From 1 August 2026, new tuition fee rules will come into effect for students attending Finnish upper secondary schools (general upper secondary schools) and vocational colleges.
Who Will Be Required to Pay Tuition?
Tuition fees apply to citizens of countries outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland if:
- they come to Finland with a student residence permit;
- their first Finnish residence permit was issued specifically for studies;
- they are adult family members of a student whose residence permit is linked to the principal applicant's studies.
Who Is Exempt from Tuition Fees?
The following groups are not required to pay tuition:
- Citizens of EU/EEA countries and Switzerland;
- Holders of a permanent residence permit (P);
- Holders of a continuous residence permit (A), provided their first Finnish residence permit was granted for a reason other than studies (for example, employment or family ties);
- Individuals who have been granted international protection or temporary protection.
How Is the Tuition Fee Requirement Determined?
Whether a student is required to pay tuition is determined based on:
- the documents submitted by the applicant; and
- residence permit information provided by the Finnish Immigration Service.
Once an applicant receives an offer of admission, they must pay the tuition fee for the first academic year by the deadline set by the educational institution.
If the admitted student is not yet in Finland, they may apply for a student residence permit through the Finnish Immigration Service after paying the tuition fee and travel to Finland once the permit has been granted.
Please note that enrolment cannot be completed until the required tuition fee has been paid. This requirement also applies to students who are already living in Finland.
Tuition Fees and Payment Information
Each educational institution sets its own tuition fees.
Depending on the college and study programme, annual tuition fees start from €7,000.
What Is Included in the Tuition Fee?
Information about the services and benefits included in the tuition fee will be published at a later date.