Finnish higher education institutions are offering study options to support students whose studies in Ukrainian universities have been interrupted. Links to the web pages, where information on these support measures is provided, is available on this page.

Please contact the individual institutions for detailed information.

Finnish higher education system

Finland has two types of higher education institutions: universities and universities of applied sciences (UAS).

Universities of applied sciences (UAS for short) offer professionally oriented higher education on bachelor's and master's level, and have strong ties with working life and regional development. 

Universities focus on scientific research and the education they provide is based on it. Universities offer bachelor's, master's and doctoral (PhD) level studies.

Study options available

Open studies offer teaching that is carried out based on the higher education institution’s own syllabus. Open studies are open for everyone regardless of education and age. You can study according to individual study units or bigger study modules. Finnish Open Universities want to show their support for the citizens of Ukraine by offering them free study opportunities.


If your studies in a Ukrainian university have been interrupted, Finnish higher education institutions are offering a chance to apply for study right for non-degree studies that are meant to help you complete your degree in your home university. These studies vary in scope, with a duration of 2 years and 120 ECTS being the maximum. You should be in touch with the Finnish university you are interested to study in to check your eligibility, plan the studies and their recognition as part of your degree in your home university.


The link below takes you to the national Studyinfo database and its list of study options in English suitable for those who have fled Ukraine (both open studies and non-degree studies). However, the list is not exhaustive, and you should also check the information on the study options available on the university websites included in the list below as they may provide more options. 

Opportunities in Universities

  • Aalto University

    Aalto University offers study places and scholarships to Ukrainian students studying at Ukrainian universities as well as degree students who have received asylum from Ukraine. The Open University is offering studies without tuition fees for Ukraine citizens.

  • Hanken School of Economics

    Hanken School of Economics is an accredited, university-level, stand alone business school located in Helsinki and in Vaasa. For students granted temporary protection in Finland we offer free of charge, non-degree, on-site university studies in various economic sciences/business on BSc, MSc and PhD-level. Students must have previous knowledge of business studies and sufficient knowledge of English.

  • LUT University

    LUT University offers the following study possibilities to those who have fled the Ukraine war and received temporary protection in Finland:  Open university studies and non-degree studies free of charge and rolling admission to LUT University’s English-language Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes (until 31 December 2024). Degree students will receive a 100 per cent tuition fee waiver for tuition fees in the academic year 2023–2024 on humanitarian grounds.

  • Tampere University

    Tampere University offers study opportunities to degree students who arrive in Finland due to the humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Ukraine. The University grants rights to study in Open University and non-degree courses.
    Students who obtain a right to study are exempt from tuition fees. Moreover, researchers can apply for fixed-term Postdoctoral Research Fellow posts. 

    Tampere University’s English-language studies are aimed at bachelor’s and master’s level students whose studies have been interrupted at a Ukrainian higher education institution. Applications will be processed until the end of 2022. The rights to study will be granted until 31 July 2023.  

  • University of the Arts Helsinki

    If your degree studies at a Ukrainian higher education institution in the arts have been suspended due to the war in Ukraine, you can apply for the right to complete non-degree studies at Uniarts Helsinki. The study right gives a right to complete individual courses, but not a full degree. Studies are offered as part of the English-language teaching of the Academies and the Open University. The study right based on humanitarian grounds is free of charge for the student.

  • University of Eastern Finland

    We offer a non-degree right to study at the University of Eastern Finland by separate admission process to Ukrainian degree students. Ukrainian students who have been granted a separate study right will, later on, have the opportunity to apply for admission to the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes of the University of Eastern Finland, provided that they meet the eligibility and admissions criteria. Our Open University courses are available to citizens of Ukraine free of charge.

     

  • University of Helsinki

    University of Helsinki grants the right to complete non-degree studies to persons who have arrived in Finland and whose degree studies have been suspended at the Ukrainian higher education institution due to war and also to Ukrainian citizens who have arrived in Finland and whose degree studies have been suspended at a Russian higher education institution due to war. Open University courses are free of charge for the citizens of Ukraine until autumn 2024.

  • University of Jyväskylä

    The University of Jyväskylä provides studies and guidance to students fleeing the war in Ukraine. It supports students who have had to flee Ukraine due to the Russian invasion by offering a chance to apply for separate studies and Open University studies free of charge. Students who are granted temporary protection in Finland can apply for the study right. Studies are offered to university students, upper secondary school students and adult students.

  • University of Lapland

    The University of Lapland offers studies free of charge to students at Ukrainian universities. This separate right to study entitles the student to complete individual courses, not an entire degree.

  • University of Turku

    University of Turku supports persons fleeing from Ukraine by offering free of charge non-degree studies and open university studies. The study rights can be granted to persons with the right for temporary protection and in the case of non-degree studies persons who have a study right in a Ukrainian higher education institution. Applying for degree studies is also possible. Scholarships that cover the tuition fee as well as the Finland Scholarship are available for degree studies.

  • University of Vaasa

    In response to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, the University of Vaasa offers separate rights to study  individual courses. The call for applications is aimed at students who have arrived in Finland and have an existing, valid right to study at a Ukrainian university, and whose studies have been discontinued due to the war. These studies are free of charge.  University of Vaasa offers studies in the field of business, technology, administrative sciences and communication studies.

