# Insurance info for international students - Savonia AMK

> You need a travel insurance or an European Health Insurance card for your residence permit.

## Insurance Requirements for Residence Permit
Before you leave your country, remember to obtain travel insurance. For Diploma students, having valid health insurance is mandatory. For a residence permit, you will need private insurance to cover your medical expenses. The insurance you need depends on how long you will be studying in Finland. 

If you have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), you do not need insurance for the residence permit application, but it is a recommended addition to cover the costs not covered by the EHIC card.

*   **Non-EEA/EU citizens:** Must have a valid health and accident insurance. 
*   **Note:** Savonia University of Applied Sciences does not cover any health-related or personal damages and is not responsible for any costs related to international students’ cases of illness or accident caused during leisure time.
*   **Official Information:** [Insurance required for the residence permit](https://migri.fi/en/insurance)

## Home Insurance
When you move to Finland to a permanent address, remember to get home insurance. Home insurance covers any possible damage to the apartment or your personal belongings caused by e.g. fire, water damage, or damage caused by people. Possible insurance companies include:
*   OP-Pohjola
*   Turva

## European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
If you are staying temporarily in the Member State where you are studying, you are entitled to receive all necessary medical care. The card must be obtained before departure. It confirms the holder is covered by sickness insurance in one of the EEA/EU member states and has the right to immediate medical treatment while staying in any other EEA/EU member state.

## Tuition Fees and Financial Requirements
*   **Tuition Fees:** Universities of applied sciences and universities charge tuition fees from Bachelor’s or Master’s degree students from non-EU/EEA or Swiss citizens.
*   **Diploma Programmes:** Education fees for Diploma programmes are collected only through trusted partners and authorized agents in India. Please check the specific Diploma programme page for detailed information.
*   **Income Requirement:** International students from outside the EEA and EU are required to prove they have EUR 9600 per year in their bank account when submitting the residence permit application. Read more: [Income requirements for students](https://migri.fi/en/income-requirement-for-students)
*   **Scholarships:** Savonia UAS has a scholarship programme only towards the tuition fee and cannot offer other financial aid. Students must cover costs themselves or have external funding.

## Estimated Monthly Living Expenses
Finland is a relatively expensive country. While the official minimum requirement by the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) is €800 per month, we recommend reserving approximately €900 – €1200 per month.

| Expense Category | Estimated Cost |
| :--- | :--- |
| Accommodation (one person) | € 300 – € 700+ |
| Accommodation (family) | € 700 – € 1000 |
| Electricity | € 30 – 50 |
| Communications (mobile) | € 20 – 30 |
| Lunch at student canteens | € 65 |
| Self-catering (one person) | € 200 – 300 |
| Monthly bus card | € 43 |
| Other expenses | € 140 – 200 |

## Working During Studies
*   **Part-time work:** While students may work part-time, it is not advised to plan personal finances around it, as finding work without Finnish language skills can be difficult.
*   **Regulations:** Students with a residence permit for studies can work limited hours during the academic year. See the [Finnish Immigration Service](https://migri.fi/en/home) website for more information.
*   **Monitoring:** The Migration office of Finland conducts automated post-decision monitoring of residence permits to ensure students are making progress in their studies and that their right to study is valid. Read more: [Post-decision monitoring of residence permits](https://migri.fi/en/post-decision-monitoring-of-residence-permits)