Scholarships Committee Operating Guidelines

These guidelines for Metropolia University of Applied Sciences' scholarships (the " Guidelines") describe Metropolia University of Applied Sciences Ltd's ("Metropolia") scholarship system, the composition of the Scholarships Committee, the matters it deals with, and the initiation and processing of matters in the Scholarships Committee.

These Guidelines were approved by decision of the Director responsible for the continuous learning at Metropolia on 17 December 2025. The Guidelines will enter into force on 1 January 2026 and will apply to scholarship applications processed immediately after their entry into force. 

In addition to these Guidelines, activities at Metropolia are governed by 

• Metropolia's degree regulations
• Metropolia's study guidelines
• Metropolia's rules of procedure
• applicable legislation, in particular the Universities of Applied Sciences Act (932/2014)
• general ethical principles and supplementary professional ethical guidelines. 

In accordance with Section 3 of Metropolia's rules of procedure, Metropolia's Board of Directors decides on the scholarship system, the main principles for awarding scholarships, the maximum amount and the size of scholarships. In accordance with the Limited Liability Companies Act (624/2006), the President and CEO is responsible for the day-to-day management of the company and, in accordance with the Universities of Applied Sciences Act, is responsible for the operations of the university of applied sciences and decides on matters relating to it that are not assigned to another body. 

All of Metropolia's activities are based on its strategy and jointly defined values. The Code of Conduct, which is derived from our values, defines the rules that each and every one at Metropolia must follow. Metropolia's value base consists of the following:

• Towards a sustainable future
• With an orientation on solution
• With competence renewal
• With a human touch 

2.1 Scholarship system for degree students who began their studies on or after 1 August 2024

University of Applied Sciences Bachelor's Degree

Metropolia awards scholarships to students who have started their studies on or after 1 August 2024 and, while residing and studying in Finland, are completing a university of applied sciences degree, are liable to pay Metropolia's tuition fees and are not exempt from paying tuition fees, based on their completion of Metropolia's Finnish language courses (Finnish 1, Finnish 2, Finnish 3 and Finnish 4) and the Finnish language proficiency test (YKI general language proficiency test). 

Students may be awarded scholarships as follows: 

• A scholarship of €1,000 if they complete the Finnish 1 and Finnish 2 courses with a grade of at least 3.
• A scholarship of €2,000 if they complete the Finnish 3 and Finnish 4 courses with a grade of at least 3.
• A scholarship of €3,000 if the student completes the Finnish language proficiency test at a level of at least B1.

The Finnish language courses and language proficiency tests that qualify for the scholarship must be completed during your studies at Metropolia. The scholarship must be applied while the right to study is valid, no later than the semester following the completion of the study modules or language proficiency test that qualify for the scholarship. Late applications will not be accepted. Notwithstanding the above, if a student graduates but receives a certificate of completion of the language proficiency test only after graduation, they may apply for a scholarship during the semester following graduation. A student may be awarded a scholarship once a year and a maximum of three times during their studies at a university of applied sciences, provided that if the student has already completed more advanced Finnish language courses or a language proficiency test and applied for a scholarship on this basis, they cannot be awarded a scholarship on the basis of lower-level courses.

University of Applied Sciences Master's Degree

The scholarship is awarded to students who are required to pay tuition fees at Metropolia and who are enrolled in an advanced university of applied sciences degree programme in Finland starting on or after 1 August 2024 and who are not exempt from tuition fees, based on the results of a Finnish language proficiency test (YKI general language proficiency test). The Finnish language proficiency levels are basic, intermediate and advanced. 

Students are awarded scholarship as follows: 

• A scholarship of €1,000 if they pass the basic level A1 Finnish language proficiency test.
• A scholarship of €2,000 if they pass the basic level A2 Finnish language proficiency test.
• A scholarship of €3,000 if they pass the intermediate level B1 Finnish language proficiency test.

