Study in Finland

Finland boasts historic universities, low to no tuition fees depending on your nationality and a low cost of living in comparison to other Nordic countries

More than 22,000 international students study in Finland and there's never been a better time to join them as for the seventh year in a row the country was voted the world's happiest in the World Happiness Report 2024.

The Nordic country is well known for providing high-quality education. Popular student cities in Finland include:

• Helsinki
• Oulu
• Tampere
• Turku.

When you're not studying there's plenty to explore, from visiting Santa Claus in Lapland to witnessing the country's natural phenomena of permanent sunrise, the Midnight Sun, from June to July.

Finnish universities

There are two types of higher education institutions in Finland:

• Universities - 13 universities operate under the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture, all of which aim to provide academic education based on research. Universities in Finland offer both undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
• Universities of Applied Science (UAS) - formerly known as polytechnics, these focus on training professionals in response to labour market needs and emphasise close contacts with business, industry and the service sector. There are currently 22 in Finland.

Combined, both types of institution offer over 500 Bachelors and Masters courses taught in English, in line with the three-tier Bologna process. However, only universities offer PhD courses.

For a list of institutions see Study in Finland - Universities.

The academic calendar in Finland runs from 1 August to 31 July. The year is split into two semesters:

• autumn - from August/September to December
• spring - from January to May.

Nine Finnish universities appear in the QS World University Rankings 2024. Led by the Aalto University at 109 followed by the University of Helsinki at 115.

Degree courses in Finland

While courses taught in English can be found at both universities and UAS the length of Bachelor programmes differ.

At universities undergraduate degrees take three years to complete. Teaching is more academic. You’ll complete a language component as well as a thesis.

At UAS's Bachelors degrees take three and a half to four and a half years to complete depending on the programme. Courses have a strong vocational emphasis, giving students relevant on-the-job training as a compulsory part of the course to prepare them for entering the world of employment. As a UAS student, you'll complete core and optional studies resulting in the submission of a thesis.

Masters degrees

At Finnish universities, Masters courses take two years to complete. Those delivered at UAS institutions can be shorter (one to one and a half years), due to candidates needing a wealth of professional experience - usually three years' worth - before the course begins.

Courses are delivered through a mixture of lectures, seminars, practical workshops and internships, either face-to-face or in an online format. You'll also gain credits from general studies and language courses. Assessment methods include coursework assignments, exams and a final dissertation.

For entry onto a Masters you need a Bachelors degree of equivalent.

PhDs

Finnish PhD courses are only offered at universities. They're typically four years in length, although some can be longer, and are provided in both English and Finnish. You'll need a Masters degree to be eligible to apply for Doctoral degree programmes.

Doctorate-level study is research based, and incorporates compulsory coursework, seminars, conferences and the submission of a thesis. You might have to defend your published thesis in a public discussion as part of your final assessment.

Student exchanges

If you are currently attending a UK university you can take part in the government's Turing Scheme, which enables students to study abroad at an overseas university.

Check that your institution is involved in the programme and offers the Turing Scheme in Finland.

Course fees

If you're from an EU/European Economic Area (EEA) country, you're in luck - you'll incur no tuition fees studying in Finland.

However, non-EU/EEA students, including those from the UK, are subject to annual tuition fees for Bachelors and Masters programmes, typically between €5,000 (£4,301) and €18,000 (£15,483). Check with your preferred institution for specific figures.

When applying for your student residence permit you’ll need to prove you have enough money to support your stay in Finland as well as pay for the required insurance.

PhD study in Finland is free of charge, regardless of your nationality.

All university students have to pay a small fee to join their university's students' union, which is usually around €50 (£43) for the year. The student card you receive will offer discounts for public transport and student restaurants. Membership of students’ unions at UAS is optional.

On top of course fees you need to factor in the cost of living, which incorporate food, travel, accommodation, course materials, leisure activities etc. The amount you need will vary depending on your location and style of living, but as a rough guide you'll need to budget for €700-€900 (£602-£774) per month. The cost of living in cities such as Helsinki is more expensive.

