Scholarships and Tuition Fees

What is your citizenship?

• Most non-EU/EEA citizens have to pay tuition fees for bachelor's and master's degree studies.
• If you are a citizen of the member states of the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you do not have to pay tuition fee.

Will you study in a bachelor's or master's programme taught in English?

• Bachelor's and master's programmes taught in English have a tuition fee for non-EU/EEA citizens. 
• Tuition fees do not concern doctoral / PhD studies or bachelor's and master's degree studies that are taught in Finnish or Swedish. Studies in programmes taught in Finnish or Swedish require fulfilling the language proficiency criteria.

Do you have a residence permit in Finland that exempts you from tuition fees?

Certain residence permit types issued for residence in Finland exempt from tuition fee liability.
Tuition fees do not concern those non-EU/EEA students who have:

• a permanent residence permit card in Finland, type P permit
• a continuous residence permit card in Finland, type A permit, issued on other grounds than studying. 
  If you have a continuous residence permit card in Finland (type A) issued for studies, you are liable to pay tuition fees.
• an EU residence permit for third-country citizens with long-term residence permit card in Finland (type P-EU permit)
• a residence card in Finland for a family member of an EU citizen*
  *You must hold the residence permit yourself. Being a family member of a person who has a residence permit in an EU country does not grant you a tuition fee exemption.
• an EU blue card in Finland
• a Brexit residence permit card, type SEU-sopimuksen 50 artikla = Right of residence under the withdrawal agreement, or P SEU-sopimuksen 50 artikla = Right of permanent residence under the withdrawal agreement 

More information about the residence permit types is available on the Finnish Immigration Service website (migri.fi).

Is your residence permit valid?

Your residence permit has to be valid at the start of that academic year, i.e. 1 August to be exempted from tuition fees for the academic year.

If your residence permit expires before August when applying to Aalto university, you are considered liable to tuition fees at the time of applying. Applicants liable to tuition fees can apply for a scholarship when applying to the university.
If you receive a document that exempts you from tuition fees after the application period, you must submit a copy of the document to the university as soon as possible.

The tuition fee exemption is tied to the validity period of the residence permit. If the permit's validity period runs out during the studies and the permit is not renewed, full tuition fee liability will normally start from the beginning of the academic year following the end of the permit.

If you become liable to tuition fees in the middle of your studies due to a change in your residence permit type, you may be entitled to apply for a scholarship.
Please see Aalto Reserve Scholarships for more information.

When applying to the university, you need to enclose copies of both sides of your valid residence permit card in Finland to your application to prove your residency status. A copy of your valid passport, or national ID card with citizenship information, is required to prove your citizenship.

More information on tuition fee liability

• Information about the residence permit types is available on the Finnish Immigration Service website (migri.fi).
• More information about determining your liability to pay and exemptions from tuition fees can be found on the national Studyinfo (studyinfo.fi) webpage.

The tuition fee covers educational expenses such as courses, academic supervision, exams, counselling and university support services such as student services, library services and IT services in accordance with the university regulations. 

The tuition fee does not cover living costs, personal study related costs such as study materials or other costs that may be charged according to the university rules or national legislation. The tuition fee does not cover the compulsory membership fee of the Student Union (ayy.fi).

• For information about living costs in Finland, please see Financial matters.

You must ensure that you have enough financial means to pay for your rent, personal expenses, transportation costs, meals, insurance etc.

For information about living costs in Finland, please see Financial matters.

Students must pay the compulsory membership fee of the Student Union AYY (ayy.fi). In the academic year 2023-2024 the AYY fee is 63 euros. As a Student Union (AYY) member you are entitled to significant student discounts on public transport and meals in student restaurants.

University students in Finland are provided basic health care services by the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS). To have access to FSHS services, bachelor and master students must pay the mandatory healthcare fee for students in higher education annually to Kela (the Social Insurance Institution of Finland). In 2023, the student healthcare fee is 37 euros per semester.

