How Much Does It Cost to Study in Finland? Tuition Fees and Housing

Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.

In Finland the price of a degree depends on two things: the language of the programme and your citizenship. Get those two right and you know almost everything. All bachelor's programmes in our catalogue are at state-funded institutions.

Who studies for free

Programmes taught in Finnish or Swedish are free for everyone, including students from outside the EU.
Programmes taught in English are free for citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, and for their family members.
Some non-EU students are also exempt, for example holders of an EU Blue Card, a permanent residence permit or an EU long-term resident's permit. The rules are in the law, and the university checks your status when you enrol.

Tuition for non-EU students

Everyone else pays tuition for programmes taught in English. Each university sets its own fee, and by law the fee must cover at least the cost of the teaching. According to Study in Finland, the official portal of the Finnish National Agency for Education, fees typically range from €9,000 to €20,000 a year. In our catalogue most English-taught bachelor's programmes at universities of applied sciences sit at the lower end of that range. The highest fee we list, €28,000 a year, is for music and fine arts at the University of the Arts Helsinki.

Each programme page on our site shows the fee the institution has published for non-EU students. Applicants from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland also pay a €100 application fee when they apply through Studyinfo.

Scholarships and early-payment discounts

There are no government scholarships for bachelor's students. Instead, universities and universities of applied sciences run their own schemes for students who pay tuition:

scholarships that cover part or all of the fee, often applied for together with the admission application;
discounts for paying the first year early;
scholarships in later years, for good progress or for learning Finnish.

Scholarships cover tuition only, never living costs. Study in Finland warns that ads for "fully funded Finnish government scholarships" are misleading.

Other fees

Student union fee. Membership of the student union is compulsory at universities and optional at universities of applied sciences. Study in Finland puts it at about €50–€70 a year.
Student healthcare fee. Degree students pay a healthcare fee to Kela to use the Finnish Student Health Service. In 2026 it is €35.35 per term (€70.70 a year). Students whose health cover comes from another EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the UK can use the service without paying it.

Housing

Most students rent from student housing foundations, non-profit organisations that rent rooms and flats to students in every university city. According to Study in Finland, a single room in a shared student flat typically costs about €200–€380 a month. Studios and family flats cost more and have longer waiting lists. Apply as soon as you have your admission letter, because demand peaks before the autumn term. Rents on the open market are usually higher, and Helsinki is the most expensive city.

Money to show for the residence permit

Non-EU students need a residence permit, and the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) checks that you can support yourself. The official minimum is €800 a month, which means €9,600 for a year of study, in your bank account when you apply. If your programme charges tuition, you must also show that the first year's fee is paid, covered by a scholarship, or available in your account on top of the living money. Study in Finland advises planning for €900–€1,200 a month, depending on the city.

How to keep costs down

If you can learn Finnish or Swedish well enough, a programme in that language is free.
Apply for the university's scholarship at the same time as you apply for admission, and check the early-payment discount.
Compare fees between universities of applied sciences: the same field can cost several thousand euros less elsewhere.
Look beyond Helsinki. Student housing in smaller cities is cheaper and easier to get.
Non-EU students may work up to 30 hours a week on average during term and full time in the holidays, but Study in Finland warns not to build a budget on part-time work.

Where to look next

Official sources

Study in Finland: Fees and cost of living: Finnish National Agency for Education
Study in Finland: Accommodation: student housing prices
Kela: Healthcare fee for students in higher education
Universities Act 558/2009: tuition rules (Finlex, in Finnish)

Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.