Finland guide · Scholarships · 3 min read
Scholarships in Finland for Nepali students: the waivers, the grades, and the renewal rules.
Every Finnish university that charges non-EU students tuition has to run a scholarship scheme, and waivers of 50% to 100% of tuition are common for good applicants. Most are decided with your admission, from your grades and application, with no separate form. What families miss is year 2: many waivers renew only if you complete a set number of credits. A 50% waiver on €12,000 saves about Rs 10.3 lakh a year.
The short version
- Finnish universities must offer scholarships to fee-paying non-EU students. 50% to 100% tuition waivers are common.
- Most are decided with admission, from your grades, English and application. Check each programme's own rules.
- Year 2 usually depends on credits completed in year 1 (often 55 to 60 ECTS). Ask in writing.
- Some universities give an early-acceptance or first-year discount; some programmes take part in the government's Finland Scholarship for top master's applicants.
- Scholarships cover tuition, not living costs. You still show €800 a month to Migri.
Why Finland is different
Since 2017, Finland has charged non-EU students tuition for English-taught degrees, and the law requires every university that does to run a scholarship scheme for them. So in Finland, a scholarship isn’t a long shot; it’s part of the system. On our shortlists last year tuition was €8,000 to €18,000 a year before waivers.
What the waivers are worth
At Rs 171.38 per EUR (18 Oct 2026), on tuition of €12,000 a year:
| Waiver | You pay a year | Saving a year | Saving over a 2-year master’s |
|---|---|---|---|
| None | €12,000 | ||
| 50% | €6,000 | about Rs 10.3 lakh | about Rs 20.6 lakh |
| 75% | €3,000 | about Rs 15.4 lakh | about Rs 30.8 lakh |
| 100% | €0 | about Rs 20.6 lakh | about Rs 41.1 lakh |
How they’re decided
| Factor | How much it matters |
|---|---|
| Your previous grades | Usually the biggest factor |
| Your application (motivation letter, entrance exam) | Often counts |
| How early you accept | Some universities give an early-acceptance discount |
| Your programme | Some programmes have more scholarship places than others |
Most universities decide the waiver with the admission result, so you’ll know your real cost before you accept.
From our files. Nisha Shrestha from Bhaktapur had +2 science with a GPA of 3.5 and a budget of Rs 18 lakh, and didn’t know scholarships existed. Our counsellor Sarita applied to 4 programmes in the January round, each with its own scholarship rules, and wrote down which ones renew in year 2 and on what grades. Nisha is studying Business IT in Helsinki with a 50% tuition waiver.
Year 2: the part families miss
| Typical renewal rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| Complete 55 to 60 ECTS in year 1 | A full-time workload, passed |
| Keep a minimum grade average | Some programmes |
| First-year only | No waiver after year 1; budget full tuition for year 2 |
Ask every university for its rule in writing, and plan as if you’ll need to meet it while working up to 30 hours a week.
Other funding to check
- Early-bird or first-year discounts at some universities.
- The Finland Scholarship, a government-funded award some universities give top non-EU master’s applicants. Check whether your programme takes part for 2027.
- Department scholarships for second-year students with strong results.
The scholarship doesn’t change the living money
Migri still asks you to show €800 a month, or €9,600 in your account at application for a programme of a year or more. The residence permit guide explains how.
Our view
In Finland, the scholarship decides the cost more than the city or the university does. Apply to six programmes whose waiver rules you’ve read, not six famous names.