Make sure that you have a valid health insurance since the FSHS only provides basic health care services and does not, for example, have its own accident and emergency service unit. A valid health insurance is also required for a residence permit.
Please see the Finnish Immigration Service website (migri.fi) for more information on health insurance requirements.

You are considered liable to tuition fees at the time of applying to the university, if you do not have a document exempting you from tuition fees that is valid at the start of the academic year, i.e. 1 August. 

If your residence permit in Finland expires before August, you must mark to the student application form that you do not have a fee-exempting residence permit. Applicants who are liable to tuition fees can apply for a scholarship (i.e. tuition fee waiver) during the application period.

If you receive a document that exempts you from tuition fees after the application period, you must submit a copy of the document to the university as soon as possible:

1. If you receive the document before the publishing of the admission results, submit the copy of the document to Aalto University Admission Services ([email protected]).
2. In case you receive the document after you have been admitted to the university, submit the copy of the document and request for exemption from tuition fees to the Aalto University School that you have been accepted to.

Tuition fee must be paid as a single instalment for the following academic year. It is not possible to pay the tuition fee in two or more instalments per year.

If you are a new student, the invoice is sent after you have accepted the admission offer.

Payment is due 30 days after the invoice date. Payment is done through bank transfer.

For subsequent instalments, Aalto University issues an invoice in advance of each academic year. The payment is due before the start of the semester. The due date for payment will be stated on the invoice.

Students who are liable to pay tuition fee cannot enroll at the university before paying the tuition fee.

• If you have any questions about paying the tuition fee, please contact [email protected].

If you get a scholarship

If you receive an Aalto University scholarship category B (50% tuition fee waiver), the amount awarded (50%) of the tuition fee will be deducted from your invoice.

If you are awarded a category A scholarship (100% tuition fee waiver), you will not receive an invoice.

You have a right to full refund of the paid tuition fee (excluding possible bank-specific payment charges):

• if you are conditionally admitted and do not fulfil the admission requirements and your study place is cancelled,
• if you are not granted a residence permit in Finland,
• if your residence permit status changes before enrolment to the university and you are no longer required to pay fees (copy of residence permit in Finland must be submitted before the end of enrolment period),
• if Aalto University is unable to offer the degree programme you have been admitted to

You may have a right to partial refund of the paid tuition fee (excluding possible bank-specific payment charges), if your residence permit status changes during your studies and you are no longer required to pay fees.

You must provide a Finnish residence permit as proof for university’s decision-making. When a change in fee status is made during an ongoing semester, reimbursement of the tuition fee for that semester is, as a rule, not possible. The fee will be reimbursed for the upcoming semester.

No, your annual tuition fee is fixed upon year of entry for the degree programme you were admitted to.

According to the Universities Act Section 39 you are not able to postpone the beginning of studies, unless in situations specified in the Act. New students must register as attending for the first academic year.

Aalto University Scholarship programme seeks to recognise talented non-EU/EEA students.

Aalto University scholarships are merit-based and are granted on a competitive basis.

In Master's admissions scholarships are allocated during the academic evaluation stage as part of the admissions process of a degree programme. For each study option, the best applicants liable to tuition fees may be awarded the scholarship. The academic evaluation criteria are available on the study option websites.

The number of scholarships per degree programme is limited and depends on the overall number of selected non-EU/EEA students per degree programme.

Scope of scholarship

Aalto University scholarships cover either 50 % (Category B) or 100 % (Category A) of the tuition fee. Aalto University scholarships are awarded as tuition fee waivers.

At the moment, Aalto University does not offer any university-wide scholarships to cover living costs in Finland. Students are expected to cover all living expenses (app. 800 euros per month) and other study related costs from their own financial resources. 

• More information about living costs is available on the Financial matters page.

How to apply for a scholarship?

If you are a non-EU/EEA citizen, you can apply for the scholarship when you apply to Aalto University. The scholarship application is part of the application form for admission.