The scholarships can only be awarded to a student once during their studies for a higher university of applied sciences degree at Metropolia and only on the basis of one language proficiency test. The language proficiency test entitling the student to the scholarship must be taken during their studies at Metropolia, and the scholarship must be applied for no later than during the academic year following the language proficiency test. Late applications will not be accepted. If a student graduates before receiving a certificate for the language proficiency test taken during their studies, they can apply for the scholarship after graduation, but during the academic year following graduation. 

2.2 Scholarship system for students who began their studies between 1 January 2019 and 31 July 2024

Metropolia awards scholarships to students who started their studies between 1 January 2019 and 31 July 2024 and are completing a bachelor's or master's degree at a university of applied sciences, based on their Finnish language skills. The scholarship can be applied during the academic year based on the Finnish language proficiency test (YKI general language proficiency test) results. The student can be awarded a maximum of one scholarship (3,000 euros) during the academic year. If a student takes several language proficiency tests during the academic year, these may be taken into account in subsequent academic years. The language proficiency test must be taken during studies at Metropolia.Language proficiency tests taken before the start of studies will not be taken into account when awarding the scholarship.

3.1 Matters to be dealt with by the Scholarships Committee

In accordance with Metropolia's rules of procedure, the Scholarships Committee reviews and decides on the awarding of individual scholarships. The Scholarships Committee decides on the criteria for awarding scholarships within the framework of the guidelines set by the Board of Directors and the President and CEO. 

3.2 Composition of the Scholarships Committee

In accordance with Metropolia's rules of procedure, the Scholarships Committee consists of three members who must be permanent employees of Metropolia. The members of the committee have personal deputies. The term of office of the Scholarships Committee is two (2) calendar years. The Board appoints the members of the Scholarships Committee and their deputies. 

In addition, a representative of the Metka student union or their personal deputy, as well as other experts if necessary, participate in the meetings of the Scholarships Committee as experts. Experts participating in the meetings have the right to speak but not to vote. 

The Scholarships Committee has a chair, vice-chair, secretary and rapporteur, who are appointed by the Board. 

If a member of the Scholarships Committee is unable to attend or has a conflict of interest in a matter, their deputy shall participate in the matter. The Scholarships Committee is competent to discuss a matter when the chairperson or vice-chairperson and one member or their deputy are present at the meeting. 

4.1 Submission

The scholarship application will be reviewed by the Scholarships Committee once the application has been submitted to Student Services in accordance with Metropolia's guidelines.  The person who receives the application will forward it to the Scholarships Committee's rapporteur. 

4.2 Preparation of the matter

Once the matter has been brought before the committee, the documents submitted by the applicant and the achievements on which the application is based are checked to ensure that the applicant has presented the original certificate and, if necessary, additional information is requested from the applicant or other parties. 

If the rapporteur finds that the scholarship application has not been made in accordance with Metropolia's guidelines, for example, it has not been submitted within the specified time limit, or fraudulent activity has been detected in the studies or documents related to the scholarship application, or the student has not submitted the required supporting documents despite a request for additional information, the Scholarships Committee will not consider the matter. Student Services will send a notification of this to the person who submitted the scholarship application. 

4.3 Consideration of the matter at the Scholarships Committee meeting

The Scholarships Committee will consider the application at its meeting on the basis of a presentation prepared by the rapporteur. The Scholarships Committee may consult experts or persons involved in the matter under consideration at the meeting. 

4.4 Decision of the Scholarships Committee

Minutes of the Scholarships Committee meeting shall be drawn up, including the decision on the scholarship. The Scholarships Committee shall either award the scholarship applied for or refuse to award the scholarship applied for. 

Student services will notify the student of the decision via their Metropolia email address or the postal address last provided by the student, if the student has requested to be notified of the decision by post.

4.5 Dissatisfaction with the decision of the Scholarships Committee

In accordance with Section 60 of the Universities of Applied Sciences Act, a decision by a university of applied sciences concerning a scholarship or subsidy cannot be appealed.

The Operating Guidelines have been updated in the areas listed below, and the changes have been approved by the director responsible for continuing education at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences in the following decisions: 

Date of decision: 17.12.2025

Effective date: 1.1.2026

Amended sections: Comprehensive renewal of the operating guidelines