Tuition fee, scholarship and residence permit

Finnish universities and universities of applied sciences are legally obliged to charge tuition fees as of 1.8.2017 from those new students who come from non-EU/EEA countries. This applies to all new degree students from these countries, who start their studies in August 2017 or later, and study in the degree programmes which are taught in English.


Tuition fees at LAB University of Applied Sciences
 

Tuition fees as of the beginning of autumn 2026

As of 1st of August 2026 the tuition fee for new students from the non-EU/EEA countries is 
11 000 € per academic year for Bachelor’s Degree Programmes and 
18 000 € for Master's Degree overall (in one installment, not annually for each academic year). 

THE EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT, studies beginning in autumn 2026

When you have been accepted to study at LAB University of Applied Sciences, you must pay the tuition fee in three week's time to receive the Early bird discount. If the tuition fee is paid after the deadline, the tuition fee must be paid in full.

EARLY BIRD TUITION FEES, autumn 2026

  • Bachelor’s degree programmes EUR 9 000
  • Master's degree programmes EUR 15 000

TUITION FEES AFTER THE EARLY BIRD PERIOD

When paying the tuition fee after the early bird discount period, you will need to pay the regular tuition fee. The fees are

  • Bachelor’s degree programmes annual tuition fee EUR 11 000 
  • Master’s degree programmes EUR 18 000 overall. It is paid in one installment -  not annually for each academic year

The deadline for the tuition fee payment is given in the admittance letter for you to maintain your study place at LAB University of Applied Sciences in August 2026.

>> LAB Refund policy

 

Scholarship for the studies  

Studies beginning in autumn 2026

Scholarships offered by LAB University of Applied Sciences are available from the second year onwards for the Bachelor's degree students. The scholarship provides EUR 3000 reduction on the annual tuition fee. The student must complete 60 ECTS per academic year to be eligible for a scholarship. This policy will be applied until the end of the normative duration of studies. 

 

Exemption from the tuition fee

In order to be exempted from the tuition fee at LAB, an applicant must upload to the application a copy of one of the following documents

  • Passport or identity card to indicate the citizenship of EU/EEA/Switzerland
  • EU Blue Card in Finland
  • Continuous residence permit card in Finland, Type A-permit. (Type A-permit, granted for other than study purposes). PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU HAVE A-PERMIT FOR STUDY PURPOSES, YOU HAVE TO PAY TUITION FEE.
  • *EU Family Member's Residence Card in Finland
  • Permanent residence permit card in Finland (Type P permit)
  • EU residence permit for third-country citizens with long term residence permit card in Finland (Type P-EU)
  • Proof from the Finnish Immigration Services that I have registered, or applied to register, my EU right to residence in Finland (UK-citizens)

* The term ‘family member’ refers to married spouses and partners who are cohabiting or in a registered partnership. Also regarded as family members are children under the age of 18 years (children of one’s own, adopted children or children of one’s spouse or partner if living in the same household).

Note: if you receive one of the documents mentioned above at any point of the admission process, please provide us a copy of the document as soon as possible at admissionsatlab [dot] fi.

Citizens of Finland are not required to provide proof of their citizenship as it will be verified from the population register.

The document exempting from the tuition fee must be valid when the semester begins, on 1 August in order for it to be considered for studies starting in autumn term and on 1 January in order for them to be considered for studies starting in spring term.

When the document you have used to justify your exemption from the tuition fee is expiring or has already expired, please deliver to us a new document stating the grounds for exemption from the tuition fee to the email address: LAB [dot] Scholarshipatlab [dot] fi (LAB[dot]Scholarship[at]lab[dot]fi)
 

Residence permit (for non-EU/EEA students)

If you are planning to become a student at LAB, tuition fees and living costs are the main areas to consider when allocating your finances.

If a student resides outside Europe, a residence permit application should be submitted as soon as possible after having received the study place. During the residence permit process, the Finnish Immigration Service has to make sure that the person applying for a residence permit has sufficient means to live in Finland. You need to be able to support yourself in Finland for the entire duration of your studies (at least EUR 800 at your disposal every month). 

To receive a positive decision a student has to pay the tuition fee, show funds of € 9,600 in your bank account for the cost of living (for accommodation, food and other needs)  and a health insurance must be valid for at least one year from the date a student arrives in Finland. You must have the required sum for the cost of living in your own bank account. The reason for the negative decision is usually that the student has not been able to show sufficient funds to cover the cost of living. More information on Migri's website.

To ensure that non-European students have sufficient funds to study, a financial guarantee is required. This is part of the residence permit process.

EU/EEA students: EU citizens have the right to work, study or live in Finland without a residence permit.