The Finnish education system is rightly recognized as one of the best in the world. Six Finnish universities are in the top 400 according to recognized rankings QS ( Quacquarelli Symonds) And TNE (Times Higher Education). And the University of Helsinki occupies a worthy place in the first hundred rankings.
In terms of the quality of teaching of individual disciplines, many Finnish educational institutions are even included in the world top 10.
The most important advantages of studying in this country are:
- Recognition of diplomas in most European countries;
- Large selection of English-language programs and courses;
- Free education in state languages;
- High practical value education.
If one of the goals of studying in Finland is to get a job and move to permanent place residence, it should be borne in mind that those who received education in English have little chance of employment in Suomi.
Almost all employers, in addition to an education diploma, require applicants to know Finnish language. But even if a non-resident graduate speaks the language well, his chances are not particularly great.
At the same time, diplomas obtained from universities and polytechnics in Finland are quite competitive when searching for a job in countries participating in the Bologna system (which are almost all countries European Union). Therefore, the chances of getting a job in Europe with a Finnish diploma are very high.
Admission to Finnish universities
Enrollments of applicants are carried out in autumn and spring. Spring applicants usually have the opportunity to choose from more options curricula. You can apply for some destinations already in the middle of winter.
After finishing 9th grade you can only enter a Finnish school or college. This will allow you to better learn the language and simplify your further studies at a university or polytechnic. In fact, such an applicant will be equal to a local applicant.
After completing 11 grades at a school in Russia or the CIS countries, you can apply for admission to Finnish universities. For this category, the application and admission procedure is the same as for all foreign applicants.
Depending on the type of educational institution, training in basic educational standards has the following deadlines:
With certain programs and standards of study in each educational institution in Finland, students are given a certain freedom of choice educational subjects and disciplines. As part of the program, each student can determine the intensity of classes that is comfortable for themselves and adjust their work plan. At the forefront is the self-motivation and responsibility of the students themselves for the quality of their education. Teachers only help with this. At Finnish universities, attendance is not strictly controlled: involvement in the process is a personal matter.
The educational program of each level at a particular university or institute contains a list of required disciplines. In addition, the student can add subjects to the individual curriculum at his own discretion. Thus, it is carried out individual development without compromising educational standards.
The goal of the Finnish education system is the right to individual development of everyone in the learning process. This approach is being introduced starting from the preschool level and is familiar to Finns. Scores are just feedback, an indicator of an individual's area of development and growth.
If there is a system for monitoring the level of knowledge in the form of reports, exams and tests, the attitude towards them is calm. Any low rating can be improved as you work. Therefore, such tricks and tricks as cheating and cheat sheets are not honored.
In the curriculum, part of the teaching time is officially allocated to self-education and homework. Much attention is paid to group and practical work– universities cooperate with many companies. This approach perfectly prepares students for future work and allows them to develop communication skills.
Great importance is given to the sphere practical application knowledge: many disciplines are taught by practitioners - people working in Finnish and international companies. Students often undergo internships.
Types of educational programs
All Finnish higher education institutions provide education according to the following programs (standards):
Kandidaatin tutkinto - bachelor. The duration of the program depends on the type of educational institution:
- A regular university gives theoretical basis knowledge. The training program lasts 3 years. In such universities, a bachelor's degree is just First level. After receiving a bachelor's degree, most students continue their studies at a master's degree;
- The Applied University prepares bachelors for 4 years. After graduation, the graduate can start working, as he has a sufficient base of applied knowledge.
Maisterin tutkinto - master. Master's degree as higher educational level, guarantees a greater choice of work for graduates, which is why it is very popular. Depending on the direction of study this program can last from 1 to 2 years. For some specializations, professional practice is mandatory.
Tohtorin tutkinto - doctor. Doctoral programs last 4 years. A doctoral student receives a Ph.D. degree. and the right to teach.
Lisensiaatin tutkinto – licentiate. An alternative option to doctoral studies. The duration of the programs is 2 years. Mainly popular with working students. This program is of interest to those who want to improve their educational level and participate in scientific research.
In Finland there are two main types of higher educational institutions:
- Classical universities (yliopisto) providing basic, fundamental education;
- Polytechnics (ammattikorkeakoulu) oriented towards applied disciplines.
