Statement: The Government cannot make international students pay the cost of its education cuts 

Uncategorized / 23.8.2026

According to a decision by the Orpo government, tuition fees for students from countries outside the EU and EEA were changed to full-cost tuition starting in the fall of 2026. This means that tuition fees were raised to cover the full cost of providing education. The shift to full-cost tuition thus raised tuition fees for students at the University of Jyväskylä by as much as 2,000 euros, which, from the University’s perspective, is an insignificant sum, but a considerable sum from the perspective of an international student.  

“If we want to increase international expertise in Finland, it is not reasonable to make studying and living in Finland even more challenging for international students. International expertise plays a vital role in Finland’s development,” says Jenna Simonen, JYY Board member responsible for higher education policy and international affairs.  

According to former Minister of Science and Culture Sari Multala, the goal of making tuition fees fully self-financed is to improve the financial situation of higher education institutions and to encourage international students studying here to stay in Finland. The changes that have been implemented are completely contradictory with the goals set by the government. By implementing full-cost tuitions, a situation even more unsustainable than before has been created for international students, in which they are often forced to drop out of their studies purely due to financial constraints.  

According to a study conducted by the Research Foundation for Studies and Education (Otus), about half of international students cite financial difficulties as a reason for delays or interruptions in their studies. This is just one of many factors that have weakened the position of international students. Other factors contributing to this vulnerable position include the application fees that took effect in 2025, the reduced opportunities to apply for entry permits from their home countries, and, from the University of Jyväskylä’s perspective, changes to the scholarship system. 

SYL, together with Akava Students and SAMOK, emphasizes the importance of concrete actions to ensure that international students can continue their lives in Finland. Although this statement emphasizes the importance of concrete actions during the transition to the labour market, it is also crucial that international students receive the support they need right from the start of their studies. A secure future cannot be built on empty promises alone for anyone.  

The upkeep of dire straits for international students is unsustainable, and their opportunities to study in Finland must be improved. JYY demands that the government reverses its decision to implement full-cost tuition fees and examines the impact of tightening immigration and education policies on Finland’s future expertise.  

Additional info: 

Chair of the Board 
Aukusti Heilakka 
hpj@jyy.fi 
+358 45 137 1964