Tuition fees
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Tuition fees for Bachelor’s degree programmes, Direct Application
Tuition fees for Bachelor’s degree programmes, Direct Application
The legislation concerning tuition fees came into effect on 1 January 2016. According to the legislation, Universities of Applied Sciences are obliged to charge tuition fees for those students who are not citizens of countries of the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA) and starting their degree studies 1 August 2017 and onwards. The legislation concerns degree programmes conducted in English.
The tuition fee is charged for each academic year, and it must be paid by the set date. If a student fails to pay the tuition fee in time, she/he cannot enroll for the academic year and therefore loses the study place. The amount of the tuition fee and the possible Early bird -price is checked annually and decided by the end of each year.
For those Bachelor students, who start their studies in autumn 2023 or 2024, the tuition fee is 8000 euros per academic year.
If you are applying after 1 October 2024 for studies starting in autumn 2025, please check the tuition fee from the document below:
The tuition fee for students starting their studies after 1 January 2025 (Direct Application) (pdf)
The tuition fee for the 1st academic year (2023-2024)
If you are obligated to pay the tuition fee, you will receive instructions on how and when to pay the tuition fee.
In the Direct application, the tuition fee for the 1st academic year is the same as Early Bird tuition fee in the Joint application, 4800 euros.
The tuition fee for the 1st academic year must be paid within 14 days of being admitted to Savonia UAS.
It is not possible extend the deadline for paying the tuition fee. Also, it is not possible to pay the 1st years’ tuition fee in instalments, it must be paid at once. If the student fails to pay the tuition fee by the set date, she/he will lose the study place.
The tuition fee for upcoming years (2023-2024)
The tuition fee for the 2nd and upcoming academic years is 8000 euros per academic year and it is charged in installments, autumn semester and spring semester separately. There is also a scholarship scheme based on study success and Finnish language skills.
Scholarship (2023-2024)
Savonia UAS will not grant scholarships for the 1st academic year.
In the 2nd and upcoming academic years, the scholarship covers max. 50% of the tuition fee. To qualify for the scholarship of 40% of the tuition fee, the student must complete at least 55 credits during the previous academic year. The additional 10% of the tuition fee is based on the student’s level of proficiency in the Finnish language.
Savonia UAS grants scholarships only for the tuition fee. The scholarship is not paid to the student but is deducted directly from the tuition fee.
Scholarship in nutshell
1st academic year
- No scholarship
- Tuition fee to be paid: 4800 €
2nd academic year
- Scholarship: 40%
- Requirement: 55 credits done in the previous academic year according to the curriculum
- Tuition fee to be paid: 4800 €
- + additional scholarship 10%
- Requirement: if you have 55 credits and level of proficiency in the Finnish language A2.1
- Tuition fee to be paid: 4000 €
- Tuition fee to be paid if you do not fulfill the scholarship criteria by 31 July: 8000€
3rd academic year
- Scholarship: 40%
- Requirement: 55 credits done in the previous academic year according to the curriculum
- Tuition fee to be paid: 4800 €
- + additional scholarship 10%
- Requirement: if you have 55 credits and level of proficiency in the Finnish language B1.1
- Tuition fee to be paid: 4000 €
- Tuition fee to be paid if you do not fulfill the scholarship criteria by 31 July: 8000€
4th academic year
- Scholarship: 40%
- Requirement: 55 credits done in the previous academic year according to the curriculum
- Tuition fee to be paid: 4800 €
- + additional scholarship 10%
- Requirement: if you have 55 credits and level of proficiency in the Finnish language B1.2
- Tuition fee to be paid: 4000 €
- Tuition fee to be paid if you do not fulfill the scholarship criteria by 31 July: 8000€
Next study years
The scholarship can only be granted for the statutory study time. If you continue your studies after the statutory study time, the tuition fee to be paid is 8000 € per academic year.
Statutory study times for different extents of study programmes are:
- 210 credits Bachelor’s degree – 3,5 years
- 240 credits Bachelor’s degree – 4 years
Developing Finnish language skills
Scholarship based on humanitarian reasons for Ukrainians
As an exception to normal scholarship scheme, Savonia UAS grants scholarships to Ukrainian degree students in Finland. These students will get a full scholarship based on humanitarian reasons and need for protection, so that they do not need to pay the tuition fees. The scholarship is granted based on a valid passport or other ID, which indicates, that the student is a citizen of Ukraine.
Am I required to pay the tuition fee?
You don’t have to pay the tuition fee if you have one of these documents:
- Passport or identity card to indicate the citizenship of EU/EEA/Switzerland
- EU blue card in Finland
- EU Family Member’s Residence Card in Finland
- Continuous residence permit card in Finland, Type A permit
- NB: Type A permit granted for studying in Finland (from 15 April 2022 onwards) does not exempt student from paying tuition fee.
- EU residence permit for third-country citizens with long-term residence permit card in Finland (type P-EU)
- Permanent residence permit card in Finland, Type P permit
- Proof from the Finnish Immigration Service that you have registered, or applied to register, your EU right to residence in Finland (UK-citizens)
Please note, that the residence permit in another EU/EEA country is not sufficient grounds for exemption, only residence permits in Finland can be considered.
The residence permit must be valid when the study right begins (1 August). Please check Studyinfo.fi for more information.
Who decides if I will be exempted from paying the tuition fee?
Finnish universities and universities of applied sciences make the decision whether you are required to pay fees or not based only on the Finnish Immigration Service’s residence permit decision, which is checked from the copy of your residence permit card attached to your application documents.
If you have applied for residence permit but have not received the decision by the date when the tuition fee is due, you will have to pay the fee.
Refund policy
The paid tuition fee can only be fully refunded in the following case:
- If the student gets the negative residence permit decision before studies have started and he/she is marked as resigned, the tuition fee is fully refunded.
The tuition fee can partially be refunded in the following cases:
- If the student graduates during the first semester of the last study year after paying the fee for the whole year, the fee paid for the second semester is refunded.
- If studies have started (online or on campus) and the student gets the negative residence permit decision during the first semester, he/she can finish the semester and after that he/she is marked as resigned. The tuition fee paid for the second semester is refunded.
The tuition fee cannot be refunded in any other circumstances. For example,
- The tuition fee is not refunded in case the student gets the negative decision during the seconds semester. He/she can finish the second semester and after that he/she is marked as resigned.
- The tuition fee is not refunded if a student decides not to arrive to Finland or cancels the study place for other reasons than getting the negative residence permit decision.
- If the student’s enrollment status is changed to non-attendant after paying the fee, the tuition fee is not refunded. The tuition fee is transferred to the next academic year and the student is obligated to start his/her studies then.
Cost of studying and living
The tuition fee entitles the student to study and to use the normal support services available for students.
According to Finnish Immigration Service, in addition to the amount of the tuition fee, the student has to have at least 6720 euros / academic year available to cover the living costs.
Students have to buy books (if not available in the library) and other educational material themselves. In addition, students must also have their own laptop. Students must also get insurance as well as take care of their own travelling and living costs (accommodation, food, clothing, leisure activities). Average monthly living cost for a student is estimated to be about 600–800 euros.
If you have any questions related to applying, please contact the Admission services.
Savonia UAS Admission services
admissions@savonia.fi
Savonia University of Applied Sciences
Admission services
P.O. Box 6 (Microkatu 1)
FI-70201 KUOPIO
FINLAND