Finland International Student Statistics 2024

Historical International Student Statistics in Finland

There are two types of higher education institutions in Finland: Universities and Universities of Applied Sciences. The data below shows the number of international students enrolled at each institution, according to the Finnish National Agency for Education.

• According to the latest statistics on international students in Finland, there are 22,792 international students enrolled in higher education institutions.
• The majority of international students in Finland are enrolled in Universities, a total of 12,484 students or 54.7% of the total international student enrollment.
• On the other hand, there are 10,308 international students enrolled in the Universities of Applied Sciences.
• This academic year, in 2021/22, Finland has the highest number of international students ever —a total of 22,792 students. This is 8.8% more than the number of international students in 2020.
• The number of international students in Finland has increased by 29.2% in a period of 10 years.

First-Year International Students in Finland

The data below represents all first-time international students in Finland, excluding the doctorate or licentiate* degree students.

• There are a total of 7,101 first-time international students enrolled in higher education institutions in Finland.
• The majority of first-time international students in Finland are enrolled in the Universities of Applied Sciences, 55.8% of all first-time international students.
• Whereas 2,586 first-time international students, or 44.1% of all first-time international students, are enrolled in Universities.
• The number of first-time international students in Finland increased by 42.2% within ten years.
• From 2010 to 2015, the number of first-time international students increased by 17.5% and continued to increase by 39.8% until 2021 (the latest data available).

*The Licentiate Degree in Finland is similar to full-time research or three-year degree that requires a prior master’s degree.

International Students in Finland by Education Field

• The majority of international students in Finland are enrolled in the field of Engineering, with 4,950 students.
• Another popular field for international students in Finland is the Business, Administration, and Law, with 4,890 students.
• The field of Information and Communication Technology is ranked third among the most popular study fields for international students in Finland, with 4,509 international students, followed by the field of Health care and Well-being, with 2,355 students.
• Other popular study fields for international students in Finland are Humanities and Arts with 1,950 students, Services with 924, Social Sectors with 831 students, Education with 612 students, Natural Sciences with 1,515 students, and Agriculture and Forestry with 726 students.

First-Time International Students in Finland by Education Field

• The most popular field among first-time international students in Finland is Business, Administration, and Law, with 1,728 students.
• Another popular field for international students in Finland is Engineering, with 1,581 students.
• The third most popular field among first-time international students in Finland is Information and Communication Technology, with 1,467 students.
• There are 717 first-time students enrolled in the field of Health care and Well-being, 501 international students enrolled in the field of Humanities and Arts, 336 students enrolled in the Natural Sciences field, and 354 students in the field of Services.
• Other popular study fields for first-time international students in Finland include Social Sciences, with 186 students; Education, with 165 students; Agriculture and Forestry, with 66 students.

International Students in Finland by Country of Origin

According to the Finnish National Agency for Education, the statistics below represent only the latest data from 2021.

• The majority of international students in Finland come from China, a total of 2,313 students.
• Russia, Vietnam, and India have also brought more than 1,155 international students to Finland’s higher education institutions.
• An identical number of international students come from Spain and France, specifically 474 students from each country.
• The countries with the least number of international students in Finland are Turkey, with 276 students; Poland, with 270 students; and Ghana, with 255 students.

Here are the 20 countries bringing the most international students to Finland:

Top Countries of Origin for First-Time International Students

• The majority of first-time international students come from China, with 642 students.
• Kenya is the country with the least number of first-time international students in Finland, with only 81 students.

Here are the 20 countries bringing the most first-time international students to Finland in 2021: