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The Finnish Education System is highly advanced, by international standards.

Higher education is offered in 20 Universities and 29 Universities of Applied Sciences (formerly polytechnics) in Finland. All Finnish universities are state institutions and subordinates to the Ministry of Education. Universities receive their primary funding from public funds, whereas most polytechnics are funded by municipalities, federation of municipalities or private organisations. Universities are specialised in carrying out scientific research and providing theoretical academic instruction. Universities of Applied Sciences are more focused on providing education for the needs of the working life, focusing more on practice-oriented teaching. Internationalisation of education has been one of the key development areas in Finnish educational policy since the late 1980s. All Finnish higher education institutes have close cooperation with foreign institutions, such as active research or student and teacher mobility schemes between the institutions.

In autumn 2005, the Finnish higher education system underwent a degree reform. The degree structure of Finnish universities was amended to become more compatible internationally. The reform was consistent with the Bologna Process, the goal of which is to create a strong, unified system of education in Europe.

The reform brought changes to the degree structure. It emphasised on having a Bachelor’s degree and a Master degree as two separate degrees where as before Bachelor’s degree was seen only as a stepping stone towards the Master’s degree. The grading and credit system are also changed to a European standard. All programmes are now based on a joint European credit transfer and accumulation system (ECTS), which facilitates international transparency and recognition of Finnish degrees at a global level.

Finnish higher education institutes also offer a growing number of degree programmes in English. Currently there are about 350 international study programmes in a variety of disciplines available in English. Finnish universities offer approximately 100 degree programmes taught in English at Master and Doctoral level.

Some 8 400 international students representing more than 40 nationalities are studying for a degree in Finnish higher education institutes. Approximately 4 700 international students are enrolled in universities. In addition, approximately 9 000 exchange students come to Finland annually.

Education in Universities

Universities provide lower (Bachelor’s, 180 ECTS credits) and higher (Master’s, 120 ECTS credits) academic degrees. The most common undergraduate degree in Finland is the Master’s degree (maisteri). Completion of a Bachelor’s degree takes approximately three years and Master’s two years after the completion of the Bachelor’s degree. One year of full-time study corresponds to 60 credits.

After completing the Master’s degree graduates can apply for admission to doctoral studies. Student may take the Licentiate’s degree before taking the Doctor’s degree. Licentiate’s degree is, however, an optional degree and it is not even offered in all fields of study. Completion of a Licentiate’s degree takes about two years after the Master’s degree. The full-time studies for a Doctor’s degree take about four years after the completion of a Master’s degree.

Costs and finance

For the time being, students do not pay tuition fees in Finnish universities. The only fee that the students have to pay is the annual Student Union membership fee (app. 109 EUR per academic year). This fee includes the services of the student health care.

Because education is free in Finland, there are no scholarship programmes available for undergraduate students (Bachelor’s and Master’s). Therefore applicants should search for scholarship and grant possibilities in their home country.

The cost of living in Finland is approximately the same as in other countries in the European Union. In average it is estimated that a students spends about EUR 500 to EUR 700 per month depending on the personal spending habits. This estimate includes accommodation, transportation and meals.

Academic year

Academic year begins in August and ends in July. It is divided into two semesters:

Autumn semester (syyslukukausi) from August to December

Spring semester (kevätlukukausi) from January to May

NOTE: - IELTS/TOEFL is mandatory for all applicants.

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