Study in Finland

Brief Background: Finland is consistently rated highly as a study destination by international students who value the many perks that Finnish institutions offer including quality education, academic freedom, and student-centered support services. Finland attracted nearly 32,000 international students in 2018, with the majority enrolled in degree programs, according to the Finnish National Agency for Education.

A national education policy focused on quality, efficiency, equity, and internationalization; excellent basic education; and competitive student admission underpin the high standards of Finnish higher education. The country boasts a world-class knowledge community, and is frequently rated as one of the most innovative countries with first-class higher education and training programs, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report.

Finland has 22 universities of applied sciences (UAS), and 13 universities. At UAS institutions, research and development form the basis for teaching, and the curriculum addresses the needs and expectations of both industry and commerce. A UAS bachelor’s degree typically takes between 3.5 and 4.5 years, and consists of core and professional studies, optional studies (similar to electives in the US), practical training, and a thesis. At universities, a bachelor’s degree consists of basic and intermediate courses, language studies, and a thesis. It is typically completed in three years.

Good to Know: English is considered Finland’s third, unofficial language, and most Finns speak it fluently. Finnish higher education institutions provide over 400 full-degree programs taught in English. Most of the bachelor- level degree programs taught in English are offered at universities of applied sciences, but universities offer some as well.

If students are fluent in Finnish or Swedish, they can pursue a degree in one of these national languages tuition-free. Advice, provided in Finnish or Swedish, on how to apply to these programs can be found on the Studyinfo website.

 Students who complete their bachelor’s at a university are automatically admitted for a master’s degree program at the same university upon completion of the undergraduate degree, without needing to apply again. With a UAS bachelor’s degree, students must separately apply for admission to a master’s degree after at least two years of relevant work experience.

The Finnish attitude toward education follows an approach that benefits the individual: Students are challenged and encouraged to think for themselves. Courses offered at Finnish universities are research-based and align with the institution’s specialization. These high-quality study programs combine in-depth research with the needs of a student’s future working life.

Academic Calendar: Finnish universities and universities of applied sciences usually follow a twosemester calendar. The first semester typically begins at the end of August, and the second semester in January. Summer break occurs between June and August, when some institutions offer courses, with a two-week winter break taking place in December and January.

Search: The Studyinfo website is the official source for information on Finland’s degree programs.

The Study in Finland website also links to the admission webpages for the 13 universities, as well as all 22 UAS.

Apply: Applying to Finnish higher education programs takes place either through a joint application or a separate application. Applications for bachelor’s degree programs are primarily completed through a joint application, but there may be some exceptions. Students should always check with the degree program to which they are planning to apply.

With a joint application, students use one application to apply to up to six study programs. The six options may include degree programs from one or several different institutions.

Some programs may require students to apply through a separate application, though this is not common at the bachelor’s degree level, and there is no limit on the number of programs a student can apply to. Separate applications are typically submitted either through Studyinfo or an institution’s own website.

Deadlines: For fall admission, most English-taught bachelor’s programs have their application period in January. For spring admission, applications usually open in September. Some exceptions may exist so always check the exact application period and supplementary documentation deadlines with the university or UAS to which you are planning to apply.

Application Fees: Universities and universities of applied sciences do not require application fees. Applying through the national Studyinfo portal is free of charge.

Admission Requirements: Student selection is usually based either on grades, an entrance exam, or a combination of the two. Students can learn about entry requirements and eligibility criteria by reading program descriptions on the Studyinfo website. Students can also find this information on the institutions’ admission websites.

In most cases, students are eligible to apply for bachelor’s degree programs in Finland if they have a high school completion certificate (e.g., a US high school diploma), which would allow them to apply to a college or university within that country. Programs also recognize the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma.

The universities will instruct students about the type of document needed to verify their upcoming graduation. For example, institutions often accept an official academic transcript as an official statement of upcoming graduation.

Generally, applicants must have already completed high school for a copy of their diploma to reach the relevant university by the application deadline. Note that universities and universities of applied sciences provisionally admit students who apply and have not yet graduated. Once available and prior to enrollment, these students are asked to submit a copy of their diploma.

Entrance Examinations: The entrance examination process is primarily a domestic system and used as part of student admission when applying to bachelor’s degree programs, though some universities and UAS institutions are moving away from this process. International students should check with the individual programs to see if entrance examinations are being used. In some cases, institutions may require SAT subject tests in lieu of an entrance examination.

Many universities of applied sciences cooperate in the design and administration of entrance examinations, that in some cases a student will take one examination and the results will be shared with multiple institutions. Exam types vary by field of study. If institutions require separate entrance examinations, a student must sit for all the necessary exams to be considered for admission.

Some entrance exams are offered only in Finland, while others may be offered abroad through the Finnish Network for International Programmes (FINNIPS). Students will be able to access a list of countries where entrance examinations will be held at the time of applying. Some entrance examinations include multiple phases, with only some applicants continuing after each phase of the process.