FINLAND: Non-EU and EEA Students To Start Paying Full Tuition Fees

Posted by Lanre Aerodove on May 25, 2024 in Foreign News School Admission Travel Visa | Comments : 0

The government of Finland making plans to ensure that non-EU/EEA students studying in the country pay their full tuition fees.

According to the government, students who are from outside European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) will now be required to pay their tuition fees in full as the Finish government want to encourage them to stay back in the country after their studies.

According to Finland’s Minister of Science and Culture, Sari Multala, ''Charging fees for tuition at full cost aims to improve the finances of higher education institutions and to encourage foreigners studying in Finland to stay in the country.''

The reports have it that apart from full payment of tuition fees, Finland is also introducing some other changes for non-EU/EEA students. The government says that it wants to make it mandatory for students who have entered Finland based on a residence permit to pay their tuition fees even if they change their study permit with a work permit.

The Finish government believed that the move would reduce the number of low-quality applications, which according to the authorities, have been causing extra work for higher education institutions.

''These changes will ease the administrative burden of higher education institutions. At the moment, higher education institutions receive a large number of applications from applicants who do have the educational qualifications required in Finland to apply to study in such institutions,'' Finland’s Minister of Science and Culture, Sari Multala says in a statement.

Regarding commissioned education, the government highlighted that all higher education institutions must make sure that all contracts and agreements on commissioned education specify the rights as well as obligations of those participating in commissioned education.

While the new rules are aimed at non-EU/EEA citizens, the government emphasized that some exemptions will apply to those who hold temporary protection in the country and will not be required to pay full tuition fees.