Finland

Education in Finland

A nordic country in Northern Europe, Finland has everything you expect from it. The country borders Sweden, Russia and Norway. It is one of the most peaceful countries in the world. It is one of the developed countries in the world, and that reflects on the standards of living in Finland. The country is a mixture of tradition and modernisation when it comes to agriculture and industrialization, with forests being an integral part of economy of Finland. The Education in Finland has the international connect and it is recognised all over the world.

Higher Education System in Finland

Higher Education in Finland consist of mainly two entities: the traditional Universities and the Universities of Applied Sciences. As the name suggests, the Universities offer the traditional degrees like Bachelor’s (alempi korkeakoulututkinto), Masters (ylempi korkeakoulututkinto), and Doctoral degrees. The traditional Universities are more concentrated on the fundamentals and traditional approach to the education.

Universities of Applied sciences are more on the Practical side, with courses like Engineering pursued in the Universities of Applied Science. The bachelor’s degrees are for three to four years, whereas the courses in Universities of Applied sciences take 3.5 to 4.5 years. In many cases where the bachelor’s degrees are considered a graduate degree, sometimes it is just a stepping stone to a master's degree in Finland without a separate admission for the latter.

Universities in Finland

Ten of the Universities in Finland feature in the Top University Rankings by QS. The University of Helsinki, from the capital Helsinki is the Top University of Finland. Five of those ranked Universities are in the top 400 universities in the world. The Universities are known for the international standards of education and the research facilities. They are also highly funded by the state. Here are the top universities in Finland for international students

• University of Helsinki

• Aalto University

• University of Turku

• University of Jyväskylä

• University of Oulu

• Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT

• Tampere University

• University of Eastern Finland

• Abo Akademi University

Study in Finland in English

It is possible to study in Finland in English. More than 400 programs for higher education in Finland are taught in English. The most prominent language is obviously Finnish, however, right from the school English is taught. The other major language in Finland apart from the finnish and English is Swedish.

The international students will not have to worry about learning a new language, and they can continue their studies in Finland with English language as there are many courses to study in Finland in English Masters Degree. There are English language tests to prove the proficiency of candidate’s English, and they are generally IELTS, TOEFL or C1 Cambridge Advanced.

Requirements to study in Finland

The requirements of documents for the application process may differ with the university and course you choose. However the common documents you will require are mentioned below:

• Transcripts

• SAT/ACT/GRE/GMAT Scores depending on the

• Minimum English language test results

• Statement of Purpose

• Letter of recommendation

• Curriculum Vitae

• Work experience certificates

• Portfolio

Top Courses to Study in Finland:

There are number of courses to look forward for bachelor’s and master’s in Finland. There are enough courses for international students for bachelor’s, masters and PhD programs in Finland. There is a range of fields to apply to, from international business in Finland to IT courses in Finland. From management to Engineering, Universities in Finland has everything to look forward to.

International students have large number of options to choose from, and pursue their higher education. There also vocational and short courses in Helsinki that students prefer doing, that are more employment oriented than theoretical and research based courses. Here are some of the best courses you can choose to study in Finland

• Study Business & Management in Finland

• Study Engineering in Finland

• Study Social Sciences in Finland

• Study Natural Sciences in Finland

• Study Medicine in Finland

• Study Law in Finland

• Study Computer Science & IT. in Finland

• Nursing study in Finland in Finland

Live and Study in Finland:

Once you are accepted at the university to study in Finland, you will be part of a student union for the higher education in Finland. The union looks after the students interests and represents them. People in Finland are welcoming and friendly, and with more than 400 programs for international students in Finland, you will find international students just like you on and off the campus. There are many student clubs for different interests, and you can be a part of them. The life in Finland offers you high standards of living with ease.

Study and Work in Finland

International students in Finland are allowed to work with some restrictions while they study in Finland. The students are allowed to work at part time jobs. There is no weekly limit set on the working hours, however, the average of the working hours for an academic term should not exceed the average of 25 hours a week. The student are allowed to work part time in their field of study. Many Universities in Finland offer career and employment services which can be helpful for the international students.