Universities in Finland can award bachelor's and master's degrees, and here you can also take doctoral and licentiate courses if you wish. Polytechnics only recently began to award master's degrees.
Admission requirements
Today in Finland there are a large number of educational programs in English. These are both bachelor's and master's levels. But only free educational programs in Finnish and Swedish.
The level of English according to the test for admission to a Finnish university must be from 6 for bachelors and from 6.5 for masters and doctors.
Conditions for admission in Finland:
| For admission to a polytechnic university | For entering university |
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| For admission to a Finnish university, the admissions committee will consider the results of the unified state and entrance exams. But decisive role results of entrance tests are played. Each university has its own approach. Some tasks require preliminary preparation, for example – study annual report company about which questions will be asked later. |
Separately, it is worth mentioning the entrance exams to Finnish higher education institutions. The approaches differ in many ways from those usual in Russia and the CIS countries.
The tasks in the entrance exams are intended, for the most part, not to test the applicant’s knowledge base, but to determine such categories as:
- Ability to study and analyze information;
- Teamwork skills;
- Creativity;
- Creativity.
Often real reports from Finnish companies are used in exams. A certain period of time before the start of testing, applicants must familiarize themselves with the material, and in fact entrance test questions will be asked about it, practical tasks both individually and for group work.
Often, as tasks it is proposed to carry out SWOT-analysis of any object.
List of required documents
For a short-term stay in the country (less than 3 months), for example, to take language or other preparatory courses, it is enough to have a Schengen visa.
If you intend to stay for a longer period, you will have to apply for a so-called “permit to stay in the country.” Its validity period can be from 1 to 4 years, depending on the purpose of stay and the documents submitted for consideration.
This document is also called a “Student visa”. It is issued by the country's migration authorities approximately 2-3 weeks after submitting the application and the necessary papers. Failure rates are no more than 5%. When the document expires, it can be easily renewed within the country by submitting an application in an approved form to the police station.
To obtain a study visa, you need to submit documents to the Embassy according to the list below (in two copies - originals in Russian and translation into Finnish, Swedish or English - optional):
- An invitation from an educational institution (even a copy of a printed email with official information about admission);
- A bank account statement confirming the availability of an amount of 6,720 euros per year of stay, which corresponds to the minimum subsistence level in the country;
- Completed application form in one of three languages – Finnish, Swedish or English, 2 pieces;
- International passport valid until graduation;
- Photos 47 X 36 mm, 2 pcs.;
- Education documents (certificate or diploma);
- An insurance policy with coverage for the entire period. Moreover, if the period is less than 2 years, then the amount of coverage is from 100 thousand euros. If more – from 30 thousand. Those living in the country for more than 2 years have benefits like all native Finns, so the amount of coverage may be less;
- Confirmation of payment of the registration fee in the amount of €330.
For minors, only an adult (one of the parents or guardians) can issue a travel permit.
It should be noted that Finnish embassies are very busy in summer and autumn, so it is better to apply for a visa immediately after receiving confirmation of admission.
Cost of education
Until 2016, both local and foreign students could receive free education in Finland. However, the country's government decided to take the path of monetizing education for visitors. This innovation affected bachelor's and master's programs in English.
Doctoral programs and studies in Swedish or Finnish are still free of charge.
Approximate tuition prices at some universities in Finland are shown in the table. It should be noted that applied polytechnic universities on average will cost less than classic ones. And those located in small towns are, accordingly, cheaper than in the capital and large cities.
Free education opportunities
All educational programs in Finnish and Swedish are free of charge. Therefore, a win-win option is knowledge of the language. There are not many opportunities for English-language education.
The most realistic chances of studying in Finland without big financial costs given by the programs of the Government of the Russian Federation. Talented children who have significant achievements in their arsenal (victories at All-Russian and international olympiads by subjects, research, publications, inventions) can receive government scholarship, which pays not only for studying abroad, but also for maintenance during your stay in the country.
Government grants and scholarships in Finland itself are mainly aimed at doctoral degrees. They are awarded based on results scientific works, as well as the Finno-Ugric peoples of Russia to preserve national culture. The latter are provided in the field of ethnography, history, ethnic studies and other areas in the field of culture of the people.
Bachelor's and Master's programs taught in English, support Finnish government don't get it. Finnish university scholarships for English-language programs are rare, and only those who have already received a bachelor's degree can apply for them.
