Finland’s Government Moving Towards Higher Tuition Fees for Non-EU Students
INTERNATIONAL
Policy Changes Could Impact International Student Enrollment
Date and Time:
Posted on June 21, 2023
Introduction:
Finland’s new government has announced plans to increase tuition fees for non-EU students studying at the country’s universities. Under the proposed policies, universities would no longer receive government funding to cover the cost of teaching international students. The move aims to shift towards full coverage of tuition fees by non-EU students, potentially leading to an increase in the amount they would need to pay.
The new government coalition has confirmed its intention to transition away from government-funded education for non-EU students in Finland. Currently, international students are required to pay fees starting at €4,000, but the new measures may result in higher tuition fees to cover the full costs of education. The policy was outlined in a document published by Finland’s government following negotiations between four political parties, including the far-right Finns Party. However, there is no specified timeline for when these changes will be implemented.
The Finnish Ministry of Education, which initially proposed the policy, anticipates that the introduction of higher tuition fees could lead to a significant decrease of around 43% in the number of students from outside the EU choosing to study in Finland.
The decision has sparked opposition from student groups and some universities. SYL, one of the country’s student unions, criticized the initial proposals, stating that they would be detrimental to Finland’s plans to triple the number of international students by 2030, as outlined by the previous government. Maintaining the core value of free education for all is a key concern for student representatives, who believe that financial barriers may hinder integration and create inequality among domestic and international students.
While higher education will remain free for Finnish and EU students, there are concerns that this policy change may pave the way for the introduction of domestic tuition fees in the future. Universities in Finland have expressed apprehension, warning of a negative impact on the ability to attract and educate international students. Rural universities in Finland may face particular challenges in recruiting international students due to these changes.
In response to the potential fee increase, organizations involved in promoting Finnish education, such as Study in Finland, will need to intensify their efforts to attract international students. Despite the introduction of tuition fees for international students in 2017, the number of foreign students in Finland has continued to rise, driven in part by favorable post-study work visa policies and government initiatives to promote the country as an attractive destination for work and study.
Source/Attribution:
The PIE News