Stay Back & Work after Study in Finland:

The Non-Eu students have the option to apply for one year extension to work after study in Finland. There are number of job opportunities after MS in Finland. Students who already have secured an employment, or the students who are willing to stay back and look for employment can apply for the extension in the residence permit for Finland. In case where a student is looking for the residence permit and have not found an employment have to apply for the residence permit extension before his or her permit affiliated to the study program expires.

Cost of Living in Finland:

As it is case with any country, the metropolitans like Helsinki are expensive, and the costs get lighter as you move away from the big cities in Finland. Here are some of the average cost of living in Finland to give students an idea:

Accommodation:

The average cost of accommodation is lower at student residence halls in Finland. However, only 32% of the international students can stay there. The other option is off campus stays, and they are shared apartments most of the times which brings down the accommodation costs to some percentage.

The students will have to pay 400 to 500 euros a month for an unshared apartment, when the apartments are shared, the cost of living in Finland comes down to 350 to 450 euros a month. The students living in the residence halls pay around 380 euros a month for the accommodation.

Cost of Food in Finland:

The cost of food in Finland varies largely between cities you stay in. There are supermarket chains that provide affordable groceries and discounts. The monthly groceries at supermarkets will cost you on an average around 200 to 250 euros.

A meal at an average restaurant will cost around €10 to €12. A three course meal at a decent restaurant for two people in Finland will cost you around €60.

Transportation and Other Costs of Living in Finland:

Transportation costs are lower for the students staying off campus when compared to students staying off campus for obvious reasons. Many students, more than 25% of all students, prefer to walk to the university on day to day basis.

A monthly pass for the students in public transportation costs around 35 to 50 euros a month. A private rental or taxi will cost much higher, as the weekly fare can go to as high as 230 euros for a week. For social activities, it is advisable to have a budget spared for 100 euros for a month.

There is a student union fees to be paid by the student at the time of registration at Universities in Finland. The student union fees in Finland is 100 euros for an academic year.

Finland Residence Permit:

For the international students who want to study in Finland for the longer period than 90 days, the Finland residence permit is required. In most of the cases, the residence permit is granted for one year by Finland Immigration. If there is any extension required, the extension should be applied by the students at the local police station is Finland. However, let us first talk about first Residence Permit in Finland and How to Apply for Student Visa in Finland:

How to Apply: Finland Visa for Students

Students residing outside of EU/EEA countries will have to apply for a student visa in Finland. Here are the steps to follow if one is seeking to obtain a residence permit in Finland. Applicants can apply online or offline, both.

Step 1: The first step is to fill up the Residence Permit form from the Finland Immigration website. Fill up the form as instructed and carefully. The form can be submitted digitally, or offline at the Finnish Embassy in your country.

Step 2: There will be a set of supporting documents you are required to submit with the application. Here are the documents you are generally required to submit alongside the Finland residence permit application.

• Filled up Application Form

• Acceptance Letter from the University you have Applied.

• Proof of monetary funds required (6270 euros for a year)

• A valid passport and photos

• Receipt of Application fees paid (€330 for paper based application, and €300 for online)

• A valid Health Insurance coverage proof, at least of one year

Step 3: You will have to submit the application form and al the required documents to the nearest embassy during the working hours. Even if student has applied for Finland Residence Permit electronically, the document verification is necessary in person for the application to be proceeded further.

Step 4: The next step is to submit your biometrics data to the embassy. The biometrics include the fingerprints of the candidate and photographs. Again, regardless of the application mode, the biometrics has to be in person at the embassy.

Once everything is in place, the visa process takes 60 days. The candidate is sent a mail once the Finland Student permit is issued, and it can be collected at the embassy or have it sent to candidate.

Work Permit and Student Visa for Finland

The international students in Finland are allowed to work for part time, for an average of 25 hours a week. There is not restriction on the working when the terms are not going on, in the vacations. After the studies are over, there is an option to extend the student visa for Finland or the residence permit for one year. Students are required to apply for the extension of the residence permit before their first residence permit expires.