Refund policy

This refund policy is valid as of 1 January 2024.

A processing fee of -10% is charged from all the refunded tuition fees.

The paid tuition fee can only be fully refunded in the following cases:

New student

  • student is enrolled as a present student but his/her residence permit process is delayed and he/she receives negative decision concerning the residence permit later during the academic year and will resign from education.

Continuing student

  • if the student graduates during the first semester of the last study year after paying the fee for the whole year, the fee paid for the second semester is refunded.
  • if the student has paid the full tuition fee and transfers to another institution no later than in the end of the Autumn semester and if the Spring semester’s tuition fee is paid, the Spring semester’s fee will be refunded. Student needs to provide the decision about acceptance to another institution.

Transferring the paid tuition fee

The paid tuition fee can be transferred to the next semester on following cases:

  • new student who has enrolled as a present student and has paid the tuition fee, but have not received residence permit on time before studies begin and there are no online studies available. Student needs to provide verification about the pending residence permit process.
  • if student enrolls him/herself as an absent student for a semester or whole academic year because of his/her own sickness or maternity/paternity leave (Universities of Applied Sciences Act 932/2014 § 29). Student needs to provide medical certificate of his/her condition. The tuition fee is transferred only once.
  • if the student’s enrollment status changes as absent after paying the fee, the paid fee won’t be refunded; it will be transferred to next semester when student is present

Tuition fee can be transferred to another academic year or to another semester only once during the studies.

The tuition fee is not refunded or transferred:

When student has accepted the study place, enrolled as a present student, paid the tuition fee, received study based residence permit and has arrived to Finland, the fee will not be refunded or transferred if student

  • wants to defer first year’s studies for any other reason than the own sickness or maternity/paternity leave (Universities of Applied Sciences Act 932/2014 § 29)
  • resigns before beginning of studies.

Change in student’s residence permit status 

If the student’s residence permit status changes during the studies:

  • if the status changes for example during the Autumn semester, the tuition fee will not refunded. Changed status will be taken into account from the beginning of the next semester.
  • If the residence permit status changes after 1st of November 2024, it will not matter regarding tuition fee. The tuition fee must be fully paid.
  • if the status changes in the other direction, the student is obliged to pay the tuition fee starting from the following semester.

Further information: admissions at karelia.fi