A month in Turku, in numbers
| Item | Monthly | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Student housing room (TYS) | EUR 280-450 | |
| Private shared flat | EUR 400-650 | |
| Food | EUR 180-260 | Campus lunch is subsidised |
| Transport | EUR 25-35 | Small city; many students cycle |
| Phone and internet | EUR 15-25 | |
| Personal and other | EUR 70-130 | |
| Total | EUR 600-900 |
Where students actually live
The Student Village (Ylioppilaskylä) is TYS's large housing area next to campus and the most popular option. Nummi, Itäharju and Varissuo are cheaper; the centre is expensive but puts everything within walking distance.
The universities
- University of Turku — a broad research university, strong in biosciences, medicine, education and technology
- Åbo Akademi — the Swedish-language university, with some programmes in English
- Turku University of Applied Sciences — vocational, with internships built in
Work, honestly
Limited and largely Finnish-dependent. The realistic options are university research assistantships, cleaning, food delivery, and summer work in tourism and around the ferry terminal. At an applied-sciences university the built-in internship is worth more than any of them as a first career step.
The honest bits
- 1A small city with limited work — not somewhere to rely on income.
- 2Long winters, and the coastal wind makes them feel colder.
- 3On the other side: cheap, safe, attractive, and the ferry to Sweden leaves from here.
Before you fly
- 1Apply to TYS early — the Student Village is in demand.
- 2Migri's income requirement and health insurance conditions.
- 3Compare the three Nordic options first — see Finland, Sweden and Denmark compared.
Official sources — check for yourself
Rules and figures change. We review these articles periodically and show the date above, but always confirm the current requirement with the official source before you act on it.
Common questions
How much does a student need per month in Turku?+
Typically EUR 600-900. Living in TYS student housing and eating on campus keeps you at the lower end, and the city is small enough that transport costs little.
Turku or Tampere?+
Costs are nearly identical. Tampere is stronger in technology and engineering with a slightly larger job market; Turku is strong in biosciences, medicine and education, and is smaller and quieter. Choose by programme rather than by city.
Does Åbo Akademi teach in English?+
It is primarily the Swedish-language university, though some programmes run in English. Confirm the language and the language requirement of your specific programme on the university's own page before applying.
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