme and also in general it is very difficult to get a working place. Therefore, it is advised to start looking for different scholarships and e.g. to contact potential sponsors in one’s home country; forest industry or forest-related organisations and in the ministry of education etc. Check also the scholarship portal.

Accepted self-paying students who are not Erasmus Mundus scholarship holders are also able to apply for an Erasmus+ traineeship grant (300–350 EUR per month) for the applied period and maybe also an Erasmus+ grant for studies (200–250 EUR per month) for conducting studies in one of the MSc EF partner universities outside Finland during the second academic year in case these have not been used already for another master’s degree. Some second-year universities might have some restrictions, however. More information and instructions on how to apply for these will be shared during the first academic year.

In addition, Erasmus+ Master Degree Loans are EU-guaranteed loans with favourable pay-back terms that can help you finance a Master course in an Erasmus+ Programme country.

Living costs and travelling

Studying and living in Europe is relatively inexpensive. Prices for food and accommodation are reasonable and one can live adequately with just 600–700 EUR per month. For example, in Joensuu (Finland) a room in a student flat costs about 250 EUR per month and a warm meal from within the university campus area is about 3 EUR.

One of the distinguishing features of the MSc European Forestry programme is mobility. During the study periods all students get to visit all the Consortium countries in Europe. One might think that travelling around Europe is costly and not suitable for a student budget, but:

Firstly, MSc European Forestry pays for travels during the European Forestry Field Course all the way from Romania through Austria, Germany and France to Spain.

Secondly, there are several budget airlines in Europe and most of the trains and buses provide 50% discount for students.

Insurance

All accepted students need to have proof of adequate health insurance for the whole duration of their studies (also a requirement for the Finnish residence permit).

For students starting in August 2018, insurance coverage will be included in the consortium fee. The provided insurance is the Marsh Erasmus Mundus Protect & Assist package (EMPA).

For students starting in August 2019 and 2020, insurance coverage will be included in the consortium fee. The provided insurance is the Marsh Erasmus Mundus Student Protection (EMSP).

For students starting in August 2021, 2022 and 2023, insurance coverage will be included in the consortium fee. The provided insurance is provided by DR-Walter.