Finland

The Finnish institutions of higher education offer a generous choice. We have an extensive network of 20 universities and 26 polytechnics (also named as universities of applied sciences) covering the whole country from the southern metropolitan area to the Arctic Circle. All institutions are internationally oriented with special regional features: students can choose between very different study environments ranging from large urban campuses to close-to-nature campuses.

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Aalto University in Helsinki in Finland

Finland is situated in northern Europe neighbouring Sweden, Norway and Russia. It is a country and culture where east meets west under the special Nordic influence.

It is a member of the EU where it represents Nordic democracy and way of living.

Finland is a peaceful, well-organised country where English is widely spoken. Excellent opportunities for sports and cultural activities from swamp football to modern opera are available.

Institutions of higher education

Our higher education system consists of two complementary sectors: polytechnics and universities.

Finnish universities have origins dating back to the 17th century. Their objective is to promote free research and scientific and artistic learning and provide higher education based on research. All Finnish universities are owned and funded by the state.

The Finnish Parliament has approved the bills renewing the Universities Act in June 2009. The reform makes the universities independent legal personalities either as corporations subject to public law or as foundations subject to private law. At the same time, the universities’ management and decision-making system will be reformed. The reform makes it also possible for the universities and polytechnics to collect tuition fees from international, non-EU/EEA degree students during a five-year trial period.

Degree education will still be provided free of charge. The legislative reforms will, however, make it possible to charge tuition fees on a trial basis to students from outside EU/EEA countries who are taking part in separate master’s programmes, provided that the arrangements include a scholarship scheme.

There are 20 universities in Finland. At the beginning of 2010 the number of the universities will decrease to 16 as there will be three mergers: universities of Joensuu and Kuopio form the University of Eastern Finland; Aalto University is created through a merger between the Helsinki University of Technology, Helsinki School of Economics and University of Art and Design, and the Turku School of Economics will merge with the neighbouring University of Turku.

Universities confer Bachelor's and Master's degrees and on postgraduate level Licentiate's and Doctor's degrees.

All university degrees have been defined in terms of ECTS credits since 2005. Bachelor's degree is worth 180 ECTS credits, and a Master's degree 120 credits. The normal duration of a Bachelor's degree is three years of full-time study. It usually takes two extra years to accomplish a Master's degree. A Doctor's degree normally takes four years of full-time study.

The amount of degree students at Finnish universities in 2008 was approximately 164,000, of which close to 6,200 were international degree students. The number of degrees awarded in 2008 was 37,200, of which 13,900 were Bachelor’s, 21,800 were Master's degrees and 1,500 were doctorates.

Our polytechnics – which define themselves as universities of applied sciences – were established in the 1990s to meet the changing requirements and developmental needs of the world of employment by having a pronounced occupational emphasis. Education provided by polytechnics emphasise close contacts with business, industry and the service sector, especially at regional level.

There are 26 polytechnics operating under the Ministry of Education. These are multi-disciplinary and regional higher education institutions offering education in the fields of humanities and education; culture; social sciences, business and administration; natural sciences; technology, communication and transport; natural resources and the environment; social services, health and sports and tourism, catering and domestic services.

Polytechnic degrees are Bachelor's and Master's level higher education degrees with a professional emphasis. The lower degree is worth 210-240 ECTS credits, and it takes from 3,5 to 4,5 years of full-time study to accomplish. After three years of work experience a student may can take the Master's degree, which is worth 60-90 credits.

In 2008 there were approximately 132,500 students at polytechnics. The amount of international degree students was over 6,400 and is on the increase. The number of degree awarded in 2008, were 21,800 Bachelor’s, and 680 Master’s degrees.

International Programs

Finnish internationally acclaimed expertise and know-how are present in international programs. These areas of expertise are ICT, biotechnology, forestry and environmental sciences, architecture, and arts and design.
Finnish institutions provide over 450 English-speaking degree and non-degree programmes. Some of the programs are short courses, which can usually only be taken as part of an exchange program whilst whole degree programs take several years to complete and lead to an official Finnish higher education degree.

Facilities and fees

Studying in Finland is generally regarded as relatively free. The relationship between students and teachers in Finland is relaxed and informal, and teachers are easy to approach. Universities usually have a Language Centre where students may carry out additional language studies, which are often included in degree programs.

All students have the right to use the libraries of universities and polytechnics freely with a library card. All institutions of higher education provide their students access to the internet. Computers with the internet access are available at university libraries or computer centres.

In Finland everyone has the right to basic education free of charge. In addition, higher education is free of charge, which means that there are no tuition fees in polytechnics or in universities. This same principle goes for international students as well for the moment, but a recent reform makes it also possible for the universities and polytechnics to collect tuition fees from international, non-EU/EEA degree students on Master’s level during a five-year trial period.

Tuition fees would subsequently be collected only in selected Master's programmes starting earliest from the year 2010. The amount of the tuition fee and the Master’s courses involved will be at the discretion of the institutions themselves. The institutions are also expected to introduce scholarship programmes for these particular Master’s degree programmes.

Students pay for their living, transportation and books. The average amount of living expenses incurred is approximately 700 euros a month.
Students, who are not EU-nationals, are required to have a health insurance if their studies or exchange period will last over three months.

How do you get there?

In case you are interested in coming to Finland as a degree student, you should make direct contact with the Finnish institution. The same procedure goes for those who are interested in doctoral programs. For those wishing to come to Finland as an exchange student, we recommend you to check from your home institution with which institutions they have agreements.

For exchange students there are several different programs such as Erasmus, Erasmus Mundus, FIRST, ISEP, Nordplus, North2North and North-South.

Need more information?

And in case you need more information, CIMO (Centre for International Mobility) is willing to help you. Practical information with all the necessary links is available on our website http://finland.cimo.fi

You may also contact us via email by sending your question to cimoinfo@cimo.fi or by phone +358 20 690 501 (Tue-Wed 13.00-16.00 and Thu 13.00—17.00, + 2 hours GMT).

Welcome to Finland!

CIMO – Centre for International Mobility - promotes cross-cultural communication and mobility in training, education, working life, cultural field as well as among young people. CIMO administers scholarship and exchange programs and is responsible for implementing nearly all EU education, training, culture, and youth programs at national level.

 

 

Author:
Ms. Jaanaliisa Kuoppa

International Communications and Marketing Manager
CIMO