International students | International students

 

Applicants whose native language is other than Finnish | Applicants whose native language is not Finnish

The language of instruction at Tanhuvaara Sports Institute is mainly Finnish. In order to be successful in vocational studies, you must have a sufficient command of Finnish. The language proficiency required for our education is B1.1-B1.2. If your native language is not Finnish, you must demonstrate sufficient Finnish proficiency for vocational education. Language proficiency is checked as part of the application process and can be demonstrated with previous certificates and/or an interview.

Basically, you have sufficient knowledge of Finnish if you have completed a Finnish-language comprehensive school, upper secondary school or vocational education.

Annual tuition fees for upper secondary students | Annual tuition fees for upper secondary students

If you start your studies after 1 August 2026 and are a citizen of a country outside the EU/EEA, you may have to pay an annual tuition fee. The fee is charged if you have arrived or are about to arrive in Finland for the purpose of studying, i.e. with a student residence permit.

Countries outside the EU/EEA, or third countries, are countries other than the Member States of the European Union or Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

The annual tuition fee applies

  • Third-country nationals residing in Finland with a student residence permit (B) or temporary (B) residence permit.
  • People residing in Finland with a continuous (A) residence permit whose first residence permit in Finland was granted on the basis of studies.
  • Persons arriving in Finland with a continuous (A) residence permit whose family sponsor's residence permit or first family sponsor's residence permit was granted on the basis of studies.

The annual tuition fee does not apply to Finnish citizens and

  • Those residing in Finland with a permanent (P) residence permit.
  • Those residing in Finland with a continuous (A) residence permit (EXCEPTION: in vocational training, situations where the student's or their sponsor's permit or first permit has been granted on the basis of studies).
  • Blue Card holders and those with an EU residence permit for long-term third-country nationals, as well as their family members.
  • Exchange students with a residence permit for a maximum of one year.
  • Those in the country on the basis of temporary protection (Ukrainians).
  • Beneficiaries of international protection (asylum and subsidiary protection).
  • Students in on-demand training.
  • Students of compulsory education. Under 18 years old accompanied by their family or guardian A child who has come to Finland is subject to compulsory education in Finland after obtaining a domicile in Finland. The basis for granting the family sponsor's residence permit is irrelevant. For a young person subject to compulsory education, studies and learning materials are free, regardless of citizenship. To Finland for study purposes A prospective student who is not a citizen of an EU member state, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland is not subject to compulsory education in Finland. He or she is also not entitled to free education.

More information about residence permit types Residence permit types | Finnish Immigration Service and instructions from the Finnish Immigration Service for the student.

How does the fee structure affect residence permits and student selection?

  • The applicant's tuition fee obligation is determined based on the documents submitted by the applicant and the residence permit information received from the Finnish Immigration Service.
  • The selected student must pay the tuition fee after being granted a study place. Payment of the fee is a prerequisite for a positive residence permit decision.
  • If the selected student is not yet in Finland, he or she can, after payment, apply for a student residence permit from the Finnish Immigration Service and arrive in Finland after receiving the residence permit.
  • You cannot participate in education and teaching if the tuition fee has not been paid. This also applies to selected individuals who are already living in Finland and have paid tuition fees.
  • The tuition fee does not include free meals or study materials. However, you are entitled to student support services, such as healthcare and tutoring services, as well as learning support and special support.

More information Act amending the Vocational Education and Training Act 1362/2025

Apprenticeship

A student coming to Finland for an apprenticeship who is not a citizen of a Member State of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, needs an employee's residence permit to stay in Finland. A person coming to Finland for an apprenticeship with an employee's residence permit does not pay tuition fees.

A student can also transfer to apprenticeship training during their studies. However, this does not exempt the student from paying tuition fees. A student liable for tuition fees is not entitled to social benefits during apprenticeship training.

