Tuition fee waivers and Finland scholarships

Published 31.8.2022 | Updated 7.9.2023

In brief

• First year students can get a 50% waiver for their tuition fee.
• Master students (who are liable to pay tuition fees) starting in 2022-2024 can get a Finland Scholarship for the first study year.
• After the first study year waivers can be awarded to selected students based on the progress of studies and study performance.
• Students can apply for waivers within the target graduation times

First year students: Tuition fee waivers

Uniarts Helsinki has a scholarship programme for students who are liable for payment in the form of tuition fee waivers.

If you are liable for payment, you must state on the Study Info application form if you want to apply for a scholarship from Uniarts Helsinki to cover part of the annual tuition fee if you are admitted as a student.

Tuition fee waivers are awarded for one (academic) year at a time based on students’ applications. Tuition fee waivers awarded to new students from the university’s scholarship programme are 50% of the tuition fee during the first year of studies. After the first study year waivers can be awarded to selected students based on the students’ academic success.

You will be notified of the decision personally at the same time as you receive the admission results.

In principle, students who are liable to pay the annual tuition fee have the possibility to apply for tuition fee waivers within the target graduation times defined in the Universities Act.

The scholarships are applied for and the decisions regarding scholarships are made annually. You cannot appeal decisions on scholarships.  

The annual tuition fee must be paid before a deadline that is confirmed on a yearly basis. Uniarts Helsinki recommends students to pay the annual tuition fee as soon as possible after they receive the notification of their admissions. Students are required to pay the annual tuition fee in order to register for attendance and complete studies, and to obtain a residence permit.

First year Master students (2022-2024): Finland Scholarships

Finland Scholarships are meant for the first year of Master studies for students who are non-EU/EEA citizens and who are liable to pay tuition fees. Finland Scholarships granted by the University of the Arts Helsinki are part of the national Finland Scholarship programme funded by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture.

The Finland scholarship is worth of EUR 10,000:

• EUR 5,000 is granted as a 100 % tuition fee waiver
• EUR 5,000 will be paid to the student to cover relocation and other expenses. This part of the scholarship will be paid to a Finnish bank account once the student has moved and settled to Finland and enrolled as an attending student at the University of the Arts Helsinki.

The Finland scholarship is only for the first year of Master studies, and the student needs to secure sufficient funds for the rest of the studies themselves. Students can apply for tuition fee waivers from the university after the first study year.

Who is eligible?

• Students who are not citizens of European Union or European Economic area and who are liable to pay tuition fees AND
• who are admitted to Master-level studies after 11 August 2021 and whose study right starts not earlier than 1 January 2022.

Finland scholarships are available until 2024 (students applying to MA studies starting 1 January 2025 or after are no longer eligible).

Please note that if you are exempted from paying tuition fees, you will no longer be eligible for Finland scholarships. The scholarships are available only for new Master-level students. This means that students admitted to Bachelor-level studies are not eligible.

How to apply?

You must state on the Study Info application form if you want to apply for Finland scholarship. Scholarships are awarded based on the MA admission criteria. The scholarships are personal. You will be notified of the decision personally at the same time as you receive the admission results.

The decisions on scholarships cannot be appealed against.

Second year of study onward: Tuition fee waivers

Uniarts Helsinki has a scholarship programme for students who are liable for payment in the form of tuition fee waivers. The Vice Rector awards those scholarships. Scholarships may be awarded for a maximum of one year at a time. Scholarships are awarded based on the progress of studies and study performance. You may receive a scholarship within the target graduation time of your degree. After that, you may only receive a scholarship if there is a good reason for the delay in your studies.   

A typical scholarship is a 50% discount of the tuition fee. If your studies have progressed exceptionally quickly, you may be granted a 100% discount of the tuition fee. The student’s own degree programme provides the Scholarship Committee with a statement on the progress of the studies. Please note that the scholarship may be awarded for one semester only even if you have applied for it for the whole year. You cannot appeal decisions on scholarships.  

You can submit your scholarship 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 by email well before the start of the scholarship 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