Finland offers international students hundreds of English-taught degree programs across technology, business, education, health, environmental science, and other fields. Scholarships at Finnish universities and through international programs can reduce tuition costs or provide full funding while opening pathways to research and employment.
The recipient stories in this guide show what these opportunities can lead to. After scholarship-supported study at the University of Helsinki, Suzan Bhadhury progressed to a fully funded PhD at University College Dublin. Aalto University graduate Abdur Rahman became a 5G Industrial Network Engineer at Nokia Finland, while other Aalto recipients continued as doctoral researchers or joined companies such as ABB. University of Eastern Finland graduate Ivena Nathania Victor became a clinical linguist and founded a communication and speech-assessment initiative in Indonesia.
Below, we explore 15 of the best universities in Finland for international students, including their academic strengths, admissions information, tuition fees, scholarship opportunities, and the experiences and outcomes of successful scholarship recipients.
| University | Selected Academic Areas |
|---|
| University of Helsinki | Life Sciences, Medicine, Humanities, and Social Sciences |
| Aalto University | Art and Design, Information Technology, Business, and Engineering |
| University of Oulu | Technology, Medicine, Business, and Arctic Studies |
| Tampere University | Information Technology, Engineering, Medicine and Health Technology, and Social Sciences |
| University of Turku | Medicine, Technology, Natural Sciences, and Humanities |
| University of Jyväskylä | Education, Sport and Health Sciences, Psychology, and Humanities |
| LUT University | Energy Systems, Engineering Science, Business, and Social Sciences |
| Ã…bo Akademi University | Computer Science, Chemical Engineering, and Biosciences |
| University of Lapland | Art and Design, Arctic Studies, and Law |
| University of Eastern Finland | Health Sciences, Forestry, and Environmental Sciences |
| Metropolia University of Applied Sciences | Technology, Health Care, Social Services, and Business |
| University of Vaasa | Business, Technology, Management, and Communication Studies |
| Laurea University of Applied Sciences | Business, Health Care, Social Services, and Information Technology |
| Hanken School of Economics | Economics and Business Administration |
| Häme University of Applied Sciences | Bioeconomy, Business, Design, Health, and Technology |
Top Universities in Finland for International Students
1. University of Helsinki
The University of Helsinki is one of the best public universities in Finland for international students. It ranks among the top 1% of universities worldwide and offers a wide range of study areas across four campuses. This long-established institution has 11 faculties and several independent institutes, libraries, museums, and national institutions, such as the National Library of Finland and the Finnish Museum of Natural History.
UH offers globally recognized programs for international students. The university offers study programs in several languages. It is also bilingual, with Finnish and Swedish as official languages of instruction, while English is widely used in many international master’s and doctoral-level options.
One student’s journey: Suzan Bhadhury completed the Erasmus Mundus Master Program in Plant Breeding through UniLaSalle and the University of Helsinki, after entering with a bachelor’s in Agricultural Science and a 3.81/4.00 CGPA. She credits academic performance, research experience, and leadership with helping her secure the fully funded Erasmus Mundus Scholarship, which supported her master’s studies across European universities. After completing the degree, she progressed to a fully funded PhD in Biological and Environmental Science at University College Dublin under a Marie SkÅ‚odowska-Curie doctoral fellowship. View More University of Helsinki recipients →
2. Aalto University
Aalto University was established in 2010 through a merger of three institutions focused on economics, technology, and art and design. Today, the university has six schools and a community of about 16,000 students and 5,200 employees. This top university in Finland has also defined key research areas, including art and design, ICT, business, technology, sustainability, and materials.
Aalto University is primarily located in Espoo, with its main campus in Otaniemi. The university is named after Finnish architect and designer Alvar Aalto. Most undergraduate programs are in Finnish or Swedish, but Aalto also offers several study programs conducted entirely in English, especially at the master’s level. The university is also known for its international postgraduate community.
A recipient’s path: Pakistani telecom engineer Abdur Rahman chose Aalto University for its communication-engineering focus, industry collaboration and proximity to telecom employers; his application combined a 3.67/4.00 bachelor’s GPA and silver medal with relevant roles at Nayatel and Huawei, a 7.0 IELTS score, tailored motivation letter and strong recommendations. He enrolled in Aalto’s master’s in Computer Communication Information Systems, graduated with honors, and funded the degree through the Finland Government Scholarship, which covered €15,000 in annual tuition for two years plus a €5,000 first-year grant. After the degree, he remained in Finland and became a 5G Industrial Network Engineer at Nokia Finland.
