Study Costs and Fees
Upper secondary education in Finland is generally free of charge. For students who are subject to compulsory education, teaching, learning materials, tools and other materials required for studies are provided free of charge until the end of the year in which the student turns 20.
Study-related costs may arise after the age of 20, and the amount varies depending on the field of study. Tuition fees may also be charged to students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland.
These fees apply to students who begin their studies on or after 1 August 2026. Please review the costs that apply to your situation before applying.
Free Education and Study-Related Costs
In Finland, teaching, learning materials and the tools needed for studies are free of charge for students who are subject to compulsory education until the end of the year in which the student turns 20. This right applies regardless of nationality.
For students who are not subject to compulsory education, teaching is generally free of charge. However, depending on the field of study, students may have costs related to tools, learning materials, work clothing, permits and licence cards. In addition, tuition fees may apply to students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland who begin their studies on or after 1 August 2026.
Study Costs by Qualification
Depending on the qualification, studies may include costs for tools, learning materials, work clothing, permits and licence cards. The qualification-specific costs are listed below.
Tuition Fees for Citizens of Countries Outside the EU and EEA
If you begin your studies on or after 1 August 2026 and you are not a citizen of an EU or EEA country or Switzerland, you may be required to pay a tuition fee for vocational education in Finland.
Tuition fees apply if:
- your residence permit has been granted based on a family member's studies
- your first residence permit in Finland was granted for studies
- you are moving to Finland for the purpose of studying
- you have a residence permit granted for studies (A permit or B permit).
Tuition fees do not apply to Finnish citizens.
Varia verifies tuition fee liability based on information provided by the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri).
The tuition fee does not include free meals, learning materials or accommodation. Varia does not provide student housing.
Tuition Fees 1 August 2026 - 31 July 2027
Tuition fees apply to students who are required to pay tuition fees under Finnish legislation. The amount of the tuition fee depends on the qualification being studied.
The fees are based on the average costs of providing education, and the amounts are determined by the City of Vantaa.
Qualification-specific tuition fees are listed below.
Vocational Upper Secondary Qualifications
| QUALIFICATION | TUITION |
|---|---|
| Vocational Qualification in Tourism Industry | 12 500 € |
| Vocational Qualification in Restaurant and Catering Services | 12 500 € |
Units of Qualifications
For partial qualifications, individual units of a qualification and short training programmes, the tuition fee is based on the annual tuition fee of the corresponding qualification. The annual fee is divided by twelve and multiplied by the duration of the studies in months.
Who Does Not Have to Pay a Tuition Fee?
Not all students are required to pay tuition fees. The groups listed below are exempt from tuition fees under Finnish legislation.