10 Cheap Schools in Finland for International Students

Studying in Finland is an excellent option for international students seeking an affordable degree. Finland provides low tuition rates for both international and domestic students. Additionally, you will be studying in a highly developed country. Finland’s education system is reputable and comparable to countries such as England and the United States.

Many international students choose to study in Finland because of the low tuition prices, the ease and comfort of living, and the high standard of school education in the country. In Finland, tuition fees for non-EU/EEA international students pursuing English-taught bachelor’s and master’s programs range from €8,000 to €20,000 per year, depending on the university and program.

For those looking for affordable degrees, here are some cheap schools in Finland for international students.

Why study in Finland?

Finland is a northern European country that shares borders with Sweden and Norway to the east and north, as well as Russia to the east. The population is 5.5 million, and the official languages are Finnish and Swedish. Finland’s capital and largest city, Helsinki, has a population of 1.5 million.

Finland, like the other Nordic countries, consistently ranks first in a variety of metrics, including press freedom, quality of life and education, health care, economic performance, and others. Finland is also known as “the happiest country in the world”. Because of these high standards, many international students want to continue their education in this country.

Here are some of the reasons why students prefer going to Finland to study:

Many high standard school in the country are affordable

When compared to top high school and universities in the United States, the United Kingdom, and other top-tier educational countries, Finland offers degrees at a much lower cost.

Ease of living

Studying in another country may seem daunting, but doing so in a great country that is safe and environmentally friendly, a first-world country, makes it less difficult for international students to get along.

The reputation

Finland’s education system is regarded as one of the best in the world, and its high schools and universities are no exception.

Best Universities in Finland

University	QS Ranking 2024	THE Ranking 2024	ARWU Ranking 2023
Aalto University	109	201	301
University of Helsinki	115	121	101
University of Oulu	313	251	401
University of Turku	315	301	301
Lappeenranta University of Technology	351	251	–
Tampere University	436	301	501
University of Jyväskylä	446	401	701
University of Eastern Finland	548	501	501
Åbo Akademi University	601	501	–
University of Vaasa	–	401

How this Institutions are Ranked

The QS World University Rankings are among the most important and widely referenced rankings. The QS ranking is heavily based on an academic survey that asks thousands of academics around the world about the reputation of universities.

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings (or the THE Rankings for short) compile a wide range of statistics. Citations (the rate at which a university’s research is referenced elsewhere) are used to balance teaching quality, research excellence, and research impact.

ARWU focuses on research output and quality, as measured by the number of published and cited scientific papers and the number of staff or alumni who have won the Nobel Prize or Fields Medal.

10 Cheap Schools in Finland for International Students

If you’re looking for the most affordable options Finland offers, look no further.

#1. Diaconia University of Applied Sciences

• Tuition Fee Range: from €12,000/year

Diaconia University of Applied Sciences, also known as DIAK, is Finland’s cheapest university for international students. It is also one of Finland’s largest providers of social workers. The university provides courses in social work, health care, diaconal work, and interpreting. Diak is a privately owned institution whose primary shareholders include various church organizations and foundations.

Despite its affiliation with the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland, students are not required to practice that faith, and students of various faiths, beliefs, and nationalities attend the university.

#2. Centria University of Applied Sciences

• Tuition Fee Range: from €9,500/year (Undergraduate) to €10,000/year (Graduate)

Centria University of Applied Sciences is a higher education institution in Finland’s Ostrobothnia region, spread across three towns. Internationalization is one of the university’s primary goals, so they began offering three bachelor’s degrees in English: business administration, engineering, and health care, as well as one master’s degree.

While the university is still relatively small, it intends to grow in the coming years, and drawing more international students is one of its top priorities to achieve that goal.

#3. JAMK University of Applied Sciences

• Tuition Fee Range: from €9,000/year (Undergraduate) to €10,000/year (Graduate)

JAMK University, a university of applied sciences with campuses in two towns in Central Finland, is one of the top cheap universities in Finland for international students. The university provides 6 bachelor’s and 6 master’s degrees in various English subjects, which are very appealing to international students.

The university has four schools: Business, Health and Social Studies, Technology, and Professional Teacher Education. All programs take place in a very modern and international environment, with students from all over the world.

