Cost of Studies & Living in Finland

Cost of Studies in Finland

In Finland, the general cost of living is relatively high, but still approximately the same as in other EU countries.

When applying for their student residence permit, international students (non-EU/EEA students) need to show that they have at least 500 Euros per month (6000 Euros per year) at their disposal. Since the student residence permit needs to be renewed annually, you should be able to demonstrate that you have the required amount at your disposal also when renewing your permit. Please read carefully the section "residence permits" for information on the financial requirements set by the immigration authorities.

EU citizens who come to Finland to study do not need to apply for a student residence permit; however they should also be able to cover their living costs independently.

The average monthly living expenses for a student in Finland are approximately 700-900 Euros. This may vary a bit, depending on your study location in Finland – for example, accommodation and other living costs may be higher in the Helsinki metropolitan area and other larger cities. As a student you can get discounts in student restaurants and cafeterias, public transport, etc. Also, student housing with shared facilities is usually a low-cost option. For detailed information on the local student accommodation costs etc. you are best advised to contact your hosting university/UAS in Finland.

How much you need is partly also a question of your personal spending habits. Remember to try and reserve some money for free-time activities as well! If you are a non-EU/EEA student and plan to study in a Master's programme that charges tuition fees, you need to take these into account when planning the financing of your studies in Finland.

While it may be possible to cover part of your living expenses doing part-time work (see section "working during studies"), note that such part-time employment may be hard to find if you do not speak any Finnish or Swedish. Because students can not be guaranteed to find employment during their studies, you should not plan your finances on the basis of a mere possibility of finding employment. In other words, it is recommended that you "prepare for the worst scenario" and plan the financing of your studies so that you can get by without any income from Finland. Then, if you should eventually find a part-time job, the earnings from this will then be a welcome bonus for you, and not something that you would totally depend on.

If you are coming to Finland as a Doctoral-level student or researcher, then CIMO may have scholarship options for you.

It is important that you as a student have sufficient funding for the entire study time. If not, you may have difficulties in completing your studies, and if you are a foreign student may even have to leave the country if your residence permit is not renewed.

Tuition fees
Tuition fees are not required of a degree student at Arcada. Necessary books and study material is however paid by the student. The annual membership fee of the Student Union of ca 35 euros entitles to several student discounts.

Cost of living in Finland
The average cost of living in Finland is high and comparable to that of the rest of Europe. The minimum living expenses for a single student amounts to about 600-800 euros / month depending on cost of accommodation as well as for example health care expenses. As a student you need to make sure that you have got sufficient funding to cover all basic expenses such as food, rent, transportation, study materials, insurance, health care and any other expenses, which may occur during your time in Finland.

Student financial aid
A Finnish student is granted student financial aid if the studies are considered as full-time studies, i.e. they comprise at least 5 credit units per month. A foreign student must have lived in Finland for at least two years for some other purpose than studies, and be considered a permanent resident in Finland to apply for student financial aid.

Scholarships
Arcada does not offer scholarships, apart from grants for exchange studies abroad. There are not many possibilities of scholarships for bachelor level studies in Finland, but information on scholarships are provided by the Centre for International Mobility CIMO and Finnish diplomatic missions. Also contact the Board of Education in your home country for information on international scholarships.

Working part-time as a foreign degree student in Finland
As a full-time foreign degree student with a student residence permit you can generally work up to 25 hours a week during the academic year and full time during vacation periods. Please note that it is difficult to find part-time work in Finland. The unemployment rate is high in Finland, and most employers demand knowledge of Finnish and/or Swedish. As a student you should therefore not count on finding part-time work, or other financial assistance in Finland. শিক্ষা সংক্রান্ত খবরাখবর নিয়মিত পেতে রেজিস্ট্রেশন করুন অথবা Log In করুন।

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