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6 most affordable universities in Finland for international students
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09 Sep 2024
There are many reasons to study in Finland. Start with the fact that the Finns are the happiest people. This Nordic nation consistently ranks first on the World Happiness Report, and 2024 is no different.
For international students, the great thing about choosing to study in Finland is its affordable cost.
On average, you can expect to pay US$887 to US$998 (800 to 900 euros) per month to live in this frosty utopia — and that is not including your rent and tuition fees.
Like most tuition-free universities in Europe, international students from the European Economic Area (EEA), European Union (EU), and those with a permanent Swedish residence permit do not pay for tuition at Finnish universities. On top of that, those studying a programme in languages other than Finnish or Swedish must pay a tuition fee too.
For students outside these countries, here are the best tuition-free universities in Finland that you can consider:
If you study in Finland, you could even pop by Santa Claus’s Village for a visit. Source: AFP
Most affordable universities for international students to study in Finland
Diaconia University of Applied Sciences (Diak)
Diaconia University of Applied Sciences, more commonly known as Diak, is a public university with five campuses in Helsinki, Oulu, Pieksämäki, Pori, and Turku.
Diak is Finland’s largest provider of UAS-level education (that refers to higher education institutes that focus on applied training and research) in social work, specialising in health care and interpreting. The university offers two bachelor’s and two master’s degree programmes in English — BA of Health Care, Nursing, BA of Social Services, Master’s in Global Change and Community Development, and Master’s in People-Centred and Innovative Leadership in Health Services.
What does it mean to study at Diak? According to its students, studying here is the opportunity to make the world a better place and find their calling in the world of work.
The bachelor’s programme at Diak costs US$13,303 per academic year.
Centria University of Applied Sciences
With three campuses in the Ostrobothnian regions (Kokkola, Pietarsaari and Ylivieska), Centria University of Applied Sciences (CUAS) is a vibrant international university — with one in five of its 4,400 degree students coming from outside of Finland.
At a university of applied science, you will experience the highest standards of intellectual rigour in areas like nursing, business intelligence and engineering. Practical learning experiences such as workshops and projects are incorporated into the curriculum to give students a realistic grip on the taught themes.
Depending on the programme, an undergraduate education at CUAS will cost students around US$10,532 per academic year. Meanwhile, a master’s education will cost around US$11,086 per academic year.
In summer, the mean daily temperature in Finland is consistently above 10°C — still pretty cold for those used to tropical weather. Source: AFP
Kajaani University of Applied Sciences
Situated in the heart of Finland, Kajaani University of Applied Sciences (KUAS) students are a stone’s throw away from Kajaani — a scenic and active town linked by excellent traffic connections and dotted with stunning forest-covered hills and beautiful lakes and rivers.
The university offers a range of English-taught programmes across the subjects of business, sports, tourism, and information technology. Here, KUAS students learn by doing.
For example, in the bachelor’s degree in Esports Business, students are presented with a wide range of exciting opportunities including joining the university’s on-site esports organisation or planning campus activities within the esports lounge. In the Master of Engineering Degree in Game Business Management, all of the course assignments and the research-based development assignment are completed on behalf of an organisation that has commissioned them.
KUAS will cost students outside the EU, EEA, or Switzerland around US$27,160 for a full undergraduate degree and between US$19,123 to US$25,497 for a master’s degree.
Beyond its capital city of Helsinki, Finland has many stunning cities that each boast its own personality and flair. Source”: AFP
Tampere University
Tampere University is one of the youngest universities in Finland, being formed in 2019 through a merger between the University of Tampere and Tampere University of Technology.
It has seven faculties, including the Faculty of Built Environment, Faculty of Education and Culture, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences, Faculty of Management and Business, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, and Faculty of Social Sciences.
The university has a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. It is best known for its library and information management programmes, ranking at #21 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject.
The tuition fee for the bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes offered in English at Tampere University ranges from US$11,086 to US$13,303 per academic year, depending on the programme.
LUT University
Lappeenranta–Lahti University of Technology LUT, better known as LUT University, is a community where curious people inspire others of their kind. Here, studies emphasise sustainability – in technology, business, or social sciences.
They are one of the top universities in the world for climate action, placing 10th in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings for the Sustainable Development Goal 13, which aims to is to limit and adapt to climate change.
The university has three schools: the School of Energy Systems, the School of Engineering Science, and the LUT Business School. There are eight bachelor’s programmes either in technology or business offered here, and over 30 technology, business, and social and communication sciences master’s programmes in English.
A bachelor’s programme at LUT University costs US$10,532 per academic year, while master’s programmes cost US$14,966 per academic year.
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University of Turku
One of the most international universities in Finland and ranked among the top 1% of universities in the world, the University of Turku has three campuses in the cities of Turku, Rauma, and Pori.
The university has eight faculties: education, humanities, law, medicine, science, social sciences, technology, and economics. Their best ranking programme (as determined by the QS World University Rankings by Subject) is nursing, which places at #36.
The tuition fees for a bachelor’s and master’s programme range from US$8,869 to US$13,303 per academic year. However, the University of Turku awards scholarships to approximately 30% of the admitted students, so education here is relatively affordable.
Disclaimer: This article was last updated on September 9, 2024.
