Laurea University of Applied Sciences

Key Highlights

• Founded in Vantaa in 1991 and operating permanently as a university of applied sciences since 2000
• Six campuses across Finland’s Uusimaa region
• Officially reports approximately 11,300 degree students and 712 staff
• Owned primarily by Uusimaa municipalities and cities through a limited company

Student Life & Environment

Student experience varies across Laurea’s six campuses and according to whether a programme is taught on campus, in blended form, or online. Campus-based students have access to study services, academic and career guidance, international services, and wellbeing support. Laurea lists a counselling psychologist and special-education teacher among its support resources, while eligible degree students can use the Finnish Student Health Service. Laureamko, Laurea’s statutory student union, represents students in institutional and national decision-making. It trains tutors, organizes activities, and offers a digital student card to members. Activities described by the union include social events, company visits, team-building sessions, and board-game evenings. Campus teams provide a local point of contact, which is useful at an institution spread across several cities. Laurea does not operate its own student dormitories. Students must arrange accommodation independently, commonly through the Helsinki-region student housing organization HOAS or the private rental market. Laurea advises applicants to begin the housing search promptly after admission because obtaining an apartment can take months. This is an important planning consideration for international students and anyone relocating to Uusimaa. Online and blended students should separately assess attendance requirements before deciding where to live.

Location & Surroundings

Although the database record identifies Vantaa, Laurea is a multi-campus institution serving the wider Uusimaa region. Its administrative contact point and Tikkurila campus are at Ratatie 22 in Vantaa, directly opposite Tikkurila railway station and the Dixi shopping centre. This location offers rail and other public-transport connections within the Helsinki metropolitan area and toward Helsinki Airport. The other campuses are in Leppävaara and Otaniemi in Espoo, Hyvinkää, Porvoo, and Lohja. Leppävaara is near Sello shopping centre and is accessible by train and bus, while Otaniemi is within Espoo’s university and innovation district and is served by metro and bus. Porvoo is a shared campus with Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences. Laurea has also announced that a new Hyvinkää campus will open in 2027. Applicants should verify the exact campus attached to their programme before arranging housing or estimating commuting time. The institution’s housing guidance recommends checking public-transport routes carefully and notes that living farther from a campus or city centre may expand the available rental options.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For students beginning under the current fee schedule, Laurea charges tuition for English-taught degree study when the student is a citizen outside the EU, EEA, or Switzerland and does not hold a qualifying exemption. The published annual fees are EUR 9,500 for bachelor’s programmes and EUR 11,000 for master’s programmes. New first-year fee-paying students must pay the entire first academic year by the deadline for accepting the place. The fee covers tuition only; it excludes housing, insurance, residence-permit costs, travel, and everyday living expenses. Laurea’s scholarship scheme is aimed at students who pay annual tuition. The published criteria allow a scholarship of up to 15% of the annual fee, based on completing at least 60 relevant credits in the preceding academic year or passing specified Finnish-language YKI tests. Students should treat this as performance-based support rather than guaranteed first-year funding. Laurea does not provide dormitories and advises budgeting approximately EUR 500–800 per month for housing. That is institutional guidance rather than a guaranteed rent, and actual costs depend on location, room type, and market availability. Career preparation is embedded in Laurea’s Learning by Developing model through employer and community projects, practical problem-solving, and professional contacts. Study and career guidance is available, but applicants should examine the curriculum for their chosen programme to understand placements, professional recognition, and any Finnish-language expectations in regulated or client-facing fields.