#4. Kajaani University of Applied Sciences

• Tuition Fee Range: from €7,000/year (Undergraduate) to €11,000/year (Graduate)

Kajaani University is an applied sciences university situated in the small town of Kajaani, in the heart of Finland. The university, like the town itself, is quite small. However, this has not prevented it from achieving tremendous success, with the Ministry of Education and Culture describing its teaching as the best in Finland.

Kajaani University offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Finnish, as well as four bachelor’s degrees: international business, sports and leisure management, tourism, and esports business, and one master’s degree in international business management.

#5. Novia University of Applied Sciences

• Tuition Fee Range: from €10,000/year (Undergraduate) to €15,000/year (Graduate)

The Novia University of Applied Sciences has campuses in four towns throughout Western Finland. This cheap university in Finland was founded in 2008 as a result of a merger, and it offers bachelor’s and master’s programs primarily in Swedish, but there are also a few English programs, primarily in the fields of technology and engineering.

Novia’s main goal is to inspire and educate aspiring entrepreneurs by teaching them valuable skills that will help them create and implement their ideas. Because of the university’s close collaboration with local businesses, Novia provides its students with a variety of internship opportunities as part of their studies.

#6. Seinajoki University of Applied Sciences

• Tuition Fee Range: from €9,500/year (Undergraduate) to €11,500/year (Graduate)

Seinajoki University of Applied Sciences is a municipality-owned university in South Ostrobothnia, Finland, with campuses in Seinajoki and Ilmaoki. This cheap school in Finland for international students consists of four faculties: the Faculty of Business and Culture, the Faculty of Food and Agriculture, the Faculty of Health Care and Social Work, and the Faculty of Technology.

Three of the faculties’ programs are entirely taught in English: the degree programs in International Business and Nursing, as well as the Master’s program in International Business Management.

#7. University of Eastern Finland

• Tuition Fee Range: from €10,000/year (Undergraduate) | from €8,000/year (Graduate)

The University of Eastern Finland was formed in 2010 through the merger of two universities. It has campuses in Eastern Finland’s largest cities, Joensuu and Kuopio. The two campuses are located 130 kilometers apart.

This low-cost university in Finland offers master’s and doctoral programs through four faculties: the Faculty of Philosophy, the Faculty of Science and Forestry, the Faculty of Health Sciences, and the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies.

The University is very involved in international collaboration, having signed agreements with 70 universities from around the world.

#8. Tampere University

• Tuition Fee Range: from €10,000/year (Undergraduate) | from €6,000/year (Graduate)

Tampere University is a relatively new university, having been founded in 2019 through the merger of two previously distinct universities. The universities in question are Tampere University and Tampere University of Applied Sciences, which work closely together.

The university has a long history of being deeply rooted in the heart of Tampere, and its alumni are world leaders in a variety of fields worldwide.

#9. Arcada University of Applied Sciences

• Tuition Fee Range: from €9,500/year (Undergraduate) | to €11,000/year (Graduate)

The Arcada University of Applied Sciences resides in the capital of Finland – Helsinki and is owned by the Arcada Foundation. The majority of the programs are taught in Swedish, but there are three bachelor’s and four master’s degree programs offered in English.

Aside from degree programs, there is a wide range of specialized courses for working professionals. Arcada provides programs in a variety of fields, including business, nursing, data analytics, and more. The university has a large number of Swedish students, and the English programs are popular among international students.

#10 .University of Vaasa

• Tuition Fee Range: from €10,000/year

Our list of the cheap schools in Finland for international students concludes with the University of Vaasa, a business-oriented university located in Vassa on Finland’s west coast. What began as an economics school has grown into a university with four schools dedicated to various important subjects: accounting and finance, management, marketing and communications, and technology and innovation.

The university currently has 5,000 students enrolled in various degree programs, making it one of the largest business universities in Finland. Vassa is Finland’s sunniest town and a cultural and tourist hotspot in Western Finland, making it a popular destination for international students, and those interested in economics and business should apply immediately to the university.

How do i Apply to Study in Finland

As an international student, your application to a Finnish university will have specific requirements. In addition to the standard student application, which includes letters of recommendation, a resume, and educational history, you may be asked to provide the following:

• Proof of finances 
• English proficiency 
• International application 
• Passport information 
• A translated copy of your transcript 

FAQs

Conclusion

Overall, studying in Finland as an international student will provide you with a reputable, internationally recognized degree while also potentially saving money!

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