Exchange programs
There are student exchange programs in Russia. To become a participant, you must be a student at an educational institution that participates in the program international exchange(CIMO, Center of Interbational Mobility). It mainly affects the areas of economics, ecology, tourism and natural sciences.
Student Accommodation and Meal Options
The most realistic and relatively inexpensive accommodation and food options for visiting students in Finland are student dormitories and canteens. They are not provided for free, but some scholarships may cover such costs.
If you have the financial means, you can rent housing, but you must be prepared for the fact that it is very expensive. To rent a room in the outskirts costs from 300 euros per month. The price of a set lunch in an inexpensive cafe starts from 15 euros.
Having a fairly free study schedule, students can find part-time work without compromising their studies. This can be a good help while studying in northern country.
The most popular universities in the country
- University of Helsinki- . Finland's first university, founded in 1640. It is the oldest and most prestigious educational institution in the country, ranking high place in world rankings. The university is famous for its multidisciplinarity and scientific research (under its auspices the League of European Research Universities LERU was created). Philosophy and media studies are considered the strongest areas.
- University of Turku- . It ranks second in size in the country. Founded in the 20s of the last century. Its peculiarity is its versatility. The medical and pedagogical faculties are considered the strongest.
- Aalto University- . Quite young (about 20 years old), but already a well-established university. The level of training of architects and designers at this university is very high. The university is included in the top 20 world rankings in these areas.
- University of Oulu- . The strongest areas of this university are Computer techologies, medicine and environmental technologies. Oulu is included in major world rankings thanks to active development and the great attention paid to scientific research.
- - . The University of Jyväskylä is famous for its postgraduate education. Master's and postgraduate programs are very popular. Actively participates in student exchange programs around the world. The strongest areas are psychology and pedagogy. When preparing teachers great attention is devoted to inclusive education.
Studying in Europe is attractive to many. Why is it worth going to study in Finland? Finland is one of the few countries where you can get quality education for free! Studying at most universities in Finland is indeed free, but, of course, you will need money for accommodation, food and other expenses. However, students have various benefits. These are, for example, student meals at very affordable prices, discounts on travel by trains and buses in Finland, discounts in cafes and restaurants, etc. In addition to this, students in Finland can rent good accommodation at a budget price from local student housing organizations. All the details are in the article!
The education system in Finland is rightfully recognized as one of the best in the world. Finnish universities are financed by the state, which means that studying there is free both for their students and for those who come to study on exchange.
The level of education in Finland is very high, and diplomas Finnish universities appreciated all over the world. Having received your education in Finland, it will be much easier for you to find a job here or in Europe. Provided that you improve your English and/or Finnish well during your studies. Russian-speaking workers are now in trend and for the third year in September a seminar on hiring workers who speak Russian has been held in Rovaniemi. By the way, the myth about the value of a Russian diploma is greatly exaggerated! As a rule, employers prefer Finnish diplomas, since they understand them more clearly and have fewer doubts about the employee’s professionalism. That is why many Russians with higher education go to a Finnish university for a second higher education.
The Finnish education system is structured in the following way. After finishing 9th grade primary school(peruskoulu) schoolchildren have a choice - 1) go to the lyceum (in Finnish lukio, in English General Upper Secondary education) and take Finnish Unified State Examination, or 2) enroll in Professional institute(ammattikoulu or Vocational upper secondary education). For those who are planning to go to university, studying at a lyceum and passing the Unified State Exam is almost mandatory. Studying at the lyceum lasts 2.5 years and several months of preparation and passing the Unified State Exam, plus students still have a couple of months left to search for a university or institute.
Universities and higher education
In Finland, higher education is considered to be a bachelor's (kandidaatti) or master's (maisteri) or doctorate (tohtori) degree obtained at a university.
Higher education institutions in Finland are divided into universities (yliopisto) and polytechnic institutes or, as the Finns call them, “universities” applied sciences", in Finnish "ammattikorkeakoulu" or in English "University of Applied Sciences".
Third option is a vocational school (ammattikoulu or vocational college). In such educational institutions you can obtain such specialties as a cook, a waiter, an auto mechanic, a driver, a sports instructor, a tourist guide, etc.
Polytechnics usually offer only bachelor's degrees. At the university, you first receive a bachelor's degree, but it is intermediate and the goal of study is a master's degree. You can get a doctorate in almost all major specialties at Finnish universities.
