In Finland, a growing number of international students are turning to food assistance, with hundreds now queuing weekly at church-operated food distributions in Helsinki, as reported by the Evangelical Free Church.
Volunteers at the autonomous church assemble food packages containing bread, meat, and vegetables for distribution. Each week, between 600 and 700 individuals attend. Lead pastor Markus Österlund mentioned that the influx of international students began to rise noticeably in the autumn of 2024.
“It’s indicative of the fact that numerous international students are facing financial difficulties. Here, that translates to hundreds of students. Many other organizations observe the same trend,” Österlund stated to Yle.
A majority of these students hail from non-EU countries and incur annual tuition costs ranging from €10,000 to €15,000. Many had expectations of seamless access to part-time employment, but they are discovering that the Finnish job market is tough to penetrate.
They arrived here believing that securing employment in Finland would be straightforward — that they could work part-time while studying to sustain themselves. However, the current situation has proven to be quite different. Many of them now find themselves in desperate straits,” Österlund remarked.
To obtain a residence permit, students are required to provide proof of €9,600 in available funds. However, due to Finland’s elevated cost of living, this sum often falls short of covering ongoing living expenses. Some students, even those with savings, have struggled to secure employment despite submitting applications for numerous positions.
One Sri Lankan student shared with Yle that he had applied for nearly 300 jobs. “I know individuals who have withdrawn from their studies and left Finland,” he shared, adding that he too may return home after completing his degree.
Österlund expressed concern regarding how universities of applied sciences promote themselves internationally. He referenced marketing materials shared by students that imply monthly earnings of €2,000 while studying.
“I would like Finland’s educational authorities to examine how these students are being recruited and what promises are made to them,” he remarked.
Arcada University of Applied Sciences is among the institutions drawing fee-paying foreign students. They comprise approximately 15 percent of Arcada’s student population. About a third are recruited through agencies, including one partner agency in India. Promotional content from that agency claims students can earn between €1,750 and €2,000 monthly in Finland and markets programs for nurses not eligible to work in the EU.
Arcada President Mona Forsskåhl noted that these claims are unrealistic. “This definitely reflects an overly optimistic perspective. I appreciate you bringing this issue to light so we can address it and resolve it with the agency,” she stated.
Forsskåhl acknowledged that the growing participation of foreign students in food banks is not surprising, given the steep rise in international enrolment alongside increasing unemployment.
“This is undeniably a tragic situation,” Forsskåhl remarked. “It indicates we need to enhance our marketing efforts and our interactions with students. We haven’t managed this exceptionally well thus far.”