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 a lot of things you may aspire to experience and discover. Firstly, education in Finland is world-class, with its top-tier, yet affordable universities. It is one of the many reasons the Finnish people took up first place in the world’s happiest people list. Moreover, the teachers in the country are highly respected and compensated, and if you wish to pursue a career in education, studying in Finland is 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 indeed worth it for your outdoor retreats. Of course, the beautiful northern lights you can witness for days is the cherry on top. On the other hand, if you prefer a more subdued experience in Finland, you might enjoy its libraries equipped with books and other activities such as sewing stations and audio recording booths. There, you might have a more profound interaction with the Finnish people as they enjoy their libraries as well.
As you look forward to enjoying Finland to the fullest, there might still be some recurring doubts about your financial capacity while you live independently. When it is time to make your academic plans a reality, make sure to check out the steps below. With some tips and some key takeaways, completing a degree in Finland for free does not seem far-fetched anymore.
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, most degree programs at public universities charge no tuition at all; your main concern will be living costs. For non-EU/EEA students, English-taught bachelor’s and master’s programs typically cost around 8,000–18,000€ per year depending on the university and field. However, Finland has deliberately built a scholarship system so strong that many non-EU students end up paying 0€ in tuition once they combine Finland Scholarships with university-specific tuition waivers.
Doctoral programs are even more generous: public universities in Finland generally do not charge tuition fees for PhD studies, regardless of nationality, and many departments hire doctoral researchers on paid positions. That is why you’ll see PhD-oriented funding like Finland Fellowships under the same Finland Government Scholarships framework, they are meant to cover living costs rather than tuition. If you already hold a master’s degree, applying straight into a funded doctoral track can be one of the simplest ways to study in Finland completely free.
Step 2: Choose Finnish Universities That Actually Fund You
Once you understand the system, your next move is to target universities in Finland that are known for strong scholarship schemes. On Global Scholarships, you can browse dozens of offers in the Finland scholarship search. Pay particular attention to universities that appear both in the national Finland Scholarships list and have their own tuition-waiver programs, such as the University of Helsinki, Aalto University, University of Eastern Finland, University of Turku, and University of Jyvaskyla.
The core of “studying in Finland for free” for non-EU students is stacking national and university scholarships. The Ministry of Education and Culture funds Finland Scholarships for master’s students and Finland Fellowships for PhD students at participating universities. These typically provide a 100% tuition waiver plus a 5,000€ relocation grant in the first year, with extensions or additional support depending on performance and degree level. When combined with fee waivers from the university itself, your official tuition bill can become zero for the entire degree.
Ushnish Chowdhury, an electrical engineering student from India, did exactly this at Aalto University. He received the Finland Scholarship there, 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 Finland Scholarship university, he turned a very expensive program into a nearly free one.
Another example is Muhammad Hafas Shafiq, who was awarded the Finland Government Scholarship for the European Mining Course, a joint master’s involving Aalto University and partner universities in Germany and Austria. His scholarship covered 100% of tuition, provided mobility funding between the three campuses, and added a semester stipend for living costs, allowing him to focus on research instead of worrying about bills.
Even when you don’t receive the nationwide Finland Scholarship, 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. Similarly, Md Shahab Uddin combined his UEF Scholarship with the 5,000€ relocation grant to cover tuition and a big portion of his first-year living 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’re 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 love practical experience and research potential. Hafas strengthened his profile with professional experience in mining and engineering before applying for the Finland Government Scholarship, 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 — a big focus in Finland’s innovation-driven economy.
Language is the other pillar. Most international programs at universities like Helsinki, Aalto, and UEF are taught in English, and they usually require IELTS, TOEFL, or an equivalent test unless you qualify for a waiver. Scholarship recipients often mention preparing carefully for these exams, because a strong English score makes their application more convincing. At the same time, learning Finnish can unlock extra benefits; for example, Vaasa University of Applied Sciences offers a Finnish Language Skills Scholarship that rewards students who reach a certain level in Finnish, which can indirectly help with living costs and future work opportunities.
Step 4: Get a Part-time Work or Internshiups
Part-time work and internships are another piece of the “study for free” puzzle. With a student residence permit, you can usually work up to 30 hours per week on average in Finland, which allows you to cover a good part of your living expenses if you budget carefully. Many scholarship recipients in Finland mention using summer jobs, research assistantships, or part-time roles in tech and engineering to build experience and income alongside their fully funded or tuition-free studies, making their time in Finland not only affordable, but also career-building.
