University Applications in Finland and Norway for 2027: University of Helsinki Opens Applications on January 5; Tuition and Financial Requirements for Both Countries

2026-10-04 · Guides

The application period for international Master's programs at the University of Helsinki for Fall 2027 runs from January 5 to 19, 2027. Tuition for non-EU students in Finland is generally €9,000–€20,000 per year, with a financial requirement of €800 per month. Non-EU students in Norway typically pay tuition, and the financial requirement for 2026–27 is NOK 170,368 per year. This article summarizes the application processes, costs, and work regulations for both countries.

Finland and Norway once attracted many Chinese families with their tuition-free public universities. Currently, both countries typically charge tuition for English-taught degree programs for students from outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland. Applications to Finland for Fall 2027 enrollment are concentrated in January of next year: for example, at the University of Helsinki, the application period for international master's programs is January 5 to 19, 2027.

The following information is compiled from the official websites of Study in Finland (Finnish National Agency for Education), the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri), the University of Helsinki, and Study in Norway (Norwegian Agency for Higher Education and Skills HK-dir), as of October 4, 2026. Please refer to the latest official information for the most accurate details.

Finland: How to Apply

Bachelor's and master's programs in Finland are applied for through the official platform Studyinfo.fi, in two ways:

Joint application: A single application in January where you can apply to up to 6 programs for fall (September) enrollment. A few programs open for application in September for January enrollment the following year.
Separate application: For programs outside the joint application, schedules vary. You need to check Studyinfo.fi or the specific university's website.

Bachelor's applicants must have higher education eligibility, and master's applicants must hold a bachelor's degree; master's programs at universities of applied sciences also require work experience. You can only accept one admission offer from a Finnish higher education institution for the same semester.

University of Helsinki Fall 2027 Application Timeline

Program	Application Period
International Master's Programmes	January 5 to 19, 2027
English-taught Bachelor's (Admission Group 2: based on Finnish Matriculation Examination, IB, or EB scores)	March 9 to 23, 2027
English-taught Bachelor's (Other applicants, based on SAT or ACT as specified by the university)	January 5 to 19, 2027

The above dates are taken from the University of Helsinki's official website. For application timelines at other Finnish universities and the unified timeline for the national joint application, please refer to Studyinfo.fi and the respective universities' official websites.

Finland: Tuition, Application Fees, and Financial Requirements

Item	Amount
Tuition (non-EU students, bachelor's and master's)	Generally €9,000–€20,000 per year, varying by university and program
Application fee (non-EU/EEA/Switzerland applicants)	€100
Financial requirement for student residence permit	At least €800 per month (€9,600 per year)
Student union membership fee (university)	Approximately €50–€70 per academic year

A few notes:

Degree programs taught in Finnish or Swedish are tuition-free, and doctoral programs are tuition-free regardless of nationality.
€800 is the minimum requirement set by Migri. Study in Finland recommends budgeting €900–€1,200 per month for living expenses, depending on the city. If you have not yet paid your tuition, you must also prove you have the funds to cover it when applying for a residence permit.
For exact tuition amounts, please refer to Studyinfo.fi or the specific university's announcements.

Finland: Working During Studies and After Graduation

During studies: With a student residence permit, you can work in any field for an average of 30 hours per week. You can work more in certain weeks as long as the annual average does not exceed this limit, which translates to an average of 120 hours per month and a total of 1,560 hours per year. Internships required by your curriculum are not subject to this restriction.

After graduation: You can apply for a "residence permit to look for work or to start a business." Key points from Migri include:

Applicable to those who want to look for a job or start a business in Finland but do not have a job yet;
Must be applied for within five years after the student (or researcher) residence permit expires;
When applying for an extended permit in Finland after graduation, you must attach your degree certificate; if the certificate can be obtained within three months, you can submit the application first;
The permit can be granted for up to two years, and can also be used in up to three separate periods, each lasting at least six months, with the final period ending within three years of the start of the first period;
Holders of this permit can work without restrictions;
Application fee: €750 for the first permit applied online, €230 for an extended permit applied online; €800 and €430 respectively for paper applications.

Norway: Non-EU Students Typically Pay Tuition

According to the Study in Norway official website:

Degree students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland typically need to pay tuition in Norway, with amounts set by each university and program;
Norwegian, Swiss, and EU/EEA students are tuition-free at public higher education institutions;
Exchange students, doctoral students, and students coming to Norway through programs such as Fulbright, Erasmus Mundus, NORPART, NORHED, and StAR are typically tuition-free at public higher education institutions.

For specific tuition fees, please refer to the program pages of your target universities.

Norway: Financial Requirements and Working Rules

Item	Standard (2026–2027)
Estimated living expenses / Financial proof for student visa	NOK 15,488 per month, or NOK 170,368 per year
Semester fee for student welfare organization	Approximately NOK 1,000 per semester
Working during studies (non-EU students)	Up to 20 hours per week during the semester, full-time during holidays

Non-EU students must prove they have sufficient funds when applying for a student visa. In addition to living expenses, there may be costs for transportation, insurance, visa fees, and tuition. The semester fee is paid to the university's corresponding student welfare organization, which provides services such as student housing, childcare, and sports facilities.

How Do the Two Countries Compare

Item	Finland	Norway
Tuition for non-EU students	Generally €9,000–€20,000 per year	Typically required, set by each university
Financial requirement	€800 per month	NOK 15,488 per month
Working during studies	Average 30 hours per week	Up to 20 hours per week

The post-graduation job-seeking residence permit policy in Norway has not been verified for this article and is therefore not covered here.

Need Help?

If you are considering Finland, Norway, or other Nordic countries and want to compare costs and plan your preparation timeline before the January applications, you can start by checking out our University Application Planning or Book a one-on-one consultation. For language test preparation, check out our IELTS Training and TOEFL Training.