University of Turku’s 16 international master’s degree programmes and two bachelor’s degree programmes are again open for applications in the national first joint application period between 7–21 January 2026. Simultaneously, two international master's programmes are accepting applications via separate admissions processes. The new full cost tuition fee policy implemented by the Finnish government for students from outside EU/EEA countries will bring changes to the application round.
The international bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes of the University of Turku accept applications only once a year as part of the national joint application period. The next application period is 7–21 January 2026. Applicants can apply to a maximum of six degree programmes from different higher education institutions, and three of those programmes can be programmes offerred by the University of Turku. International degree programmes are degree programmes fully taught in English, and studying in them requires no knowledge of the Finnish language. Seven of the University’s eight faculties offer international degree programmes.
The University’s two international bachelor’s degree programmes, Information and Communication Technology and Sustainable and Social Entrepreneurship which were open for applications first time in 2025, are now accepting applications for a second time. The goal of the University is to increase the number of international bachelor’s degree students in the future. In its International Programme for 2021–2030, the University has previously laid out the goal to double the number of international degree students from 2020 by 2030.
Full cost tuition fees bring changes to applicants from outside EU/EEA countries
The law which directs universities to charge full cost tuition fees comes to force on 1 August 2026, and the full cost tuition fees will apply to students who start their studies from that date onwards. During the years 2017–2025 the best applicants from outside EU/EEA countries were awarded scholarships by the University which covered the tuition fee costs, but starting from spring 2026 tuition fee scholarships are no longer awarded to students who are subject to paying tuition fees.
Full cost tuition fee means that the tuition fee must cover the entire actual cost of education of the student. The degree education of students from outside EU/EEA area is not funded by the state. The amount of tuition fee per degree programme is calculated according to the actual level of costs in the degree programme. Tuition fee per programme is either 10.000 € or 12.000 €.
As a further change from previous years, new admitted students to international master’s degree programmes may be offered a 2 000 € discount to their first-year tuition fee, also called an Early bird discount. Additionally, second or later year students have the opportunity to receive a scholarship which covers 50 % of the tuition fee, if the studies of the student have progressed according to certain pre-determined criteria. A new criterion is, for example, a required 4 study credits worth of Finnish language studies.
> International degree programmes at the University of Turku
> How to apply to the international degree programmes
> University of Turku’s tuition fees and scholarships
> Statistics about international degree programmes’ applicants and accepted study places (in Finnish)
> International Programme of the University of Turku for 2021–2030
More information:
Admission Services, admissions@utu.fi
