Study abroad in Finland: school scholarships, costs and opportunities to stay and work

🔄 Cập nhật lần cuối: 08/10/26

Finland is famous for its top education, safe living environment and high quality of life. Studying abroad in Finland is increasingly attracting Vietnamese students thanks to quality English programs, generous scholarships from the school and a policy allowing them to stay and look for a job after graduation. This article summarizes actual costs, types of scholarships and career opportunities based on information from official Finnish agencies.

Tuition fees to study abroad in Finland

According to Study in Finland (an agency under the Finnish Ministry of Education), students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland studying bachelor's and master's programs taught in English usually pay tuition fees of about 9,000–20,000 euros/year, depending on the school and industry. Some notable points:

• Programs taught in Finnish or Swedish do not charge tuition fees.
• The PhD program does not charge tuition fees, regardless of nationality.
• Applicants from outside the EU/EEA pay an admission fee of 100 euros via the common admission system.
• There are two types of schools: research universities and universities of applied sciences (UAS), in which UAS is more practical and associated with businesses.

Scholarships to study abroad in Finland: mainly from schools

Important point to know: according to Study in Finland, Finland does not have a government scholarship program for bachelor's and master's degrees for international students. The site also warns that advertisements for “full Finnish government scholarships” are misleading and contain false information. This is a sign you should be wary of – see more How to find reputable scholarships and avoid traps.

The main source is scholarships from each school:

• Competitive, often covers part or all of tuition, but does not cover living expenses.
• Some schools consider scholarships along with admission documents; Others consider scholarships for the following year based on academic progress or Finnish language ability.
• Some schools have "early bird" incentives to reduce tuition when early admission is confirmed.

At the doctoral level, graduate students are often recruited into paid positions within projects or receive funding from research funds. See PhD scholarships.

Living costs and financial requirements

According to the Finnish Migration Agency (Migri), when applying for a residence permit to study abroad, you need to prove a minimum of 800 euros/month; For courses of one year or more, the account needs 9,600 euros when applying. If you have not paid tuition, your account must have additional first-year tuition. The living allowance (if any) is included in the financial requirements, while the tuition scholarship does not replace living expenses.

There are also student union fees of about 50–70 euros/year and student health fees of about 35 euros/semester. Winter is long, so you need to prepare warm clothes. Read more Cost of studying abroad in other countries.

Part-time work and the opportunity to stay at work

Work extra while studying

According to Migri, students work an average of 30 hours/week (about 1,560 hours/year); Internships and dissertations within the program of study usually do not count toward the limit if agreed upon in advance. However, Study in Finland advises against relying on part-time work to cover expenses because jobs are not easy to find, especially if you do not know Finnish.

Permit to stay and look for a job after graduation

After graduation, you can apply for a residence permit to find a job or start a business. According to Migri, this permit is for a maximum of two years, can be divided into three parts (each part is at least six months, the last part ends within three years from the start of the first part), and can be applied for within five years after the study permit expires. Reference Post-graduation work visa for different countries and Learn the local language when studying abroad – knowing Finnish significantly increases job opportunities.

Frequently asked questions

Are there full Finnish government scholarships?

According to Study in Finland, there is no government scholarship program for international bachelors and masters. Advertisements “entirely from the Finnish government” need to be carefully verified.

Does the school scholarship cover living expenses?

Usually not. School scholarships mainly reduce or waive tuition fees, you still have to prove a minimum of 800 euros/month for living expenses.

Do I need to know Finnish to study abroad?

Not required if studying in an English program, but Finnish is very useful for life and employment after graduation.

Does studying for a PhD in Finland cost tuition?

No, PhD programs are tuition-free regardless of nationality.

Conclusion

Studying abroad in Finland is suitable for those looking for high quality education, a safe environment and the opportunity to stay and work. Focus on hunting for school scholarships, prepare enough living finances and be wary of false scholarship information. Once you have a residence permit, VeDuHoc is ready to support your flight via hotline/Zalo 090.1800.918.

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