Studying for a bachelor's degree lasts 3-4 years, and for a master's degree another 2 years.
Language of instruction
On this moment Most bachelor's programs in Finland are conducted in Finnish. Without good knowledge In Finnish, it is difficult to enroll in such training. This means that immediately after graduating from a Russian school you won’t be able to get a bachelor’s degree in Finnish, or at least the chances are close to zero - you won’t pass the exam, and you won’t be able to study.
Polytechnic institutes in Finland, however, offer bachelor's degrees in English, which means you can enroll in these programs immediately after Russian school. You should learn about such programs on the websites polytechnic institutes or on central websites (information about this below in the section Admission to Finnish universities).
Universities in Finland (with rare exceptions) offer English studies only for Master's degrees. This means that you will not be able to enroll in a master's program immediately after Russian school. Admission to a master's degree implies that you have already completed a certain number of courses at your university in Russia or another country, which can be equivalent to a Finnish bachelor's degree. It is difficult to give any specific instructions here. It all depends on the program and university. If you have studied for 2-3 years, then you have a good chance. Admission to the master's program is on a competitive basis, that is, you are assessed based on the results of one of the following: a preliminary assignment, an exam, a portfolio, an interview, a motivation letter, or a combination of the above.
Vocational schools They offer training in Finnish, but there are exceptions.
By the way, good option There are various exchange student programs available to study in Finland. You come to study in Finland for six months or a year and “test” the training. After which it is much easier to choose a university where you will receive a master's degree or even enroll in a new field of study. You should find out more about exchange training at your Russian institute.
Study in Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi is a very young and dynamic city. Of the 60 thousand inhabitants in Rovaniemi, according to various estimates, up to 10 thousand are students! Rovaniemi's main educational institutions are the University of Lapland, the Lapland Polytechnic Institute (LapinAMK) and the Lapland vocational college(LAO). As you understand, with so many young people in the city, student organizations very well developed. They constantly host various events and parties, especially noticeable at the beginning and end of the school year when the whole city is buzzing all night.
Students in Finland especially love May Day. On this day, a mandatory tradition is to decorate the monument with a cap, which students receive after passing the Unified State Exam at the Lyceum. Every city has its own monument “occupied” for this purpose.
- the northernmost in Finland. It offers training in many areas at four faculties: legal, pedagogical, social sciences, as well as at the Faculty of Arts. Training takes place in such specialties as tourism, design and art, pedagogy, law, social sciences and Arctic exploration. Study programs cover all academic levels from bachelor's to doctorate.
The University of Lapland is relatively small but modern. All university students can go to study or practice outside Finland under international student exchange programs. To help new students adapt, the university offers a five-day introduction to the university course, and also assigns tutors from among senior students and young teachers. The university is good language centre, which provides students with high-quality language support. The in-depth program teaches not only Finnish, but also other classical languages.
Like most universities, the University of Lapland only offers master's degrees in English.
List international programs in English
Applied visual arts
Audiovisual media
Clothing design
Social work
EMACIM: Master in Tourism, Culture and International Management
Global biopolitics
Graphic design
Industrial Design
Interior and textile design
MICLaw: Master international law and comparative law
Media pedagogy
Doctoral studies goes to all main directions at the university
Submission of applications to the university takes place from December 2, 2013 to January 31, 2014 through the website
www.ulapland.fi/admissions
Contact details
University of Lapland
PO Box 122 (Yliopistonkatu 8)
FIN-96101 Rovaniemi, Finland
Tel. +358 16 341 341
LapinAMK - Polytechnic Institute (formerly RAMK)
The Polytechnic Institute offers bachelor's degrees in English, meaning you can enroll in it immediately after school. Training at the Lapland Polytechnic Institute LapinAMK takes place in Rovaniemi, as well as in the cities of Kemi and Tornio. LapinAMK was recently formed by merging the polytechnics of these cities.
The institute in Rovaniemi was formerly called RAMK. It offered training in English according to the programs “ Information Technology", "Innovative Business Management" and "Tourism".