- Outcomes of students who studied at Aalto University: Muhammad Dayyan Hussain Khan: after his Aalto master’s, works in Helsinki as a Technical Sales Support Specialist in ABB’s Large Motors and Generators division; Sanower Rehman: after completing his Aalto master’s, secured a Foundation Scholarship and continued at Aalto as a PhD student in Energy Technology; Ushnish Chowdhury: completed his Aalto master’s in 2025 and continued in the same department as a doctoral researcher. View More Aalto University recipients →
3. University of Oulu
The University of Oulu is a public, multidisciplinary university and one of the best universities in Finland for international students. Founded in 1958, it has about 14,800 students and eight faculties. It is known for research and education in areas such as technology, science, medicine, business, education, and the humanities.
As one of the northernmost multidisciplinary universities in the world, the University of Oulu has strong expertise in northern and Arctic-related themes, including changing climate, northern environments, health, digitalization, and sustainability. Its location in Oulu also connects students with one of Finland’s important technology and innovation hubs.
4. Tampere University
Tampere University is a young university established in 2019 through a merger of the University of Tampere and Tampere University of Technology. Through this official consolidation, the new institution offers programs through seven faculties: information technology and communication sciences, education and culture, management and business, medicine and health technology, social sciences, engineering and natural sciences, and the built environment.
This top university in Finland is also globally recognized for research that combines health, technology, and society. International students have a variety of specialist subjects to focus on, including fields connected to health technology, game studies, and social sciences. Some studies may include online or blended elements, but students should check each program page for the current delivery mode.
One student’s journey: Maryam Gul, who had previously completed an MPhil in Educational Leadership and Management, enrolled in the Erasmus Mundus MARIHE joint master’s and studied at Tampere University as one of the degree’s consortium institutions. She approached the application as a structured project: instead of listing achievements, she framed her motivation letter around a concrete higher-education problem, mapped that problem to specific MARIHE modules, prepared documents before applications opened, and chose recommenders who could reinforce the same academic direction. Her studies were supported by the fully funded Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Scholarship, covering tuition, travel and a monthly stipend. View More Tampere University recipients →
5. University of Turku
The University of Turku, a top university in Finland, is a major higher education institution in southwest Finland. The university has more than 23,000 students and over 4,000 staff members. Its academic community studies and works across eight faculties and four independent units, with strengths in areas such as economics, social sciences, humanities, medicine, technology, and natural sciences.
The main campus of UTU is in the city of Turku, where students can access complete facilities, including libraries, restaurants, shops, nearby transport connections, and the Turku University Hospital area. There is also a student village that welcomes both local and international students.
One student’s journey: Indranil Enkhtuvshin is pursuing a Master of Social Sciences in East Asian Studies at the University of Turku, building on a bachelor’s in Japan Studies and a research focus on Japan–Mongolia foreign policy. For Turku, they used IELTS to satisfy the language requirement but concentrated their application effort on defining a clear research trajectory, strengthening the motivation letter, and narrowing the research proposal to fit the programme’s evaluation priorities. Their University of Turku scholarship covered the full two-year tuition fee, totaling €16,000 as of 2024. View More University of Turku recipients →
6. University of Jyväskylä
The University of Jyväskylä is a multidisciplinary research university with over 15,200 students and nearly 2,850 experts. It has been ranked among the top 3% of universities in the world and is known for teaching and research in learning, well-being, natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, and sport and health sciences. It has also been recognized globally in fields such as education, sport and health sciences, psychology, communication and media studies, and linguistics. For these reasons, it is one of the top universities in Finland for international students.
The University of Jyväskylä welcomes international students from all over the world and helps them adjust and feel at home in Finland. Upon arrival, international students can participate in an orientation program that introduces them to the university and other students. There are also tutors available to give students help when needed.
Kanykei’s path to University of Jyväskylä: After a bachelor’s in Computer Science, Kanykei entered the fully funded NeuroData Erasmus Mundus master’s in Brain and Data Science, whose degree path includes study at University of Jyväskylä alongside partner universities in Israel and Croatia. She began preparing before her final undergraduate year, researched deadlines and requirements, and tailored her documents and personal statement to the program; she says the alignment between her background in health data science, her goals, and the program’s interdisciplinary focus helped her application stand out. The Erasmus Mundus Scholarship funds her multi-country degree, and she is working on a thesis using brain-imaging techniques to classify aerobic fitness and physical-activity levels. View More University of Jyväskylä recipients →
7. Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT
Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT is a university focused on technology, business, and social sciences. LUT University ranked among the top 300 universities in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026. In 2025, the university had 9,127 enrolled students. Its three schools are the School of Energy Systems, the School of Engineering Science, and the LUT Business School.