Funding to study in Finland

EU/EEA citizens will be hard pushed to find funding at Bachelors or Masters level due to not having to pay any tuition fees. However, there are a number of scholarships available to assist international (non-EU/EEA) Bachelors or Masters students.

Both universities and UAS offer scholarships but they operate their own systems. You apply for assistance at the point of application so do your research early on to see what’s on offer. See Study in Finland - Find Scholarships.

While Doctoral studies are free from tuition fees, scholarship programmes are still available to help with living costs. The Finnish National Agency for Education offer the EDUFI Fellowship scholarship programme, which is available for PhD research in the country. You can’t independently apply for the scholarship, your university had to do it on your behalf.

While you'll have the freedom to find part-time work to support your time in Finland, don't rely on this as your sole source of income. As a native English speaker, you may find language barriers prevent you from securing employment. If you're successful in finding a job, you may find that your earnings don't fully cover your costs of living. Ensure that you've budgeted carefully before making the move.

Student visas

As an EU/EEA citizen, you won't need to apply for a visa to complete your studies in Finland. However, you'll need to register at your local police station within three months of your arrival, and if you're staying for longer than a year you'll need to register with the Finnish Population Information System. This can be done at your nearest Local Register office.

If you're from a country outside the EU/EEA - including those from the UK - and looking to study for a minimum of three months, you'll need to obtain a renewable student residence permit.

To apply for this permit, you'll need a formal letter of acceptance from your Finnish university, health insurance and proof that you can support yourself financially through your studies. Applications can be processed via Enter Finland or the Finnish consulate or embassy in your home country - for the UK, this is the Embassy of Finland, London.

This can be a lengthy process, taking a number of months, so allow plenty of time for your application to be approved by sending it off as soon as possible.

How to apply

All applications to study at Bachelors or Masters level in Finland must be submitted through Studyinfo.fi. The site can also be used to browse available courses in both English and Finnish, and contains information on all areas of the Finnish higher education sector.

Typically, annual deadlines are as follows:

• Bachelors - January for courses starting in the autumn term, or September for courses with a January start date.
• Masters - application windows are slightly more lenient, opening late November/early December and remaining open till mid/late January. UAS institutions can extend this deadline to March in some cases.

To be accepted onto a Bachelors course, you'll need to hold the right educational certificates, meet language expectations and successfully pass an entrance exam.

Masters applicants should hold an undergraduate degree, as well as proof of language proficiency where required and proof of higher education qualifications. You won't typically need to sit an entrance exam, although if you're applying for a UAS Masters you might also need a few years of professional experience.

If you're applying for a PhD , you'll do so directly to your chosen institution. There's no stipulated timeframe, with some universities accepting applications all year round. Check whether you're working to a deadline or not before beginning your application.

Language requirements

You must be able to demonstrate proficiency in English for English-taught courses. The most commonly accepted proof is the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

If you're a native English speaker, you most likely won't have to prove your proficiency with an official test. Exact guidelines for language requirements vary between institutions - check with yours to see what's required.

To study courses in Finnish, you'll need to be relatively fluent in the language when making your application. This means that you should be between intermediate and advanced level on the following proficiency scales:

• Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment (CEFR)
• National Certificates of Language Proficiency (YKI)

Even if you're enrolling on an English-speaking course, it's advisable to learn some Finnish before you arrive to help you communicate and engage with people. You can take online courses for free at sites such as duolingo.com.

Comparison to UK qualifications

The undergraduate qualifications you've earned in other European countries should be recognised by Finnish universities, thanks to the country's involvement in the Bologna process - an agreement made to ensure the direct comparability in the standards and quality of higher education qualifications.

This means that your Finnish qualifications should be internationally recognised too, although it's always best to check this with individual employers. For help with having your credentials officially evaluated, see ENIC-NARIC.

Find out more

• Discover what it's like to work in Finland.
• Explore your study options further at StudyInFinland.fi.