Currently known English-language programs in LapinAMK for 2014:
TOURISM: Bachelor of Hospitality Management
BUSINESS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: Bachelor of Business Administration
NURSING: Bachelor of Health Care/Registered Nurse
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS: Bachelor of Business Administration
Russian students of the institute maintain a VKontakte group where you can ask questions that interest you.
http://vk.com/ramk_uas
Lapland Vocational School (LAO)
The Lapland Vocational College (LAO) provides training in 31 specialties in Finnish. However, it is easier to enroll in them than in universities or institutes, since the language requirements are much lower. If you know basic Finnish, you can definitely try this option.
Popular professions include tourist guide, cook, waiter, and receptionist.
There are also special programs for foreigners (Russians, including), such as tourism in the city of Kittilä.
Admission to Finnish universities
You can find out about studying for foreigners in Finland or studying in English on the websites www.studyinfo.fi and www.cimo.fi.
Find out about admission to universities at English programs You can also use the universityadmissions.fi portal.
Students from Russia are required to make an official translation of the school completion certificate into English or Finnish, with the signature and seal of the translator (no need to notarize). When applying for a master's degree, you must provide translated documents confirming that you have completed a volume of study that can be equated to a Finnish bachelor's degree.
IELTS score academic level 6.0
TOEFL score 550 paper-based test/ 79-80 internet-based test
The application period for universities varies. Apply to English-language programs at the University of Lapland possible from the beginning of December to the end of January (in 2015 until January 31), and in LapinAMK in January-February (in 2015 from 7.1 to 27.1).
When submitting an application, you can choose a maximum of 4 specialties in one or more universities in Finland, which must be indicated in priority order. If you enroll in several places at once, you will be automatically enrolled in a higher priority university. The necessary documents must be sent to all universities that you are going to enroll in. On all documents you need to write your Applicant Number, which will be indicated on the website after filling out the registration form.
If you are accepted, your place of study must be confirmed on time, otherwise you will lose your place. Detailed information about obtaining a student visa
braflovsky wrote in August 27th, 2014Surprisingly, very few people in Moscow know that higher education in Finland is free for foreigners. Moreover, anyone can apply, regardless of age, availability higher education in Russia and any other dark past. This year I entered the Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences for a bachelor's degree program in Hospitality, Tourism and Experience. And although I did not try to enter other universities, the system is approximately the same everywhere. In this post I will tell you what you need to do to apply for a bachelor's degree. For master's programs, the system is approximately the same.
1) Learn English
This is the most important thing and the main thing that stops most people from enrolling. You need to learn not just any way, but very well, because you will have to study in English. Most universities require an IELTS (minimum 6 points) or TOEFL certificate (minimum 550 points on the regular exam and 79-80 online) before admission ), ABOUT nor quite expensive, about 12,000 rubles per attempt. But some don’t require it, allowing you to pass it internal exam into the language, which is also not easy. Haaga-Helia is one of them. I am a translator by training, so I didn’t have any special doubts and took the internal exam.
2) Decide on the program
What do you want to be when you grow up? An engineer? Biologist? Or maybe a linguist? All available programs are available here. The search can be carried out using different criteria. In my case, I wanted to study tourism specifically. Four universities provided this opportunity.
3) Submit your application online
Check in advance when applications open at your university. Typically for the fall semester this occurs in January-February. Some programs begin with the winter semester, then exams are taken in the fall, and applications are submitted, respectively, in the summer. As soon as day X has arrived, go here, find your program and submit your application. Previously you could apply to any 4 programmes, but this has now apparently been expanded to 6. Please be aware that the order in which you list universities varies great value. If you take exams at your first choice university, you will receive an additional 5 points. If you entered both the first university and the second, then you cannot refuse the first and go to the second university. The same goes for the third, fourth and all other programs. So fill according to your actual priorities. I wanted to study at Haaga-Helia, because after reading a lot of information on the Internet, I decided that it was the best place in Finland in my specialty, and I don’t need anything else.
4) Send documents
After some time, you will receive a letter that your application has been accepted, and you will be asked to send all the necessary documents to admissions committee. You need to send a copy of the school certificate and its translation, certified by any translation agency (300-600 rubles). If you're only graduating in the summer, keep in mind that not all universities accept academic certificates. In Helsinki, none of the universities admit you without a completed certificate (except for Arkada University, but only for one specialty). If you have an IELTS or TOEFL certificate, then these documents must also be sent. If your university requires these certificates, then you must submit them. If not required, then not required. I sent only the certificate and, for insurance, a translation of the higher linguistic diploma, because supposedly without a language certificate, some people are not allowed to take the exams. This happens very rarely, but it does happen. Do not risk sending documents by Russian Post. It will take three weeks and it’s not a fact that it will arrive. I sent it with Major Express, which in Moscow operates through the Multiphoto office, which in turn has many points throughout the city. The shipment cost 1800 rubles, but there were three of us, so it came out to 600 rubles each. Delivery within 1-2 days and nothing is lost.
