Tuition Free Universities in Finland

studyinfinland.fi says:
Since university education is funded by the State through the Ministry of Education, students enrolled in regular degree studies pay no tuition fees with exceptions. If you are enrolled as a degree student in a Bachelor’s or Doctoral level programme, the higher education institution will not charge tuition fees. Some Master’s level programmes are free of charge as well, however, a number of them may carry tuition fees for non-EU/EEA students.

Tuition fees will not be collected, if you are
- an EU/EEA citizen
- a non-EU/EEA citizen permanently resident in Finland
- a non-EU/EEA citizen and have started your studies in the Master’s programme in question before the introduction of tuition fees

However, students in both universities and polytechnics have to pay for their books and other materials, plus their accommodation and living expenses. The cost of living in Finland is about the same as in other EU countries.

Selected Master’s Programmes with Tuition Fees

In selected English-language Master’s degree programmes it is possible for the Finnish higher education institutions to charge tuition fees from non-EU/EEA nationals during a five-year trial period 2010–2014. Depending on the programme, tuition fees may be collected starting from autumn 2010, 2011 or 2012

The inclusion of a Master’s programme in the above lists only indicates the possibility of a tuition fee; each institution decides independently whether or not they collect tuition fees in their programmes. Therefore, it is important that you always check the tuition fee policy for each Master’s programme separately, either from the institution’s own web site or from CIMO’s International Study programmes database.

Scholarships for Master’s Programmes with Tuition Fees

If your Master’s programme carries a tuition fee for non-EU/EEA students and if you are a non-EU/EEA citizen, you are advised to contact the higher education institution in question directly for information on the scholarship opportunities they provide.

Higher education institutions that choose to collect tuition fees in their English-language Master’s programmes will also provide scholarship options for non-EU/EEA students enrolled in tuition-fee carrying Master’s programmes.

Here are some Universities that offer scholarships for tuition fees:

University of Helsinki is giving dozens of start-up grants to qualified students who are accepted to study in an International Master’s Degree Programme.

Hanken School of Economics offers a limited number of scholarships for international master’s degree students.

Aalto University offers scholarships for students enrolled in Master’s degree programmes with tuition fees.

University of Oulu International Master’s Scholarships provide EURO 2.4 million in scholarships to academically talented international students in architecture, business, economics, education, engineering, and sciences.

Cost of Studying in Finland: Estimated living expenses of a single student in Finland average around 700 Euros per month.


See the list of all Finnish institutions of higher education.

Source: http://www.studyinfinland.fi/tuition_and_scholarships/tuition_fees