Photo by Karolina Kaboompics
Published: 16 May 2024, 23:38
Updated: 17 May 2024, 00:08
In a significant policy shift, the Finnish government announced on Thursday its plans to amend the Universities Act and the Universities of Applied Sciences Act. These changes will introduce full tuition and application fees for students from outside the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA). The Ministry of Education and Culture revealed these proposals in a press release.
Key Dates and Provisions October 1, 2024: The proposed acts are set to take effect.
August 1, 2025: Provisions on application fees and commissioned education will be implemented.
August 1, 2026: Provisions on the amount of tuition fees will come into force.
These amendments target university students from non-EU and non-EEA countries who enroll in degree programs taught in languages other than Finnish or Swedish. The government aims for these tuition fees to cover the full cost of providing education and training.
Financial and Educational Goals
The initiative, part of the National Coalition Party (NCP) led by a right-wing four-party alliance government, aims to improve the financial standing of higher education institutions. Minister of Science and Culture Sari Multala stated that charging full tuition is intended to enhance the financial health of these institutions and encourage international students to remain in Finland after completing their studies.
The proposal also stipulates that students entering Finland with a residence permit for studies will continue to be liable for tuition fees even if they switch their residence permit basis from studies to work.
The government plans to exempt beneficiaries of temporary protection from paying tuition fees. Additionally, an application fee for non-EU and non-EEA citizens will be introduced to reduce the number of inappropriate and low-quality applications, which currently place a significant administrative burden on higher education institutions.
Multala explained that these changes aim to streamline administrative processes by reducing the volume of applications from individuals who lack the necessary educational qualifications to study in Finland.
The government also proposes to tighten regulations around commissioned education. Higher education institutions must ensure that contracts for commissioned education clearly define the rights and obligations of participants. Institutions are prohibited from providing commissioned education if the client intends to profit by offering places in degree programs in Finland.
Multala highlighted that there have been instances of misuse in commissioned education, leading to students being unfairly burdened with costs due to negligence by the commissioning parties. The new legislation aims to prevent such situations.
This move follows an earlier initiative by the four-party alliance government in August 2023 to increase tuition fees for non-EU and non-EEA university students.
Updated: 17 May 2024, 00:08
In a significant policy shift, the Finnish government announced on Thursday its plans to amend the Universities Act and the Universities of Applied Sciences Act. These changes will introduce full tuition and application fees for students from outside the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA). The Ministry of Education and Culture revealed these proposals in a press release.
Key Dates and Provisions October 1, 2024: The proposed acts are set to take effect.
August 1, 2025: Provisions on application fees and commissioned education will be implemented.
August 1, 2026: Provisions on the amount of tuition fees will come into force.
These amendments target university students from non-EU and non-EEA countries who enroll in degree programs taught in languages other than Finnish or Swedish. The government aims for these tuition fees to cover the full cost of providing education and training.
Financial and Educational Goals
The initiative, part of the National Coalition Party (NCP) led by a right-wing four-party alliance government, aims to improve the financial standing of higher education institutions. Minister of Science and Culture Sari Multala stated that charging full tuition is intended to enhance the financial health of these institutions and encourage international students to remain in Finland after completing their studies.
Changes in Tuition Fee Liability
The proposal also stipulates that students entering Finland with a residence permit for studies will continue to be liable for tuition fees even if they switch their residence permit basis from studies to work.
Exceptions and Application Fees
The government plans to exempt beneficiaries of temporary protection from paying tuition fees. Additionally, an application fee for non-EU and non-EEA citizens will be introduced to reduce the number of inappropriate and low-quality applications, which currently place a significant administrative burden on higher education institutions.
Multala explained that these changes aim to streamline administrative processes by reducing the volume of applications from individuals who lack the necessary educational qualifications to study in Finland.
Commissioned Education Reforms
The government also proposes to tighten regulations around commissioned education. Higher education institutions must ensure that contracts for commissioned education clearly define the rights and obligations of participants. Institutions are prohibited from providing commissioned education if the client intends to profit by offering places in degree programs in Finland.
Multala highlighted that there have been instances of misuse in commissioned education, leading to students being unfairly burdened with costs due to negligence by the commissioning parties. The new legislation aims to prevent such situations.
This move follows an earlier initiative by the four-party alliance government in August 2023 to increase tuition fees for non-EU and non-EEA university students.