5) Invitation to exams
Around February-March, invitations to exams arrive by email and post. Sometimes the letter sends you a link where you need to confirm your attendance for the exam. Exams usually take place in April. For my specialty, I had to pass three exams: English (for those without a certificate), a test on preliminary reading material and mathematics, and an interview. Preliminary material is used in several programs. On mine, for this you had to buy a book (35 euros online, 50 euros in paper) and practically memorize it by heart. The book was a collection of articles about the future development of Helsing Airport, 265 pages. This is also the time to think about a visa. If you have a simple tourist visa, open for the exam dates, then you don’t have to do anything else. If you don’t have it, then get it.
6) Exams
Come to Helsinki or the city where you are applying and just do everything you can :)
I had my first exam at 8 am, an essay based on a book I had read. It was necessary to reveal four concepts described in the book. As far as I remember, “Global village”, “Augmented reality”, “Glocal” and “Open innovation”. It may sound scary, but in the book they are all described quite clearly. The essay should have a clear logical structure, introduction and conclusion. In general, if you are on school system before the Unified State Exam, when they wrote a lot of essays, there shouldn’t be any problems. Recommended volume: 2 A4 pages with a line. I dashed off 4 just to be sure. Wasn't sure about exact value one of the concepts, therefore she made the description so streamlined that it could be understood in both directions, adding more linguistic graces to it. Results for this exam are reported as pass/fail and no points are awarded. If you fail, you can go home straight away; they won’t let you in any further.
My second exam was a test. Although initially there were 1,500 people for 60 places in the program, about 300 made it to this exam. This does not mean that everyone failed in English (although many), it’s just that the majority do not make it to the exams for a number of personal reasons. So there is no need to be afraid of the number of applicants. So, the test consisted of 50 questions on the book and 10 on mathematics. The book, as I already said, needs to be crammed. I didn't do this. Nobody did. Everything in bold, all bulleted lists, all dates must be learned by heart. There was a question about the number of employees at the Helsinki airport, about the opening date of the rest area there, and many many other questions about specific information. That is, simply reading and getting the general idea will not work. We need to cram facts and concepts. However, fiction stories, of which there are 2-3, you can skip. Mathematics at the level of our 5-7 grades, mainly percentages. People learn some special formulas, but I solved everything simply logically. And I made only one mistake out of stupidity, and that was because we were not given a separate piece of paper for calculations, and I was embarrassed to write on a piece of paper with questions, although it was possible. And by the way, I got a bad grade at school. On technical programs the math is more complicated. It is unusual for a Russian schoolchild because it often affects to a greater extent logic than pure mathematics.
The third exam was probably the most stressful. This is a group interview. A group of five applicants enters a classroom with two teachers. Groups are specially recruited from people different nationalities. They are given a group task for 20 minutes and are closely observed working as a team. In my case, I had to imagine myself as managers of an airport where 12,000 people were stranded due to snowfall, and decide what to do. We were also given a list of several dozen actions (organize the ability to make free calls, organize meals, reassure passengers, call journalists, etc.), which had to be arranged in a scheme according to the principle of (not) urgent and (not) important. Then after 20 minutes we had to talk about our joint decision. I came across a very strong and adequate group, we discussed everything clearly, agreed on who would tell which part and performed excellently, in my opinion. Not everyone is so lucky; sometimes in a group there is a very talkative person who simply suppresses others. And it happens that they try to screw up on purpose, they don’t like people like that and give them a low score. The main thing is to show your ability to work in a group, listen to others and defend your clearly reasoned point of view, do it confidently, but not harshly. After the presentation, everyone is asked several personal questions. For example, there were questions about what you can do best in life, what you will do if you don’t get accepted, why you chose this particular university, what is hospitality in your understanding. At the end, documents are collected. You must once again submit a copy of your certificate and, if available, a certificate of employment, if your work was related to future profession. This adds up to 10 more points. That's it, go home now.
