Overview
Finland is situated in northern Europe and neighbours Sweden, Norway and Russia. It is a member of the European Union where it represents both Nordic democracy and way of living. Equality in wealth is a key-driver in our society.
For an international student Finland is both an exotic and a safe target country. Finnish society is credible: a networked and transparent open civic society, where education is always a top first priority.
The country is filled with contrasts. We have four distinct seasons including the midnight sun in the summer and a period of near darkness in the winter. We have large rural areas and the highest technology within reach; East and West – you name it.
Finland is a global leader in information technology and also enjoys gender equality and low levels of corruption. We have one of the most advanced education systems in the world, and as a result of our
innovative mindset and investing in education we are blessed with high standard of living and quality of life.
Our emphasis on nature makes Finland stand out from other European countries. We breathe clean air, and drink clean ground water directly from the tap. Nature is an integral part of the Finnish way of life for a very simple reason: it is everywhere. The language of tuition is either Finnish or Swedish as Finland is
officially a bilingual country. Higher education institutions provide close to 500 degree and non-degree programmes in English.
Student Visa Requirements
1. Visa application form carefully completed,
dated and signed by the applicant
dated and signed by the applicant
2. One recent photo in color, 36x47 mm, light
background, not attached to the application
background, not attached to the application
3. Passport, which is valid at least three
months end of the visit and a copy of it
months end of the visit and a copy of it
4. Letter of acceptance from the university
in Finland where the applicant has been accepted
in Finland where the applicant has been accepted
5. All educational documents, including marks
sheets (SSC, HSC, Bachelor's, Master's or other post- secondary, college,
vocational or university diploma, certificate or degree).
sheets (SSC, HSC, Bachelor's, Master's or other post- secondary, college,
vocational or university diploma, certificate or degree).
6. If needed, Documents of your professional
qualification
qualification
7. Documents of your IELTS/Other Language
Proficiency Test
Proficiency Test
8. Proof of sufficient funds (such as a copy
of a recent bank statement)
of a recent bank statement)
9. Statement of students account
(scholarship, secure income)
(scholarship, secure income)
10. Applicant must make a bank deposit of EUR
6,000.00 in his/her name and it must be renewed every academic year. The
applicant does not need to make the deposit if he/she is taking part in an
exchange program between a Finnish university and a foreign university and
his/her studies are being funded in some other manner through the programme.
6,000.00 in his/her name and it must be renewed every academic year. The
applicant does not need to make the deposit if he/she is taking part in an
exchange program between a Finnish university and a foreign university and
his/her studies are being funded in some other manner through the programme.
List of Universities
University of Helsinki
(1640/1827)
Åbo Akademi University in
Turku (1918)
Turku (1918)
University of Turku
(1920)
(1920)
University of Tampere
(1925)
(1925)
University of Jyväskylä
(1866, promoted to university status in 1934)
(1866, promoted to university status in 1934)
University of Oulu (1958)
University of Vaasa
(1968)
(1968)
University of Lapland in
Rovaniemi (1979)
Rovaniemi (1979)
Aalto University
(1849/2010)
(1849/2010)
University of Eastern
Finland in Joensuu and Kuopio (2010)
Finland in Joensuu and Kuopio (2010)
Academy of Fine Arts
(Finland)
(Finland)
Hanken School of
Economics in Helsinki
Economics in Helsinki
Lappeenranta University
of Technology
of Technology
Sibelius Academy in
Helsinki
Helsinki
Tampere University of
Technology
Technology
Theatre Academy in Helsinki
Degrees offered in Finland
1. Bachelor
2. Masters
3. Licentiate
4. Doctoral
Semester Offer
1. Autumn semester:
August to December
2. Spring semester:
January to July
January to July
Minimum Requirements for
Bachelor's Program
Bachelor's Program
A.
Academic
1.
At least 12 years of education (HSC equivalent).
At least 12 years of education (HSC equivalent).
B.
Language Proficiency
1.
In most cases, students must have good working knowledge of Finnish or Swedish.
In most cases, students must have good working knowledge of Finnish or Swedish.
2.
For admission in English-taught universities, applicants should have IELTS band
score of 5.5 to 6.0 or TOEFL CBT score 173 to 213 or TOEFL iBT score 61 to 80.
