Financing your studies

Tuition fees

Very important topic to consider and discuss with your guardians.

Finnish/EU nationals:

• Nordic countries are usuallyfree of charge.

• Tuition fees in EU countries vary: eg Holland and Ireland are affordable, medicine degrees in many countries over 10000 euros/year

• UK: from 15000 £/year to 32000 £/year

• Overseas: US and Canada quite expensive, state schools usually cheaper than private intitutions. 

Permanent residents of Finland

• No tuition fees in Finland, but fees in other EU countries must be checked from each university.

• If you want to study within the EU, you need to know the category of your residency permit, because it will affect the amount of money you need to pay within the EU. You need to be in touch with each university to confirm the fees. 

Scholarships

For Bachelor level studies scholarships are mainly granted by the universities you apply to. More information on scholarships on country-specific pages, especially US.

For Finnish-speaking students more info on the following page: 

https://opintopolku.fi/konfo/fi/sivu/ulkomailla-opiskelun-kustannukset-ja-rahoitus

Kela support

• The study programme must be full-time and comparable with a course of study in Finland that would qualify you for financial aid. 

• Studies completed at a foreign educational institution are considered full-time studies if the educational institution has defined them as being full-time studies. Studies at an institute of higher education can also be considered full-time studies if the extent of the studies is on average at least 5 credits per month of studies

• Further, the educational institution must be supervised by public authorities ie be accredited.

• More info of accreditation: whed.net/home.php 

Kela support year 2024:

• Study grant (opintoraha): 279,38 EUR/month

• Study loan (opintolaina): 1000 EUR/month

• Housing supplement (asumislisä): 210 EUR/month

• More info on Kela page: KELA, financial aid for students 

Living costs

• Accommodation?

• Transport, food, health care, insurance, other costs?

• More info on: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/

Working when studying

• Usually possible in EU countries, if you have Finnish/other EU country citizenship.

• If you need a student visa, the situation might be different: eg in the US you are only allowed to work in campus area, if you have a student visa.