International students in Finland are facing increasing financial pressure and significant barriers to employment, threatening both their livelihoods and their ability to build a future in Finland. The ‘True Cost’ advocacy campaign, launched by the National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL), brings international students’ experiences to the forefront of public discussion and calls for concrete action from decision-makers and other stakeholders.
The financial and employment situations of international students have deteriorated over the last few years. The costs of studying in Finland have increased via the monthly income requirements for residence permits and the rise in tuition fees for students coming outside the EU/EEA. International graduates also face significant barriers when entering the Finnish labour market. According to the Vipunen statistics service, only 55 per cent of international students in higher education find employment in Finland one year after graduation.
But what do international students themselves think about their situation? That is what we at SYL wanted to find out.
‘The discussion about international students too often focuses on numbers: how many students Finland attracts or how many graduates we hope to retain. The “True Cost” campaign asks a different question: what does it actually cost an international student to study, live and build a future in Finland?’ says Viena Pentikäinen, board member at SYL. ‘International students contribute to Finnish higher education, society and the future labour force. Their experiences must be taken seriously, and Finland needs to ensure that studying and building a future here is economically and socially sustainable.’
Putting students’ experiences at the centre
The ‘True Cost’ campaign will highlight the real-life financial and employment experiences of international students throughout 2026. Through interviews and social media content, the campaign will show what the cost of studying and living in Finland means in students’ everyday lives. The campaign builds on the 2025 survey ‘At What Cost? Being an International Student in Finland’ which highlighted the financial and employment challenges experienced by international students.
‘Behind these statistics are students who are struggling to cover rent and everyday expenses, working alongside their studies, or worrying about whether they will be able to remain in Finland after graduation’, says Aada Aho, board member at SYL.
As a part of this project, SYL anonymously interviewed 16 international students from 7 different universities in Finland originating from 10 different countries of origin. From there we filmed 6 interviews for social media videos which will be released on SYL’s Instagram on 7–16 September.
From experiences to solutions
The campaign is not only about raising awareness.. SYL has also developed concrete proposals for improving the employment and livelihood of international students. The aim is to encourage practical measures that make it easier for international students to find employment during and after their studies and to manage the costs of living and studying in Finland.
International students are an important part of Finland’s higher education community and future workforce. Ensuring that they have realistic opportunities to support themselves and find employment is essential for a sustainable higher education and immigration policy.
The ‘True Cost’ campaign calls on decision-makers and stakeholders to listen to international students’ experiences – and to act on them.
Read more about our findings and solutions here.
More information:
Viena Pentikäinen
Board Member
viena.pentikainen@syl.fi
044 755 0179
**About the campaign**
The ‘True Cost’ advocacy campaign is implemented by the National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) in 2026. The campaign raises awareness of the financial and employment challenges faced by international students in Finland and promotes concrete solutions to improve their opportunities during and after graduation.
