How to Study in Finland for Free

As a young student looking forward to exploring the world on your own, studying abroad is one of the best adventures you can have. A great place to start your journey is Finland, known for many things you may aspire to experience and discover. Finland has an internationally recognized education system, with top-tier, yet affordable universities. Finland was also ranked as the world’s happiest country in 2026 for the ninth year in a row. Moreover, teaching is a highly respected and selective profession in the country, and if you wish to pursue a career in education, studying in Finland can be ideal for you.

Aside from education, Finland is known for its outdoor activities and stunning nature. Though the winters can be harsh, long summer days in the country are worth it for your outdoor retreats. Of course, the Northern Lights are the cherry on top: in northern Finland, they appear on roughly 200 nights a year during the aurora season. On the other hand, if you prefer a more subdued experience in Finland, you might enjoy its libraries, many of which offer books, workshops, sewing machines, and recording studios. There, you might have a more meaningful interaction with Finnish people as they enjoy their libraries as well.

As you look forward to enjoying Finland to the fullest, you may still have questions about your financial capacity while living independently. When it is time to make your academic plans a reality, make sure to check out the steps below. With some careful planning and key takeaways, completing a degree in Finland with little or no tuition cost can be possible, especially if you qualify for a strong university scholarship.

How to Study in Finland for Free with Scholarships: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Understand How “Free” Study Works in Finland

First, get clear on who actually pays tuition in Finland. If you are an EU/EEA or Swiss student, degree studies at public universities generally do not charge tuition; your main concern will be living costs and mandatory student fees. For non-EU/EEA students, English-taught bachelor’s and master’s programs typically cost around €8,000–€20,000 per year, depending on the university and field. However, many Finnish universities offer competitive scholarships or tuition waivers for fee-paying students. Some can cover 100% of tuition, while others cover only part of it, so you should always check the official scholarship page of each university before applying.

Doctoral programs are even more generous on tuition: Finnish doctoral programs generally do not charge tuition fees, regardless of nationality. However, tuition-free does not automatically mean fully funded. Doctoral students still need to finance their living expenses, so the best route is usually to apply for paid doctoral researcher positions, project-funded positions, faculty grants, or external research funding. If you already hold a master’s degree, applying to a paid doctoral researcher position can be one of the clearest ways to study in Finland without paying tuition and while receiving income.

Step 2: Choose Finnish Universities That Actually Fund You

Once you understand the system, your next move is to target universities in Finland that still offer strong scholarship schemes. On Global Scholarships, you can browse dozens of offers in the Finland scholarship search. Pay particular attention to universities that clearly list full or major tuition waivers on their official pages, such as Aalto University, University of Helsinki, and University of Eastern Finland. Universities such as University of Turku, University of Jyvaskyla, Tampere University, and the University of Oulu may still reduce costs, but their current scholarship terms may not make the whole degree tuition-free.

The core of “studying in Finland for free” for non-EU students is choosing universities with full tuition waivers and applying for them correctly. Current official guidance from Study in Finland says bachelor’s and master’s scholarships are offered by individual universities, not through a general government scholarship for all applicants. These scholarships are competitive and often cover only tuition, so you should plan separately for living costs, housing, insurance, student fees, and travel.

Ushnish Chowdhury, an electrical engineering student from India, received the Finland Scholarship at Aalto University during his intake, which covered full tuition for his master’s plus a €5,000 relocation grant, and later earned an extra Dean’s Incentive Scholarship after completing more than 60 credits in one year. Before that, he had only a 50% fee waiver from another Finnish university; by choosing a scholarship route with full tuition coverage, he turned a very expensive program into a nearly free one. Since scholarship schemes change, use this as an example of what has been possible, not as a guarantee for future intakes.

Another example is Muhammad Hafas Shafiq, who was awarded scholarship support for the European Mining Course, a joint master’s involving Aalto University and partner universities in Germany and Austria. His scholarship covered tuition and supported mobility between campuses, allowing him to focus on research instead of worrying as much about bills.

Even when a nationwide scholarship is not available for your intake, strong university schemes can still make tuition fully free. Thinh from Vietnam secured the Aalto University Excellence Scholarship, a full-tuition award for his Master’s in Computer Science at Aalto, valued at roughly €34,000 over two years based on the current €17,000 annual tuition fee for that program. Similarly, Md Shahab Uddin received major scholarship support at the University of Eastern Finland. Current applicants to UEF should note that UEF now lists one 100% tuition waiver per program, plus partial tuition waivers, but says its scholarships do not cover living expenses or travel costs.

Step 3: Build a “Finland-Ready” Academic and Language Profile

These scholarships are highly competitive, and Finland’s universities care a lot about academic consistency. Scholarship recipients in Finland almost always come with strong transcripts: high GPAs or top-of-class rankings, plus a clear match between their previous studies and the program they are applying to. Ushnish had a very high CGPA in electronics and communication engineering before shifting into power and energy, and Shahab had a bachelor’s background in medical physics and biomedical engineering when he applied to his master’s in Finland. If your grades are not perfect yet, focus on improving them now; Finnish committees value upward trends and solid fundamentals.

Beyond grades, Finnish universities value practical experience and research potential. Hafas strengthened his profile with professional experience in mining and engineering before applying for scholarship support, while Shahab had hands-on work in the biomedical industry that directly aligned with his master’s in medical physics. When you write your CV and motivation letter, emphasize internships, projects, publications, or work experience that show you can contribute to research and industry collaborations, which are important in Finland’s innovation-driven economy.