Tuition-free Options for Bachelor’s Studies in Finland
Even if you are from a non-EU country, studying an undergraduate degree for free in Finland is undoubtedly doable through scholarships. The University of Tampere offers full scholarships to paying students through a scholarship program. Upon application for admission, applicants can choose to apply for the scholarship as well, and since it is merit-based, the university selects the most successful applicants. The scholarship lasts for three years if the recipient continuously earns at least 55 credits every academic year until the degree completion.
Similarly, the University of Oulu offers full scholarships through a tuition waiver to undergraduate students, and applicants can apply for the scholarships as part of the admission process. The University of Turku also provides opportunities for students to apply for full scholarships that cover 100% of their tuition costs. Upon admission, successful applicants will have to earn at least 45 credits for the scholarship to continue on their succeeding academic years, up to three years.
Here are some of the students who were able to study for free during their bachelor’s in Finland!
Here is what Bachelor’s Scholarship Recipients in Finland Say:
“a merit-based award that grants a 100% tuition fee waiver”
Khanh Nguyen
“Focus on achieving a high GPA and strong standardized test scores from early on”
Khanh Nguyen
Tuition-free Options for Master’s Studies in Finland
The University of Helsinki provides graduate students with scholarships for international students to give them an opportunity to study a master’s in Finland for free. Aside from tuition costs, its grant also gives discounts on meals, student union fees, and public transportation. The program’s duration is two years, and students’ performance needs to be reviewed and earn at least 55 credits annually. Aside from its Bachelor’s level scholarships, the University of Tampere also offers scholarships to applicants at the Master’s level. The program duration is two years, and recipients have to earn at least 55 credits every year in order to stay in the program for the next academic year.
The University of Oulu and the University of Turku also offer scholarships for students in the master’s programs. These scholarships include full tuition coverage for two years though recipients have to earn at least 60 credits in their first year to continue their inclusion in the program.
Successful applicants vying for one of these prestigious scholarships will have the opportunity to obtain a degree without having to pay for tuition.
Here are some of the students who were able to study a master’s degree in Finland for free!
- Ushnish Chowdhury from India earned the Finland Scholarship at Aalto University, covering a full tuition waiver for two years, a €5,000 relocation grant, and a Dean’s Incentive Scholarship to complete an MSc in Automation and Electrical Engineering (Electrical Power and Energy Engineering).
- Thinh from Vietnam earned the Aalto Excellence Scholarship at Aalto University, covering a full €34,000 tuition fee waiver to pursue a Master’s in Computer Science with a specialization in Game Development & Computer Graphics.
- Md Shahab Uddin from Bangladesh earned the University of Eastern Finland Scholarship at University of Eastern Finland, covering a 100% tuition waiver in the first year, a €5,000 relocation grant, and a 70% tuition waiver in the second year to study a Master’s in Medical Physics.
Here is what Master’s Scholarship Recipients in Finland Say:
“I was awarded the Finland Government Scholarship, along with a 100% tuition fee waiver for my studies in the European Mining Course (EMC).”
Muhammad Hafas Shafiq
“You simply indicate in the main application whether you wish to be considered for scholarships.”
Ushnish Chowdhury
“In Finland, university applications and scholarship applications take place simultaneously. After admission decisions, students are ranked, and scholarships are awarded based on this ranking.”
Md Shahab Uddin
Tuition-free Options for Ph.D. Studies in Finland
Unlike in the bachelor’s and master’s programs, international students accepted in the doctoral programs of most Finnish universities are exempted from paying tuition regardless of their home country. This policy is a huge financial relief for struggling future researchers. However, students may still need to get additional funding for their living expenses and research costs that may not be provided by their host university. The EDUFI Fellowship works with universities that are looking for scholarship funding to attract international students so that international students can enjoy full funding during their studies in Finland.
In the meantime, a university worth mentioning is the University of Jyväskylä. The university offers multiple funding and scholarship options that ensure overseas students can complete their doctoral education without having to shell out money.
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 the Finland Scholarship and Dean’s Incentive Scholarship at Aalto University, covering full tuition for his master’s in Automation and Electrical Engineering plus a €5,000 relocation grant and an additional €500 merit award, and is now continuing in the same department as a doctoral researcher in Finland.
Here is what PhD Scholarship Recipients in Finland Say:
“Currently, I am working as a fully funded Doctoral Researcher at Åbo Akademi University in Finland. My position is supported through the research project MADNESS, which provides a salary and funding until the end of 2028.”
Shihabur
We hope this article will encourage you to study in Finland. To know more information, visit our Study in Finland Page as we have a list of useful topics about before, during, and after studies in Finland! And if you are still unsure of what study program to take, here’s a list of Available Programs in Europe for international students!
