University of Oulu Tuition Fees and Scholarships for International Applicants

Tuition fee is charged from the non-EU/EEA students studying in the English degree programmes and who do not hold a Finnish residence permit that gives the exemption from tuition fees.

The exemption from the tuition fee is given in the following cases:

• non-EU/EEA citizens studying in the Finnish degree programmes
• Citizens of EU/EEA countries or Switzerland or family members of such persons
• Persons who have:
  • an EU Blue Card
  • continuous (type A) residence permit in Finland. Please note that from the spring 2022 onward the legislation has changed and the new students applying for student visa will receive continuous residence permit A based on their study place (previous residence permit B). This permit, however, will not give exemption from the tuition fee. The grounds for the permit are stated in the card (student).
  • permanent (type P) residence permit in Finland
  • an EU residence permit for third-country citizens with long-term residence (type P-EU) in Finland
  • EU Family Member's Residence Card in Finland
  • Brexit permit

Please note that for studies beginning in the autumn 2025, any document that exempts you from paying tuition fees must be valid when your studies begin 1.8.2025. If your document (e.g. permanent, type P, residence permit) expires in the summer before your studies begin, you will be liable to pay tuition fees and are advised to apply for a scholarship.

Tuition fees are paid at Edustore. Please use a credit card for your payment and make sure your card allows you to pay a large enough sum at once.

The deadline for new international students to pay their tuition fees is June 10, 2024. New students must pay the entire 1st-year tuition fee at once by the deadline. The payment cannot be split into two or more installments.

Reasons that entitle to a refund are:

• Student has been accepted conditionally, and conditions are not fulfilled (study right is cancelled).
• Student relinquishes their right to study during the registration period.
• Student receives a negative residence permit decision and cannot enter the country, and therefore cannot carry out their studies.
• A student’s residence permit status changes before the end of the registration period such that they are no longer liable for payment and the student has presented their new residence permit card before the end of the registration period.
• Education, to which a student has been accepted, will not be arranged or in so-called force majeure–situations.
• In the case of a delayed decision by the Finnish Immigration Service (obligation to demonstrate).
• Reasons fixed by law (e.g. sick leave).

Refunding of tuition fees will be carried out in full with the exception of any possible banking fees. Tuition fees are returned to the payer (e.g. sponsors). Otherwise, confirmation that the return can be made to another receiver is required.

Eligibility Requirements to Apply for University of Oulu International Scholarship

Applicants are eligible to apply for the University of Oulu Scholarship 2025-2026 if they meet the admissions criteria and are liable to pay the tuition fee. The scholarship application will be processed only if the applicant meets the admissions criteria. University of Oulu Scholarship can be received only once.

Citizens of EU/EEA countries or Switzerland

Citizens of European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) countries or Switzerland studying in an international Bachelor's and Master's Programme at the University of Oulu are not required to pay tuition fees.

Citizens of non-EU/EEA countries

Students who are not citizens of an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland are liable to pay the tuition fee.

Exceptions to this general rule are students who

• Are non-EU/EEA citizens studying in the Finnish degree programmes
• Are citizens of EU/EEA countries or Switzerland or the family members of such persons
• Persons who have:
  • an EU Blue Card
  • continuous (type A) residence permit in Finland. Please note that from the spring 2022 onward the legislation has changed and the new students applying for student visa will receive continuous residence permit A based on their study place (previous residence permit B). This permit, however, will not give exemption from the tuition fee. The grounds for the permit are stated in the card (student).
  • permanent (type P) residence permit in Finland
  • an EU residence permit for third-country citizens with long-term residence (type P-EU) in Finland
  • EU Family Member's Residence Card in Finland
  • Brexit permit

For more general information concerning tuition fees, please see the Studyinfo site.

UK citizens

From 2022 onward, UK citizens residing in Finland as well as their family members should hold right of residence under the withdrawal agreement (Brexit permit) in order to be exempted from the tuition fee. The permit must be granted by Finnish Immigration Services.

Applicants who are UK citizens and do not hold right of residence under the withdrawal agreement are required to pay the tuition fee. There are scholarships available.

Application for University of Oulu International Scholarship

There is no separate application system for the University of Oulu International Scholarship. Applications for the University of Oulu International Scholarship are submitted together with the application for the preferred study option in Studyinfo portal.

The application period for the University of Oulu International Scholarship is January 8 – January 22, 2025 (15:00/3pm, GMT +2).

Selection criteria for University of Oulu Scholarship 2025-2026

Admissions and scholarships decisions will be taken at the same time. Those students successful in obtaining the University of Oulu International Scholarship will be notified at the same time as their offer of admission to their International study programme is confirmed. The selection criteria for the University of Oulu Scholarship are based on previous academic performance and academic potential.

Continuation of University of Oulu International Scholarship

After each academic year the progress of studies will be checked and the scholarship continues in the above-mentioned, programme-specific way if the student completes at minimum 60 credits per academic year. If a student does not achieve this requirement, he/she will be liable to pay the full international tuition fee for the next academic year if they wish to continue studying. An exception to this rule can be made if a student has been granted an approved leave from studies (e.g. due to serious illness).