—Tervetuloa Suomeen!
—Welcome to Finland, the happiest country in the world!
Yes, Buddy. Although the Nordic countries consistently rank at the top of the UN’s annual World Happiness Report, in 2020, Finland leapfrogged the rest to finish top of the pile.
The rankings take into account many factors—Life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, economic strength, generosity, social support from friends, perceived corruption, and views of the survey respondents. [1]
Stunning Nordic scenery makes Finland a very desirable country to study in. The beautiful landscape means that it’s a perfect destination for those who love being outdoors, with skiing, fishing, and water sports among Finland’s most popular pastimes. Its climate offers midnight sun in the summer, as well as polar winters, and the opportunity to see the aurora borealis (Northern Lights).
In the capital there is the University of Helsinki, Finland’s oldest university, as well as Aalto University, while the country’s former capital, Turku, is becoming increasingly fashionable; it hosts a number of festivals every year, and students from the University of Turku make up a significant proportion of the city’s population. Famous Finns include film director Renny Harlin, composer Jean Sibelius and former Olympic ski jumper Matti Nykänen. [2]
Too much more to explore, isn’t it? Oh! I can hear something. Is my Lil dreamer saying—you better hurry, Buddybee?
—OK Buddy! Let’s get going………..
⦁ Finnish Higher Education system
Finland is part of the European-wide so-called “Bologna-process.” The degree structure is mainly based on a two-cycle model. The first cycle, lasting a minimum of three years, ends in a Bachelor-level degree. The second cycle consists of Master’s and Doctoral degrees. Finnish university degrees are equivalent to the Bachelor’s (kandidaatti) and Master’s (maisteri) degrees in American higher education.
Each higher education institution decides on which students it admits as well as on the criteria on the basis of which students are selected for admission. [5]
⦁ Finnish Universities
There are two types of higher education institutions in Finland:
⦁ Universities: 13 universities operate under the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture, all of which aim to provide academic education based on research. Universities in Finland offer both undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
⦁ Universities of Applied Science (UAS): formerly known as polytechnics, focus on training professionals in response to labor market needs and emphasize close contact with business, industry, and the service sector. There are currently 23 in Finland.
Both offer qualifications at Bachelor’s and Master’s levels, in line with the three-tier Bologna process. However, only universities offer Ph.D. courses. [3]
⦁ Credit System
The Finnish credit is based on the principle that 60 credits measure the workload of a full-time student during one academic year. This means roughly 30 credits per semester or 15 credits in one 7-week span.
In most cases, one credit/study point stands for around 25 to 30 working hours. The courses offered by the different departments vary greatly in the amount of credit offered. [5]
⦁ Academic Year
Finland’s academic calendar runs from 1st August to 31st July. The year is split into two semesters:
⦁ Autumn — from August/September to December
⦁ Spring — from January to May. [3]
⦁ Finnish University Rankings
[10]
⦁ Bachelor’s Degrees
⦁ To apply for a bachelor’s degree program, you need an upper secondary school certificate or equivalent.
⦁ UAS bachelor’s degrees amount to 210–270 ECTS credits and the duration is between 3.5–4.5 years, depending on the degree program.
⦁ University bachelor’s degrees amount to 180 ECTS credits, and the duration is 3 years. University bachelor’s degrees usually offer continuation to a master’s degree. [7]
⦁ Master’s Degrees
⦁ You need to have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent to apply for a master’s degree program.
⦁ To be eligible to apply to a UAS master’s program, you also need to have gained at least 2 years of work experience in the field in addition to having a bachelor’s degree.
⦁ University master’s degrees take 2 years of full-time study, amounting to 120 ECTS credits.
⦁ UAS master’s degrees take 1-1.5 years to complete, and amount to 60–90 ECTS credits. [7]
⦁ Doctoral (Ph.D.) Degrees
⦁ Doctoral-level education is provided by universities. You need a master’s degree to be eligible to apply for a doctoral degree program.
⦁ A doctoral degree usually takes around 4 years to complete and consists of 240 ECTS credits.
⦁ Finnish universities offer both graduate schools and doctoral programs. For more information on doctoral studies, contact the universities directly. [7]
⦁ Tuition Fees
Tuition fees at Finish universities vary on factors like the type of institution, student nationality, level of education (undergraduate, postgraduate), and so on. Public universities have the following tuition fee structure:
⦁ 0 EUR/year for EU/EEA and Swiss students
⦁ 5,000–18,000 EUR/year for non-EU/EEA students
⦁ 0 EUR/year for Ph.D. programs for all international students
Private universities usually have higher tuition fees and might not differentiate between EU/EEA and non-EU/EEA students. [8]
⦁ Cost of Living
There are two types of accommodation in Finland: student or private housing. Renting privately can become expensive, especially in the main cities.
Fortunately, student housing is very accessible, and staying at a university dormitory or student residence hall is an option in many institutions in Finland, so make sure to contact your university about their housing opportunities.
Monthly living expenses for students (including food, accommodation, travel, insurance, etc.) are on average around €700 - €1,000, depending on where you’ll be living and your personal habits, and are typically higher in larger cities than in smaller ones. [9]
⦁ Work Opportunities
⦁ During the academic year: you can take up part-time employment if the work is related to your degree or it does not go over 25 hours/week.
⦁ During school breaks: you can work unlimited hours. [6]
⦁ Funding
Finnish higher education institutions offer scholarships to gifted non-EU/EEA students, which you generally apply for at the same time as your Master’s application.
You might be eligible to receive support through the Erasmus+ scheme, which provides funding for selected programs like Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters, as well as Erasmus loans for students who want to study abroad. [10]
⦁ Language
Finland has two official languages—Finnish and Swedish. However, it is quite common for locals to be able to communicate in English. You should make the most of being in a new country though, and make an effort to pick up some Finnish when talking to locals. In fact, Buddy, this is a skill that will look fantastic on your CV!
It’s very likely that your course will be offered in English. If this is the case then you’ll have to provide evidence of your English language skills, but this mainly applies only to students who are not native English speakers. To find out the language requirements for your specific course, contact your chosen institution, or check their website.
If you wish to study in Finnish, you will need to provide evidence of your Finnish language skills. You should be relatively fluent in the language, and be considered between intermediate and advanced on accepted language proficiency tests. [4]
⦁ Finnish Student Visa
If you are a non-EU/EEA student, you’ll need a residence permit which is typically issued for one or four years. The great news? You can do it all online! Yes, my Buddy! You will do this through the Finnish Immigration Service where you’ll have to upload:
⦁ a valid passport
⦁ an official admission letter
⦁ proof that you have enough money to cover your studies/living expenses
⦁ health insurance proof [6]
⦁ Application Process
All applications to study at Bachelor’s or Master’s level in Finland must be submitted through Studyinfo.fi. The site can also be used to browse available courses in both English and Finnish and contains information on all areas of the Finnish higher education sector.
Typically, annual deadlines are as follows:
⦁ Bachelor’s — January for courses starting in the autumn term, or September for courses with a January start date.
⦁ Master’s — application windows are slightly more lenient, opening late November/early December and remaining open till mid/late January. UAS institutions can extend this deadline to March in some cases.
If you’re applying for a Ph.D. course, you’ll do so directly to your chosen institution. [3]
⦁ Get the Finnish Sisu!
Something that’s truly Finnish and you’ll love is Sisu. A word that can hardly be translated into English, ‘Sisu’ means continuing to be courageous even when things get harder and the challenges bigger. So, arm yourself Buddy with this guide and go for your dream higher studies in Finland, adding a bit of Sisu to your higher education goals.
All your Buddybee’s best wishes as always!
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