For admission in English-taught universities, applicants should have IELTS band
score of 5.5 to 6.0 or TOEFL CBT score 173 to 213 or TOEFL iBT score 61 to 80.
3.
CAE/CPE (University of Cambridge Advanced Examination/Proficiency Examination)
pass grades A, B or C
CAE/CPE (University of Cambridge Advanced Examination/Proficiency Examination)
pass grades A, B or C
C.
Course Length
1.
Bachelor's Degree: Takes 3 to 4 years of full time study
Bachelor's Degree: Takes 3 to 4 years of full time study
Minimum Requirements for
Master's Program
A. Academic
1. At least 16 years of education.
B. Language Proficiency
1. In most cases, students must have
good working knowledge of Finnish or Swedish.
good working knowledge of Finnish or Swedish.
2. For admission in English-taught
universities, applicants should have IELTS band score of 5.5 to 6.0 or TOEFL
CBT score 173 to 213 or TOEFL iBT score 61 to 80.
universities, applicants should have IELTS band score of 5.5 to 6.0 or TOEFL
CBT score 173 to 213 or TOEFL iBT score 61 to 80.
Advanced Examination/Proficiency Examination) pass grades A, B or C.
4. PhD is taught in English.
C. Course Length
1. Master's Degree: Approx. 2 years of
full time study
full time study
full time study
Subjects for Bachelor's &
Master's Program
Master's Program
History, Archaeology, Comparative Religion, Cultural Anthropology, European
Ethnology, Folkloristic, Life Philosophy, Museology, Art history, Comparative
Literature, Creative Writing, Finnish Literature, Media Studies, Musicology,
Women's Studies, Estonian Language and Culture, Finnish Language, Finnish
Language and Culture (for foreigners), Finno-Ugric Languages, General
Linguistics, Hungarian Language and Culture, Logaoedics, Phonetics, English
Translation Studies, North American Studies, Classical Languages and Culture, French
Studies, French Translation Studies, Italian Studies, Romanian Language and
Culture, Spanish Studies, Spanish Translation Studies, German Philology, German
Translation Studies, Russian Studies, Scandinavian Languages, Biochemistry,
Food Chemistry, Biotechnology, Biodiversity, Ecology, Environmental Science,
Genetics and Physiology, Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology, Organic
Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Materials Chemistry and Chemical Analysis,
Development Studies, Geology and Mineralogy, Quaternary Geology, Computer
Science, Electronics Information Technology, Applied Mathematics, Mathematics,
Industrial Physics, Materials Science, Optics and Spectroscopy, Space Research,
Theoretical Physics, Wihuri Physical Laboratory, Anatomy, Pharmacology and
Clinical Pharmacology, Physiology, Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology,
Medical Physics and Chemistry, Medical Genetics, Phytoestrogen Research Group,
Medtekki, Electron Microscopy, Bacteriology and Serology, Forensic Medicine,
Pathology, Virology, Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Biostatistics, Centre
for Cognitive Neuroscience, Child Psychiatry, Clinical Chemistry, Clinical
Neurophysiology, Clinical Physiology, Clinical Positron Emission Tomography
(Turku PET Center), Dermatology and Venereal Diseases Diagnostic Radiology,
General Practice, Geriatrics, Internal Medicine, Juvenile Psychiatry,
Neurology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Occupational Health, Oncology and
Radiotherapy, Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology, Pediatrics, Pediatric Neurology,
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Psychiatry, Public Health, Pulmonary
Diseases and Clinical Allergology, Surgery, Cardiology, Oral Development and
Orthodontics, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology, Oral and Maxillofacial
Surgery, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontology, Prosthetic Dentistry and
Biomaterials Science, Public Health Dentistry, Stomatognathic Physiology,
Nursing Science, Law, Philosophy, Research Unit for the Sociology of Education,
Contemporary History, The Research Project on the Finnish Parliament,
Psychology, Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, Centre for Learning Research
(CLR), Social Policy, Sociology, Economics, Statistics, Political Science,
Institutions and Social Mechanisms (IASM), BBA, MBA, Education etc.
