Master's Degree Programme for Research Chemists

Admissions criteria

In 2024, a maximum of 20 students will be selected into the programme. The application period opens on 3 January 2024 and closes on 17 January 2024 at 15.00 (EEST). The applicants need to apply through the national Studyinfo portal at studyinfo.fi. Each applicant can only fill in and submit one application form in the joint application.

Eligibility criteria 

You can apply to the Master’s Programme for Research Chemists if you meet the following criteria:

• You have completed a bachelor's or master's degree in chemistry or chemical engineering corresponding to at least 3 years of full-time academic studies from an institution of higher education at an internationally recognized university in Finland or abroad. Alternatively, you should graduate during the spring semester and be able to deliver your final degree certificate by August 8, 2024, at the latest. An applicable degree from a recognized Finnish university of applied sciences is also accepted. Your degree should include a sufficient amount of chemistry laboratory courses.
• You have sufficient skills in English. Details of English language requirements are described below.

Language requirements

Applicants must either (1) meet the language proficiency criteria (see below), or (2) reach the minimum required language test results to be considered eligible to the University of Eastern Finland. No exceptions will be made and no waivers to the language proficiency requirements are given.

(1) Applicants who hold one of the following do not have to take an English language test

Previous education or higher education has been completed in English in EU/EEA -countries, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand or in Switzerland. If the applicant has completed his/her studies in English in the above-mentioned countries, applicant must include the official statement of his/her’s educational institution that the medium of the instruction has been English.

Online studies or studies completed on offshore campuses outside the accepted countries/area cannot be used to indicate language skills, even if the degree-awarding institution is in one of the accepted countries.

(2) All other applicants have to take one of the following language tests

• TOEFL iBT, overall score 92, min. 22 in writing
• IELTS (academic) overall score 6.5, min. 6.0 in writing
• PTE (academic), overall score 62, min 54 in writing
• C1 Advanced overall score C or 180, with min. 162 in writing
• C2 Proficiency overall score level C1 or 180, with min. 162 in writing
• National Certificate of Language Proficiency YKI-test: level 5 in all different subtests (reading comprehension, writing and speaking). It is possible to combine different examinations.

If the result of the language test is below the required minimum, the application will not be considered for the admission.

No other degrees or statements of language proficiency will be accepted.

TOEFL, IELTS and PTE certificates are valid for two years from the day they are issued, i.e. the language test need to be in effect during the application period, from 3 January 2022 onwards.

The required enclosures need to be uploaded electronically to the application by 24 January 2024 at 3 pm (EEST) at the latest. UEF does not process application documents that have arrived after the deadline. All enclosures are compulsory for the selection process. If an enclosure is missing, the application won't be evaluated.

Certificates

• The original degree certificate (in the original language) and an English, Finnish or Swedish translation of the degree certificate (scanned document)
• The original transcript of records (in the original language) and an English, Finnish or Swedish translation of the transcript of records. The transcript should include the course units, their completion time, grades, and credits awarded, and information on the grading scale used at the institution (scanned document)
• Scanned copy of the identification page of your passport (not required from Finnish applicants).
• Certificate or proof of English language skills. (See admission requirements)

Statements

• Motivational letter
• At least two letters of recommendation from your previous academic instructors.

Student selection procedure

The admission process in the master's degree Programme for Research Chemists aims at a fair selection of high-quality applicants. Student selection is based on the application documents and an evaluation of how the applicant's skills and competences gained during their previous academic studies correspond to the master's studies they have applied for. Meeting the minimum application requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the programme.

Applicants will be ranked according to the selection criteria, and the top 20 applicants will be accepted into the program, while the rest of the applicants will be rejected. The programme may accept more applicants at its discretion to fulfill the available study places in the programme. Applicants will not be placed on a waiting list.

The applications will be graded using the following criteria (1-100 points):

1. Relevance and extent of chemistry studies in the degree (0-40 points):

• Relevance and topicality of completed studies to the applied programme.
• Amount of completed chemistry studies.

2. Academic performance (0-30 points):

• Grading of completed courses (grading scale of the institution should be included in the application).

3. Motivation letter (0-20 points): In the motivation letter, the applicant should explain why she/he is the perfect candidate for this programme. Applicant should answer at least the following topics:

• Briefly describe study and work history.
• Demonstrate recognition of the field of education they are applying for.
• Show familiarity with the university and the program they are applying to.
• Express interest in chemistry education and research (e.g., specific research topics of interest).
• Describe any experience in laboratory work during their previous degree.
• Outline their future goals.

    The maximum length of the motivation letter is 2 pages.

4. Letters of recommendation (0-10 points):

• Freshness of the letters of recommendation.
• Recommender (must be someone who has supervised and taught the applicant during the previous studies).
• The letter should express an assessment of the applicant's suitability for the programme.

The final selection is based on the combined scores from different sections. The applicant must score at least 1 point in each section.

Selection results

Results for studies starting in September 2024 will be published on 12th April 2024 at the latest. When the selection decision has been made, the results will be sent immediately to applicants by e-mail.

Admitted students shall inform whether they accept their study place by latest on 11th July 2024 at 3 pm (EEST) electronically via Studyinfo portal or by submitting the confirmation form to hakijapalvelut@uef.fi.

According to One study place per term provision, a student may accept only one study place leading to a higher education degree in Finland during one academic term. This rule applies to all higher education.

The annual tuition fee for non-EU/EEA citizens is 8 000 euros. The tuition fee will be paid in two separate instalments.

All new non- EU/EEA students who have applied for scholarship in the application form will receive a scholarship (tuition waiver) which is 50% of the annual tuition fee. The scholarship is granted for two years if student fulfils the requirements of the student agreement. EU/EEA students are exempt from tuition fees.

The early bird deduction (500 euros) of tuition fee is available for students who will pay the first instalment of tuition fee no later than May 3rd 2024.

Scholarships for living costs are not available.

Finland scholarship

UEF will grant a Finland Scholarship (Suomi-stipendi) of € 5 000 for the two best applicants in each Master's Degree programme. The Finland Scholarship is granted for the first year of Master’s studies and the students who receive it must be non-EU/EEA citizens who are liable to pay tuition fees. The total value of the Finland Scholarship is € 13 000. The Finland Scholarship includes:

• 100 % tuition waiver for the first year's tuition fee (value € 8 000)
• € 5 000 relocation grant 

The scholarship is a one-year scholarship for first-year Master’s students. For the second year of study, students need to secure sufficient funds themselves. The programme's general tuition waivers will be offered for the second-year studies.  

More general information about Finland Scholarship can be found form here: https://www.uef.fi/en/tuition-fees-waivers-and-scholarships