Cost of Living in Finland

Finland is counted among the best countries for studying in Europe for international students not only due to its excellent education system and the presence of world-renowned universities but also for its beauty, student-friendliness and safety. It also one of the happiest countries to study abroad and warm-heartedly welcomes scores of students from around the world every year! Want to study in Finland but unsure about the costs? If you are wondering how much does it cost to study in Finland, you have come to the right place! Take a look at this blog to know all about the Cost of Living in Finland!

Cost of Living in Finland

Housing & Accommodation Cost in Finland

There are two main types of accommodation that international students can avail in Finland, i.e. on-campus accommodation and off-campus accommodation. On-campus accommodation, also known as student residence halls are comparatively cheaper – you will be required to pay between 160 to 380 EUR [13,900 INR – 33,000 INR roughly] per month for a single room in a shared student apartment. When it comes to the cost of living in Finland, you must know that many international students generally opt for on-campus accommodation in Finland. The cost of off-campus accommodation i.e. rented or shared apartments vary depending on the area and city of study. On average, you will be required to pay between 400 to 800 EUR [34,700 INR- 69,400 INR roughly] per month, although it might be lower if you stay in a shared apartment. 

Cleaning Services in Finland

In Finland, the average cost of a Cleaner Housekeeping is €28,080 per year and €14 per hour.

Groceries Cost in Finland

The food expenses also come under the cost of studying and living in Finland and mainly depends largely on your city of residence. On average, you will need to spend between 200 to 250 EUR [17, 340 INR- 21,670 INR roughly] per month if you shop your monthly groceries from the local supermarkets. You can also save your monthly costs by availing the discounts which are offered regularly at the supermarkets. Having a meal at an affordable restaurant in Finland will cost between 10 to 12 EUR [870 INR-1100 INR roughly], while a 3-course meal at an average restaurant may cost up to 60 EUR [5200 INR roughly].

Utilities Cost in Finland

The average monthly cost of utilities (for a typical household) is EUR 110.

Mobile Bill/Wi-Fi Cost in Finland

For mobile broadband, a 21 Mb/s 4G connection costs 15 euros per month, a 50 Mb/s 4G connection costs around 20 euros, a 100 Mb/s 4G connection costs up to 30 euros, and a 300 Mb/s 4G connection costs up to 50 euros per month.

Healthcare & Insurance in Finland

Finland offers universal healthcare, which means that everyone, regardless of their financial level, is entitled to health services. Expenses at a private healthcare facility may differ.

• Health Card

In Finland, EU citizens can use their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). UK nationals can use their Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which took the role of the EHIC after Brexit. While businesses are required to provide health insurance for their employees, this only covers occurrences that occur on the job. Private insurance is thus recommended for expats from outside the EU.

• The Essential Benefit Plan

There’s also a plan in place for low-wage employees and unemployed people. The Essential Benefits Plan (EBP) is the bare minimum of health insurance coverage required of all Japanese residents. It provides essential services at an affordable price.

Commuting & Transportation Cost in Finland

Using public transport is the most preferred way of commuting around the city for international students in Finland. While considering the total cost of living in Finland, the best way to minimise your transportation expenses is to get a monthly pass for availing public transportation which can vary between 35 to 50 EUR [3,100 INR-4,400 INR] per month depending on the city of study. You can also avail a car or taxi on rent, but that will be a much costlier option since the fare can reach around 230 EUR [19,940 INR roughly] per week. Students who live reasonably close to the campus can walk to the university to save money. Additionally, all students are required to pay a student union membership fee during their registration, which varies between 80 to 100 EUR [7,000 INR- 8,700 INR roughly] for each academic year. You will also need to spend around 100 EUR [8,700 INR roughly] per month on social activities.

• Car Ownership

Without depreciation, the annual total costs of owning and running a car in this price range are between 2,700 and 3,300 euros. However, after depreciation, these expenditures rise to an average of 7,850 euros per year.

• Public Transportation

A single ticket is good for the entire region and may be used on any mode of transportation, including bus, tram, and metro. A single ticket costs €3.20, but if you use a Helsinki Travel Card, you may get a big discount, paying only €2.06 each ticket.

Leisure/Entertainment Cost in Finland

Entertainment and activities in Finland typically cost an average of €21 per person, per day

Cost of Studying in Finland

To find out the total cost of studying in Finland, we need to sum up the tuition fees, the cost of living and the student visa fees. Wondering how much does it cost to study in Finland? Here we have listed down all the costs that you can expect to incur while studying in Finland.

