Study in Finland

Why study in Finland?

English-taught degrees with a practical focus

Finland’s higher education institutions offer a wide range of bachelor’s and master’s programmes taught in English. You can choose between research-based universities and universities of applied sciences, which focus on hands-on learning and close links with industry. For Indian students the most common route is a two-year master’s degree after a bachelor’s degree from India.

One national application system

Instead of applying to each university separately, you apply for most English-taught programmes through Studyinfo.fi, Finland’s national application portal. In one joint application you can apply to up to six programmes.

Work during and after your studies

During your studies you can work an average of up to 30 hours a week. After you graduate, you can apply for a residence permit to look for work or start a business, for up to two years.

A permit for the whole degree

Since April 2022, degree students from outside the EU can be granted a residence permit for the whole duration of their studies, instead of renewing it every year. You need to show funds for the first year only when you apply. The permit cannot be valid for longer than your passport, so make sure your passport covers your full course.

Rules as of October 2026 — sources: Studyinfo – how to apply, Migri – rules on international students relaxed, Migri – studying in Finland.

The education system

Finland has 13 universities and 22 universities of applied sciences (UAS), with more than 30,000 international students.

• Universities are research-based. They offer bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, and only universities award doctorates.
• Universities of applied sciences are practical and career-focused, with strong industry connections. They offer bachelor’s degrees and UAS master’s degrees aimed at people already in working life.

Study is measured in ECTS credits, the European credit system; a full academic year of study is 60 ECTS credits.

A university master’s usually combines advanced studies in your major, optional minor subjects, language and communication studies, often an internship, and a master’s thesis. To apply for a UAS master’s you need a bachelor’s degree and at least two years of work experience, which is why most Indian students who come straight after their degree choose a university master’s. In the labour market, a UAS master’s is considered equivalent to a university master’s.

Doctoral programmes are not part of the joint application: you apply to the university directly.

Figures as of October 2026 — sources: Study in Finland – universities, Studyinfo – higher education degrees.

Popular universities

Universities:

• University of Helsinki, Helsinki
• Aalto University, Espoo
• University of Turku, Turku
• Tampere University, Tampere
• University of Oulu, Oulu
• University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä
• LUT University, Lappeenranta
• University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu and Kuopio
• Åbo Akademi University, Turku

Universities of applied sciences:

• Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Helsinki
• Turku University of Applied Sciences, Turku
• LAB University of Applied Sciences, Lahti and Lappeenranta
• JAMK University of Applied Sciences, Jyväskylä
• Oulu University of Applied Sciences, Oulu

Entry requirements

Master’s degrees

To be eligible for a university master’s, you need a bachelor’s level degree or equivalent studies. Each programme sets its own criteria, such as the subject of your degree, your grades and any prerequisite courses, so programmes at the same university can differ.

How to apply. Most English-taught programmes starting in autumn 2027 are in the first joint application of spring 2027, on Studyinfo.fi:

You submit only one application form in each joint application, listing up to six programmes. Universities usually ask for attachments shortly after the application period closes – for example, the University of Eastern Finland asks for your latest transcript by 28 January 2027. Some programmes run separate application rounds instead, and some of these open in late 2026. You can accept only one offer of admission per academic term.

Since January 2025, applicants from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland pay an application fee of €100, after submitting the application.

Documents for Indian degrees. Expect to provide your degree certificate (or a provisional certificate at the application stage) and your transcripts or mark sheets, with official translations if they are not in English, Finnish or Swedish. Rules for Indian documents are strict and vary by university. For example, LUT University asks for official transcripts to be sent directly by the university or autonomous college in a sealed envelope, and accepts degree certificates only from the main university, not the college. Read the country-specific instructions of every university you apply to, and request documents from your university early.

Final certificates. If you apply before you graduate, you will need to send your final degree certificate later – for example, by 30 July 2027 at the University of Eastern Finland.

Bachelor’s degrees

For a bachelor’s degree, you need a secondary school qualification that gives eligibility for higher education in India, and you apply through the same January joint application. Students are selected on grades, an entrance exam or both, depending on the programme. Universities of applied sciences use the International UAS Exam for many programmes.

Process as of October 2026 — sources: Studyinfo – application periods, Studyinfo – how to apply, Study in Finland – joint application news, Study in Finland – fees and cost of living, LUT – country-specific requirements, UEF – eligibility for master’s programmes.

English requirements

There is no single national English requirement. Each programme sets its own minimum scores and accepted tests. IELTS, TOEFL and other English tests may be accepted, and some programmes allow exemptions – for example, for some degrees taught in English – but requirements and exemptions vary. Check the language requirements in each programme description on Studyinfo.fi, and book your test early: you must attach your result to the application by the deadline.

