Study in Finland

Why Finland

Finland is situated in northern Europe. It borders Russia in the east, the Gulf of Finland in the south, the Gulf of Bothnia and Sweden in the west and Norway in the north. The capital is Helsinki. The population of the country is 5.3 million. The official languages are Finnish and Swedish with 94% of the population speaking Finnish and 6% Swedish. Finland is a welfare state with the aim of securing for its inhabitants equal opportunities for a good life and for the most efficient use of its resources as possible. The geopolitical location between West and East has always been reflected in the country's events and goings on. With this combination of western and eastern influences, Finnish culture has developed into something strong and highly individual.

Higher Education System

The Finnish education system is composed of nine-year basic education (comprehensive school), preceded by one year of voluntary pre-primary education; upper secondary education, comprising vocational and general education; and higher education, provided by universities and polytechnics. Adult education is available at all levels.

In Finland, pre-primary education, basic education and upper secondary education and training, complemented by early childhood education and before- and after-school activities, form a coherent learning pathway that supports children's growth, development and well-being.

Students' opportunities to progress from one level of education to the next is safeguarded by legislation. Both general and vocational upper secondary certificates provide eligibility for further studies in universities and polytechnics. A student completing one level is always eligible for the next level studies. The qualifications of each level are governed by a separate Act of Parliament. This assures harmonised qualifications and their quality and guarantees students' rights.

Basic education is free general education provided for the whole age group. Upper secondary education consists of general education and vocational education and training (vocational qualifications and further and specialist qualifications).

The higher education system comprises universities and polytechnics, in which the admission requirement is a secondary general or vocational diploma.

Universities, which are academic or artistic institutions, focus on research and education based on research. They confer Bachelor's, Master's, licentiate and doctoral degrees.

Polytechnics offer work-related education in response to labour market needs. A polytechnic degree requires 3.5 - 4.5 years of full-time study. The requirement for polytechnic Master's programmes is a polytechnic degree or equivalent, plus a minimum of three years of work experience in the field concerned.

Adult education is provided at all levels of education. Adults can study for a general education certificate or for a vocational qualification, or modules included in them, take other courses developing citizenship and work skills, or pursue recreational studies.

The welfare of Finnish society is built on education, culture and knowledge. All children are guaranteed opportunities for study and self-development according to their abilities, irrespective of their place of residence, language or financial status. All pupils are entitled to competent and high-quality education and guidance and to a safe learning environment and well-being. The flexible education system and basic educational security make for equity and consistency in results.

Popular Programs

The Centre for International Mobility CIMO, an organisation which operates under the Finnish Ministry of Education, offers services to encourage cross-cultural communication. CIMO administers scholarship and exchange programmes, and offers information, advisory services and publications. In addition, CIMO promotes teaching of the Finnish language and culture, and arranges summer courses in the Finnish language and culture for international students. There are various opportunities for students to study in Finland.

CIMO scholarships are mainly targeted for postgraduate students who have completed their Master-level studies. There are two types of scholarships: individual scholarships, which young researchers apply for themselves and host fellowships, which are applied by the Finnish higher education departments willing to host researchers and postgraduates. It should be noted that, in Finland, Master's programmes are not considered postgraduate studies. CIMO's undergraduate scholarships promote advanced studies of the Finnish language. Below is a list of scholarships offered by CIMO:

Finnish Studies and Research/Scholarships for Advanced Studies of the Finnish Language at Finnish Universities
Exchange Programmes (Erasmus Mundus, Asia-Link and Freemovers)
CIMO Fellowships
Finnish Studies and Research/Scholarships for Postgraduate Studies and Research at Finnish Universities

If you are interested in studying in Finland and if you are looking for financial support, we strongly recommend that you reach our counselor who would assist you to find all the information on available scholarships (section Study & Research in Finalnd). Our aim is to make it easier for those interested in studying in Finalnd as well as those providing assistance and advice in ESC's office to find details of existing grant programmes and to guarantee that the information about these programmes is always up to date.

Disclaimer

We, the CONSULTANT is responsible only for the co-ordination support and guidance with regards to the admission procedure of the student to the foreign university. It must be noted that the grant or refusal of admission is at the sole discretion of the University and the Consultant is neither involved in the process nor is liable or responsible in any manner whatsoever for any delay in processing of the application of any applicant by the University which reserves the right to ask for further documentation and to refuse the admission.

The Consultant clearly declares that the student can avail the services of his/ her admission support for the universities in Finland, without any additional emoluments.Any communication suggesting such payment is contrary to our policy. In case you encounter any such situations on the company name, you are advised to make sure it is genuine before responding or contact the Head Office on the below designated contact information. We shall not accept any liability towards any such payments collected.

The applicant hereby accepts and confirms that the applicant and/or his/her representative, prior to submitting his/her consent with the consultant, has read, understood and agreed to be bound by,all of the terms, conditions and details provided herein.The information and guidance are intended to contribute to a better understanding of our services as an educational consultant.As this guidance reflects the state of the art at the time of its drafting, it should be regarded as a 'living tool' open for improvement and its content may be subject to modifications without notice.

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