Guidelines for tuition fees and scholarships

The instructions presented in these guidelines concerning tuition fees and scholarships of Metropolia University of Applied Sciences Ltd (referred to below as “Metropolia”) apply to tuitions fees charged for Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in other languages than Finnish or Swedish as well as to the scholarships granted to students studying in these degree programmes. These guidelines concerning tuition fees and scholarships are approved by the Vice President of Education.

Section 1 Who is obliged to pay tuition fees?

In accordance with section 13a of the Universities of Applied Sciences Act and Metropolia’s Degree Regulations, Metropolia charges a tuition fee for every academic year from students accepted for a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees completed in other languages than Finnish or Swedish. 

Section 2 Amount of the tuition fee

The President and CEO of Metropolia decides on the tuition fees. Metropolia announces the amounts of the tuition fees on its website. The tuition fees are announced by 31 May of each year and they will apply to the academic year following the announcement. 

Section 3 Obligation to pay the tuition fee

In order to confirm their study place, the student who is obliged to pay tuition fees must accept it through the Opintopolku.fi service, register as attending and pay the tuition fee for the academic year according to Metropolia’s instructions and within the deadline set by Metropolia. If the student has presented a document exempting them from the tuition fee in accordance with Metropolia’s instructions and by Metropolia’s deadline, they are not obliged to pay the tuition fee in order to confirm their study place. The student’s documents (degree certificate, residence permit and identity documents) will be verified at the start of the studies.

The student is obliged to pay the tuition fee for every academic term in which they are enrolled as attending, including academic terms when they are on a student exchange. Students who are obliged to pay tuition fees may enrol as non-attending if they are eligible to do so, in which case they do not have to pay the tuition fee for the academic terms during which their enrolment as non-attending has been accepted. The instructions and procedures stated in Metropolia’s Degree Regulations and other guidelines concerning the duration of the right to study and the right to enrol as non-attending also apply to students who are obliged to pay tuition fees.

If a student does not pay the tuition fee for an academic year by the deadline given by Metropolia and does not register as non-attending in accordance with Metropolia’s instructions, they will lose the right to study and this will be recorded in the student administration system.

If a student has lost their right to study due to the situation described above, they may apply for the right to study to be regranted in the manner specified in Metropolia’s Degree Regulations. A fee for the processing of the application will be charged in accordance with section 3 of the Government Decree on Fees Charged by the Universities of Applied Sciences (1440/2014). The fee was 50 euros at the time these guidelines were approved.

In the case of ConREM double degrees, the partner institutions’ students from non-EU/non-EEA countries and students taken under bilateral agreements are obliged to pay a tuition fee equal to the minimum fee specified in the Universities of Applied Sciences Act. In these cases, the students will be granted a scholarship equal to 100% of the tuition fee.

Section 4 Payment of the tuition fee

The students must pay the tuition fees in accordance with the terms of payment and refund of Metropolia’s tuition fees. Metropolia does not accept cash payments. First-year students must pay the tuition fee for the first academic year in one instalment. For subsequent academic years, the students may pay the tuition fee for each academic term separately in equal instalments and in accordance with Metropolia’s more detailed instructions. The student must pay all possible bank charges and other costs related to the payments. The more detailed instruction for paying can be found in the terms of payment and refund of Metropolia’s tuition fees and on the scholarships and tuition fees web page.

Section 5 Refund of the tuition fee

Metropolia will refund a paid tuition fee to the student only in exceptional circumstances when there is a particularly compelling reason for this, as specified in more detail in the terms of payment and refund of Metropolia’s tuition fees. 

Section 6 Discount on the tuition fee

Metropolia may decide to grant an Early Bird discount or other similar discounts on the tuition fee for the first academic year. The decision on the amount of the discount and whether it will be applied to the tuition fee for a whole academic year or for an academic term is taken in accordance with Metropolia’s Regulations and Metropolia’s Degree Regulations. 

The Early Bird discount refers to a discount given to students accepted for new studies leading to a degree beginning in or after autumn 2025. The discount is applied to the tuition fee for the second academic term of the first academic year. The condition for receiving the discount is that the student accepts the study place within 14 days of the publication of the student selections and pays the tuition fee for the entire academic year minus the Early Bird discount by the deadline set by Metropolia. 

No Early Bird discounts are granted to transfer students or students selected through the Open UAS or path studies. The students will be informed separately whether they are eligible for the Early Bird discount when they are selected as students.

Section 7 Scholarship programme for degree students who began their studies on or after 1 August 2024

Metropolia grants scholarships to students completing a UAS Bachelor’s degree who began their studies on or after 1 August 2024 based on the completion of Metropolia’s Finnish language courses (Finnish 1, Finnish 2, Finnish 3 and Finnish 4) and the Finnish language skills level test (YKI, yleinen kielitaitotesti). A student may be granted a scholarship a maximum of three times while completing a UAS Bachelor’s degree and only once per academic year. The language skills level tests entitling to a scholarship must be completed during the studies at Metropolia.

During the first academic year, the student may be granted a scholarship of 1,000 euros if they complete the Finnish 1 and Finnish 2 courses with a minimum grade of 3. During the second academic year, the student may be granted a scholarship of 2,000 euros if they complete the Finnish 3 and Finnish 4 courses with a minimum grade of 3. During the third academic year, the student may be granted a scholarship of 3,000 euros if they complete the Finnish language skills level test with a minimum grade of B1. 

Metropolia grants scholarships to students completing a UAS Master’s degree who started their studies on or after 1 August 2024 if they successfully complete the Finnish language skills level test (YKI, yleinen kielitaitotesti). The Finnish language skills levels are basic level, intermediate level and advanced level. If the student completes the Finnish language skills level test with a basic level grade of A1, they may be granted a scholarship of 1,000 euros. If the student completes the Finnish language skills level test with a basic level grade of A2, they may be granted a scholarship of 2,000 euros. If the student completes the Finnish language skills level test with an intermediate level grade of B1, they may be granted a scholarship of 3,000 euros. A scholarship may be granted to students completing a UAS Master’s degree only once during their studies at Metropolia.

Section 8 Scholarship programme for students who began their studies between 1 January 2019 and 31 July 2024

Metropolia grants scholarships to students who began their studies leading to a UAS Bachelor’s or a UAS Master’s degree between 1 January 2019 and 31 July 2024 based on their skills in the Finnish language. Students can apply for scholarships during the academic year based on the Finnish language skills level tests (YKI, yleinen kielitaitotesti) they have completed. A student may be granted one scholarship (3,000 euros) at most during each academic year. If a student completes several language skills level tests during an academic year, they can be taken into consideration in subsequent academic years. A language skills level test must be completed during the student’s studies at Metropolia – language skills level tests completed before the start of the studies will not be considered when granting scholarships.

A request for rectifying a decision concerning a scholarship can be lodged with Metropolia’s scholarships committee. In accordance with section 60(1)(4) of the Universities of Applied Sciences Act, no appeals may be lodged against a decision by Metropolia’s scholarships committee concerning a request for rectification submitted by a student.

These guidelines have been approved by Metropolia’s Vice President of Education and will enter into force on the date stated below. 

Decision date: 18 December 2024

Entry into force: 1 January 2025

Sections amended: New document