The vocational education provider Vamia (Vaasa) has advised prospective international students that tuition fees are “being planned” for learners from outside the EU/EEA and that the duration of English-language qualifications will shorten from three to two years. In a 23 October website update, Vamia said it still awaits final fee levels but intends to open applications for its cook and waiter programmes from 17–21 November 2025 for an August 2026 start.
Finland introduced tuition fees for university-level degree programmes in 2017, but vocational education has so far remained free. Extending fees to vocational students would align Finland with many OECD peers and could shape inbound student mobility—a key talent pipeline for the hospitality and manufacturing sectors in Western Finland.
Vamia reminded applicants that living costs in Finland are “quite high” and urged them to secure adequate funds for residence-permit applications. Non-EU students must show proof of at least €560 per month for living expenses when applying for a study-based residence permit.
Employers that rely on vocational graduates for seasonal kitchen and service roles should anticipate a potential drop in applications if fees are set at a prohibitive level. HR teams may need to increase recruitment marketing in EU countries or explore apprenticeship pathways to offset any talent shortfall. Vamia said a planned machinist and plater-welder programme will not be open to international applicants in November, indicating capacity constraints.
Further details on fee structures are expected later in the academic year, once the Ministry of Education and Culture finalises legislative amendments.
Finland introduced tuition fees for university-level degree programmes in 2017, but vocational education has so far remained free. Extending fees to vocational students would align Finland with many OECD peers and could shape inbound student mobility—a key talent pipeline for the hospitality and manufacturing sectors in Western Finland.
Vamia reminded applicants that living costs in Finland are “quite high” and urged them to secure adequate funds for residence-permit applications. Non-EU students must show proof of at least €560 per month for living expenses when applying for a study-based residence permit.
Employers that rely on vocational graduates for seasonal kitchen and service roles should anticipate a potential drop in applications if fees are set at a prohibitive level. HR teams may need to increase recruitment marketing in EU countries or explore apprenticeship pathways to offset any talent shortfall. Vamia said a planned machinist and plater-welder programme will not be open to international applicants in November, indicating capacity constraints.
Further details on fee structures are expected later in the academic year, once the Ministry of Education and Culture finalises legislative amendments.