Expenses
A. Tuition Fees in $US
Normally there are no tuition fees in
Finland
Finland
B. Living & Other
Expense in $US
1. Student have to pay for food,
housing, clothes, social life & incidental cost approx. $400 per month.
housing, clothes, social life & incidental cost approx. $400 per month.
C. Health Service
1. Health services for university
students are provided by the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS).
students are provided by the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS).
2. Student health service cost is $25
to $75 per academic year.
to $75 per academic year.
D. Accommodation
1. Students are usually accommodated in
a flat with a private room and a kitchen and toilet facilities shared with 2 to
3 other students.
a flat with a private room and a kitchen and toilet facilities shared with 2 to
3 other students.
2. The rent per month ranges from $110
to $200 for a room in a shared flat.
to $200 for a room in a shared flat.
How to Apply to the University
1. Check with the departments to see if there is a closing date for your
application.
2. You should write
directly to the Institution's Admission Office for detailed application
information and forms.
directly to the Institution's Admission Office for detailed application
information and forms.
3. You can also download
application form from university website.
application form from university website.
4. Some universities have
an on-line application facility.
an on-line application facility.
5. Admission Office will
inform you about the documentation, translation, and visa requirements.
inform you about the documentation, translation, and visa requirements.
5. You should start at
least one year in advance to compile the necessary information and
documentation.
least one year in advance to compile the necessary information and
documentation.
6. The decision of the
institution is usually announced within approximately six to eight months of
the application deadline.
institution is usually announced within approximately six to eight months of
the application deadline.
Supporting Documents
1. Check with the departments to see if there is a closing date
for your application.
for your application.
2. You should write directly to the Institution's Admission
Office for detailed application information and forms.
Office for detailed application information and forms.
3. Some universities have an on-line application facility, and
you find information about it from the university websites.
you find information about it from the university websites.
4. Admissions office will inform you about the documentation,
translation, and visa requirements.
translation, and visa requirements.
5. You should start at least one year in advance to compile the
necessary information and documentation.
necessary information and documentation.
6. The decision of the institution is usually announced within
approximately six to eight months of the application deadline.
approximately six to eight months of the application deadline.
Other Information
A. Working in Finland:
1. University students are allowed to
work for up to 25 hours per week without a work permit during term time &
40 hours per week during vacation.
work for up to 25 hours per week without a work permit during term time &
40 hours per week during vacation.
2. If you do not know Finnish, Norwegian,
Russian or Swedish it can be very difficult to find a job.
Russian or Swedish it can be very difficult to find a job.
B. Credit Transfer Facility
1. Students may apply for credit
transfer program at undergraduate or postgraduate level in Finland.
transfer program at undergraduate or postgraduate level in Finland.
2. The maximum amount of credit that
may be granted normally is not greater than 50% of the course.
may be granted normally is not greater than 50% of the course.
3. Most of the universities consider
minimum "B" grade for acceptance.
minimum "B" grade for acceptance.
4. You have to submit the following
documents to your target university:
documents to your target university:
a. Your application form for the
Undergraduate or Postgraduate coursework program
Undergraduate or Postgraduate coursework program
b. Official copies of your academic
transcript
transcript
c. Also include an official letter from
head of the school/department of your university, from where you have already
completed the courses.
head of the school/department of your university, from where you have already
completed the courses.
d. Detailed course outlines (Official
Copy) including subject descriptions, methods of teaching and assessment,
reading lists, number of hours of teaching etc.
Copy) including subject descriptions, methods of teaching and assessment,
reading lists, number of hours of teaching etc.
e. The academic level you are studying
(e.g. First Year, Second Year etc.)
(e.g. First Year, Second Year etc.)
f. How many credits you have completed
g. An explanation of the grading system
used at your institution.
used at your institution.
h. Information on the total units of
study requirement ( i.e. how many credits are required) for the completion of
the degree.
study requirement ( i.e. how many credits are required) for the completion of
the degree.
C. Scholarships
1. Authorities to Contact for the
Finnish Government Scholarship Pool Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport of
the Czech Republic
Finnish Government Scholarship Pool Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport of
the Czech Republic
2. Information of scholarship in
Finland.
Finland.
