HiLIFE Research Trainee Scholarships

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Do you dream of working one day as a scientist? Wait no longer!

HiLIFE Research Trainee Scholarships provide exciting opportunities to follow your scientific curiosity. The scholarships are granted once per year, allowing you to complete hands-on research training on a topic that sparks your interest, locally in Helsinki or in another inspiring location. 

Why should you consider applying for the grant?

Practical research training during undergraduate BSc, MSc, and Lic (Med, Vet Med, Dentistry) studies can be an empowering experience. HiLIFE Research Trainee Scholarships offer an opportunity to conduct a research training period at a life science research group as a part of your studies (particularly BSc/MSc/Lic thesis). The selected research group can be either at the University of Helsinki or at another research institution in Finland or abroad.

The HiLIFE Research Trainee Scholarships will provide financial support for a three-month training period (€1 600 / full working month) for a maximum of 20 students.

Read more about the experiences of other trainees in the HiLIFE Research Trainee Scholarships blog. 

Who is eligible to apply?

This programme is open to all BSc/MSc/Lic students studying life sciences at the University of Helsinki. Although students enrolled in life science faculties will have priority, students from other UH faculties can also apply, provided they have a project related to life science research.

Life Science faculties at the University of Helsinki are: 

  • Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry
  • Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences
  • Faculty of Pharmacy
  • Faculty of Medicine
  • Faculty of Science
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

The scholarship is intended for students who are starting a new internship and who will use the scholarship-funded training period as part of their studies, for example, to complete their MSc thesis. Moreover, the scholarship cannot be used to carry out research after you have completed your MSc/Lic degree, nor can it be a reason to delay the completion of your degree.

If you intend to apply for a position abroad, you should agree on the host research group already at the application stage. Please ensure you attach an invitation letter from the PI to your application. You can share our “Info Letter for Hosting Research Groups” & “Research Trainee Scholarships Introduction Letter” with the PI, so that both parties are aware of the roles and requirements for the three-month internship period. 

Also, if selected for a position outside the University of Helsinki, you will have to obtain a co-supervisor from UH and purchase Health Insurance for the duration of your internship. Please also note that Switzerland is not among the countries eligible for this type of internship, due to administrative challenges.

Selection criteria:

  • Grades (You can order a transcript of studies in Sisu. Note: if you have just started your master's studies and have no records in Sisu, you can upload records from your previous degree)
  • CV (max. 2 pages)
  • Motivation letter (max. 1 page) where you are expected to describe your motivation to do research and how the internship would benefit your future career. Also, tell us about the research topic that particularly interests you and define an outstanding question in that field. Finally, elaborate on your previous research experience (if any) and practical skills acquired
  • Progress of your studies (priority will be given to students who are on track in completing their degree within the expected time frame, i.e. 3 years for BSc, 2 years for MSc, and 5 years for Lic. Med./Vet. Med./Dentistry)
  • Video interview for shortlisted candidates (invitations will be sent after the first-round evaluations). 

The selection committee is composed of HiLIFE researchers from different life science fields and career levels.

How to apply?

Applications are to be sent by filling out this elomake form where you will be able to attach the above-mentioned three attachments (transcript, CV, motivation letter). All material included in the application should be in English and in PDF format. 

The application period is between October 1 and 29, 2025. Applications close at 23.59 EET, and late applications will not be considered.

Timeline:

  • Application period October 1 - 29, 2025
  • Video interviews for the shortlisted candidates during November 14 – 23, 2025
  • Selected trainees announced by December 3
  • The internship must be conducted between mid-January 2026 and December 2026

Selected trainees will commit to:

  • Handling the internship communications with the selected research group independently (HiLIFE EDU can offer advice, but the aim here is to give the Trainees the experience of how it is to “seal the deal” for the position)
  • Working full time on the research project during their internship
  • Attending the info session on December 15 at 3.00 - 4.00 pm EET in meeting room 3, below ground, Biomedicum 1, Meilahti campus
  • Participating in three science communication workshops organized jointly with The Science Basement in early 2026. The specific dates will be announced within a few weeks’ time.
    • Creative science writing
    • How to prepare for a (podcast) interview
    • Communicating science through social media
  • Publishing a self-introduction post in HiLIFE Trainee Instagram and writing two blog posts for the HiLIFE Trainee blog

More information about the programme:

An information event was held on Monday, October 6, 2025, 3.00 - 4.00 pm EEST, in room K1048, Info Centre Korona, Viikki campus. Here are the slides, in case you wish to revise the details or you could not make it to the session.

You may also send enquiries to hilife-edu@helsinki.fi.

Please note that all the Trainee Scholarship-related events and communication will be in English, as it is the official working language of HiLIFE.

Frequently asked questions (updated 1.10.2025):

What is HiLIFE?

HiLIFE is a new life science institute at the University of Helsinki established in 2017 supporting high quality research across campuses and life science faculties. HiLIFE builds on existing strengths and new recruits and partnerships to create an attractive international environment for solving grand challenges in health, food and the environment. HiLIFE operates across faculties that conduct research and education in life sciences. https://www.helsinki.fi/en/helsinki-institute-of-life-science/about

Who can participate, and how is life science defined?

The program is intended for students interested in life science research that are enrolled in BSc, MSc, or Lic (Med, Vet Med, Dentistry) Degree Programs at the University of Helsinki. Students from the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Science and Faculty of Medicine will have priority in the call, however students from other UH faculties can also apply provided they have a project related to life science research.

