Check if you need to pay tuition fee

All non-EU/EEA students need to pay the tuition fee.

Your liability for paying the tuition fee has been checked in the application process. The tuition fee is to be paid according to instructions given in the notification of admission.

For more information on tuition fees: Tuition fees

Apply for a residence permit, if needed

Non-EU/EEA students need a student residence permit. Remember that you must personally visit a Finnish embassy or consulate as part of this process. Start your residence permit process as soon as possible, carefully following the immigration authorities’ instructions and regulations, so that you can receive your permit in good time before your studies begin.

All matters relating to immigration in Finland are administered through Finnish Immigration Service (Maahanmuuttovirasto). Please visit their website and start your immigration process as soon as possible.

You can find out more about applying for a study-based permit  

Take care of your health insurance and vaccinations

Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS) provides student health services for degree students in Finnish higher education. However, FSHS do not cover urgent medical care or secondary health care in hospitals. 

Students coming from EU/EEA countries: You should take your EU-card (the European health insurance card) from your local social security office. The EU-card gives you access to medically necessary healthcare during your stay in Finland under the same conditions and at the same cost as people insured in Finland. 

Students coming from non–EU/EEA countries: The Finnish Immigration Services requires you to take out health insurance when applying for study-based residence permit to Finland: Information about health insurance requirements 

Learn about apartment renting in Finland

SAMK does not have dormitories on its own, but we cooperate with various accommodation providers in the city of Pori and Rauma to help students find accommodation. The International Services provides necessary information guidance but students are responsible for finding suitable accommodation themselves.  Some of the options are listed below. 

The rent varies according to the size, location, condition, and facilities of the chosen apartment. However, the rent announced in the rental advertisement will not change with time. For prices and additional information, we encourage you to contact the accommodation providers directly using the contact information given. 

Before signing any rental agreement, make sure you understand what is included in the rent. Utility costs (such as water, electricity, heating, internet, anything else) are sometimes included in the rent, sometimes they are paid separately from the rent. Security deposit is equivalent of 1-3 month’s rent and must be paid before picking up the key. All this information should be included in the rental agreement.  

You should also be aware of type of agreement you are signing. The continuous contract includes a one-month notice period but can be terminated at any time. The one-year fixed-term contract means that you agree to stay in the apartment and pay the rent for it for one year. 

Please remember that a signed rental agreement is binding in Finland. Even if the contract has been signed online and the deposit has not yet been paid, the contract is valid once signed. Failure to pay the deposit or the first month’s rent does not automatically cancel the contract. 

Electricity contracts are usually made by the tenant themselves with the supplier of their choice. The electricity company needs to be contacted well in advance of move to ensure there is electricity in the apartment on the moving day. One option in Satakunta region is Oomi Electricity Company: Households – Oomi 

Housing insurance is almost without exception required to take out when renting an apartment. Home insurance is a policy that provides financial protection for your home, personal belongings, and liability coverage in case of accidents. It acts as a safety net, covering the costs of repairs, replacements, and legal fees in the event of a disaster. 

Here are few examples: 

  • Natural catastrophe protection – Natural catastrophes can cause severe damage to your home. Without insurance, you’d be responsible for paying for repairs or rebuilding entirely out of your pocket. Home insurance helps reduce this risk by providing coverage for these events. 
  • Theft and vandalism cover – If your home is broken into and your belongings are stolen, or if vandals damage your property, home insurance can help you recover. It covers the cost of replacing stolen items and repairing damage caused by such incidents. 
  • There are many different insurance companies in Finland. You should check the different options, prices and what they offer. Once you have taken out household insurance, you can contact the company if you have any questions. If you do not know what things the landlord has to fix and what is involved with household insurance, you should contact the landlord first to find out. Landlord should guide you through this. 

We strongly recommend that you look for accommodation through an agency rather than a private landlord. Agencies have a database of a wide range of available properties in the area. Agencies are usually reliable and should never ask you to pay a commission for their services. Housing agencies that SAMK cooperates with are listed in the “Finding housing in Satakunta” section of this page.  

Housing counselling is a confidential and free service for all residents of Pori and Rauma regardless of the type of housing they live in. The housing counsellor can help you to find a place to live or to solve housing-related problems. Please note that housing counseling won’t rent you apartments or grant financial support. Once you have arrived in Finland, you can contact the housing counsellor by using the following contact information:  

Pori: Joona Karimerto, tel. +358 50 352 5960; joona.karimerto@porinyhasunnot.fi  

Rauma: Meri Kujansivu, tel. +358 44 403 2137; meri.kujansivu@rauma.fi  

What should be considered when renting a home in Finland

Participate in online orientation sessions

All international bachelor-level students admitted to SAMK are invited to attend our free thematic orientation sessions. These sessions help you get ready for your studies at SAMK. No enrollment is required. Sessions are recorded. Zoom-link for participation.

The recordings will be available on the Welcome Course for International Students – Autumn 2025 platform. The enrollment key for the platform will be sent to students who have officially accepted the study place at studyinfo.fi and paid the tuition fee for the spring semester. 