 

Prices and payment instructions

 

Tuition fees from August 1, 2026:

Basic degree in physical education €16,000

Professional degree in physical education and coaching €9,000

The fees for degree components are determined by the number of teaching periods used to study the degree component.

 

  • The first academic year fee must be paid in full before the start of studies. The fee will only be refunded if the student is unable to start studies because he or she is not granted a residence permit. An academic year is considered to be 5 teaching periods from the start date of studies. Any summer studies are included in the academic year fee.
  • The amount of the fee for the following academic years is determined by the student's planned duration of studies at the beginning of the studies, with an accuracy of one teaching period. The price of one period is 1/5 of the fee for the entire academic year. The fee must be paid before the start of the studies that are the basis for the invoicing.
    • The responsible teacher and the student may change the estimated graduation date/end date of studies by mutual written agreement before the start of the new academic year.
    • If a student does not graduate within the planned schedule and wishes to continue their studies, they must pay the annual tuition fee for the new planned period of study without delay before their studies can continue.
  • The paid tuition fee will not be refunded if studies are interrupted.
  • If a student's studies are temporarily interrupted for a reason specified in Section 96 of the Vocational Education and Training Act (30.12.2020/1218), the part of the tuition fee already paid by the student for the period of interruption will be refunded from the tuition fee of the following academic year for the period corresponding to the interruption. The interruption that qualifies for a refund must be at least 1 teaching period long and the refund will be made in full periods. No refund can be received for an interruption shorter than a period.
  • If a student's tuition fee obligation ends in the middle of the academic year due to a change in the basis for their residence permit, they can apply for a refund of the tuition fee already paid. The refund must be applied for within 6 months of the end of the payment obligation. The part of the tuition fee already paid that is allocated to the period after the release from the payment obligation will be refunded.

 

*************************************************************************************

Applicants whose native language is not Finnish

The language of instruction at Tanhuvaara Sports Institute is primarily Finnish. In order to succeed in vocational studies, you must have sufficiently good Finnish language skills. The required language proficiency for our programs is level B1.1–B1.2. If your native language is not Finnish, you must demonstrate adequate Finnish language skills for vocational education. Language proficiency is assessed as part of the application process and can be demonstrated through previous certificates and/or an interview.

As a rule, your Finnish language skills are considered sufficient if you have completed basic education, upper secondary school, or vocational education in Finnish.

 

 

ANNUAL Tuition Fee for Students from Outside the EU/EEA as of 1 August 2026

The tuition fee is charged from third-country nationals who have arrived in Finland or are arriving in Finland for the purpose of studying. Third-country nationals are citizens of countries other than the Member States of the European Union, or Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Persons liable to pay the tuition fee

Tuition fees apply to:

  • Third‑country nationals who reside in Finland with a student residence permit (B) or a temporary residence permit (B).
  • Persons residing in Finland with a continuous residence permit (A), whose first residence permit in Finland has been granted based on studies.
  • Persons residing in Finland with a continuous residence permit (A), whose sponsor's (family Reunification case) residence permit or sponsor's first residence permit has been granted based on studies.

Persons exempt from the tuition fee

Finnish citizens and the following groups are not liable to pay the tuition fee:

  • Persons residing in Finland with a permanent residence permit (P).
  • Persons residing in Finland with a continuous residence permit (A).
    (EXCEPTION: in vocational education, situations where the student or the student's Sponsor in family Reunification case has been granted a residence permit or the first residence permit based on studies.)
  • Holders of an EU Blue Card and persons holding an EU long‑term resident's permit for third‑country nationals, as well as their family members.
  • Exchange students who have a residence permit valid for a maximum of one year.
  • Persons who, at the start of their studies, hold a residence permit based on temporary protection (Ukrainian nationals). Temporary protection ends on 4 March 2027.
  • Persons receiving international protection (asylum or subsidiary protection).
  • Students enrolled in commissioned education (tailored training purchased by an external party).
  • Compulsory education students. A child under the age of 18 who has moved to Finland with their family or Guardian is subject to compulsory education in Finland once they have been granted a municipality of residence. The grounds on which the sponsor's residence permit has been issued are not relevant. For a young person subject to compulsory education, studies and learning materials are free of charge regardless of citizenship. A student who comes to Finland for study purposes and is a citizen of a country other than an EU Member State, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland is not subject to compulsory education in Finland. They are also not entitled to free education.

