Study in Finland, Affordable Universities with Tuition Fees

So if you need quality education but can not afford to study in other costly countries with high fees, you can make up your mind to study in Finland today. We will look at critical tips on how to get admission to study in Finland, living costs and much more in today’s post.

Cost of Studying in Finland

In Finland, studying is not totally free, you will be charged low tuition fees. There are some exceptions especially for students from EU region, they are allowed to study for free in Finland. All other foreign students who wish to study for free will have to study in the local language of Finland. Please consult your university for more details. However, from autumn 2017, Finland implemented tuition fees for non-EU students, so this is worth considering if studying free is on your mind.

• Suggested article; Free universities in Finland for interested foreign students

There are a couple of exceptions to the Finnish free education law. In comparison to Finnish, some courses taught in English also charge students, and the rates may range from 2500 (£2137) to 12,000 euros (£10,258) a year with tuition fees. It depends on the university and the course, really. However, if you want to take an English course, you don’t have to worry because most English teaching courses are still free; only a handful of specialist courses usually charge tuition fees. For more information contact the university of your choice and they will be able to guide you in the right direction.

Cost of Living in Finland

Depending on where you live, the cost of living in Finland could be high or low. Living in Finland with a very limited budget is very simple- markets with local goods are popular here, and if it is done very carefully and outside the region, in the smaller towns and villages, weekly shopping can cost as little as a few euros.

However, shopping in the city is a different story, with very high rates for rent and food prices, it is recommended that you budget 700-900 euros (£ 598-£ 769*) per month to live and study in Finland to cover housing costs and other expenses. Although accommodation rates can vary, a single shared room in a student flat is estimated to cost between EUR 160-340 (£ 137-£ 290*) per month.

Admission Requirement for Studying Abroad in Finland

You have a valid school leaving certificate and qualify for higher education studies in your home country if you are applying for an undergraduate program. This will also qualify you to study in Finland for higher education. A relevant bachelor’s or equivalent degree diploma is required for Masters, and a corresponding diploma or master’s degree outcome for PhD. You are however, asked to show your degree of English. You may be required to take some qualifying courses in some cases.

Languages in Finland

Finnish and Swedish are the two national languages in Finland, and both are used for university tuition. It may also be possible to take courses taught in English, but at graduate level, this is more common than for bachelor’s degrees. If your course of study is taught in English, it is highly recommended that you learn at least basic Finnish during your time in the country to help with everyday life. Instead of traditional colleges, many of the undergraduate courses offered in English are found at polytechnics. These are institutions offering full degrees, but with a more vocational emphasis, also known as ‘universities of applied sciences’.

For most subjects, however, if you want to complete a full undergraduate degree in Finland, it is important to be able to study in either Finnish or Swedish. Alternatively, you could study for a shorter time in Finland, for a summer school or as part of an exchange program; there are more English-led choices in these situations.

• Read also; Countries to study abroad completely free

English Language Requirement

If you are an EU student, most of the Polytechnics and Universities in Finland can be exempted from the English language test as long as you give a certificate of your language proficiency. If you are not a student from another state of the European Union or EEA and if English was not the language of your previous studies, you will be asked to include evidence of your English language proficiency. Please always check with your university if your English studies are appropriate for this requirement to be met.

Intake Periods/Deadlines

Depending on the study program, the application cycle starts around November and continues from February to April. Please check the precise deadline for the course of your preference on the institution’s website. The normal application cycle for study programs conducted in English begins about 6 months in advance of the start of the program.

For instance, for programs that start in the fall, the deadlines are set for February. Please note that in order for your application to be accepted, you must submit all supporting documents before the deadline expires.

How to Apply for Admission to Study in Finland

Depending on the school and your study program, the form of application for admission to a university in Finland varies. For more details about how to apply for admission, please visit the individual schools.

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List of Universities in Finland with Low Tuition Fees for International Students

• Aalto University
• AboAkademi University
• Hanken School of Economics
• Lappeenranta University of Technology
• Tampere University of Technology
• University of Eastern Finland
• University of Helsinki
• University of Jyväskylä
• University of Lapland
• University of Oulu
• University of Tampere
• University of Turku
• University of Vaasa
• University of the Arts Helsinki