Students

Tampere University is one of the most multidisciplinary universities in Finland. Almost all internationally recognised fields of study are represented there. Tampere University brings together research and education in technology, health and society.

Tampere University is a community of 21,000 students and close to 4,000 staff members. The University was created in 2019 through a merger between the University of Tampere and Tampere University of Technology.

Tampere University of Applied Sciences is a professional higher education institution oriented towards working life and RDI co-operation. Our strengths are multidisciplinary education, creativity, and a strong international profile. We place special emphasis on technology, wellbeing services, business administration, and culture.

The Police University College (Polamk) is Finland’s only police educational institute – a center of expertise in police education, research, and development.

All new police officers are graduates of the Police University College. The University College also organises graduate courses and continuing education.

The City of Tampere, Tampere University, and Tampere University of Applied Sciences have agreed on a partnership that will last until the end of the year 2025. The partnership’s aim is to improve the collaboration between the City and the universities community. One of the main goals of the partnership is to make Tampere the most student-friendly city in Finland. Read more about our actions and goals for students from the partnership's website.

Tuition fees at universities in Finland only apply to international students, i.e. students that come from a country outside the EU, EEA, or Switzerland. The tuition fees apply to full-time students in Bachelor or Master programmes; but Doctorate programmes (PhDs) are usually tuition-free. However, not all international students have to pay tuition charges. Exchange students from other countries do not pay tuition in Finland (although they might still have to pay in their country of origin).

Whether you are in a Bachelor, Master or PhD programme, as a student in Tampere you get to enjoy a lot of benefits by joining the Student Union of Tampere University Trey or Tampere University of Applied Science’s Tamko. Trey and Tamko protect the interests of students, facilitate the work of student associations, provide services for their members as well as create a sense of community. You can join Trey or Tamko when you are registered as a student, a small fee is charged to join the student union.  

The student card you receive when joining the student union gives you access to the student healthcare facilities and services (Bachelor’s or Master’s degree only), transportation discounts (Bachelor’s or Master’s degree only) and discounted prices at the university restaurants, as well as shops, sports complexes and restaurants outside the university. You can find the member’s benefits in the student union’s website. 

Both Trey and Tamko have very good guides for newcomers. These guides list a lot of excellent tips and links to find your way around how to register and get access to all the benefits that come from a student union membership.

We strongly advise you to start looking for housing before you arrive in Finland, preferably the moment you have accepted your study place here. You can choose to rent from either private housing or student housing. There are two student housing organisations in Tampere TOAS (for all ages) and POAS (only for students under 30 years old). As the waiting lists can be long, it is good to start contacting them several months before your arrival.

If you need a van for moving around furniture, you can rent a van from the student union if you are a member. If you are not a member yet, you can ask for help from Facebook online groups, such as Tampere Foreigners. Alternatively, there are companies which rent vans of different sizes by the hour or day.

More information about housing options is in our Relocation Guide under living.

Students who are studying in a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree programme in Tampere are eligible for the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS). The FSHS offers university students health services, as well as mental and well-being support. You will have to present proof that you are a student, either with your enrolment certificate or with the Trey or Tamko Student Card (see Student Unions above).  

Exchange students and PhD students need to rely on the public healthcare services.

You can find the Student Health Services in Tampere at Kalevantie 3, 33100 Tampere. The oral health service can be found at Korkeakoulunkatu 6, 33720 Tampere. 

Tampere is filled with learning opportunities, both formal and informal. Educational institutions that provide liberal adult education include adult education centres, folk high schools, learning centres, sports training centres, and summer universities. The education does not provide a degree or qualification, and its content is not governed by legislation.

The Tampere Adult Education Centre (TAKK) maintained by the City of Tampere offers almost 1,000 courses – there is something for everybody.

Summer University of Tampere is an open university offering paid university courses with no entry requirements.

Tampere Vocational College Tredu is operating under the City of Tampere, and it is the second largest vocational college in Finland. At Tredu we offer a diverse range of study options for immigrants. We support our students in improving their basic study skills as well as with gaining access to vocational studies. At the same time the students will learn more about the study and work culture of Finland.

Every year, approximately 17,000 young and adult students study at Tredu.

Approximately 87% of Finns speak Finnish and approximately 5% of Finns speak Swedish as their native language. If you want to apply for Finnish citizenship, you must have at least a satisfactory command of Finnish or Swedish. You can read more about the benefits of learning Finnish and Swedish here: Why should I study Finnish or Swedish? (infofinland.fi).

While some jobs may not require Finnish language skills, it is always a benefit to learn Finnish to widen your job scope. International House Tampere has put together a page, where you can find a list of websites where you can search for courses and places for studying Finnish in the Tampere city region: Learning Finnish - International House Tampere.