More information about residence permit types: Residence permit types | Finnish Immigration Serviceand Finnish Immigration Service – Studying in Finland

 

How the tuition fee liability is determined

  • The applicant's tuition fee liability is determined based on the documents submitted by the applicant and the residence permit information obtained from the Finnish Immigration Service. After being offered a study place, the admitted student must pay the first-year tuition fee within the specified time.
  • If the admitted student is not yet in Finland, they may apply for a student residence permit from the Finnish Immigration Service after paying the fee and arrive in Finland once the permit has been granted.
  • Participation in education and instruction is not possible if the tuition fee has not been paid. This also applies to admitted students who are already residing in Finland and are subject to tuition fees.
  • The tuition fee does not include free meals or learning materials. However, you are entitled to student welfare services, such as healthcare and student counseling services, as well as learning support and special needs support.

 

More information: Act amending the Act on Vocational Education (1362/2025)

 

Apprenticeship training

A student coming to Finland for apprenticeship training who is a citizen of a country other than a member state of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland requires a residence permit for an employed person to stay in Finland. A person coming to Finland for apprenticeship training with a residence permit for an employed person does not pay tuition fees.

A student may also transfer to apprenticeship training during their studies. This does not exempt the student from paying tuition fees.

A student who is liable to pay tuition fees is not entitled to student social benefits during apprenticeship training.

 

 

 

Prices and payment instructions

 

Tuition fees as of 1 August 2026:

 

Vocational qualification in sports instruction €16,000

Further Vocational Qualification in Sports and Coaching €9,000

The fees for qualification units are determined by the number of teaching periods required to complete the unit.

 

  • The first academic year fee must be paid in full before the start of the studies. The fee will only be refunded if the applicant who has been admitted is unable to start their studies because they are not granted a residence permit. One academic year is defined as five teaching periods from the start date of the studies. Any studies undertaken during the summer period are included in the academic year fee.
  • The fee for subsequent academic years is determined according to the planned duration of studies agreed with the student at the beginning of their studies, calculated to the accuracy of one teaching period. The price of one teaching period is one fifth (1/5) of the full academic year fee. The fee must be paid before the start of the studies on which the invoicing is based.
    • The responsible teacher and the student may revise the estimated graduation date / end date of studies by mutual written agreement before the start of a new academic year.
    • If the student does not graduate according to the planned schedule and wishes to continue their studies, they must promptly pay the academic year fee corresponding to the new planned study period before the studies can continue.
  • Paid academic year fees are not refunded if the studies are discontinued.
  • If a student's studies are temporarily interrupted for a reason referred to in Section 96 of the Act on Vocational Education (30 December 2020 / 1218), the portion of the already paid academic year fee corresponding to the interruption period will be credited towards the tuition fee of the following academic year, according to the duration of the interruption. An interruption that entitles the student to a credit must last at least one teaching period, and credits are granted only for full teaching periods. Interruptions Shorter than one period are not eligible for a credit.
  • If a student's obligation to pay tuition fees ends during the academic year due to a change in the basis of their residence permit, the student may apply for a refund of the tuition fee already paid. The refund must be applied for within six months of the end of the payment obligation. The refunded amount corresponds to the portion of the paid tuition fee covering the period after the student became exempt from the fee.

 

More details Finnish Immigration Service – Studying in Finland

 

More information:

Arja Laine
training manager

arja.laine@tanhuvaara.fi
tel. +050 5727 348

Scroll to Top