Finland has 13 universities and 22 universities of applied sciences (UAS, ammattikorkeakoulu in Finnish), which together run more than 600 programmes taught in English. Applicants from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland pay tuition for English-taught bachelor's and master's degrees: Study in Finland, the national portal, puts the usual range at $10,220–22,710 (€9,000–20,000) a year. Degrees taught in Finnish or Swedish and doctoral studies carry no tuition. You apply through the state portal Studyinfo; for English-taught programmes starting in autumn 2027, the window runs from 7 to 21 January 2027. There is no special free route for Russian citizens, who also face a biometric-passport rule, a Moscow-only application point and a closed land border.
| At a glance | Position on 1 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Institutions | 13 research universities and 22 universities of applied sciences |
| Language | 600+ English-taught programmes; the rest are taught in Finnish or Swedish |
| Tuition for non-EU/EEA citizens | Usually $10,220–22,710 (€9,000–20,000) a year for programmes not taught in Finnish or Swedish |
| No tuition | Finnish- or Swedish-taught degrees, doctoral studies |
| Applying | Studyinfo.fi; first joint application 7–21 January 2027, up to six programmes |
| Application fee | $114 (€100) per starting term, non-refundable |
| Funds for the permit | At least $908 (€800) a month; $10,900 (€9,600) in your own account when you apply |
| Russian citizens | Biometric passport, identity check in Moscow, entry by air or sea only |
Two kinds of institution: university or UAS
The first decision in Finland is the type of institution, not its prestige. A university (yliopisto) is research-led and offers doctoral studies. A university of applied sciences teaches a practical degree with compulsory placements and projects for employers. Both are public and award bachelor's and master's degrees within the Bologna framework.
| Feature | University | UAS |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's | Usually 3 years | 3.5–4.5 years including placements |
| Master's | 2 years, no work experience required | 1–1.5 years, two years of relevant work experience required |
| Doctorate | Available, tuition-free | Not offered |
| Bachelor's selection | Entrance exam, SAT or school grades, set per programme | Often the institution's own entrance exam or test |
| Fee example, 2027/28 | University of Jyväskylä: $11,360–18,170 (€10,000–16,000) | Metropolia: bachelor's $13,060–13,630 (€11,500–12,000) |
Durations and the UAS work-experience rule come from Study in Finland. A school leaver who is unsure about research usually gets more from a UAS, where placements start early and graduates leave with a portfolio of company projects. If you aim at a research career or a specialised European master's, start with the universities.
List of Finnish universities
All 13 universities are below. The last column names the question that most often changes the decision for that institution.
| University | City | Main fields | Check first |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Helsinki | Helsinki | Multidisciplinary research university: sciences, humanities, health, education, agriculture and forestry, IT | No fee waivers for English-taught bachelor's applicants |
| Aalto University | Espoo (Helsinki region) | Technology and engineering, business and economics, art, design and architecture | Scholarships are full fee waivers and very few are awarded |
| Tampere University | Tampere | Engineering and IT, health, social sciences, business, education | 50% scholarships are rare (nine across all programmes in 2026); €2,000 early-bird discount |
| University of Turku | Turku | Multidisciplinary: humanities and sciences, health, business, education, IT | No first-year scholarship; master's students get €2,000 off for paying within 28 days |
| Åbo Akademi University | Turku, Vaasa | Finland's only multidisciplinary Swedish-language university | Teaching language of the programme |
| University of Jyväskylä | Jyväskylä | Education, humanities and social sciences, health, business, IT, sciences | No first-year scholarship, early-acceptance discount instead |
| University of Oulu | Oulu | Engineering, IT, health, sciences, business, education | Early-bird discount of up to 30% for paying within three weeks |
| University of Eastern Finland (UEF) | Joensuu, Kuopio | Public health, forestry and environment, environmental law, business, IT, education | Discounts up to 30%, no full waivers |
| LUT University | Lappeenranta, Lahti | Technology, business, social sciences | First-year bachelor's: early-bird discount only |
| University of Vaasa | Vaasa | Business and technology, IT | Range of English-taught programmes |
| University of Lapland | Rovaniemi | Law, education, art and design, tourism | Travel logistics and costs in the north |
| Hanken School of Economics | Helsinki, Vaasa | Business school with EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA accreditation | Which programmes are taught in English |
| Uniarts Helsinki | Helsinki | Music, theatre, dance, fine arts | Separate artistic selection; applies in the first 2027 round |
Fields follow each institution's profile on the Study in Finland portal, in summary form, and rankings are left out on purpose. A global position says little about an individual programme, while teaching language, fee, discount rules and city decide most international applications.