Session schedule: 

Session 1. Wednesday 26 March, 12.30-14.00: 

Welcome to study at SAMK. Introduction to the degree programs in health and welfare: Nursing and Physiotherapy 

Session 2. Wednesday 2 April, 12.30-14.00:  

Learning Finnish. Language studies at SAMK. Tips and self-study materials online 

Session 3. Tuesday 15 April, 12.30-14.00: 

Q&A session, feel free to ask questions related to starting your studies at SAMK (NO RECORDING) 

Session 4. Tuesday 22 April, 12.30-14.00: 

Welcome to study at SAMK! Introduction to the degree programs in engineering: Logistics, Artificial Intelligence, Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering  

Session 5. Wednesday 23 April, 12.30-14.00: 

Welcome to study at SAMK! Introduction to the degree programs of International Business and International Tourism Management 

Session 6. Thursday 24 April, 12.30-14.00:  

Studying and living in Finland. International students’ experiences 

Session 7. Tuesday 29 April, 12.30-14.00: 

Settling in Satakunta. Get to know the cities of Pori and Rauma 

Session 8. Wednesday 7 May, 12.30-14.00: 

Accommodation in Pori and Rauma 

Session 9. Friday 16 May, 12.30-14.00: 

Services for families in Pori: child health clinics, day care and school arrangements. 

Session 10. Monday 19 May, 12.30-14.00: 

Services for families in Rauma: child health clinics, day care and school arrangements.  

Session 11. Wednesday 21 May, 12.30-14.00: 

Q&A session, feel free to ask questions related to starting your studies at SAMK (NO RECORDING) 

Session 12. Monday 26 May, 12.30-14.00  

Learning Finnish. Language studies at SAMK. Tips and self-study materials online 

Make realistic budget plans

In Finland, the wages, taxes and cost of living are slightly higher than the EU average. However, many services are funded by tax revenue, which makes them cheaper for the residents than in many other countries. The price level of private consumption in Finland is approximately 26% higher than the EU average. The cost of living also varies inside Finland. 

Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) estimates that the monthly expenses for international degree students is about 800 euros per month. For students arriving with families the amount is 800 euros + 360/480/610, depending on the size of the family. More information.

Make sure you continually fulfill the financial requirements for the residence permit. More information.  

The most common methods of payment for shops and services in Finland are bank or credit cards or e.g. various forms of mobile payment. However, it is a good idea to have some cash with you when you arrive. This can be used to buy some initial items when you are setting up your new home. 

Please note! This section provides a starting point for budgeting in the Satakunta region. Remember, costs can vary depending on your lifestyle and location. 

Living expenses in Satakunta per month (spring 2025)

Housing expenses

  • rent: 400 – 1000 euros (from studio to a two-bedroom apartment) 
  • security deposit: 1-2 month’s rent, paid only once 
  • housing insurance: 10-18 euros 
  • electricity: 0-30 euros (included in the rent or consumption-based pay) 
  • water: 0-20 euros (included in the rent or consumption-based pay) 

Administrative issues to handle with upon arrival 

  • Finnish ID card: 65-70 euros

Everyday necessities 

  • food: 200-250 euros 
  • internet: 15-30 euros 
  • phone: 20-40 euros 
  • student-prices lunch at the campus: 2,95 euros/occasion 

Additional costs 

  • local bus seasonal ticket: 40-60 euros 
  • hobbies and leisure: 0-150 euros 

For more information on living costs in Finland.  

Fill in the arrival form

Please let us know the date you will be arriving at SAMK as soon as you have made your travel arrangements.

Pack important documents with you

We recommend that you pack the following documents with you to make your arrival in Finland as smooth as possible: 

  • Passport 
  • Birth certificate 
  • Marriage certificate (if you are going to bring your family with you) 
  • Rental agreement, if you have already agreed on renting an apartment in Finland 
  • Tax Identification Number (TIN) from your home country. It is needed when opening a Finnish bank account. 
  • Original certificates that you attached to the application form when applying to your degree programme at SAMK. The student admission is conditional until the original certificates have been verified in the beginning of the studies. 
  • Acceptance email from SAMK 
  • Certificate of Registration email from SAMK. With this you can show that you have paid the tuition fee. 
  • Proof of how you will finance your stay in Finland during the first year of studies. You must establish sufficient independent funding for living in Finland. More information on Migri’s website: Income requirements for students  
  • Students arriving from an EU/EEA country (excluding the Nordic countries) also need provide Migri with an evidence of sufficient financial resources. You must present the original documents from your application when you visit the service point of Migri after your arrival translated into Finnish, Swedish or English. More information for EU citizens: Registering an EU citizen's right of residence  
  • Proof of sufficient health insurance coverage for your stay. You can read more on health insurance requirements on Migri’s website: Students must have health insurance 

It is good to have all these documents with you on paper when you arrive in Finland. You have attached some of them to the residence permit application form, but it’s a good idea to take them with you in case you need to show them at the border. The border authorities may ask you to prove that you still meet all the requirements for the residence permit.