Tuition fees

Who is required to pay?

All Universities of Applied Sciences in Finland must charge a tuition fee for Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes taught in a language other than Finnish or Swedish, according to the Universities of Applied Sciences Act 932/2014 13 a § (Amendment 1601/2015).

The fee applies to students from countries outside the European Union/EEA-area. There are, however, exemptions that can free a non-EU/EEA citizen from paying the fee. The fee will not be charged from students who are equated with EU area citizens. The exemption will also apply to those who have an EU blue card stated in the Aliens Act, a permanent residence permit, or a continuous residence permit granted on other grounds than studies.

A student who is exempt from paying the tuition fee because of their residence status shall submit a copy of their new residence permit when the previous one has expired. Arcada monitors this actively. Students who fail to submit a renewed proof of exemption must pay the tuition fee. Please note that you need to apply for extended residence permit before your previous permit expires.

If you are unsure as to whether you are required to pay or not, please see this guide on Studyinfo External link. Please also note, that tuition fees are not charged if your right to study started before 1 August 2017. If you reapply to Arcada and receive a new right to study, you may be liable to pay.

Change to residence or citizenship status

Please inform Arcada immediately of any changes that may affect your liability to pay tuition fees.

Changes to residence or citizenship status during studies will be considered as follows:

1. If the change of status means that you are no longer liable to pay tuition fees, any fees covering the time after the change will be reimbursed as of the following term. However, changes reported during the first academic year do not entitle to a refund of the tuition fee for the academic year in question but shall be noted as of the start of the second academic year.
2. If your status changes so that you become liable to pay tuition fees, the liability will begin as of the following term.
3. If you have received a scholarship and your status changes so that you are no longer liable to pay, you are no longer eligible for the scholarship.

Changes to the liability to pay tuition fees will come into effect as of the beginning of the term following the change of status. One academic year consists of an autumn term (1 August to 31 December) and a spring term (1 January to 31 July).

If you expect that your residence permit status is about to change and if you are not sure how this would affect your liability to pay the tuition fees, please contact Student Affairs.

New law affects the possibility to change status

On 1 December 2024 an amendment to the Universities of Applied Sciences Act came into force, affecting the possibility to change status to non-paying. As of this date students can no longer be exempted from paying the tuition fee if their first Finnish residence permit has been granted for studies, even if they later receive a fixed-term (type A) residence permit based on work or family ties. 

Students who have already been exempted from paying the tuition fee before 1 December 2024 will remain exempted for the duration of their current study right (for which the exemption decision has been made) as long as their work- or family member-based residence permit (type A) is valid or continued without a break. 

Tuition fees for studies starting in 2024

• Bachelor's degree programmes: 9,500 euros/academic year (4,750 euros/semester)
• Master's degree programmes:
  • Full-time: 11,000 euros/academic year (5,500 euros/semester)
  • Part-time: 5,500 euros/academic year (2,250 euros/semester)

The fees may be index-adjusted during the course of the studies by decision of Arcada's Rector.

If the student is unable to complete the degree within the given time frame, the student needs to pay for each extra semester until the degree is completed. No scholarships are awarded for these extra semesters.

Tuition fees for studies starting autumn 2020–2023

If the student is unable to complete the degree within the given time frame, the student needs to pay 4000 euros per extra semester (or 8000 euros per extra year) until the degree is completed. One academic year consists of two semesters. No scholarships are awarded for these semesters.

Some of the master's degree programmes at Arcada are available as either full-time or part-time programmes. The mode of study is chosen already in the application phase. The tuition fee is paid according to the degree programme and the mode of study you are admitted to.

If the student is unable to complete the degree within the given time-frame, the student needs to pay 4000 euros per extra semester (or 8000 euros per extra year) until the degree is completed. One academic year consists of two semesters.

Tuition fees for studies starting autumn 2017–2019

If the student is unable to complete the degree within the given time frame, the student needs to pay 2000 euros per extra semester (or 4000 euros per extra year) until the degree is completed. One academic year consists of two semesters. No scholarships are awarded for these semesters.

How do I pay?

The payment is made through our payment partner Flywire. Please find all payment information here.

When is the deadline?

The tuition fee for either the entire academic year, or the autumn semester, must be paid no later than 15 August of each year. The spring semester must be paid no later than 15 December of each year.

Refund handling fee

Please note that students applying for a tuition fee refund, will be charged 250 euros to cover the administrative costs associated with the refund process. The refund handling fee is not applicable to students who apply for a refund because their status has changed so that they are no longer liable to pay tuition fees.

The first year's tuition fee can only be refunded in accordance with the Terms and Conditions distributed in the admission process. All other years' tuition fees can be refunded per semester on the condition that you have not completed any studies during that academic semester. You have to apply for the semester's refund during or before the semester that you wish to be refunded for. You cannot apply for a refund retroactively. If you are applying for a refund for an ongoing spring term, you have to send in your application for a refund by 15 May, as no refund applications are processed during the summer months (June-August).

If you receive a refund, you will be registered as absent (note exceptions regarding first year of studies), unless the refund is granted because your status has changed to non-paying. You may also decide to terminate your studies.

Examples:

• you cannot in January apply for a refund for the previous autumn term (the autumn term is 1 August – 31 December)
• you cannot in July apply for a refund for the ongoing spring term (as no applications are processed during the summer)
• you cannot in August apply for a refund for the previous academic year (an academic year is always 1 August - 31 July).

Does Arcada offer scholarships?

We offer scholarships for Bachelor's level studies. The scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic performance. Please read more about the scholarships here.

Arcada UAS reserves all rights to make changes to the payment process and the payment deadlines of the tuition fee.