Tuition Fees for Non‑EU/EEA Nationals

OSAO will introduce tuition fees for students who are non‑EU/EEA nationals. The tuition fees are based on legislation approved by the Finnish Parliament.

Tuition fees apply to students who begin their studies on or after 1 August 2026. Collecting the tuition fee is not optional for education providers; it is mandated by law. The tuition fee applies to education provided in all languages.

Who Must Pay the Tuition Fee? 

Students must pay the tuition fee if they are non EU/EEA nationals.  This means they are not citizens of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. 

The type of residence permit the student has can also affect whether they must pay.  The student’s municipality of residence does not affect the fee. 

Who Does Not Need to Pay? 

The fee does not apply to: 

• People with a permanent or continuous residence permit (some exceptions may apply) 

• NonEU/EEA nationals with an EU Blue Card or an EU residence permit 

• Exchange students with a residence permit valid for no more than one year 

• People with a residence permit based on temporary protection (for example, from Ukraine) 

• Persons granted international protection

• Students who are covered by compulsory education 
• Students taking part in commissioned education 

A child or young person under the age of 18 who has arrived in Finland with their family or guardian becomes subject to compulsory education once they have been assigned a municipality of residence. The type of residence permit held by the guardian or the child (A or B permit) does not affect this.

A student who begins upper secondary studies while subject to compulsory education may complete their studies free of charge until the end of the calendar year in which they turn 20.

How Much Is the Tuition Fee? 

A student’s tuition fee is determined based on OSAO’s tuition fee decision valid at the start of the studies, and the fee remains the same for the duration of the studies.

For nonEU/EEA nationals starting vocational education on or after 1 August 2026, the yearly fee is: 

Vocational qualifications (upper secondary, further, and specialist): 

EUR 7,500–29,200 per student per academic year, depending on the qualification. 

Important to Know 

• Payment of the tuition fee is required to participate in instruction.
• A student liable for tuition fees is not entitled to daily free meals in vocational upper secondary education, to study‑related social benefits in apprenticeship training, or to free accommodation in a student dormitory.
• A student liable for tuition fees is not entitled to free learning materials or equipment.
• A student liable for tuition fees is entitled to student welfare services, learning support and special support.

A health examination related to entry into the country may be added to the fees during the first academic year.

Tuition fees by degree programme

The price is in the format euros/student/academic year. Note that some degree programmes span multiple academic years.

Vocational Qualifications

Vocational Qualifications

• Vocational Qualification in  the Motor Vehicles Sector, 13 400 €
• Vocational Qualification in Food Production (excluding the dairy sector), 13 400 €
• Vocational Qualification in Hairdressing and Beauty Care, 13 100 €
• Vocational Qualification in Mining, 18 500 €
• Vocational Qualification in Mechanical Engineering and Production Technology, 13 400 €
• Vocational Qualification in Laboratory Technology, 13 400 €
• Vocational Qualification in Business, 10 000 €
• Vocational Qualification in Logistics (Other than Transport Services), 13 100 €
• Vocational Qualification in Logistics (Transport Services), 17 300€
• Vocational Qualification in Pharmaceutics, 10 800 €
• Vocational Qualification in Agriculture, 14 500 €
• Vocational Qualification in Tourism industry, 13 100 €
• Vocational Qualification in Media and Visual Expression, 11 500 €
• Vocational Qualification in Forestry (Other than Forest Machine Operation), 14 500 €
• Vocational Qualification in Forestry (Forest Machine Operation), 22 200 €
• Vocational Qualification in Surface Treatment Technology, 13 400 €
• Vocational Qualification in Process Industry, 13 400 €
• Vocational Qualification in Cleaning and Property Services, 13 100 €
• Vocational Qualification in Horticulture, 11 600 €
• Vocational Qualification in Wood Industry, 13 400 €
• Vocational Qualification in Construction (Other than Earthmoving Machinery Operator), 13 400 €
• Vocational Qualification in Construction (Earthmoving Machinery Operator), 18,500 €
• Vocational Qualification in Restaurant and Catering Services, 13 100 €
• Vocational Qualification in Electrical Engineering and Automation Technology, 13,400 €
• Vocational Qualification in Social and Health Care, 10 800 €
• Vocational Qualification in Arts and Design, 11 500 €
• Vocational Qualification in Building Maintenance Technology, 13 400 €
• Vocational Qualification in Technical Design, 13 400 €
• Vocational Qualification in Textiles and Fashion Industry, 13 400 €
• Vocational Qualification in Information and Communications Technology, 11 100 €
• Vocational Qualification in Safety and Security, 13 100 €
• Vocational Qualification in Equipment Maintenance, 10 800 €