On the application form, you will be asked questions by which your liability to fees is determined. If you are considered liable to a tuition fee, you will be offered an option to apply or not apply for a Aalto University Scholarship. Only students who are liable to pay tuition fees at Aalto University can apply for Aalto University scholarships (i.e. tuition fee waivers).

Scholarship must be applied during the application period. It is not possible to apply for the scholarship after the application period has ended. You cannot get a scholarship if you have not applied for it during the application period.

Scholarship decisions

The scholarships can be awarded to the best applicants. Applicants are ranked according to the admission criteria (the admission criteria can be seen on the admissions website).

In Master's admissions, the scholarship decisions are made based on academic evaluation of the applicants selected to the degree programmes. Applications are evaluated in the programmes according to the predefined academic evaluation criteria that are available on the study option's website.

The scholarship decision is given at the same time with the admission decision.

As defined in the Universities Act, the scholarship decision cannot be appealed to.

Duration of scholarship

Scholarships are granted for the normative period of study of the degree programme.

The normative study period is three (3) years full-time study for bachelor’s degree and two (2) years full-time study for master’s degree. Scholarship requires full-time study and studying according to the approved personal study plan.

Finland scholarships awarded by Aalto University are part of the national Finland Scholarship programme funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture. Finland Scholarship programme runs from 2022 to 2024.

Non-EU/EEA applicants who are liable to pay tuition fees at Aalto University can apply for a Finland Scholarship.

The scholarships are merit-based and are granted on a competitive basis according to the academic evaluation criteria of each study option (available on the study option’s website). For each study option, the best applicants liable to tuition fees may be awarded the scholarship.

Scope of scholarship

Finland Scholarship covers 100% tuition fee (awarded as a tuition fee waiver) and 5000 euros (€) for relocation and other costs for the first year of studies.

The 5000 euros is paid to a Finnish bank account after the student has arrived in Finland and registered as an attending student to the university. The 5000 euros scholarship is paid once and only during the first year of the studies.

How to apply for a scholarship?

Non-EU/EEA applicants who are liable to tuition fees at Aalto University can apply for Finland Scholarship at the same time when applying to a Master’s programme with the same application form. It is not possible to apply for the scholarship after the application period has ended.

Scholarship decisions

The scholarship decision is given at the same time with the admission decision.

As defined in the Universities Act, the scholarship decision cannot be appealed to.

Duration of scholarship

Tuition fee waiver is granted for the normative period of study of the degree programme. The normative study period is two (2) years full-time study for master’s degree. Scholarship requires full-time study and studying according to the approved personal study plan.

The 5000 euros scholarship is paid once during the first year of the studies.

In addition to the tuition fee waiver scholarships, Aalto University has incentive based scholarships that reward fee paying students (i.e. students paying either full fee or partial fee) who make good progress in their studies at Aalto.

The scholarship is granted if you have completed a minimum of 60 ECTS credits of studies according to your approved personal study plan during one academic year.

The incentive based scholarship is 1 500 euros. The scholarship is paid the following autumn term (or upon graduation, when applicable).

Tuition fee liable students who graduate from an Aalto University bachelor’s programme taught in English may receive an Aalto University scholarship for master’s studies. The scholarship is available only for Aalto master’s programmes to which the student has a direct right to study, i.e. without applying through an external master's admissions procedure.

Students who graduate with a bachelor’s degree within the target (normative) time frame of three years and whose grade point average is at least 3.80 are eligible. All students who fulfil these criteria and who apply for the scholarship will receive it.

The scholarship is granted as a 100% tuition fee waiver for the target time frame of a master’s degree. The target time for completing a master’s degree is two years.

Some international joint degree programmes have their own tuition fees and scholarship schemes, read more on programmes' web pages.