Universities of applied sciences by region
The 22 UAS are spread across the country, so many applicants start with the city.
- Helsinki region: Metropolia, Haaga-Helia, Laurea, Arcada (Swedish-language), plus Diak and Humak with campuses in several towns.
- South and south-east: LAB (Lahti, Lappeenranta), XAMK (Kotka, Kouvola, Mikkeli, Savonlinna), HAMK (Hämeenlinna).
- West: Turku UAS, Satakunta UAS (Pori, Rauma), Novia (Swedish-language), VAMK (Vaasa), Seinäjoki UAS.
- Centre and east: TAMK (Tampere), JAMK (Jyväskylä), Karelia (Joensuu), Savonia (Kuopio).
- North: Oulu UAS, Centria (Kokkola), Kajaani UAS, Lapland UAS.
English-taught UAS degrees are mostly in business, IT, engineering, nursing, tourism and hospitality. For study rights starting in August 2027, Metropolia, for example, lists English-taught degrees in IT, robotics, logistics, physiotherapy and game design.
Matching the institution to your goal
| Your goal | What to choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Research, PhD, academic master's | University | Only universities run doctoral programmes, and they charge no tuition |
| Fast entry into Finnish jobs | UAS | Placements are built in and projects are done with companies |
| Lowest tuition | Finnish- or Swedish-taught degree | No tuition, but you need the language at study level |
| Master's after some years of work | UAS master's | Two years of relevant experience required, shorter programme |
| Design, architecture, music | Aalto, Uniarts, specialised UAS | Selection by portfolio or audition |
| Lower living costs | Institution outside Helsinki | Rents in regional cities tend to be lower |
Decide on the institution type and language first, then open the programme page on Studyinfo. It shows teaching language, eligibility, selection method, fee and deadlines. Compare like with like: two programmes called "Business Analytics" can differ both in mathematics content and in price.
What Finnish universities charge in 2027/28
Each institution sets its own fee. Since 1 August 2026 the law requires the fee to cover the full cost of teaching for students who start on or after that date, according to the Ministry of Education and Culture. Students who started earlier keep their original terms.
| Institution | Annual fee | Support for new students |
|---|---|---|
| University of Helsinki | Bachelor's $14,760 (€13,000); master's $14,760–20,440 (€13,000–18,000) | Master's: 50% or 100% waivers for two years, most of them 50%; bachelor's: none |
| Aalto University | Bachelor's $13,630–17,030 (€12,000–15,000); master's $17,030–22,710 (€15,000–20,000) | Excellence Scholarship is a full waiver awarded to very few; bachelor's students get 25% off by accepting and paying within 21 days |
| Tampere University, 2027 intake | Bachelor's $11,360 (€10,000); master's $13,630 (€12,000) | $2,270 (€2,000) off year one for accepting and paying within 21 days; 50% scholarships for the whole programme go to very few |
| University of Oulu, 2027/28 | Bachelor's $11,360 (€10,000); master's $9,650–15,900 (€8,500–14,000) | Early-bird discount of 5–30% depending on the programme for paying within three weeks; waivers from year two after 60 ECTS |
| University of Turku, 2026 intake | $11,360–13,630 (€10,000–12,000) | No first-year scholarship; master's students get $2,270 (€2,000) off for paying within 28 days; 50% from year two after 55 ECTS |
| University of Jyväskylä, 2027 intake | $11,360–18,170 (€10,000–16,000) | No first-year scholarship; $1,700 (€1,500) off for accepting within 14 days |
| UEF, 2027 intake | $11,360–13,630 (€10,000–12,000) | 30% early-bird discount ($3,410 or $4,090) for paying within 21 days; 30% waivers from year two based on credits |
| LUT, bachelor's, 2027 intake | See programme page | Year one: early-bird discount of $2,270 (€2,000) only; years two and three: $3,410 (€3,000) each after 60/120 ECTS |
| Metropolia, study rights from August 2027 | Bachelor's $13,060–13,630 (€11,500–12,000); master's $14,190 (€12,500) | $1,140 (€1,000) off the second term for accepting within 14 days; not available for every selection method |
Aalto's figures apply to study rights starting on or after 1 August 2025; Helsinki's are its published 2026/27 rates; on 1 October 2026 the University of Turku still publishes its 2026 intake terms. Check the exact amount on your programme page before applying. A full budget with housing, insurance and fees is in our guide to the cost of studying in Finland.
Scholarships: what actually exists
Finland has no government scholarship programme for bachelor's or master's students, and Study in Finland warns that adverts for "fully funded Finnish government scholarships" are misleading. Support comes from universities and nearly always reduces tuition only, so living costs have to be covered from your own money.
Since the move to full-cost fees, several institutions have shifted support from the first year to later years: new students get a discount for accepting quickly, and partial waivers follow once credits are earned. Jyväskylä, UEF, LUT, Oulu and Turku publish this model. Competitive first-year waivers remain for Helsinki master's programmes, at Aalto and at Tampere University, which awarded nine of them across all programmes in 2026, and you can only request them in the admission application itself. Other options worth comparing are listed in our overview of scholarships abroad in 2026.
How admission works: Studyinfo and the 2027 calendar
Almost every bachelor's and master's programme takes applications on Studyinfo.fi. In a joint application you can rank up to six programmes from different institutions; you can accept only one study place per term.
| Round | Application window | Results |
|---|---|---|
| First joint application, spring 2027: English-taught programmes and Uniarts, start in autumn 2027 | 7 January 2027, 8:00 — 21 January 2027, 15:00 (UTC+2) | By 6 July 2027; accept by 13 July 2027 |
| Second joint application, spring 2027: Finnish- and Swedish-taught programmes | 9–23 March 2027 | Certificate-based selection by 28 May 2027, others by 6 July 2027 |
| Separate applications | Set by each programme | Set by each programme |
Non-EU/EEA applicants pay a $114 (€100) fee within seven days of submitting; one payment covers every application for the same starting term. Unpaid applications are not processed, and the fee is never refunded. Documents, entrance exams and the steps after school or after a bachelor's are covered in our guide to applying to universities in Finland.
What matters for citizens of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus
Neither the Studyinfo rules nor Migri's permit requirements bar Russian citizens from applying. The constraints are about documents, where you file, and the journey.
- Passport. From 1 June 2026 Finland does not accept non-biometric passports issued by Russia. Exceptions cover applicants under 18 and people whose Finnish residence permit was issued before 1 June 2026; other cases are assessed individually.
- Where to file. You complete the permit application online in Enter Finland and prove your identity in Moscow, booking through the VFS Global centre linked from the embassy site. The Consulate General in St Petersburg and its Murmansk and Petrozavodsk offices are closed.
- Entry. Finland has restricted entry of Russian citizens since 30 September 2022, but students and holders of a Finnish residence permit are among the exempt groups listed by the Border Guard. The border check decides each case.
