The Ministry of Education and Culture has requested a statement on decree outlines regarding the fees in universities and universities of applied sciences.
The Ministry of Education and Culture proposes that in future, a maximum of 45 euros per study credit could be charged for studies in open higher education. Currently, the maximum fee for open higher education can be 15 euros per study credit. In addition, it is proposed that in future university students would have to pay a fee of 50 euros when applying for an extension, and that the re-registration fee to be charged in the case of failed registration for the semester would be increased from 35 euros to 50 euros.
The increase in fees for open higher education has been justified, among other things, by the fact that higher fees could improve what an open higher education can offer. TREY objects to increasing the fees and is concerned about how the increase in fees would affect the accessibility of open higher education. The Ministry of Education and Culture has also stated that the opportunities for low-income students to take more expensive open studies than what is currently available are diminishing, and TREY does not deem this is as an acceptable starting point.
Fees for applying for an extension and re-registration have been justified in terms of universities by harmonising practices between universities and universities of applied sciences. The fee of 50 euros for applying for an extension has been in use in universities of applied sciences since 2016, but there has been no fee in universities. TREY sees that if practices are to be harmonised, this fee could be abolished on the part of universities of applied sciences. The increase in the re-registration fee in universities is also justified by the fact that the fee in question has previously been raised to 50 euros in universities of applied sciences. TREY does not deem this as a sufficient justification.
More details on the statement
Jenna Rantanen
Specialist in Educational Affairs and International Affairs
jenna.rantanen@trey.fi
+358503612849