Finland has become one of the best study destinations in Europe for international scholars. This is thanks to its world-class education system and affordable tuition. However, it’s possible to study in Finland without having to worry about tuition, as most of the public universities in the country are tuition-free. This article will provide you with the top tuition-free universities in Finland and how to study in Finland for free.
Over the years, many international students, especially from Africa, have favoured Finland over any other European country when it comes to studying abroad. Although this could be attributed to its world-class education system at affordable fees, what truly made Finland popular isn’t just the low tuition, the country’s beautiful scenery, lively atmosphere, modern infrastructures, and low cost of livelihood are some of the reasons people prefer the country. Additionally, public universities in Finland offer free education, although the criteria to get into these tuition-free programmes differ depending on the country you’re from.
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How to Study in Finland For Free
As earlier stated, there are several tuition-free universities in Finland. But are they free for all? The answer is no. Tuition-free programmes in Finland are only for citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) countries, and Switzerland. Students from other countries are regarded as international students, and they’re mandated to pay tuition. However, there are other criteria for studying in Finland for free.
For a start, tuition fees only apply to undergraduate and master’s programmes. PhD programmes are free in most public universities in Finland regardless of what country you’re from. Furthermore, while only students from EU/EEA countries and Switzerland are automatically exempted from tuition, a Finland permanent or fixed-term residence permit or a Blue Card from any of the EU countries may grant you tuition exemption.
Another way to get exempted from tuition is by studying a course being taught in Finnish or Swedish. As against studying an English-taught programme, studying a Finnish- or Swedish-taught course will automatically grant you a tuition exemption. So, you might want to take that Finnish course more seriously. Meanwhile, Finland universities also have a bunch of scholarship opportunities for international students, relieving them of the burden of tuition.
Top Tuition-Free Universities in Finland For International Students
Public universities in Finland are classified into two categories – regular universities and universities of applied sciences. However, they both offer free tuition to EU/EEA countries and Switzerland citizens. International students, on the other hand, can enjoy low tuition on both undergraduate and master’s programmes, with as low as 5,000 EUR/year. Meanwhile, studying in private universities is a lot more expensive. Here are the top tuition-free universities in Finland and Finnish universities with affordable tuition;
Diaconia University of Applied Sciences (Diak)
Popularly referred to as Diak, Diaconia University of Applied Sciences is one of the top Finnish institutions focusing on applied training and research in social work, with a specialization in health care and interpreting. With 5 campuses in Helsinki, Oulu, Pieksämäki, Pori, and Turku, Diak’s main focus is on health and social courses. Meanwhile, the tuition is also affordable. While EA/EEU students study for free, international students can study for as low as 4,000EUR a year for undergraduate and master’s programmes.
Centria University of Applied Sciences
Centria University of Applied Sciences (CUAS) is one of the popular destinations for international students with one out of every five of its students being from outside of Finland. With three campuses in Kokkola, Pietarsaari and Ylivieska, CUAS’s focus is strong in nursing, business intelligence and engineering. But what sets it apart is its cheap tuition. International students can enrol in master’s programmes for as low as 7,500EUR and even enjoy an early bird discount of 1,000EUR when paid within two weeks of acceptance. The bachelor’s programme at Centria University of Applied Sciences costs about 10,000EUR with several scholarships available in the school.
Kajaani University of Applied Sciences
Kajaani University of Applied Sciences (KUAS) is one of the cheapest Finnish universities offering a variety of English-taught courses. KAUS takes pride in its practical-first approach to learning and forms a stronghold in business, sports, tourism, and information technology. The institution also offers one of the cheapest tuition for international students, going as low as 7,000 euros a year. Although the tuition varies according to the programme, the university offers scholarship opportunities worth 3,000 euros for international students.
Tampere University
Established in 2019 through the merging of the University of Tampere and Tampere University of Technology, Tampere University is the youngest university in Finland. With seven faculties, the university has a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. It is particularly famous for its library and information management programmes, ranking at #21 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject. The tuition is also affordable, ranging between 10,000UER and 12,000EUR a year for bachelor’s and master’s programmes. Tampere University also offers an early bird discount of 1,500EUR on the first-year tuition when paid within two weeks of receiving the admission offer.
Aalto University
Aalto University is one of the leading universities in Finland renowned for its world-class research and innovations. Formed from the amalgamation of three prestigious universities, the university’s strong focus is on technology, business, and arts. Aalto University offers tuition-free education for EU/EEA countries, however, non-EU/EEA students enrolling in any English-taught courses are expected to pay their tuition. While the tuition is around 12,000EUR for undergraduates and 15,000EUR for master’s programmes, the institution offers a wealth of scholarship opportunities for its students to ease this burden.
Do I Need IELTS to Study in Finland?
Naturally, an English language proficiency test is required to study in Finland, especially when enrolling on an English-taught programme. However, there are conditions for exemption from submitting IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge, or Pearson tests.
The first condition is that you must be a native English speaker. That is, English must be the primary language in your country. For post-graduate students, you will be exempted from IELTS, TOEFL, etc, if your first degree was English-taught or your degree was English-taught from an EU/EEA country, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or the United States of America. However, in this case, you will need a letter from your institution affirming the claim that your degree was English-taught. Meanwhile, some universities will also exempt you if part of your first degree was English taught at a Finnish university or University of applied sciences in Finland. If you’re not in any of these categories, you will need to take an English proficiency test to prove your language skills.
Final Thoughts on How to Study in Finland for Free
Finland has been able to maintain publicly funded institutions, thereby able to offer tuition-free education for her students. By providing you with the top tuition-free universities in Finland and Finnish universities with low tuition, we’ve been able to give you tips on how to study in Finland for free. In summary, the best two options for Africans are to either enrol in a Finnish- or Swedish-taught programme or apply for scholarships in any of the Finnish public universities. Regardless, Finland is one of the cheapest destinations to study abroad.
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