Centria University of Applied Sciences

Key Highlights

• Licensed Finnish university of applied sciences awarding its own bachelor’s and master’s degrees
• Main campus in Kokkola, with additional campuses in Pietarsaari and Ylivieska
• Official 2025 key figures report 4,662 students, 771 graduates and 384 personnel
• Owned by Centria University of Applied Sciences Ltd.; the City of Kokkola is the largest shareholder

Student Life & Environment

Student experience varies by campus and study format. At the Talonpojankatu campus in Kokkola, students have access to a library, independent and group-work areas, meeting spaces, laboratories, simulation facilities, a restaurant and a café. The campus page reports more than 2,000 daytime and blended-learning students there, with approximately one quarter coming from outside Finland. Students in blended or online-oriented programmes should expect a different weekly rhythm from those in full-time daytime study. Centria provides study advising, student counselling, integration support for international degree students, and career and work-life services. Integration support covers early-stage questions about arrival, local services, housing and settling into the region. New students beginning in 2026 receive orientation information before their studies start. Centria does not present Kokkola accommodation as institution-owned residence halls. Students apply separately to Tankkari Student Housing, which offers shared apartments and self-contained one- and two-room units. Centria advises new students to apply before arrival, while also identifying municipal and private rental alternatives. Housing availability is not guaranteed, so early application is prudent.

Location & Surroundings

Centria’s main Talonpojankatu campus is in Kokkola, a coastal city and the regional centre of Central Ostrobothnia. The institution describes Kokkola as a city of approximately 48,000 residents with a bilingual and maritime history. The main campus is within walking distance of Kokkola railway and bus stations, which is useful for students travelling elsewhere in Finland. The institution is not confined to one city. Campus Allegro is in the centre of Pietarsaari, beside the marketplace, while Vierimaantie Campus is in Ylivieska. English-taught degree students primarily study in Kokkola and Pietarsaari; the precise location depends on the programme and mode of delivery. This matters particularly for applicants comparing housing or commuting options. Daily distances in Kokkola are relatively compact. Tankkari’s student properties are distributed around the city, while private and municipal rentals provide alternatives. Applicants should arrange housing independently and should not assume that admission includes accommodation.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For students beginning bachelor’s studies in autumn 2026, Centria sets tuition at €9,500 per academic year for students who are legally liable for tuition. The corresponding master’s fee is €10,000 per academic year. Tuition generally applies to students studying in English who are citizens outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland, subject to statutory residence-permit and status exemptions. Applicants should obtain an individual fee determination rather than infer liability from nationality alone. For the 2026/2027 bachelor’s intake, Centria publishes a 10% early-payment reduction for eligible students who accept the conditional offer and pay within the stated period. It also describes a 20% progress scholarship linked to completing 60 ECTS during the relevant academic year. Scholarship rules are reviewed annually, full payment is required according to the instructions, and study beyond the normative duration is charged without scholarship. These terms should not be generalized to students who began in a different year. Housing and daily living costs are separate from tuition. Centria directs Kokkola students to Tankkari Student Housing and the wider rental market but does not publish a single guaranteed room-and-board price. Career support includes job-search guidance and individual career counselling. Academically, the institution emphasizes practical training, applied projects, laboratories and professional development, but it does not publish verified salary or placement-rate figures on the cited pages; applicants should therefore assess career fit using each programme’s curriculum, placement requirements and professional recognition.