Study in Finland

The world’s happiest country, a two-year post-study permit, 30 hours a week of work rights and a residence permit that now covers your whole degree in one go.

Finland has topped the World Happiness Report for seven years running — and since 2022 gives graduates two full years to stay and work.

Universities like Aalto, Helsinki and Tampere run 400 English-taught programs, with the world’s best education system behind them. Your residence permit is now granted for the full length of your degree, you can work 30 hours a week, and universities of applied sciences build paid work placements into every program. Nokia, Supercell and a dense games and cleantech scene hire straight from campus.

Universities
15
Happiest country
#1
Stay-back permit
24 mo
Work / week
30 h

Why finland

  • Happiest country: Seven years at the top of the world ranking (#1)
  • Stay after: Two-year job-search permit after graduation (24 mo)
  • Work while studying: Generous work rights on a student permit (30 h)
  • English programs: Aalto, Helsinki and Tampere lead (400+)

Intakes

  • Autumn — starts Late August — apply Jan same year — The main intake — the joint application window runs 3–17 January; scholarships are decided here.
  • Spring — starts January — apply September of the prior year — A small set of applied-sciences programs.
  • Rolling — starts Varies — apply Year-round until places fill — Some UAS programs and Aalto’s executive master’s admit on a rolling basis.

What it costs: TUITION €8–18K · LIVING €10–12K · + INSURANCE €0.3K

  • Bachelor’s tuition: €8 – 12k / yr — Universities of applied sciences at the lower end.
  • Master’s tuition: €10 – 18k / yr — Aalto and Helsinki at the top — most programs are two years.
  • Living costs: €10 – 12k / yr — Helsinki at the top; Tampere, Oulu and Jyväskylä cheaper. Permit proof is €800 a month.
  • Health insurance: €0.3k / yr — Private cover for the permit; students also pay a small healthcare fee to Kela.

Scholarships and funding

  • University scholarships: 50 – 100% TUITION — Every university offers automatic tuition waivers for top applicants — no separate application.
  • Finland Scholarship: FEES + €5,000 — Government award for first-year master’s students, granted with admission.
  • EDUFI Fellowships: €1,500 / MONTH — For doctoral researchers — apply through your host department.

Tests you may need

  • English proficiency: All programs — IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 92 typical — set per program and intake.
  • Entrance exams: Applied sciences — The international UAS exam or SAT for bachelor’s at universities of applied sciences.
  • Graduate entry: Rare — GMAT or GRE only for a handful of business master’s.

Finnish universities rarely ask for GRE — each program page lists exactly what its intake asks for.

Residence permit · four steps

  1. Admission letter: Accept your offer in the joint application system — one acceptance per season.
  2. Show funds & insurance: €800 a month for a year, about €9,600, plus health insurance for the whole permit.
  3. Apply on Enter Finland: The €350 online application — granted for the full length of your degree since 2022.
  4. Identify at the embassy: Verify your identity and collect the card in Finland. Gradsy tracks each step.

Work while you study and after

  • Part-time work: Up to 30 hours a week on average — full-time in holidays.
  • Work placements: Universities of applied sciences build paid placements into every degree.
  • Job-search permit: Two years after graduation to find work — usable in parts within five years.
  • Work permit: Permanent residence after four years of continuous residence.

Typical graduate salaries

  • Software engineering: €42k – 62k
  • Data & AI: €45k – 65k
  • Engineering: €40k – 55k
  • Business & finance: €38k – 55k

Student cities

  • Helsinki: The capital — Aalto, Helsinki University and Europe’s games and cleantech hub
  • Tampere: Finland’s student-favourite city — tech, games and two lakes
  • Turku: The old capital — a compact, bilingual university town
  • Oulu: Northern tech city — Nokia’s home and 6G research
  • Jyväskylä: Finland’s sports and education science capital
  • Espoo: Aalto’s home campus — Nokia and Rovio next door

Questions students ask

Can I work while I study in Finland?

Yes — up to 30 hours a week on average during the semester and full-time in holidays. Universities of applied sciences also build paid placements into every degree.

Do I need to speak Finnish?

Not for the 400+ English-taught programs, and Finns speak excellent English. Learning Finnish helps for local jobs after graduation, and universities offer free courses.

How long is the post-study permit?

Two years — the longest in the Nordics. You can use it in parts within five years of graduating, and switch to a work permit as soon as you have a job.

How does the joint application work?

Most programs are applied for through Studyinfo.fi in a single window (3–17 January for autumn). You can apply to up to six programs; scholarships are decided automatically with admission.

Search 15 Finland universities · Find your best-fit programs