Programmes with their own scholarship schemes:

• Additive Manufacturing for Full Flexibility (EIT Master's Programme in Manufacturing)
• Advanced Materials for Innovation and Sustainability, AMIS (EIT Raw Materials)
• Autonomous Systems - ICT Innovation (EIT Digital Master School)
• Cloud and Network Infrastructures - ICT Innovation (EIT Digital Master School)
• Data Science - ICT Innovation (EIT Digital Master School)
• Energy Storage (EIT InnoEnergy)
• Environomical Pathways for Sustainable Energy Systems (SELECT)
• Human-Computer Interaction and Design - ICT Innovation (EIT Digital Master School)
• Re:Anima (European Joint Master in Animation)
• Security and Cloud Computing, SECCLO (Erasmus Mundus)
• Sustainable Urban Mobility Transitions (EIT Urban Mobility)
• Zero Defect Manufacture for a Circular Economy (EIT Master's Programme in Manufacturing)

You can find information about scholarship possibilities available in your country at:

• Scholarship Portal (scholarshipportal.com)

Helsinki-Aalto Center for Information Security (HAIC) selects several HAIC scholars from the top applicants admitted to:

• Security and Cloud Computing within the Master's Programme in Computer, Communication and Information Sciences or 
• SECCLO – Master’s Programme in Security and Cloud Computing (Erasmus Mundus).

A HAIC Scholar will receive generous financial aid including living cost support in the form of living cost scholarships or honours student position (part-time research-related employment during the semesters).

More information about the scholarship and how to apply for it: HAIC website (haic.aalto.fi).

Fulbright-Aalto University Graduate Award is a prestigious scholarship for Aalto University master’s degree students from the United States.

The award offers many benefits including generous living allowance, comprehensive support services and excellent networking opportunities.

The application deadline for the award from Fulbright is typically in early October.

The award has a dual application procedure. Separate applications need to be submitted to:

• the Fulbright grant competition and
• Master's admissions at Aalto University.

Applicants should apply for Aalto University Scholarship in their application for admission if they wish to be considered for the full award (the grant from Fulbright and the tuition fee waiver from Aalto).

See the Fulbright Finland Foundation website for more information on the Fulbright-Aalto University Graduate Award.
For more information from Aalto, please contact Aino Turunen at [email protected].

If you are required to pay a tuition fee, you are also eligible to apply for a scholarship during the application period for the studies.

If you are a citizen of a European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) country, you are not required to pay tuition fees for your degree studies. In that case you are not eligible to apply for Aalto University Scholarship (i.e. tuition fee waiver). Aalto Scholarship Programme is for students from outside the EU/EEA who are required to pay tuition fees.

At the moment, Aalto University does not offer university-wide scholarships to cover living costs in Finland.

The costs of living are higher in the capital region (Espoo, Helsinki and Vantaa) than elsewhere in the country. Thus, you should prepare to have about 800 euros per month to cover your living costs in Finland. 

In order to be granted a residence permit, the Finnish immigration authorities require you to have sufficient means to support yourself financially in Finland.

Information about living costs is available on the Financial matters page.

For information about student's residence permit requirements, please see the Finnish Immigration Service website (www.migri.fi).

Yes, you can go on an exchange period or internship abroad.

You do have to pay the tuition fee even if going for exchange studies or for an internship abroad.

If you have been awarded a scholarship for your degree at Aalto, you will receive the scholarship for your studies abroad as well.

Applicants admitted off the waiting list cannot get a scholarship. Scholarships have been allocated to the best applicants of a specific study option that are liable to tuition fees.

Scholarships are study-option-specific in the Master's admissions. If you have been granted a scholarship to your second study option, it does not transfer to your first study option. You lose the scholarship, if you do not accept the study place bindingly to your second study option.

If you wish to receive the scholarship and start studies in your second study option, accept the study place bindingly.

No, applying for scholarship makes no difference to your application for admission. Applicants are ranked for each programme according to the admissions criteria. Your chances of getting admission are exactly the same with or without applying for a scholarship.

You may also refuse the offer for a scholarship and still accept the offer for admission if, for example, you obtain funding from another source.

You can only apply for Aalto University Scholarship when you apply for admission.

Yes, you can, but you will need to have the funds for the tuition fee and living expenses.

Information about living costs is available on the Financial matters.