Background information

In response to the war in Ukraine and the resulting wave of Ukrainian refugees, the Ministry of Education and Finnish institutions of higher educations are creating study opportunities for Ukrainians arriving in the country. Those eligible for temporary protection under the EU Directive on Temporary Protection 2001/55/EC and the Finnish Aliens Act 301/2004 [Ulkomaalaislaki] and had a position in an institution of higher education in their home country will receive a right to study in a Finnish institution of higher education.

Content of measure

The measure is targeted to Ukrainians that are enrolled at an institute of higher education in their home country and have arrived in Finland on the premise of temporary protection. The ministry has earmarked special funding for this group to be able to continue their education at a Finnish corresponding institution. For persons that were not enrolled in education in their home country are also eligible to participate in non-degree education and open higher education courses free of charge. The funding is aimed at providing education for 2,000 to 4,000 arriving students as well as funding advisory services for the students.

The ministry has earmarked €4.5 million to be allocated to universities as reimbursements for not collecting tuition fees from the Ukrainian students that have arrived under the clause of temporary protection.

Use of measure

Many institutions of higher education have offered free education options for persons fleeing the war in Ukraine, among them Helsinki University, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, University of Turku and University of Eastern Finland. The free education offered by Helsinki University’s open university continues until fall 2025.

In April 2022, a month after granting the right to study for Ukrainian citizens fleeing Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine and who had a valid right to study in Ukraine, the university of Eastern Finland granted 42 Ukrainian students the right to study, after 135 applications were received. Ten of those who have been granted study also received scholarships to cover travel and living expenses.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Does not apply to businesses	Migrants or refugees Students

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Other social actors (e.g. NGOs)	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Unknown	Unknown
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Unknown
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

No information available.

Views and reactions

Preceding the measure from the Ministry of Education, the Confederation of Finnish Industries EK published a blog post to voice their support to institutions of higher education that had created opportunities for Ukrainian refugees, and raised the opinion that such an initiative ought to be put in place on a national scale.

Sectors and occupations

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

• 25 March 2022: Let's revoke tuition fees from Ukrainians (Vapautetaan Ukrainasta tulevat lukukausi­maksuista) (ek.fi)
• 01 April 2022: University of Eastern Finland granted study rights to 42 Ukrainians[Itä-Suomen yliopisto myönsi opinto-oikeuden 42 ukrainalaiselle – Jatkoa valmistellaan] (www.tieteessatapahtuu.fi)
• 28 April 2022: Finland launches action plan to support Ukrainian higher education students and researchers (Suomelta toimenpideohjelma ukrainalaisten korkeakouluopiskelijoiden ja tutkijoiden tukemiseksi) (okm.fi)
• 28 April 2022: Ukrainians will receive the opportunity to study at Finnish institutions of higher education (Ukrainalaisille tulee mahdollisuus opiskella suomalaisissa korkeakouluissa – ministeriöltä erillisrahoitus) (www.mtvuutiset.fi)
• 27 November 2024: University of Turku: Study opportunities to persons arriving in Finland from Ukraine (www.utu.fi)
• 27 November 2024: For Ukrainian refugees [Ukrainan pakolaisille] (www.metropolia.fi)
• 27 November 2024: The war in Ukraine - university recommendations [Ukrainan sota - yliopiston suositukset] (www.helsinki.fi)