Further Vocational Qualifications

Further Vocational Qualifications

• Further Vocational Qualification in Motor Vehicles Sector, 17 700 €
• Further Vocational Qualification in Animal Care, 9 300 €
• Further Vocational Qualification in Energy Technology, 17 700 €
• Further Vocational Qualification in Massage, 9 600 €
• Further Vocational Qualification in Property Management, 10 100 €
• Further Vocational Qualification in Education and Guidance, 9 600 €
• Further Vocational Qualification in Machine Mechanics and Maintenance, 17 700 €
• Further Vocational Qualification in the Transport Sector, 7 500 €
• Further Vocational Qualification in Business, 10 100 €
• Further Vocational Qualification in Sports and Coaching, 9 800 €
• Further Vocational Qualification in First-Level Management, 10 100 €
• Further Vocational Qualification in Infrastructure Construction, 29 200 €
• Further Vocational Qualification in Agriculture, 9 300 €
• Further Vocational Qualification in Tourism Services, 9 800 €
• Further Vocational Qualification in Media, 21 500 €
• Further Vocational Qualification in Surface Treatment, 17 700 €
• Further Vocational Qualification in Process Industry, 17 700 €
• Further Vocational Qualification in Cleaning and Property Services, 9 800 €
• Further Vocational Qualification in Horticulture, 9 300 €
• Further Vocational Qualification in Restaurant Customer Service, 9 800 €
• Further Vocational Qualification in Food Services, 9 800 €
• Further Vocational Qualification in Electrical Engineering and Automation Technology, 17 700 €
• Further Vocational Qualification in Arts and Design, 21 500 €
• Further Vocational Qualification in Building Construction, 17 700 €
• Further Vocational Qualification in Building Maintenance Technology 17 700 €
• Further Vocational Qualification in Health Care, 9 600 €
• Further Vocational Qualification in the Security Sector, 9 800 €
• Further Vocational Qualification in Entrepreneurship, 10 100 €

Specialist Vocational Qualifications

Specialist Vocational Qualifications

• Specialist Vocational Qualification in the Motor Vehicles Sector, 17 700 €
• Specialist Vocational Qualification in Animal Care, 9 300 €
• Specialist Vocational Qualification in Energy Technology, 17 700 €
• Specialist Vocational Qualification in Massage, 9 600 €
• Specialist Vocational Qualification in Property Management, 10 100 €
• Specialist Vocational Qualification in Leadership and Business Management, 10 100 €
• Specialist Vocational Qualification in Rehabilitation, Support and Guidance Services, 9 600 €
• Specialist Vocational Qualification in Business, 10 100 €
• Specialist Vocational Qualification in Infrasructure Construction, 29 200 €
• Specialist Vocational Qualification in First-Level Management in the Hotel and Catering Sector, 9 800 €
• Specialist Vocational Qualification in Media, 21 500 €
• Specialist Vocational Qualification in the Process Industry, 17 700 €
• Specialist Vocational Qualification in Cleaning and Property Services, 9 800 €
• Specialist Vocational Qualification in Horticulture, 9 300 €
• Specialist Vocational Qualification  for Construction Site Managers, 17 700 €
• Specialist Vocational Qualification in Electrical Engineering and Automation Technology, 17 700 €
• Specialist Vocational Qualification in Arts and Design, 21 500 €
• Specialist Vocational Qualification in Building Construction, 17 700 €
• Specialist Vocational Qualification in Building Maintenance Technology, 17 700 €
• Specialist Vocational Qualification in First-Level Management in Production, 10 100 €
• Specialist Vocational Qualification in Product Development, 17 700 €
• Specialist Vocational Qualification in the Security Sector, 9 800 €
• Specialist Vocational Qualification in Sustainability and Environmental Technology, 17 700 €

How Tuition Fees Will Be Collected 

The fee is charged after the student has been offered a study place. 

Education providers receive information about students’ residence permit types from the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri).  The fee must be paid before the student can begin studies. 

The practical procedures for collecting tuition fees for vocational upper secondary qualifications, further vocational qualifications and specialist vocational qualifications will be defined at OSAO during spring 2026 in accordance with guidelines from the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Finnish Immigration Service. These procedures will apply, for example, to refunds of paid tuition fees and the return of fees in cases where studies are discontinued or the student withdraws.