7) Results
Exam results become known in May. In my case, the list of applicants was posted on the university website. A little (or not a little) later a letter arrives in the mail. I was afraid of mail, so I asked them to send me all the documents by email, but they usually don’t do that. It shows your score and everything you need to do next. If you don’t get enough points, you may be put on a waiting list, and if someone turns you down, they may offer you a place. My passing score was 60 out of 100, I scored 66.5 (it is not clear taking into account the work certificate and the first choice of the university or not). At first I was a little upset, this was very little, but later it turned out that many people had about the same score. It is unknown whether anyone scored significantly higher, given the treacherous nature of the book test. Once you have received your documents, you will need to fill out a form confirming that you accept the place offered and are ready to begin your studies that year, and send it back. You can also skip one year and start with the next one by checking the appropriate box on the form. After some time you will receive confirmation of your place, but you can check in advance by e-mail without waiting for a return letter.
8) Housing
Immediately, as soon as the institute has confirmed your place in this year, rush to apply for housing. This must be done very quickly, because there will not be enough subsidized housing for everyone. Housing is managed by the HOAS office and applications are submitted. There are some other companies of the same profile, this will be indicated in the papers that will be sent to you. Among other things, in the application you must indicate your average monthly income (minimum 560 euros), annual income (minimum 6720 euros) and the number of loans (write 0 and don’t worry). You can apply for yourself, for your family (if you have a spouse and/or children) and for your friends (they will be accommodated together, not with strangers). If you are alone, you will be offered a room in a 2, 3 or 4-room apartment, costing from 180 euros per month. Spouses are given a two-room apartment from 420 euros. With children, accordingly, three rubles or more. The student must have his own room. It doesn’t happen here that four people live in one room with one toilet per floor. The rooms are unfurnished, there is only a closet. There isn't even a chandelier, and sometimes you have to buy a fire alarm. But there is, of course, a kitchen and plumbing. My room in a two-room apartment costs 229 euros. As far as I know, all houses have a laundry room, a sauna and sometimes a small gym.
Once HOAS sends you an offer, accept it. If you refuse and ask to look further, your application will again be transferred to the end of the queue, and you risk being left without housing at all. Usually they try to provide housing close to the university, but this does not always work out. They gave me 5 km from the university, which is very good. When you have received an offer from HOAS, you must immediately submit a signed and scanned contract, as well as a deposit of €260 (€500 per family). This can be done via bank transfer. The deposit will be returned when you finish training or when you move, if you didn’t break or damage anything. You pay for housing by the 6th of every month. If payment is late, a fine of 5 euros will be charged. If you haven't paid for more than 2 months, you are kicked out. In summer and other holidays you also pay for your room. But many unofficially rent out their rooms for this period.
9) Visa
A visa, or rather a permit to stay for a year, is not very difficult to obtain. You will need a certificate of enrollment at the university, insurance in the amount of up to 30,000 rubles per year (from 2,500 rubles), 2 photographs (there are no standard requirements, take it for a Finnish visa), a foreign passport, a certificate of having 6,720 euros in a bank account (this guarantees that you will not be homeless) and a printout of the application form. It is better to submit the application online, then the visa will be issued in 2 weeks, not 1-2 months. To do this you need to register and apply. Help about cash often causes the most difficulties, but this problem can also be solved. In my case, my parents deposited this amount into my account and then simply withdrew it. But keep in mind that the cost of living in Finland is 560 euros per month. Some wise students know how to live on 350-400 euros per month, including rent, but it’s still better to count on 500-600 at least for the first time. Think in advance where you will get this money, since finding a job during the first year is not easy, and a scholarship for foreign students not provided. If you are traveling with your spouse, the amount almost doubles; for children, the additional amount is slightly less. In Moscow, a visa is obtained at the embassy (not at the visa center), and in St. Petersburg at the Consulate General. More detailed information . The cost of a residence permit is 300 euros. It is renewed every year already in Finland, the first year is 156 euros, and every year the cost increases.
