Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland > Scholarships and grants
Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland > Scholarships and grants
Gunnar Bäcklund’s sextet outside Keltsu in Vaasa, 1967. Image: Rafael Olin. SLS/Rafael Olins Fotosamling
Applications for scholarships and grants can be made by individuals and organisations.
In February, you can apply for scholarships for scientific research, other specific purposes and travel grants.
Doctoral students, PhD’s and associate professors (docent) can apply for a scholarship.
Doctoral students should attach a certificate of enrolment for a doctoral degree. Doctors should attach a certificate of completion of their doctoral degree. A non-doctoral candidate can apply for a postdoctoral research grant if the statements of the preliminary reviewers are available. The statements should be attached to the application.
The SLS Scholarly Board determines annually for what time period a grant can be awarded. The duration can vary from six to 48 months and is stated in the application form. Both shorter and longer grant periods may be considered, but SLS aims to prioritise multi-year grant periods.
Working grants can be applied for in the following scientific fields:
Researchers in all fields of humanities and social sciences can apply for a working grant. The research plan must relate to Swedish in Finland, either entirely or in the form of comparative research in which Swedish in Finland is an important part of the study. How the research relates to Swedish in Finland must be stated in the problem formulation or in the research questions. Studies concerning the Swedish period in Finnish history can be considered to fall within the scope of Swedish in Finland.
Research results can be published in Swedish and other languages. There are no restrictions on the researcher’s nationality, language, or place of residence.
SLS manages a number of specialised funds that support research in the following areas:
Researchers working in Finland can apply for a grant. The results can be published in Swedish and other languages.
In economics and statistics, funding is granted to Swedish-speaking citizens of Finland who conduct scientific economic research or statistical research in the field of economics, including demography. Results can be published in Swedish or other languages.
Researchers working in Finland can apply for a grant. Results can be published in Swedish or other languages. If you are interested in writing a history or seeking support for organisational activities, you can also apply for a working grant for history and documentation in environmental management and technology.
In musicology, grants are awarded for research that promotes Finnish musical life in the spirit of Fredrik Pacius. The spirit of Fredrik Pacius refers to Pacius’ life’s work: his central role in professionalising Finnish musical life, opening it to the outside world and linking it to contemporary European musical culture, and introducing and establishing new forms and structures in concert, choral and opera activities and in music education. There are no restrictions on the applicant’s nationality, language or place of residence.
In legal history, grants are awarded for research in Swedish on Swedish-Finnish law or any of its subfields, including Roman law, from a historical perspective, taking into account the special aspects of legal science.
| Applicant | per month (€) | per year (€) |
| Doctoral student | 2 700 | 32 400 |
| Doctor | 3 100 | 37 200 |
| Associate professor (docent) or doctor at docent level | 3 700 | 44 400 |
The amounts include the statutory pension and accident insurance (14% of the amount). The annual tax-free amount is €26,355.60 (2024). The grant recipient pays tax on the excess amount. The grant recipient commits to full-time research.
A research plan is part of the application and consists of the following parts: background and research situation, goals and research questions, research methods and research material, expected results, publication and how the research relates to Swedish in Finland.
The research plan should not be appended to the application.
Doctoral students applying for a working grant can include in their application request for funds for open access publishing. SLS does not grant funds for publication in hybrid journals.
Mandatory for doctoral students and doctors applying for a scholarship. The curriculum vitae must follow the model from the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity TENK.
Mandatory for doctoral students applying for a grant. The list of publications should be prepared according to the Research Council of Finland’s guidelines.
Apply for a working grant here.
The funds are granted from: Ragnar, Ester, Rolf and Margareta Bergbom’s Fund; Ingrid, Margit and Henrik Höijer’s Donation Fund I; Ingrid, Margit and Henrik Höijer’s Donation Fund II; Selma, Ingrid and Lars Wasastjerna’s Fund; Hjördis and Arvid Standertskjöld’s Memorial Fund; Gösta Schybergson’s Donation Fund; The Founders’ Fund (Stiftarnas fond); Karl Emil Tollander’s Donation Fund; Sten and Ebba Wasastjerna’s Fund for Legal History Research and the Lars and Ernst Krogius Brothers’ Research Fund.
