Fees and living costs

This page covers estimations of costs of applying, immigration and living in Finland as a student.

Application fee  

From January 2025 onwards there is going to be an application fee. The application fee is collected for applicants from countries outside EU/EEA seeking education leading to a degree in higher education, excluding licenciate or doctoral degrees. In order for an application to be processed, the fee must have been paid timely.

There is no application fee for Finnish or EU citizens. Any questions regarding application fee can be addressed to the Finnish National Agency for Education at applicationfee@oph.fi.

Read more in the national application portal Studyinfo.fi.

  • Application fee: 100 €
     

Test fees 

Bachelor's level admission

All students who do not hold an upper secondary school certificate from Finland, are required to take either the SAT or ACT aptitude test. 

  • SAT test 68 USD if taken in the USA
    • +  international test fee 43 USD in another country
    • + possible test centre fee 24 USD
  • ACT test 65 USD
    • + Science section add-on fee 4 USD
       

Master's level admission

Students whose qualifying degree is obtained at a higher education institution located outside the EU/EEA are required to take the GMAT or GRE aptitude test. All students who do not fulfill the language requirement in another way, must take a language test.  

  • GMAT or GRE test (varies between countries and test) is 200–280 €  
  • Language test (varies between countries and test) is 200–450 € 
     

Immigration 

Non-EU/EEA citizens must apply for a residence permit to study in Finland. Here is the cost in relation to immigration: 

*The minimum required amount is most likely not sufficient, see the information below. 
 

Living costs

Monthly living expenses for students (including food, accommodation, travel, etc.) are around 750–1200+ €, depending on location and personal living habits. 

In Helsinki living costs and rent are higher, even for student housing.  

  • A room in a shared apartment is around 400–500 €/month and a one-room apartment may cost 600–900 €/month. The rent in the student housing is approximately 20 % lower than rents for private apartments.   
  • Food, transportation and other expenses are around 450 €/month
  • The monthly living costs of a student in Helsinki are around 950–1200 €/month

In Vaasa the living expenses are slightly lower since it is a smaller city.  

  • A room in a shared apartment costs around 250–400 €/month
  • Food, transportation and other expenses are around 300–400 €/month  
  • The monthly living costs of a student in Vaasa are around 750–900 €/month
     

Student Union membership fee 

All university students in Finland regardless of nationality are obliged to pay an annual Student Union membership fee. By paying the fee, students annually register as present for the academic year.  
 
The Student Union fee includes substantial benefits and services, advocacy work and events throughout the year. As a Student Union member, you are entitled to a significant student meal discount in student restaurants and reductions on public transport. The fee may vary from year to year. 

  • Student Union membership is 70 €/year
     

Student health care fee 

The student health care fee (FSHS) is mandatory for most students. The fee is paid to the Social Insurance Institution of Finland called Kela once per term (spring and autumn), i.e., twice a year. 

The amount that must be paid is defined in a Government Decree and may vary from year to year. Read more about the health care fee for higher education students and the deadline for the payments on the KELA webpage. 

  • Student health care is 35 €/academic year

Working during studies

Degree studies at Hanken are full-time studies and therefore you should not plan to work full-time while studying.

Can I work during my studies?

  • A part-time job can give you valuable work experience, which is one of the things employers look for in graduates entering the job market.
  • Many students work part-time, either in the evenings, during weekends, or in the summer.

    Keep in mind that a part-time job can be hard to find, especially if courses require attendance and if you don’t speak the local languages. That is why you shouldn’t plan your finances solely on finding a job and moreover, the salary from a part-time job would likely not cover all your living expenses.  

How much am I allowed to work during my studies in Finland?

  • If you are going to work during your studies, you must pay taxes in Finland and need a Finnish tax card. For more information, visit the International House Helsinki website or the Finnish Tax Office website.
  • EU/EEA nationals: there are no restrictions on how many hours per week you can work, but don’t let work get in the way of your study progress.
  • Non-EU nationals: you can work 30 hours a week. The 30 hours is not applicable to work related to your degree, such as practical training or thesis work as part of the degree. Before you start working, read the information on the Finnish Immigration Service website on working during studies.
Tuition fees and scholarships