Studying in Finland

All students at HAMK must ensure they have sufficient funds to cover tuition fees (if applicable) and living expenses for the entire duration of their studies. Before arriving in Finland, make sure you have a realistic financial plan. 

Note: International students who come to Finland solely for their studies are generally not eligible for government financial aid for students. Read more from Kela’s pages. 

The cost of living in Finland varies based on individual lifestyle, location, and housing choices. As a student, we recommend budgeting approximately 950–1,200 EUR per month to cover essential expenses. Below is an estimated breakdown of typical student costs: 

• Rent: 400–650 EUR 

• Food: 400–500 EUR 

• Other expenses (leisure, internet, phone, etc.): 100 EUR 

Tip: Students in Finland can benefit from a variety of student discounts on transport, dining, and leisure activities. For example, train tickets can be 30–50% cheaper for students. To access these discounts, you need a valid student card. Learn more about student union membership and student card benefits here. 

International exchange and degree students are allowed to work in Finland with certain restrictions. Students from outside the EU/EEA can work up to 30 hours per week on average during the academic year. However, finding a part-time job can be challenging, especially in the first two years, due to language barriers and competition. Even in roles requiring minimal Finnish skills, job opportunities are limited. 

While internships at HAMK are mandatory and work experience is valuable, we encourage students to prioritize their studies, make meaningful connections, and fully embrace student life. It’s also important to note that job availability varies significantly between campuses. Do not rely on finding a part-time job immediately upon arrival—students should have sufficient financial resources to support their studies without one. 

Additionally, work should not interfere with your studies. Balancing coursework with part-time jobs can be demanding, and wages often do not fully cover living expenses, especially for students paying tuition fees. Learning Finnish can improve job prospects, but it’s crucial to set realistic expectations regarding work opportunities. 

Finally, if you work in Finland, you must pay taxes. Before starting employment, you need to apply for a tax card and/or tax number from the Finnish Tax Office (Vero). 

By planning ahead and understanding these challenges, you can better navigate student life in Finland. 

Häme is one of the oldest regions in Finland, situated in southern Finland, north from the capital city of Helsinki. Due to its location, Häme is easy to reach by rail and road. Häme is mix of old and new, with history rooting back medieval times and infrastructure to suit the needs of modern life. Hämeenlinna is the capital of the region and serves as the cultural and economic hub.

HAMK has seven campuses and all of them are located in southern Finland. All our campuses are equipped with the latest technology to ensure our students reach their full potential at HAMK. The campus you’ll study at depends on your programme. Six out of the seven HAMK´s campuses are located in Häme Region (Kanta Häme) and one is located in Pirkanmaa Province.

You can find the accommodation options under the campus info and apply the best alternative for you. The cost of accommodation vary a lot between different campuses. Prices for a student accommodation varies a lot, at the cheapest you can get a room from shared apartment around 350 € per month. 

You can only apply to HAMK´s accommodation in the campus that you are studying. We strongly recommend that you always live in the same city/ municipality that your campus is located. Also, please do not arrive to Finland without accommodation, as temporary living in hostels, hotels and such is very expensive in Finland.

Please note that HAMK does not provide any family or temporary accommodation or help with those.

You can read more about the leisure time in each of HAMK campus pages and in HAMK moves pages.

Living costs

The student budget for living in Finland varies a lot depending on the individual lifestyle of the student. We recommend to have around 950-1200€ per month.

• Rent 400-650€
• Food 400-500€
• Other 100€

Tip! You can find many student discounts around Finland. Always remember to ask a student discount from a restaurant or shop. common student discount is between 5-15% but for example you can get 30-50% discount from train tickets. In order to get these discounts, you need to have an active student card. Read more about becoming a student union member and getting a student card from here.

Other costs

• Insurance

• Finnish Student Health Service

• Residence permit (only nonEU/EEA students)

• Proving your incomes for residence permit (only nonEU/EEA students)

• Flight ticket to Finland

• Transportation from airport to your campus

• Deposit for your apartment

• Household items and some furniture

• Laptop

If you are a non-EU/EEA-citizen and you have not provided any document that would exempt you from paying the tuition fee, you are required to pay a tuition fee for your studies.

HAMK’s tuition fee for:

• Bachelor’s degree studies: €9 700 / academic year.
• Master’s degree studies: €11  700 / academic year.

HAMK offers scholarship to students who are required to pay tuition fees. No fully funded scholarships available.