Individuals and organisations can apply for a grant or subsidy for histories of municipalities, villages, farms, associations and organisations, or to document the history of a family or individual.
Funding is also available for popular science works in the humanities, and for documentation and information in environmental management and technology.
Grants and subsidies are only awarded for the remuneration or salary of writers and not for e.g., layout, printing, illustrations, exhibitions or films.
The amount of the grant cannot exceed EUR 3,100 per month without a well-justified reason.
The project plan is included in the application form and consists of the following parts: description of the project, connection to the Swedish language and the Swedish cultural heritage in Finland, preliminary outline, a short presentation of the writer(s), statement of objectives and target groups, and publication.
The curriculum vitae shall in selected parts follow the model from the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity TENK.
The funds are granted from: Ragnar, Ester, Rolf and Margareta Bergbom’s Fund; Ingrid, Margit and Henrik Höijer’s Donation Fund I; Ingrid, Margit and Henrik Höijer’s Donation Fund II; Selma, Ingrid and Lars Wasastjerna’s Fund; Hjördis and Arvid Standertskjöld’s Memorial Fund; Gösta Schybergson’s Donation Fund; The Founders’ Fund (Stiftarnas fond); Karl Emil Tollander’s Donation Fund.
Grants for professional artists who are Finnish citizens with a Swedish educational language.
The grant cannot exceed EUR 3,100 euro per month without a well-justified reason.
The application must include a description of the project and an account of the goals and target groups. A curriculum vitae is mandatory.
Funds are granted from the Fund for Finnish Swedish Visual Artists and Composers.
Funds in music are granted to musicians, researchers or organisations for:
Artistic activity or research that promotes Finnish musical life in the spirit of Fredrik Pacius.
Research and publication of works about Pacius.
Extensive performances of Pacius’ works.
The spirit of Fredrik Pacius refers to Pacius’ life’s work: his central role in professionalising Finnish musical life, opening it to the outside world and linking it to contemporary European musical culture, and introducing and establishing new forms and structures in concert, choral and opera activities and in music education.
Accordingly, grants can be given both to new trends in musical life and to the preservation, exploration and dissemination of musical heritage. Activities may be cross-border, innovative, professional, knowledge-building and knowledge-spreading.
There are no restrictions on the applicant’s nationality, language or place of residence.
The funds are granted from the Fredrik Pacius Memorial Fund.
Funds in composition are granted to professional musicians who are Finnish citizens with a Swedish educational language.
The grant cannot exceed EUR 3,100 euro per month without a well-justified reason.
The application must include a description of the project and an account of the goals and target groups. A curriculum vitae is mandatory.
Funds are granted from the Fund for Finnish Swedish Visual Artists and Composers.
Funding is available for the organisation of scientific conferences and seminars. Only organisations can apply. The event must be related to the Swedish language in Finland.
Funding is granted to cover the travel costs of speakers and their fees. In addition, funding may be granted for costs related to the organisation of the event itself (e.g. venue hire, conference assistants’ fees and marketing). However, grants are not available for catering during the seminar or for conference dinners. To be eligible for funding, applications must be accompanied by a detailed budget and a statement of the purpose of the conference.
The funds are granted from: Ragnar, Ester, Rolf and Margareta Bergbom’s Fund; Ingrid, Margit and Henrik Höijer’s Donation Fund I; Ingrid, Margit and Henrik Höijer’s Donation Fund II; Selma, Ingrid and Lars Wasastjerna’s Fund; Hjördis and Arvid Standertskjöld’s Memorial Fund; Gösta Schybergson’s Donation Fund; The Founders’ Fund (Stiftarnas fond); Karl Emil Tollander’s Donation Fund.
Grants can be awarded to institutions or projects that support the Swedish language among bilinguals and increase understanding of Finland-Swedish endeavours in our society. Priority is given to projects that highlight the Swedish language among those who speak Finnish or other languages. Note: Grants are not awarded for a doctoral thesis or other scientific research.
The funds are granted from Bo Backström’s Fund.
Funding can be granted for scientific journals published in the Swedish language in Finland or for bilingual journals (Swedish and Finnish) in Finland. Grants can also be given to journals in Nordic languages that are important publication channels for Finnish researchers. The journals must have a link to the humanities or social sciences.