  • Åbo Akademi University

    Åbo Akademi University wants to support Ukrainian students by offering them the possibility to study courses without fees. University students, who have left Ukraine because of the war, are entitled to take individual courses at Åbo Akademi University without paying the course fee.

Opportunities in Universities of Applied Sciences

  • Arcada University of Applied Sciences

    Arcada UAS offers Open University courses free of charge to anyone who has fled the war in Ukraine. Places are offered on the basis of first come first served. For courses that have set prerequisites you need to make sure you fulfil all criteria. Students, who have the right to study at a higher education institution in Ukraine, can apply for the right to attend classes within one of Arcada's degree programmes. These studies start 1.8.2022. Please visit our webpage for up-to-date details.

  • Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences

    Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences is one of the leading educators in marketing and entrepreneurship in Finland. Haaga-Helia offers Ukrainians who have fled to Finland an opportunity to complete free virtual studies. More implementations are planned and will be announced later this year.

  • Häme University of Applied Sciences HAMK

    HAMK and other universities are preparing to offer study opportunities to Ukrainian university students coming to Finland. A possible direct application process is investigated in cooperation with the universities.

    Ukrainians can also apply for free to open university studies. The application for open summer studies is open from 14 March to 25 March 2022 and for autumn period open studies from 1 to 12 August 2022. Studying requires English language skills.

  • Jamk University of Applied Sciences

    Jamk University of Applied Sciences offers Open Studies free of charge for anyone, who has had to flee Ukraine due to war in the country and is currently in Finland (temporary protection). 

    The offer consists of 20 courses in English, which are suitable for anyone with sufficient language and other skills.  Enrolment starts on 11 April 2022.

  • Kajaani University of Applied Sciences

    KAMK offers people who have fled the war in Ukraine alternative study paths at bachelor and master level, pathway studies and individual courses at the Open University of Applied Sciences.

  • Karelia University of Applied Sciences

    In response to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Ukraine, Karelia University of Applied Sciences offers services and study opportunities for Ukrainians.

  • LAB University of Applied Sciences

    LAB University of Applied Sciences offers the following study possibilities to those who have fled the Ukraine war and received temporary protection in Finland:  Open university of applied sciences studies and non-degree studies free of charge. Degree students will receive a 100 per cent tuition fee waiver for tuition fees in the academic year 2022–2023 on humanitarian grounds.

  • Metropolia University of Applied Sciences

    Metropolia directs refugees from Ukraine without a study place at a Ukrainian university to open university education. Studies are free of charge for refugees. 

    Ukrainian refugees who have been granted a temporary residence permit on humanitarian grounds and as a result of the regulation of the EU Council will be awarded a study grant to reimburse the tuition fee.

  • Novia University of Applied Sciences

    Novia University of Applied Sciences supports students from Ukraine by offering them the possibility to study courses at Novia UAS without paying the course fees. You can apply for a right to study as non-degree student in order to complete one or several courses. The courses can be found in our Study Guide and on our webpage. Novia has four campuses located along the Finnish coast  in Vaasa, Turku, Raasepori, and Pietarsaari.

  • Satakunta University of Applied Sciences (SAMK)

    In response to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, Satakunta University of Applied Sciences (SAMK) offers a range of study opportunities for Ukrainians. 

  • Savonia University of Applied Sciences

    Savonia University of Applied Sciences offers guidance and study possibilities for Ukrainians fleeing the war. We offer Finnish language studies, Open UAS studies and separate study rights in international degree programs (business, engineering and nursing). Guidance is offered in English and Russian.

  • South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences XAMK

    Xamk provides Open University of Applied Sciences courses taught in English free of charge to Ukrainians. Xamk Pulse Open UAS offers Bachelor and Master level courses for all regardless of educational background. Our courses are intended for all who want to update or develop their expertise, are considering studies at university of applied sciences in the future, or are willing to increase their general knowledge of areas of their interest.

  • Tampere University of Applied Sciences

    Tampere University of Applied Sciences offers study possibilities for Ukrainians arriving in Finland due to the humanitarian crisis. We want to support Ukrainian citizens by offering possibilities to study open university courses without fees. Examples of courses: Modern digital marketing and digital selling, Introduction to Entrepreneurship, Introduction to Environmental Engineering.

  • Turku University of Applied Sciences

    Turku UAS is a higher education institution of 13,000 experts, researchers, students, faculty members and teaching professionals. We create solutions for a better tomorrow – both regionally and globally. Please see the updating study opportunities on the website.

  • Vaasa University of Applied Sciences

    Vaasa University of Applied Sciences (VAMK) is a multidisciplinary and international institution providing higher education and research services within Technology, Business Economic, Health Care and Social Services. VAMK offers both degree and non-degree studies conducted as onsite, blended and online teaching for international students in bachelor's and master's level.

Degree programmes

Those wishing to study for a full degree in Finland may apply to higher education studies through the normal admission process.  The joint application period for international degree programmes starting in the autumn 2024 will open in January 2024. Ukrainian students can apply to these programmes also if they have already started studies under the special study right option.

Information on the programmes and on application is available on the Studyinfo portal. See also the Study in Finland website for general information on degree programmes and studying in Finland

Supplementary applications for degree programmes

Even if an application period for English taught degree programmes has already been closed, universities may open programmes for supplementary application to accept more students. Information of supplementary applications is available in the Studyinfo portal. The link below takes you directly to the programmes for which supplementary application is ongoing.