Tuition fees for Non-European degree students
Photo: Sami Seppänen
In August 2010 the University of Vaasa joined the official trial of Ministry of Education and Culture. The trial plans to make Finnish higher education into an export service and establishes tuition fees for non-European master students. Such fees already exist in Denmark and Sweden.
The University will start collecting fees in autumn semester 2012.
The academic year 2011-2012 will be the last year when non-European master students can study in the University of Vaasa free of charge. In autumn semester 2012 the university will establish tuition fees, the amount is not exact yet.
Francesca Cucinotta, Head of International Relations, described some details.
"At this moment we don't know how high the fees will be, but certainly not lower than 4000 euros per academic year. We should see the situation in other universities and take it into consideration."
The trial covers all five international master programs of the university while the doctoral studies will remain free. Cucinotta notes that there might be some scholarships for those non-European students who have high accomplishments.
The establishment of the fees probably will mean that in the nearest future the University of Vaasa will have more European master students and less non-European ones since the significant part of the latter won't be able to afford to pay for education the mentioned fee. However, the impact of the trial here in Vaasa won't be noticeable until autumn, 2012. On the whole, this trial will last till 2014, and then the government will assess its results.
"This trial is an interesting idea," says Jussi Koiranen, Academic Affairs Officer of Vaasa Student Union. "We should wait to see its effect. It can be useful for our university; it brings many possibilities and threats".
The trial takes place in many universities of Finland, and the future will show its effect in different places. Nevertheless, even now it is obvious that the flow of foreign students to Vaasa will at least partially change in autumn semester, 2012. The trial will demonstrate whether non-Europeans come to Vaasa because of free education or because of the good reputation of our university abroad.
Ukrainian first-year master student of International Business Tetiana Lienkova seems to be really glad that she has managed to be accepted before the fees introduction.
"I am really lucky because I didn't have to pay for my studies. I appreciate studyin here a lot. Teaching, and programs, and international environment here in Vaasa are excellent."
The idea of fees for education isn't unfamiliar to her.
"In Ukraine an average student pays about 1500 euro per academic year. Finnish education is worth fees but not many Ukrainian students can afford more than 2000 euro per year."
Tuition fee trial
• Covers nine universities and 10 polytechnics
• Establishes fees for educations for non-European master students
• Lasts till 2014
• Begins in the University of Vaasa in autumn semester, 2012
• Covers all five English-language programs
• The fee will be at least 4000 euro per academic year.
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