Rules as of October 2026 — sources: Study in Finland – FAQ, Studyinfo – how to apply.

Scholarships

Finland does not offer government scholarships for bachelor’s or master’s studies, and Study in Finland warns that adverts promising fully funded Finnish government scholarships are misleading.

What is available:

• University scholarships and fee waivers. Many universities and universities of applied sciences offer scholarships to students who have to pay tuition fees, often as tuition fee waivers. In many programmes you apply for the scholarship at the same time as you apply for admission; check the “tuition fees” and scholarship details in each programme description on Studyinfo.fi.
• Scholarships after you start. Some universities offer awards later in your studies, for example for good study progress, academic success or Finnish language skills.

University scholarships are competitive and usually cover tuition only, not living costs, so you will still need to fund your living expenses yourself.

Programmes as of October 2026 — sources: Study in Finland – scholarship facts, Study in Finland – funding your studies.

Education and living costs

Tuition fees

Students from outside the EU/EEA pay tuition fees for English-taught bachelor’s and master’s programmes. Programmes taught in Finnish or Swedish, and doctoral studies, are free of tuition fees.

Under a change to the Universities Act, universities must charge non-EU/EEA students who begin their studies on or after 1 August 2026 a fee that covers at least the cost of organising their education. Fees for new students may therefore be higher than in earlier years, so always check the current fee in the programme description.

Funds for the residence permit

The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) requires you to have at least €800 a month for your living costs – €9,600 in your bank account for a permit of one year or longer – plus enough money to pay your tuition fee if you have not already paid it. A scholarship or grant for living costs counts towards this amount. If your university provides free accommodation, or free accommodation and meals, the monthly amount is lower.

Figures as of October 2026 — sources: Study in Finland – fees and cost of living, Migri – income requirement for students, Uniarts Helsinki – tuition fees (Universities Act, section 10).

Working while you study and after graduation

While you study

With a residence permit for studies, you can do paid work in any field for an average of up to 30 hours a week. The limit was raised from 25 hours in April 2022, and it is now calculated over the whole year rather than only during term, so you can work more in some weeks – for example, during holidays – as long as your average stays within 30 hours. Practical training and thesis work that are part of your degree do not count towards the limit. You and your employer are both responsible for making sure you stay within it.

After graduation

Once you complete your degree in Finland, you can apply for a residence permit to look for work or start a business, for up to two years. The permit gives you an unrestricted right to work, so you do not need a new permit when you find a job. You do not have to apply immediately: you can apply up to five years after graduating, including from outside Finland. If you apply before your student permit expires, you can start working as soon as you have submitted the application.

Rules as of October 2026 — sources: Migri – working and internships during studies, Migri – residence permit to look for work, Study in Finland – FAQ.

Residence permit for studies

Indian students need a residence permit for studies (not a visa) to study in Finland for more than three months. Apply as soon as you have accepted your study place, and before you travel: a Schengen visa is not granted for coming to Finland to apply for, or wait for, a residence permit.

How to apply from India

1. Apply online in Enter Finland, the Finnish Immigration Service’s online service, and attach your documents. You must file the application yourself.
2. Pay the processing fee – €600 for an online application or €750 on paper for a first residence permit for studies, as of 1 January 2026. The fee is not refunded if your application is refused or cancelled.
3. Prove your identity at VFS Global. Applications from India are submitted by appointment at the Finland Visa Application Centre run by VFS Global; the Embassy of Finland names New Delhi. Bring your passport; your photograph, signature and fingerprints are taken at the appointment. A VFS service fee may apply.
4. Wait for Migri’s decision. Migri processes student applications as urgent, and its estimate for a first permit for studies is about one month in most cases, though some take longer. You may be asked for more information or invited to an interview.
5. Collect your residence permit card from the place where you submitted your application.

Documents you will usually need

• Passport valid for your whole stay
• Offer of admission from a Finnish university or university of applied sciences
• Proof that you have paid the tuition fee (or have the money to pay it), or a scholarship decision
• Proof of funds: at least €9,600 for a year, in your own bank account
• Health insurance certificate
• Any documents to be legalised must carry an apostille from India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and all documents must be in English, Finnish or Swedish

Health insurance

Private health insurance is required, and the deductible must not be more than €300. If your studies last less than two years, it must cover sickness and accident medical expenses of at least €120,000; if they last two years or more, it must cover medical expenses of at least €40,000. Standard travel insurance is not enough for stays of more than 90 days, and the insurance must be valid when you arrive.

Process as of October 2026 — sources: Finland abroad (India) – residence permits, Migri – residence permit application for studies, Migri – processing fee changes from 1 January 2026, Migri – processing times, Migri – students must have insurance, University of Helsinki – residence permit for degree students.