Scholarships and Part-Time Work for Students in Finland

Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.

In Finland the money question only arises for students who pay tuition, which means non-EU students on programmes taught in English. For them, help comes from the institutions themselves, not from the state. This guide explains what scholarships look like, who pays nothing at all, and what you can earn while you study.

No government scholarships for bachelor's students

There is no Finnish government scholarship for international bachelor's students. Study in Finland, the portal of the Finnish National Agency for Education, says scholarships are offered by the universities and universities of applied sciences themselves, cover tuition only, never living costs, and warns that ads for "fully funded Finnish government scholarships" are misleading.

Finnish student financial aid from Kela is not an option either for students who move to Finland only to study.

Who pays nothing

Programmes taught in Finnish or Swedish are free for everyone, whatever your citizenship.
Citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, and their family members, study free in English too.
Some non-EU students are exempt, for example holders of a permanent residence permit, an EU long-term resident's permit or an EU Blue Card.

The details are in how much it costs to study in Finland.

University scholarships: three types

Each institution designs its own scheme, but most combine some of these.

A scholarship decided with admission. At Aalto University the Excellence Scholarship waives the full tuition fee for the normal three years of a bachelor's degree. You apply on the admission form itself, decisions come with the admission results, and you keep it by studying full time and progressing according to your study plan. Aalto's bachelor's fees are €12,000 a year in business and technology and €15,000 in art and architecture.
An early-payment discount. Aalto gives 25% off the first year's fee if you accept your place and pay within 21 days. Turku University of Applied Sciences, whose fee is €12,000 a year for students starting from January 2026, gives €1,000 off the first year if you accept within 14 days and pay within 30.
A scholarship for learning Finnish. Turku University of Applied Sciences pays a scholarship of €4,000 to students paying the full fee each time they pass the national Finnish language test (YKI) at a higher level, from A2 up to B2. It is refunded against the next tuition payment.

Read the conditions closely: what a scholarship covers after the first year, and what study progress you must show to keep it, differ from one institution to the next.

Working while you study

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can work without restrictions.
Non-EU students with a residence permit for studies may work up to 30 hours a week on average during term, and full time during holidays. See student visa for Finland.

Study in Finland advises against building your budget on part-time work, and the Finnish Immigration Service wants to see your living money, €800 a month, in your account before it grants the permit.

Pay and tax

Finnish law does not set a minimum wage. Minimum pay is agreed in collective agreements for each sector, and in most sectors employers must follow them. Where there is no agreement, the pay must be normal and reasonable for the work.

Wages are always taxed. To work you need a tax card from the Finnish Tax Administration (Vero), and to apply for one you need a Finnish personal identity code. Finland has progressive taxation, so your tax rate depends on your income and is shown on the tax card.

Where to find work

Your institution's career services, which list part-time jobs and internships. At universities of applied sciences, work placements are built into the degree.
Job Market Finland (Työmarkkinatori), the public employment service's national job portal, with an English interface.

Without Finnish, the choice of part-time jobs is narrower. That is one more reason to take Finnish courses from your first year, and at some institutions they also pay off as a scholarship.

Where to look next

Official sources

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