English-taught master's in Finland: fees, the January application round and the residence permit

English-taught programs charge tuition

According to Study in Finland, the country has about 600 English-taught bachelor's and master's programs. Finnish-taught and Swedish-taught programs have no tuition fee, but they require you to know that language. In English-taught programs, students from outside the EU and EEA pay tuition. According to Study in Finland, the yearly fee is usually between €9,000 and €20,000. Some older guides give a range of €8,000 to €18,000 for a master's, and current amounts can go above this.

Scholarship and tuition waiver rules differ by university. We suggest reading the conditions on each school's own page.

Apply in January, through Studyinfo.fi

For English-taught bachelor's and master's programs starting in autumn 2027, the joint application runs from 7 to 21 January 2027. You apply through Studyinfo.fi. Applicants from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland pay a €100 application fee.

In the joint application, you can apply to more than one program. But you can accept only one study place in Finland in one term. Aalto University and the University of Helsinki use their own dates for some applications, so we suggest checking the program's page.

Money that must be in your account for the residence permit

For study of one year or longer, the student must have €9,600 in their account at the time of application. Since 1 November 2024, this amount is calculated at €800 a month. According to Migri, living money cannot be used for tuition. If the tuition has not been paid yet, the first year's tuition must also be in the account separately.

For example, for a master's student accepted at Tampere University in 2027, this means €12,000 on top of the €9,600. You apply online in the Enter Finland system. Those applying from Türkiye book an appointment at the VFS Global residence permit center in Ankara for identity verification. The residence permit application fee is not refunded, even if the application is rejected.

For daily costs, Aalto University expects €800 to €1,300 a month, and more, in the Helsinki region. Tuition and insurance are not included in this amount.

Working during and after your studies

With a student residence permit, you can do paid work in any field. The limit is an average of 30 hours a week. In some weeks you can go over this number, as long as the yearly average does not pass the limit. Internships and thesis work that are part of the program do not count toward this limit. Since 15 April 2022, there is also no unlimited right to work during holidays.

After you get your diploma, you can ask for a residence permit of up to two years to look for a job or start a company. You can apply within five years after your study permit ends. For the two-year permit, you must show €800 a month, which is €19,200 in total.

For details, see our Finland page.