10) Moving
That's it, you are ready to go to Finland to study, all documents are in order, things are collected. School starts at the end of August. If for some reason you do not have time to arrive at the start of your studies, be sure to inform the university. Do not forget to take with you the original certificate and certificate of employment (if you have them). Without the original school certificate, you have the right to be expelled. It happens that housing is provided only from September 1, but you need to study in August. I found myself in this situation now and here’s how I managed to solve it. I booked a place in a hostel for two weeks. This turned out to be not the best decision, because there is such a Russian-language site where you can rent a room much cheaper. Most I left things in the warehouse. The site is in Finnish, but Google translator can handle it. A cell one meter by one meter and almost three meters high costs 50 euros for a month and 16 euros for purchasing a lock, which is then yours. You can continue to use it in this warehouse. On September 1st I will receive a key from the HOAS office and will transfer things from the warehouse with the help of a driver, whom I also found on a Russian-language website (50 euros for a minibus, much cheaper than an official cargo taxi). I hope everything works out.
From now on I will regularly write about the peculiarities of living and studying in Finland. So stay tuned if this topic interests you.
Bachelor's degree is the first level of higher education in Finland.
There are 2 types of universities in Finland: research universities and universities of applied sciences (UAS). You can get a bachelor's degree in both, but specialties and approaches to teaching differ.
Obtaining a bachelor's degree takes from 3 to 4.5 years, depending on the type of educational institution.
Studying at the university is very “academic”: students conduct their own research, study in the library; impressive lists of literature and many independent work. In the third year, students defend their diploma project.
After graduation, some remain in graduate school, others look for a job or internship in their specialty.
"Polytechnics" provide vocational training and are suitable for those who want to start working after graduation. The emphasis is on practice, application of knowledge and skills in real conditions. The curriculum includes internships and exchange programs, so completing a bachelor's degree will take between 3.5 and 4.5 years.
Languages of teaching at undergraduate level in Finland
Education in Finland is conducted in Finnish, Swedish and English.
Basically, bachelor's degrees in English are offered by universities of applied sciences. They are actively developing international exchange programs (out of 12,000 foreigners in Finnish polytechnics, 6,000 are exchange students), so the number of programs in English is growing rapidly.
At research universities in 2017, 2 bachelor's programs are available in English: "Economics and Business Administration" at Aalto University and "Science and Technology" at University of Technology Tampere.
More than 150 programs are available in English at universities of applied sciences, including business, IT, construction, ecology, tourism and design.
Academic year and class schedule
Academic year at Finnish universities it is divided into 2 semesters: autumn (August - December) and spring (January - May). The winter vacation last several weeks, they fall Catholic Christmas And New Year. Many universities have Easter holidays lasting 1-2 weeks. The exact schedule differs at each university and is usually available on the website in the “Study Calendar” section.
In the summer there are almost no official classes; in June, most students go in search of seasonal work or on vacation.
Admission to the University of Finland
Apply to a Finnish university Russian schoolchildren can immediately after 11th grade. Works in Finland centralized system university applications, which is available from January. In it you can submit documents to 6 universities at once and track the progress of your application online.
To enroll in a program in English, most universities require you to send them the result along with a package of documents. IELTS exam(minimum 6.0)
If the student's application is pre-qualified, the student will be invited to entrance exams in Finland, some universities conduct on-site testing in St. Petersburg.
If a child graduates from school abroad (IB, A levels, European Baccalaureate) he may be exempt from having to take an exam in English and entrance tests by subject. The decision will be made based on the results of the average score in the certificate.
Cost of a bachelor's degree in Finland
Tuition fees in English for students starting their studies in 2017 range from €4,100 to €12,000 per year. At the same time, universities will be able to support talented applicants and offer scholarships.
Study in Finnish or Swedish completely free.
Cost of studying in Finland in English (bachelor's degree)
| Haaga-Helia UAS | from 8,500€ |
| Helsinki Metropolia UAS | from 10,000€ |
| Tampere University of Applied Sciences | from 10,000 € |
| Saimaa University of Applied Sciences | 4 300€ |
| Aalto University | 12 000 € |
| Arcada University of Applied Sciences | 5 000€ |
| Turku University of Applied Sciences |
9 000€ |
Allterra Education help with applying to a Finnish university
Specialists Allterra Education will help you navigate among dozens of seemingly identical educational institutions, choose a course, prepare documents and obtain a visa.
Our experience and knowledge of the Finnish education system will help you avoid mistakes at all stages of the enrollment process and enroll in your desired university. We also advise you to familiarize yourself with the university preparation program in Finland. Our offices are located in Moscow and St. Petersburg.