LUT University has campuses in Lappeenranta and Lahti, and both offer events, clubs, and activities for students. The university offers support for incoming students through orientation activities and student tutors who help newcomers register for courses and become familiar with campus life. The school year is divided into four teaching periods, with two in the autumn semester and two in the spring semester.
A recipient’s path: Aleezay Anjum Ahmed, who entered a two-year Erasmus Mundus joint master’s in Sustainable Biomass and Bioproducts Engineering offered collaboratively by WrocÅ‚aw University of Science and Technology, the University of Castilla-La Mancha, and LUT University, approached selection by targeting programmes that closely matched her academic interests and long-term goals. She says her Erasmus Mundus application required no additional examination, and credits a coherent motivation letter, strong academic record, interdisciplinary coursework, research and extracurricular involvement with making her application competitive; she had also won Fulbright funding but chose Erasmus Mundus for its more immediate, structured multi-country pathway. The fully funded Erasmus Mundus scholarship covered her joint degree studies, including her LUT component in Finland. View More LUT University recipients →
8. Ã…bo Akademi University
Åbo Akademi University is Finland’s Swedish-language multidisciplinary university. It has campuses in Turku and Vaasa and a community of approximately 5,500 students. Its teaching and research span the humanities, social sciences, business, education, natural sciences, and engineering.
The university’s principal language is Swedish, but it also offers international master’s and doctoral programs taught in English. Its location and academic partnerships provide students with opportunities to participate in Nordic and wider European academic networks.
A recipient’s path: After a Computer Science bachelor’s, Mira entered the Erasmus Mundus EDISS joint master’s, completing its first year at Ã…bo Akademi University before continuing the degree in Spain, with full funding through the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Scholarship. For her intake, she reports a 7% acceptance rate; instead of a motivation letter, applicants submitted a motivational video of no more than three minutes, plus a CV, recommendations, transcript, and a motivation summary capped at 150 words. She says her 3.46/4.0 GPA was not especially high and credits clearer motivation and previous experience with helping her application, making her route a useful example of how selection at this Ã…bo-hosted programme worked. View More Ã…bo Akademi University recipients →
9. University of Lapland
The University of Lapland is located in Rovaniemi near the Arctic Circle. Established in 1979, it is the northernmost university in Finland and the European Union. The institution has approximately 5,000 degree students and four faculties covering art and design, education, law, and social sciences.
The university is particularly recognized for education and research connected to northern and Arctic issues. Its Arctic Centre conducts multidisciplinary research on environmental change, Arctic societies, sustainable development, politics, and the relationships between people and the northern environment.
One student’s journey: Tooba Tul Muntaha, a product design graduate from Pakistan, enrolled in the two-year Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s in Service Design Strategies and Innovation, whose degree consortium includes the University of Lapland. More than 700 people applied; Tooba says a clear motivation, close fit between her design/NGO experience and the programme, and strong performance on graded assignments helped her reach the interview round and secure the fully funded Erasmus Mundus scholarship. Her programme subsequently took her through Latvia and Estonia to Finland, where she was completing her final semester at the University of Lapland when interviewed. View More University of Lapland recipients →
10. University of Eastern Finland
The University of Eastern Finland, commonly known as UEF, is a multidisciplinary university with campuses in Joensuu and Kuopio. It has approximately 17,600 degree students and four faculties covering health sciences, science and forestry, humanities and education, social sciences, business, and technology.
UEF offers education in nearly 100 major subjects and provides several international bachelor’s and master’s programs taught in English. Its multidisciplinary research addresses subjects such as environmental change, sustainable natural resources, health and well-being, learning, and the transformation of society.
A recipient’s path: Md Shahab Uddin, who had a bachelor’s in Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, chose a Master’s in Medical Physics at the University of Eastern Finland because he specifically wanted core medical-physics courses such as radiotherapy and active research in the field. His application required a CV and statement of purpose, he had an IELTS Band 8, and he says Finnish admission and scholarship decisions were made together by ranking applicants on factors including academic performance, curriculum fit, English score, motivation letter, CV, and work experience. His UEF tuition-fee scholarship provided a 100% tuition waiver plus a €5,000 relocation grant in year one and a 70% waiver in year two. View More University of Eastern Finland recipients →
- Outcomes of students who studied at University of Eastern Finland: Ivena Nathania Victor: after completing the EMCL++ joint master’s, she became a Clinical Linguist and founded KUBICARA, developing a communication, language, and speech assessment and intervention program with a psychological clinic in Indonesia.
11. Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
Metropolia University of Applied Sciences is the largest university of applied sciences in Finland. In 2025, it had 19,261 students and 81 degree programs, making it one of the best universities in Finland for international students in terms of diversity and applied learning opportunities. It also has thousands of foreign degree students from more than 100 nationalities.
Its degrees are available in the fields of technology, health care, social services, culture, and business. Through each of these fields, the aim is to educate professionals who can improve society as a whole.
12. University of Vaasa
The University of Vaasa excels in the fields of business, technology, management, administrative sciences, and communication studies. It is located in Palosaari, close to the city center of Vaasa, and had 7,017 students in 2025. The university has a strong international community, and international staff make up 30% of its personnel.
The university offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, with several master’s programs taught entirely in English. Each student can receive guidance through their studies, and the university provides a support network to help students feel at home and make new friends.
13. Laurea University of Applied Sciences
Laurea University of Applied Sciences has six campuses in the Uusimaa region. The Laurea community includes approximately 9,900 students, 660 staff members, and 34,700 alumni. It offers seven bachelor’s degree programs and five master’s degree programs in English.
Laurea University of Applied Sciences offers online classes in Finland, work placements, project work, and work-based learning. It has a Learning by Developing model in which students learn through workplace-related research, investigation, and various projects. Students gain knowledge in real-world settings and constantly put new skills into practice.
14. Hanken School of Economics
Hanken School of Economics is a leading research and education institution specializing in economics and business administration. It holds three prominent international business school accreditations: AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS. With these accreditations, the school is not only one of the best business schools in the country but also one of the top Finland universities for international students interested in business and economics.
Hanken School of Economics has an international academic environment and places strong emphasis on global networks, international experience, and career development. This way, students can build international networks that last throughout their careers.
15. Häme University of Applied Sciences
Häme University of Applied Sciences is a workplace-oriented university of applied sciences with seven campuses in Kanta-Häme and Pirkanmaa. HAMK describes itself as a team of over 10,000 people working in fields such as bioeconomy, business, design, education, health, and technology. It offers bachelor’s and master’s studies, as well as professional teacher education.
This university has many international students and supports practical, team-based, and workplace-connected learning. Students can build their own learning paths, take part in projects, and develop professional skills that support employment or entrepreneurship after graduation.
FAQs about Studying in Finland
Is Finland a Good Place to Study for International Students?
Finland’s higher education is sought after by many international students for several good reasons. Finland has 13 universities and 22 universities of applied sciences, and they offer more than 600 English-taught bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. However, higher education is not tuition-free for all international students. Non-EU/EEA students usually pay tuition fees for English-taught bachelor’s and master’s programs, while doctoral programs do not charge tuition fees. Scholarships may be available, but they are competitive and often cover tuition fees rather than living costs.
Students can choose from several degree programs, including business, medicine, and engineering. They can also pursue technology and information systems, areas in which Finland has been globally recognized in recent years.
International students can feel at home in Finland, especially if they love the outdoors. There are many nature activities and sports to try, as well as good food and beautiful scenery. Living costs in the country can be relatively high, and students are advised to budget approximately €900 to €1,200 per month, depending on location and lifestyle. Even so, Finland can be worth considering if you want to live in a country known for safety, nature, and quality of life.
Can International Students Work in Finland While Studying?
Foreign students in Finland can gain valuable experience, as well as some extra income, by having a part-time job. EU/EEA students generally have broad access to work in Finland, while non-EU/EEA students must follow the conditions of their residence permit.
Non-EU/EEA students usually need a residence permit for studies lasting more than 90 days. If you have been granted a residence permit for studies, you may work in paid employment in any field for an average of 30 hours per week. Work that is part of your degree, such as practical training or thesis work, may have different rules. Always check the current Finnish Immigration Service instructions before making work plans.
Can International Students Stay in Finland after Graduation?
After graduation, foreign nationals who wish to stay in Finland can do so by seeking employment in their field of expertise. EU/EEA nationals generally face fewer residence restrictions. Non-EU/EEA graduates can apply for a residence permit to look for work or start a business after completing a degree in Finland.
A residence permit to look for work can be granted for a maximum of two years. Graduates may apply right after graduation or within the time frame allowed by the Finnish Immigration Service. Once you find a job, you may apply for a residence permit for work based on a degree completed in Finland. Permanent residence may be possible after four years on a continuous residence permit, including your study period, if you meet the conditions.
We hope that this article helps you decide which school in Finland you would like to enroll in. If you are interested, explore Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for International Students!
