Sibelius Academy Global Music Scholarship

Sibelius Academy Global Music Scholarship is a need-based award funded by the Elsa Brule Centre for Global Music and Community Engagement at Uniarts Helsinki. It provides financial support to non-EU/EEA students in the Global Music program to cover tuition fees, relocation costs, and living expenses in Finland.

How Sibelius Academy Global Music Scholarship Works

The Sibelius Academy is part of Uniarts Helsinki (University of the Arts Helsinki) in Finland. It is one of Europe's most respected music institutions. The Global Music program is a specialized department that welcomes students from diverse cultural and musical backgrounds. The next possible time to apply for admission is January 2026, with studies beginning in August 2026.

The Global Music scholarship is funded by the Elsa Brule Centre for Global Music and Community Engagement. It is intended for students who would otherwise not be able to begin or continue Global Music studies at the Sibelius Academy.

Important update for August 2026 onward: Uniarts Helsinki has significantly changed its tuition fee structure. Students starting in August 2026 or later face an annual tuition fee of 28,000 EUR. The university has stated that it does not have a scholarship programme related to the full-cost tuition fee for students starting in August 2026 or later. Students who began their studies before August 2026 retain their previous fee structure (5,000 EUR for those who started between August 2017 and December 2024, or 12,000 EUR for those who started between January 2025 and July 2026). A waiver programme exists for pre-August 2026 students but will be terminated by July 2030.

Applicants from outside the EU, EEA, or Switzerland must also pay a 100 EUR application fee collected by the Finnish National Agency for Education.

Eligibility requirements:

• Must be a Global Music student coming from outside the EU/EEA
• Must not have access to other financial support for studies in Finland
• Must be progressing with studies within normative target graduation times
• Scholarships may be applied for annually

The scholarship can be used to cover:

• Tuition fees (for non-EU/EEA students, annual tuition is 28,000 EUR from August 2026; however, the university has stated it does not offer a scholarship programme covering the full tuition fee for students starting August 2026 or later)
• Relocation expenses to Finland
• Other living expenses needed to begin or continue studies

The scholarship application period typically runs in early September. For 2023, it was September 1 to 10. Students apply through the Global Music Department.

There are different scholarship categories:

• For new first-year bachelor or master students who have not received a Finland scholarship or similar: the scholarship can cover relocation, living expenses, and first-year tuition fees. The remaining portion is paid to a Finnish bank account after arrival in Finland.
• For new master's students who have received a Finland scholarship: the scholarship can cover relocation and living expenses.

The Sibelius Academy also participates in the Nordplus program for the Nordic Master in Folk Music. Students in this program receive a 1,000 EUR Nordplus study grant for studies abroad. The program rotates between the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, the Danish National Academy of Music in Esbjerg, the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, and the Ole Bull Academy in Voss, Norway.

Real-World Example

A musician from Brazil accepted into the Global Music Master's program would face an annual tuition fee of 28,000 EUR. Without scholarship support, this would be prohibitive. They would apply for the Global Music scholarship in September. If awarded, the scholarship could cover their full tuition fee of 28,000 EUR plus an additional amount for relocation and living expenses. The relocation component might cover flights to Finland (approximately 1,000 EUR) and first-month housing deposits. The total scholarship value could exceed 30,000 EUR for the first year. They would need a Finnish bank account to receive the living expense portion.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you are a musician from outside the EU/EEA interested in studying global music, folk music, or world music traditions, the Sibelius Academy offers a unique program. The Global Music scholarship can make attendance financially feasible. The 28,000 EUR annual tuition fee is a significant barrier, and this scholarship is designed specifically to remove that barrier.

Apply for admission to the Global Music program first. Once admitted, apply for the scholarship during the September application period. Open a Finnish bank account as soon as you arrive, as scholarship funds cannot be paid to foreign bank accounts. If you are interested in folk music specifically, also explore the Nordic Master in Folk Music program, which includes the 1,000 EUR Nordplus grant and study opportunities across four Nordic countries.

Drawbacks / Things to Consider

The scholarship situation has changed significantly for students starting in August 2026 or later. Uniarts Helsinki has stated that it does not have a scholarship programme related to the full-cost tuition fee of 28,000 EUR for new students. The Elsa Brule Centre scholarship may still provide some support for relocation and living expenses, but it is unclear whether it will cover the full tuition fee. Students who began before August 2026 retain their previous fee structure and waiver programme, but that programme ends by July 2030.

The scholarship is specifically for Global Music students from outside the EU/EEA. Students in other Sibelius Academy programs (classical performance, composition, jazz, etc.) may not be eligible. The annual tuition fee of 28,000 EUR for non-EU/EEA students is high. Living expenses in Helsinki are significant. The scholarship application period is short (approximately 10 days in September). You must have a Finnish bank account to receive living expense funds. The scholarship must be reapplied for annually. Continued funding depends on progressing within normative graduation times. The Global Music program is specialized and may not suit musicians focused on Western classical tradition. The 100 EUR application fee is non-refundable.

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• Visit Sibelius Academy to apply