The distress experienced by international students and the activities of education agents have sparked widespread discussion. The topic was reported, for example, by Yle on April 2, 2026. Higher education institutions (HEIs) must take responsibility for the subcontractors they use, i.e., education agents. SAMOK and SYL demand that if misleading practices by agents are proven, HEIs must be held liable for damages and must refund an amount corresponding to the tuition fees to the student who paid them.

Education agents are global companies that recruit students for HEIs and provide assistance with, for example, the application process, travel, and residence permits. Agents’ commission fees are paid either by the students themselves or by the hiring HEI. Serious ethical issues have been identified in the operations of some education agents, leaving many international students in a vulnerable position. These vulnerabilities manifest in daily life through an increased reliance on unemployment benefits, food aid, and services provided by the church. In student recruitment, a misleading picture has been painted regarding Finland’s employment situation and the language requirements of the labor market. Challenges in finding employment combined with uncertainty can lead to an unreasonable dependence on employers and vulnerabilities within the employment relationship.

The current loophole in legislation, which leaves tuition-paying international students without adequate legal protection, is ethically and socially unsustainable. An individual international student rarely has the legal means or financial resources to reclaim fees from foreign education recruiters. HEIs, on the other hand, are better positioned to manage risks through contract law and to recover assets from their subcontractors.

The financial costs resulting from false or misleading information provided by education agents must not fall on the shoulders of the student. Tuition fees and study-related costs represent years of savings for many students and their families. SAMOK and SYL emphasize that the reputation and attractiveness of Finnish higher education demand actions that strengthen international students’ right to compensation and the responsibility of HEIs for their partners.

SAMOK and SYL propose that the activities of education agents should be regulated through a mandatory auditing system binding on HEIs. Contractual partners could only be used if they have passed the audit. The financial pressure on HEIs has grown, and some institutions have begun to rely more heavily on education agents to attract new fee-paying international students in order to alleviate this funding pressure.

Misleading marketing has increased both among education agents contractually bound to HEIs and so-called “wild” (unregulated) agents. Misleading information and false expectations about Finland expose students to financial difficulties, which are further exacerbated by high tuition fees and strict income requirements. SAMOK and SYL emphasize that education marketing must provide a realistic picture of the cost of living and the labor market in Finland. International students should not be viewed as cash cows, but as real people who bring valuable expertise and skills to Finland.

For more information:

SAMOK
Senja Suntola, Board Member
+358 50 389 1012, [email protected]

SYL
Viena Pentikäinen, Board Member
+358 44 755 0179, [email protected]