• Finland is well known for its high quality education and excellent living standards
• Finland’s higher education is ranked the second best in the world by the World Economic Forum
• Finland currently holds the 1st place among the Greenest countries in the world.
• Improve your English in one of the best English speaking countries in the world
• Gain international experience, grow your network, work for international companies or go on to start your own business
• 3rd most advanced digital economy in Europe
• 1st when it comes to digital start-ups per capita
• Demand for 53 000 new employees within ICT in Finland by 2021, and 100 000 in Europe (Technology Industries of Finland)
• Game industry specialists such as Rovio, Supercell, Zynga, Jetdogs among others, have ranked Finland among the very best cities for game production among European countries
• 2nd in Global Cleantech Innovations (WWF). Keeping their country clean and green is important for many Finns
• Finnish society is highly supportive of entrepreneurship
• Helsinki is the 2nd largest (what?) in the world
• Finland’s R&D expenditure, as a percentage of GDP, is the highest in Europe for Innovations and start-ups
• Safe, unique, clean and untouched nature make Finland a great travel destination. Four distinct seasons

• Finnish Universities feature in the top 100 ranked universities in the world
• Students can study at the Bachelor’s level, Master’s Level, PhD Doctoral degree. They are at liberty to choose either a more theoretical approach or conversely, a more research – oriented approach

• Institutions will assess whether students meet the selection criteria set for their proposed course of study. They look into the level and content of the study a student has completed in their home country
• Undergraduate courses require an Education of (Year 13) such as three passes at the GCE A Levels in the appropriate subjects. Some courses may also have certain pre-requisite subjects. Postgraduate courses require satisfactory completion of a first degree at the undergraduate level. Confirmed research ability or relevant work experience may also be taken into consideration.

• Students need to display a sufficient level of proficiency in the English language and must meet the minimum academic requirements to study in Finland when applying for a student visa. Institutions set their own English language requirements and may have different IELTS entry levels for the proposed level of study than those required for a student visa.
• IELTS minimum score required by most universities is 6.0 and above
• TOEFL minimum score required by most universities is 79 and above
• Some universities may require SAT scores

Apply for a visa
If your destination is Finland, apply for a visa at the nearest Finnish embassy. Finland may be represented by another Schengen state. In such cases, apply for the visa to Finland at the embassy of that Schengen state.

Required document:

• Visa application form completed and signed
• One photo - Include a color photo in which you are recognizable
• Passport - Make sure your passport is valid for at least three months after the end of your intended travel and that it has been issued no later than ten years ago
• Travel insurance - Your travel insurance must be in force for the period of the validity of the applied visa and cover the entire Schengen area. The minimum coverage of the policy must be 30,000 € and the insurance must cover expenses arising from sudden illness and accident (also the patient’s repatriation) and repatriation expenses in case of death.
• Supporting documents - The required appendices vary by country, contact the embassy to make sure which ones you need. Examples of such documents are tickets, a confirmation of hotel reservation, a private invitation letter and an official invitation. Summer school students need to provide a formal Certificate of Admission. As the Certificate of Admission is only issued on receipt of full payment, we recommend that you apply early and pay in full as soon as possible, as the visa application process may take a few weeks.
• Proof of sufficient financial means - The applicant must have proof of sufficient financial means to cover the duration and purpose of the stay and the cost of living in the country. In Finland, a minimum of 30 € a day is required.
• Interview - The embassy may also ask you for a personal interview to find out about the purpose of your visit.
• Visa fee - The fee for a visa application is 60 € (Jan 2018).

Always contact your nearest Finnish embassy for the most updated information regarding the visa application.

More information on visa for Finland can be found on the Ministry for Foreign Affairs website.

If you plan to reside in Finland for longer than 90 days you need to have a residence permit. Please read the next section for more information.

Finland is a very safe country, apartments are affordable, well-maintained and often situated within reach of public transport. Although the demand for student housing varies depending on the city, the general rule is- first come, first served. If you want to be one-step ahead, you should start looking for an apartment right after receiving your residence permit. The peak time for finding an apartment is always at the beginning of each academic year.

When starting to look for housing options, the first query about accommodation possibilities should be directed to your school in Finland. Alternatively, you could also ask about housing from the student housing foundation in the area where you will be studying. These housing foundations offer remarkably lower rents than the private market, and the accommodation is often located within a convenient distance from the campus.

• Student housing

The accommodation for students in Finland is usually organized through the regional student housing foundations. Sometimes the housing can also be arranged through local student clubs, faculty organizations, or in some university towns, through the student unions themselves. The student housing organizers are listed on the SOA – Finnish Student Housing website.

As previously mentioned, the demand for housing is usually high in the beginning of the academic semesters, as many students look for accommodation. Thus, it is recommended that you start the application process for student housing as early as possible.

• Types of housing

Shared apartment: Usually shared by 2-4 students, this is a good choice for single students. Each resident has his/her own lockable bedroom, while kitchen and bathroom are shared. Basic furniture in the bedrooms is often included.

Studio apartment: The number of studio apartments is limited and since this is a popular option, there is usually a waiting list

Group apartment: This option is great when a group of friends wants to rent an entire apartment together. Similar to a shared apartment, but you get to freely choose your flatmates.

Family apartment: These apartments are intended for couples and families with children and might be located in quieter neighborhoods. They usually have 2-3 rooms and a kitchen or kitchenette.

The residential buildings often have facilities such as saunas and laundry rooms for students to use. The student apartments are a safe option, as the landlord is a member of a reliable student housing organization.

PART-TIME JOB

For non-EU students with student residency permits, students can work for a maximum of 25 h/week during term time. The number of working hours is not restricted on a weekly level, which means that you can work periodically during the academic term according to your situation. However, there are no limits regarding the number of hours that students can work outside term time when the university is not offering lectures (e.g. during Christmas holidays and summer breaks). This means that you can get some working experience before you graduate.

STAY BACK OPTIONS
After completion of their study at the university, a foreign student is allowed to stay up to 1 year in order to apply for jobs

TUITION FEE

• Intakes: January September
• Tuition fee: Starting from 6000 €