Language is the other pillar. Many international programs at universities like Helsinki, Aalto, and UEF are taught in English, and they usually require IELTS, TOEFL, or an equivalent proof of English unless you qualify for a waiver. Scholarship recipients often mention preparing carefully for these exams because a strong English score can make an application more convincing. At the same time, learning Finnish can unlock extra benefits; for example, Vaasa University of Applied Sciences offers a Finnish language scholarship of €4,000 for eligible tuition-paying students who meet the required Finnish language proficiency criteria.

Step 4: Get a Part-time Work or Internships

Part-time work and internships are another piece of the “study for free” puzzle. With a Finnish student residence permit, you can usually work up to an average of 30 hours per week in paid employment, which can help you cover part of your living expenses if you budget carefully. During holidays, you may work full-time as long as the yearly average remains within the allowed limit. Work that is registered as a required internship or diploma work may be treated differently, so always check the Finnish Immigration Service rules and your university’s internship requirements before planning your finances around work.

Tuition-free Options for Bachelor’s Studies in Finland

Even if you are from a non-EU country, studying an undergraduate degree with no tuition cost in Finland can still be possible, but only through specific full-tuition scholarships. The most reliable route is to target universities that officially offer 100% tuition waivers for bachelor’s applicants. For example, Aalto University offers a limited number of Aalto University Excellence Scholarships as full tuition fee waivers for fee-paying students, including bachelor’s students. These scholarships do not cover living costs, so you still need a separate budget for accommodation, food, travel, insurance, and other expenses.

The University of Eastern Finland is also one of the full-tuition routes: it lists one UEF Scholarship per international bachelor’s and master’s program, covering 100% of tuition for the standard duration of studies. UEF also offers partial tuition waivers of 30% or 50%, depending on the program and selection results. As with most Finnish university scholarships, these awards do not cover living expenses or travel costs.

Here are some of the students who were able to study for free during their bachelor’s in Finland!

• Khanh Nguyen from Vietnam earned the Aalto University Scholarship at Aalto University in Finland, covering full tuition to study a Bachelor’s in International Business.

Tuition-free Options for Master’s Studies in Finland

The University of Helsinki provides tuition fee waivers for excellent tuition fee-liable students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland who apply to its international master’s programs. Its current scholarship categories are 50% and 100% tuition fee waivers, but the university notes that most scholarships are 50% waivers and that it does not offer scholarships to cover living expenses. Tuition fees at the University of Helsinki currently range from €13,000 to €18,000 per year, and scholarship recipients must study full-time and earn at least 55 ECTS credits per year for the scholarship to continue.

For full-tuition master’s routes, Aalto University and University of Eastern Finland are especially important to check. Aalto University Excellence Scholarships are awarded as full tuition fee waivers to a very limited number of top applicants, although they do not cover living costs. UEF lists one 100% tuition waiver per program for the full standard duration of studies, plus partial 30% or 50% tuition waivers in many programs. Successful applicants vying for one of these prestigious scholarships may be able to obtain a degree without paying tuition, but they must still budget for living expenses.

Here are some of the students who were able to study a master’s degree in Finland for free!

• Ushnish Chowdhury from India earned scholarship support at Aalto University, covering a full tuition waiver for his master’s, a relocation grant during his intake, and a Dean’s Incentive Scholarship to complete an MSc in Automation and Electrical Engineering.
• Thinh from Vietnam earned the Aalto Excellence Scholarship at Aalto University, covering a full tuition fee waiver to pursue a Master’s in Computer Science.
• Md Shahab Uddin from Bangladesh earned scholarship support at the University of Eastern Finland to study a Master’s in Medical Physics. Current UEF applicants should check the official UEF scholarship page because waiver levels and relocation support may differ by intake.

Tuition-free Options for Ph.D. Studies in Finland

Unlike in bachelor’s and master’s programs, international students accepted into doctoral programs at Finnish universities generally do not pay tuition, regardless of their home country. This policy is a major financial relief for future researchers. However, doctoral students still need funding for their living expenses and research costs that may not be provided automatically by their host university. The EDUFI Fellowship, which previously supported foreign doctoral researchers through Finnish university departments, ended in 2025 and no longer accepts new applications, so current applicants should focus on paid doctoral researcher positions, university project funding, faculty grants, and external research foundations.

In the meantime, a university worth mentioning is the University of Jyväskylä. The university does not collect tuition fees from doctoral researchers, but a doctoral study right does not automatically include funding. Doctoral funding must be applied for separately, and common routes include a fixed-term doctoral researcher employment contract, grant research, project funding, or foundation grants. The university also states that it does not offer full scholarships for doctoral students, so applicants should discuss funding options with a potential supervisor before applying.

Here are some of the students who were able to study a PhD degree for free in Finland!

• Shihabur from Bangladesh secured a fully funded Doctoral Researcher position at Åbo Akademi University that provides salary and research funding to pursue his PhD.
• Ushnish Chowdhury from India received scholarship support at Aalto University for his master’s in Automation and Electrical Engineering and is now continuing in the same department as a doctoral researcher in Finland.

We hope this article will encourage you to study in Finland. To learn more, visit our Study in Finland Page, where we have a list of useful topics about what to know before, during, and after studying in Finland. And if you are still unsure which study program to take, here is a list of Available Programs in Europe for international students!