The introduction of tuition fees to non-Eu/EEA students in 2017 did not have long-term negative effects on making Finnish higher education institutions more international or on the willingness of non-EU/EEA students to study in Finnish higher education institutions. This is one of the conclusions made by the working group that was set by the Ministry of Education and Culture to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the tuition fees. 

The working group examined between 2017 and 2021 how the introduction of tuition fees impacted the international dimension and student flows in higher education institutions. It also collected information on tuition fees used by institutions and their grant and scholarship practices. 

Finnish universities and universities of applied sciences have charged from 2017 tuition fees from students outside the EU and EEA area who enroll in a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree programme in a foreign language. Higher education institutions themselves determine the amount of the tuition fees they charge. However, the amount of the fee must be at least €1,500 per academic year. Higher education institutions must have a grant and scholarship system to aid students participating in the fee-charging degree programmes. The number of international students in Finland fell immediately after tuition fees were introduced, but the number of new foreign students now exceeds the level preceding the introduction of the fees. In 2020, higher education institutions had more than 5,800 new foreign students enrolled in degree programmes leading to a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree.  

With the tuition fees, the number and ratio foreign students from among EU/EEA citizens has increased. Nevertheless, non-EU/EEA citizens still constitute a clear majority (75 %) among new foreign students in Finnish higher education institutions. Since the implementation of the fees the provision of foreign-language Bachelor and Master’s degrees has increased in Finnish higher education institutions, international student recruitment and marketing have become systematic, and application and admissions systems have been developed to meet the needs of international students. 

According to the working group, different higher education institutions, however, have made different choices regarding the introduction of tuition fees and international student recruitment. Not all institutions have the same numbers of international students enrolling as before, and tuition fees are not deemed a significant source of revenue in all higher education institutions. 

The tuition fees sums charged by higher education institutions varied between EUR 4,000 and EUR 18,000. The most common single fees were EUR 6,000 and 8,000 for universities of applied sciences and EUR 8,000, EUR 10,000 and EUR 12,000 for universities. Higher education institutions use a broad range of grant and scholarship systems. 

The working group did not propose any amendments to the legislation, as it considers as good practice that the legislation leaves the higher education institutions the power to determine the amount of tuition fees and their practices for grant and scholarship systems.  However, higher education institutions should ensure that the tuition fees and grants and scholarships as a whole work in such a way that the tuition fees cover the costs of the education and provide higher education institutions with a wider funding base. 

More information: The evaluation report (in Finnish with English summary): https://okm.fi/en/-/introduction-of-tuition-fees-did-not-halt-the-internationalisation-process-of-higher-education-institutions-room-for-growth-in-tuition-fee-revenue.

Source: Eurydice Unit Finland