Public School

Public education is still free, and it includes things like free school healthcare, daily food, and books and supplies. Students in upper secondary school must purchase their own supplies starting around the age of 15.

International/Private Schools

K1–K2 tuition is €12,067; grades 1–5 tuition is €13,341; grades 6–8 tuition is €14,143; grades 9–10 tuition is €14,933; and grades 11–12 tuition is €16,121. An application cost of €350, a registration fee of €3,150, and, in some circumstances, a non-residency fee of €2,910 for grades 1-9 and €2,666 for grades 10-12 are also charged by the school.

Higher Education

The annual tuition fee depends on the university and the degree programme, varying between 4,000€ and 18,000€ approximately (2019/20). The tuition cost for the programme you want to apply to may be found in the Studyinfo.fi programme description or by contacting the university that offers the programme.

Tuition Fees

Although students from the EU, EEA or Switzerland do not have to pay any tuition fees for studying at any university in Finland, students from other nationalities are required to pay tuition fees for courses at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels from 2017 onwards. Although the minimum tuition fees to be paid by non-EU/EEA students for any such course taught in English is around 1500 EUR [130,000 INR roughly] per year, the actual average annual tuition fees that you may be required to pay will be between 5,000 to 18,000 EUR [4,33,290 INR-15,59,900 INR roughly], depending on the course, level and university of study. Also, if you are concerned about the tuition costs of studying in Finland, you can master the Finnish or Swedish language as students of all nationalities are not required to pay any tuition fees for studying any course taught in the Finnish or Swedish language. Students enrolling for any PhD course in the country are also exempted from paying any tuition fee, regardless of their country of origin.

Cost of Student Visa

Students from non-EU/EEA countries who wish to study in Finland for a duration of more than 3 months are required to apply for a residence permit for studies in order to join their program of study. For postgraduate students, a residence permit for scientific research is required. The application for the residence permit may cost up to 360 EUR [31,200 INR roughly].

Financial Support and Scholarships

Now that you have an idea of how much it costs to study in Finland, looking for the best scholarships for your chosen course and university should be the next step. The universities in Finland offer a range of scholarships for international students who are required to pay tuition fees. Let’s take a look at some of the scholarships you can avail for studying in Finland:

• Finland Government Scholarships for International Students
• Aalto University Scholarship
• University of Helsinki Scholarships for International Students
• University of Tampere Scholarships for International Students
• CIMO Doctoral Fellowship for International Students
• University of Oulu Masters Scholarships for International Students
• EDUFI Fellowships Program for Young Doctoral Students
• Protein Science International Masters Scholarship at University of Oulu Finland
• University of Helsinki International Student Scholarship Grant
• University of Turku Postdoctoral Research in Science and Medicine

Average Cost of Living in Finland

Between 980 to 1,580 EUR a month in Helsinki. Jyvaskyla: 700 to 1,100 EUR per month Between 660 and 1,000 EUR per month in Oulu. Tampere: 870 to 1,300 EUR per month

Key Tips to Reduce Overall Living Cost in Finland

Overall, the cost of living in Finland is moderate but not cheap, particularly for students from countries with low exchange rates. Here are some helpful hints for lowering your total cost of living in Finland:

• Students pursuing a graduate degree or a PhD from one of Finland’s prominent institutions might consider living in the relevant institution’s dormitory to save money.
• Students can utilise public transportation and share trips with other students instead of paying for private transportation. It will undoubtedly assist international students in lowering their living costs in Finland.
• Certainly, eating at upscale restaurants or cafés on a regular basis may be costly. As a result, you must seek for a cost-effective choice. The university cafeteria and street food are both substantially less expensive options. Furthermore, certain bars and restaurants have higher drink/dinner costs. Takeout is a preferable alternative if at all feasible.
• When Living in Finland in Finland, students can usually work part-time for roughly 20 hours per week. Students are hired as interns and freelancers by a variety of workplaces and businesses. As a consequence, you’ll be able to support yourself comfortably and cover your living expenses in Finland.

FAQs

Hope this blog was successful in familiarizing you with how much does it cost to study in Finland. Want to pursue your education at a top university in the country? Reach out to our experts at Leverage Edu who can help you in choosing the perfect course and university as per your requirements and interests. Sign up for a free session today!