Tu­ition fee waivers for Uniarts Helsinki students

Published 31.8.2022 | Updated 14.11.2025

In brief

• The waiver programme only applies to students starting before 1.8.2026. The validity of the programme ends no later than 31.7.2030. There is no waiver programme for students starting 1.8.2026 or later.
• 50 % tuition fee waivers can be granted to students based on the progress of their studies and their success in them.
• In principle, waivers can be awarded within the target graduation times. Please notice also the validity of the waiver programme.

Information on the waivers

The Vice Rector for Education awards the waivers. Waivers may be awarded for a maximum of one year at a time. Waivers are awarded based on the progress of studies and study performance.

Waivers can be awarded until the end of the student’s target duration of studies in accordance with the Universities Act:

• Bachelor + Master of Arts (Theatre and Drama) degree: 5 years of attendance or other enrolment that consumes study time (in total 10 academic terms, which do not have to be consecutive).  

• Bachelor + Master of Fine Arts or Music degree: 5.5 years of attendance or other enrolment that consumes study time (in total 11 academic terms, which do not have to be consecutive).  

• Master of Fine Arts, Arts (Art and Design), Arts (Dance) or Arts (Theatre and Drama) degree: 2 years of attendance or other enrolment that consumes study time (in total 4 academic terms, which do not have to be consecutive).  

• Master of Music degree: 2.5 years of attendance or other enrolment that consumes study time (in total 5 academic terms, which do not have to be consecutive).  

If a student has a justified reason for not graduating within the target completion time (e.g. illness), they may submit a waiver application for consideration and attach a medical certificate or other document proving the reason for the delay.

The waiver is a 50% discount of the tuition fee.

The student’s own degree programme provides the Scholarship Committee with a statement on the progress of the studies, if necessary. Please note that the waivers may be awarded for one semester only even if you have applied for it for the whole year. You cannot appeal decisions on waivers.  

How and when to apply

You can submit your waiver application in March. Master’s degree students at the Academy of Fine Arts submit their applications in October. We will send students more detailed information and a link to the application form by email well before the start of the waiver application process.   

Scholarships and Tax

The university is obliged by law to report all of its scholarships to Finnish tax authority on annual basis.

Scholarships in Finland are generally tax free up to the value of € 24 475,56 per calendar year (as in 2022; the amount varies a bit every year). The amount exceeding the set limit is generally subject to tax. The set limit includes scholarships paid in Finland by a non-public entity including, but not limited to, any combination of University of the Arts Scholarships (fee-waivers), Incentive-Based Scholarships, travel grants, one-off payments and living-expense scholarships you may get from the university for your studies.

Please note that in Finland each academic year is divided over two tax years (that is, calendar years). If your combined scholarships and grants exceed the value of € 24 475,56 (example for the calendar year 2022), the amount exceeding the set limit is generally subject to tax and you may be contacted by the Finnish tax authority.

For further information, please see the Finnish tax authority website: Taxation of students and trainees