Tuition-Free Universities in Finland for EU Citizens

Universities to explore: 34
Mandatory university cost / year: €150.7
Currency: EUR
Academic year: 2026/2027

Tuition rules for EU citizens

EU/EEA and Swiss citizens are not liable for tuition fees at Finnish universities and universities of applied sciences, including English-taught degree programmes. Non-EU/EEA students (with exceptions) pay fees of roughly €8,000–€20,000 per year. Doctoral studies remain free of charge.

Public universities

Tuition-free for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens. Union membership is compulsory for Bachelor’s/Master’s students at universities but optional at universities of applied sciences; healthcare is a separate conditional fee.

Private universities

Finland's higher education sector is publicly funded; only a few private institutions operate, mainly in business and design.

By degree level

Bachelor's: €0 tuition for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens. University union fees and conditional Kela healthcare fees may apply; UAS union membership is optional.
Master's: €0 tuition for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens. University union fees and conditional Kela healthcare fees may apply; UAS union membership is optional.
PhD: Free of charge for all students.

English-taught programmes

One of Europe's largest English-taught catalogues at Bachelor's and Master's level.

Mandatory fees

University Bachelor’s/Master’s union fee varies by institution (e.g. Aalto €66 and Helsinki €85 in 2026/27); UAS membership is optional. Separate Kela healthcare fee: €35.35/term in calendar year 2026, exempt with qualifying social-security coverage in another EU/EEA country, Switzerland, UK or EU institutions. Citizenship alone does not establish healthcare exemption. The 2027 healthcare rate is not yet verified.

Estimated mandatory university cost per year: €150.7.

Admission system & application process

Studyinfo (opintopolku.fi) national joint application; some Master's admissions are direct.

Residency conditions

EU/EEA/Swiss citizens are exempt from degree tuition. Other applicants pay a €100 application fee for Bachelor’s and Master’s applications unless exempt. Kela healthcare exemption depends on social-security coverage, not citizenship alone.

Language requirements

English-taught programmes require English proof (commonly IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 92, set per programme); Finnish/Swedish-taught programmes require national language proof.

Deadlines & document submission

Applications open: 7 January 2027 (January joint application; check the individual programme)
Applications close: 21 January 2027 at 15:00 Finnish time (UTC+2)
Document submission: Upload required certificates to Studyinfo by each programme’s document deadline; application and supporting-document deadlines are distinct.
Note: Separate/direct and rolling admissions have different dates. Oulu International Business Management Bachelor rolling admission: 1 October 2026–25 February 2027, or earlier if filled. Check each programme.

Typical dates for the 2026/2027 cycle — verify the exact deadline on the official admissions page.

Compare deadlines across countries →

Living costs, housing & scholarships

Living costs (approx.): €700–€1,300 / month
Student housing: Student housing foundations (e.g. HOAS in Helsinki) offer affordable rooms — apply early.
Scholarships: Many English-taught programmes offer merit scholarships; EU/EEA students pay no tuition.
EU/EEA mobility: As an EU/EEA citizen you do not need a visa or residence permit to study here; register with the local authorities after arrival. Non-EU/EEA students need a visa/residence permit.

Living-cost figures are approximate (2026 estimates) and separate from the mandatory university cost above.