The funds are granted from: Ragnar, Ester, Rolf and Margareta Bergbom’s Fund; Ingrid, Margit and Henrik Höijer’s Donation Fund I; Ingrid, Margit and Henrik Höijer’s Donation Fund II; Selma, Ingrid and Lars Wasastjerna’s Fund; Hjördis and Arvid Standertskjöld’s Memorial Fund; Gösta Schybergson’s Donation Fund; The Founders’ Fund (Stiftarnas fond); Karl Emil Tollander’s Donation Fund.
Travel grants for studies and research can be granted to students and young researchers in the field of Nordic languages at the University of Helsinki who wish to visit other Nordic universities, preferably Uppsala University, if the purpose of the trip is to study or research. The grant can be awarded to applicants whose mother tongue is Swedish or Finnish.
The funds are granted from Professor Carl-Eric Thors’ Scholarship Fund.
Travel grants to successful Finland-Swedish medical students and candidates for supplementary studies or courses abroad. Scholarships can be applied for by students at a university in Finland.
The funds are granted from Carl-Johan von Troil’s Memorial Fund.
Grants are awarded to Swedish-speaking students in marine technology or marine engineering at university, other higher education institution, or college level for studies or practical training abroad.
The funds are granted from the Lennart Engström’s Scholarship Fund.
Scholarships of EUR 2,000 are available for work on a master’s thesis dealing with culture in Finland, or Swedish 18th century or Swedish Romanticism.
Scholarships can be applied for by students at a university or other higher education institution in Finland who have had meritorious success in their studies.
Attach a certificate of academic achievement. In the application form, ask your supervisor for a statement. The supervisor must confirm in the statement that the applicant is working on a Master’s thesis on the topic indicated in the application.
Scholarship holders are not required to submit a report, but a link to the completed master’s thesis should be sent to forskning@sls.fi.
Funds are granted from Holger Frykenstedt’s Scholarship Fund.
Publicists can apply for a grant for further studies or training.
Funds are granted from the Arvid Neovius Fund.
At Drakamöllan, an old Skåne farm in Österlen in southern Sweden, a Nordic meeting place for researchers and opinion leaders has been created. The forum aims to strengthen the historical ties between the Nordic countries and create new contact areas and platforms across borders.
Rread more and apply here.
Publishers, associations, and organisations that publish literature in Finland can apply for printing and translation grants. Private individuals living in Finland can also apply.
Read more and apply here.
You can apply for a Writer’s Residency Grant at any time of the year.
Fiction and non-fiction writers in Finland who write in Swedish can apply for a residency grant for a stay in Nordic countries for 1–4 weeks. The grant is awarded for writing, visiting libraries, archives, and publishers, or for other well-justified reasons. The grant amount is €1,500 per week. The applicant is free to choose their accommodation (hotel or other).
The grant is not awarded for scientific research or for a stay in Finland.
The grant can be applied for continuously. Applications are submitted in SLS’s electronic application system, where the applicant submits a plan and timing for the stay. Decisions are made by SLS’s scientific council once a month (pause in June–August).
After the stay, the grantee submits a report on how the grant has been used.
Funding is granted from Bo Carleskog’s Donation Fund, Irma Carrell’s Donation Fund, and the Harald and Jenny Neovius Memorial Fund.
Contact Nina Edgren-Henrichson
+358 40 152 2425
nina.edgren-henrichson@sls.fi
Contact Ruth Illman
Head of Research
+358 50 517 5917
ruth.illman@sls.fi
Contact Tara Nyberg
Grant Coordinator
+358 45 136 4188
tara.nyberg@sls.fi
You can submit your application in Swedish, Norwegian, Danish or English in the SLS electronic application system. When the application round is open, you can read the application form via the “Preview application form” function before you start filling in the application.
The applicant and the beneficiary of the grant must be the same person or organisation. When an organisation applies for funding, the organisation number (Business ID) is indicated in the applicant profile.
Do you need help? Contact us at forskning@sls.fi.
We notify all applicants by email. We do not justify or comment on positive or negative decisions.
Our Scholarly Board decides which scholarships and grants will be awarded, after consultation with committees and experts. For February calls, decisions are usually made in May and for September calls, usually in November.
We have answered the most frequently asked questions about scholarships and grants on this page.