Annual tuition fees for students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland

Please note! Starting from August 2026, students who start their studies in a general upper secondary school are charged an annual tuition fee if they have entered or reside in the country with a residence permit for studies. There are no tuition fees for citizens of EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. Students who hold a permanent residence permit as well as exchange students are also exempt from tuition fees. Students who are required to pay annual tuition fees are not within the scope of compulsory education in Finland and are therefore not entitled to free education. 

The minimum annual tuition fee is the unit price of central government transfers, which in Espoo for 2026 is approximately EUR 8,500. In addition, fees will be charged for learning materials, supplies and school meals, among other things. The total annual tuition fee is EUR 10,300, and the total fee for three school years is EUR 30,900. In addition to the annual tuition fee, students are also required to pay fees for the matriculation examination tests. 

Charging tuition fees is not optional for the education provider, as it is stipulated by law. The education provider is required to collect a tuition fee from third-country nationals who have been admitted to education referred to in the Act on General Upper Secondary Education and who apply for a residence permit on the basis of studies or reside in the country with a residence permit granted for studies. Persons coming from abroad to study in Finland may only apply for a residence permit after the tuition fee has been paid.

The legislative amendment will enter into force on 1 August 2026, and it applies to students who start their upper secondary studies on or after 1 August 2026. Tuition fees also apply to students who switch to another education provider or another study programme on or after 1 August 2026. Tuition fees do not apply to students who started their studies in general upper secondary education provided by the City of Espoo before 1 August 2026.

We will provide instructions for students who are required to pay tuition fees before the start of the school year 2026–2027.

EU countries: EU countries | European Union(external link, opens in a new window)