Exchange students are excluded from this call, with the exception of Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters programme, where the students will be completing significant part of the degree at the University of Helsinki.

Note for Lic students – the scholarships are aimed at those who have not yet registered for doctoral studies. 

What are the criteria to apply for an internship outside the University of Helsinki?

If selected for a position at another Finnish institution or abroad, you will have to have an invitation from the host group already at the application stage. You will also need to obtain a co-supervisor from UH and purchase Health Insurance for the duration of your internship. 

Please also note that Switzerland is not among the countries eligible for this type of scholarship, due to administrative challenges. Also, some internships in Singapore and the United States have proven to be challenging to organize due to governmental and institution-specific regulations, however, we have not ruled these destinations out of the scope.

The 2026 HiLIFE Research Trainee Scholarship offer does not include travel support to/from the internship destination, so the students heading elsewhere need to have own means to cover these costs.

Can I apply again, if I have already received the HiLIFE Research Trainee Scholarship?

We have limited number of scholarships available each year, thus, we would prefer to offer the opportunity to those applicants, who have not already received the scholarship. You are welcome to apply, but please acknowledge that it is likely for us to prioritize the applicants who have not received the support before.

Can I apply for this scholarship if I want to extend my stay at a research group?

The scholarship is mainly intended for students who are starting a new internship and not extending an existing one. You can still submit your application, but priority will be given to students starting a new research project.

Do I have to conduct the internship within one time period?

Yes, the 3 months internship cannot be split into multiple instances with breaks in between. If you are under extraordinary conditions restricting you from having the internship in one go in full time, we can consider exchanging part of the internship to part-time work. This has to be approved by the selected research group. If any special request, make sure to indicate these in your application. Full-time and -length internships are preferred.

I want to try out different types of research. Can I split the internship for conducting research on two groups instead of one?

We highly recommend selecting just one group for the 3 months internship period, as it will give you a more in-depth view of the research topic. Also, this is often preferred by the research groups. However, if the types of research you wish to conduct are offered within the same research group/lab, and both PIs are agreeing on the arrangement, this option can be considered. Please state in your application how you would make such an arrangement work.

Can this scholarship be used for conducting internships at a start-up or other industry-based organization?

Although we would like to see the scholarship opportunities expanding to life science start-ups in the future, at the moment the scholarship is only offered to be used within academia. If a research group is involved in company collaboration, this can be incorporated into the internship, however, the contracting and other official arrangements have to be made through the research group.

Can I apply to this scholarship if I have already completed (or I am in the process of completing) my MSc/Lic thesis?

No, the scholarship cannot be used to carry out research after you have completed your MSc/Lic thesis. Also note, that the scholarship should not delay the completion of your degree.

Can I get credits for this training period?

It is strongly encouraged that you try to implement the HiLIFE traineeship as a part of your degree, either as practical training or as part of your thesis. However, policies differ between different study programmes. Therefore, you should consult the guidelines of your study programme to find out how to credit this period as a part of your degree. 

What if I have 1-2 courses overlapping my internship period? Am I unable to apply for the scholarship?

Often minimal overlaps of a few hours here and there can be agreed with the research group. More important is to think about the quality of delivered research work, your trainee experience and study performance, if you have multiple commitments at the same time.

Why should I consider applying?

This is an opportunity to work as a part of a research group on a topic that you find fascinating. You are expected to learn new things and improve your analytical, communication, teamwork and technical skills. You will build new personal and professional connections and experience what it is like to be a member of the academic research group. If you are selected, you will be offered a monthly salary/grant (depending on location) covering the living costs. 

Where can I start looking for research groups?

The webpages of University of Helsinki Life Science departments and research institutions are a good way to source what type of research is conducted. 

A good way to find a suitable research group abroad is to check the corresponding authors of publications you find interesting. If you are planning to do the internship abroad, check out the HiLIFE Trainees Blog for inspiration. 

What happens if I cannot secure a position at a research group?

This is very rare, but in case there are challenges to obtain a position, we can provide support. Any adjustments to the planned internship dates will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis. It is very important to keep us updated during the process.

How are the applications evaluated?

In the first round, the applications will be scored independently by the HiLIFE EDU selection committee. They will look for curious, ambitious, independent, and self-reliant students. The evaluation focuses on your previous success in studies and, especially, on your motivation letter. The best ranked applicants will proceed to the second round, where the selection committee will utilize video interviews in making the final decisions.

Who will be in the HiLIFE EDU selection committee?

The HiLIFE EDU committee includes researchers from different HiLIFE units, representing different disciplines of life sciences as well as career levels. Please pay attention to this while writing your motivation letter and aim to convey the key points of your research in a clear and concise manner to the evaluators.

Do you provide support for work continuation at the research group after the internship has ended?

We cannot guarantee that the research group would provide employment opportunities afterwards, nor do we have a grant for that purpose. However, performing well in the research and actively networking with the research group has provided further opportunities for some of our scholarship recipients. Our tips are to complete your research tasks well, be active and demonstrate that you would be interested in continuing the research.

What will I learn during the science communication workshops?

The three workshops organized jointly with The Science Basement will teach you how to communicate complex scientific information and ideas in a creative and engaging way, and how to utilize different media channels. During the first workshop, you will learn the key elements of a blog post, how to use storytelling in science, as well as a few good practices for peer-review. The second workshop will delve deeper into preparing for an (podcast) interview - an important situation for every scientist to handle. The third (and final workshop) focuses on how to communicate science on social media, especially X and Instagram.