- Border. All land crossings on the Russian border have been closed since 15 December 2023, and on 4 June 2026 the Ministry of the Interior confirmed they stay closed until further notice. Travel is only possible through open air and sea crossing points.
- Scholarships. Aalto states that scholarship candidates are screened against EU sanctions lists.
Kazakh citizens prove their identity at the Finnish Embassy in Astana. Belarusian citizens are served by the Embassy of Finland in Moscow. Step-by-step details are in our guide to the Finnish student residence permit, and the wider picture is in studying abroad as a Russian citizen.
Common mistakes when choosing
- Looking for a free English-taught bachelor's. For non-EU/EEA citizens it does not exist; only Finnish- or Swedish-taught degrees are free.
- Confusing universities with UAS. A UAS master's will not admit you without two years of relevant work.
- Counting on a first-year scholarship. At Jyväskylä, UEF, LUT, Oulu and Turku the first bachelor's year has no competitive waiver: an early-bird discount at best.
- Applying without money in the account. The permit needs $10,900 (€9,600) in your own account, plus the tuition if it is still unpaid.
- Leaving the passport too late. A non-biometric Russian passport will not work for a new application, and replacing it takes time.
- Choosing by ranking rather than programme. Language, selection method, fee and city are what to compare.
FAQ
There are 13 universities and 22 universities of applied sciences. Universities are research-led and offer doctorates; UAS award practical bachelor's degrees and master's degrees for people who already have work experience. All are public and list their programmes on Studyinfo.
Only in degrees taught in Finnish or Swedish, or at doctoral level. English-taught bachelor's and master's degrees charge tuition to non-EU/EEA citizens. Partial or full waivers are decided by each university under its own scholarship scheme, and places are limited.
Yes, if your school certificate gives access to higher education in the country that issued it. The programme then sets its own selection, such as an entrance exam, SAT scores, grades and English. For autumn 2027 starts you apply between 7 and 21 January 2027, and the university makes the admission decision.
Usually $10,220–22,710 (€9,000–20,000). Examples for the 2027 intake: bachelor's at Tampere University and the University of Oulu $11,360 (€10,000), University of Jyväskylä $11,360–18,170, UEF $11,360–13,630. Living costs come on top, and Migri requires at least $908 (€800) a month.
A university provides academic training and doctoral studies, with a bachelor's that usually takes three years. A UAS teaches a profession with compulsory placements; its bachelor's takes 3.5–4.5 years and its master's admits only applicants with two years of relevant work.
The Studyinfo application rules and Migri's student permit requirements are the same for all non-EU/EEA citizens. What differs for Russians is the biometric passport rule, filing in Moscow and entry by air or sea only. The university decides on admission, Migri decides on the residence permit, and the Border Guard decides on entry.
Sources
- Study in Finland: universities and UAS, fees and cost of living, bachelor's and master's scholarships, admissions
- Studyinfo: application periods, application fee
- Ministry of Education and Culture: tuition fees in higher education
- Institution fees: University of Helsinki, Aalto, University of Jyväskylä, UEF, LUT, Metropolia, Tampere University, University of Oulu, University of Turku
- Migri: residence permit application for studies
- Embassy of Finland in Moscow: residence permits, accepted Russian passports; Embassy in Astana
- Finnish Border Guard: entry restrictions for Russian citizens, eastern border closure
All sources checked on 1 October 2026. Dollar amounts use the ECB reference rate of 30 September 2026 (€1 = $1.1355) and are rounded.
If you want to work through your route, send a request: programme selection, document preparation and submission are provided under an agreement with StudyU, and the university makes the admission decision.
Next steps
- How to Pay for Studies Abroad from Russia: What Works in 2026
- Applying to Universities in Finland for 2027: Studyinfo Dates, Documents and Steps After School
- Cost of Studying in Finland in 2027/28: University Fees, Living Costs and Permit Funds
- Finland Student Residence Permit: Requirements, Funds, Processing Times and Rules for Russian Citizens
