Study in Finland

Did you know Finland, According to World Happiness Report 2024, Finland is the happiest country in the world. It is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, known for its highly efficient education system. Finland's Universities are top ranked and offer various courses related to different fields. Finland is well known for chilly winters and short summer. Helsinki is the national capital of Finland, which is one of the best student cities in the world.

The Finnish universities recently proposed a hike in tuition fees. Despite this, Indian students continue to consider Finland one of the best countries to study abroad due to its safe and clean environment and significant job opportunities. According to Goverment of India, 2645 Indian students are studying in finland till 2024. It is expected that the number will increase in upcoming year.

Finland is attracting international students. By 2030, Finland plans to increase the number of foreign students by 3 times and work-related immigration by 2 times. Moreover, Finland plans to attract workers in ICT (information and communications technology) and health sectors in the upcoming years. The Finnish workforce is ageing and the country needs more young people to join the labour market. This has created a huge opportunities for students who want to study and work in Finland. 

This signals a positive trend as far as the study abroad and immigration scenario is concerned. Finland was ranked in 1st position by the Economist on Educating for the future index; and according to the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), Finland is in 2nd position in the world for highest performing graduates. However, studying abroad is a huge task and students need compelling reasons to decide on their course, University, and country.

Why Study in Finland

Here are a few reasons why you can consider Finland as your study-abroad destination:

• Differentiation in University Education: In the case of higher education (bachelor’s onwards), Finland has two systems. Students, who want to pursue theoretical and research-based degrees, can opt for Universities; whereas, those who wish to pursue degrees that are geared towards practical learning can opt for Universities of Applied Sciences. Such differentiation allows for the development of expertise.
• World-class Education System: Finnish education system is one of the most efficient systems in the world. Starting from school education, the entire system is focused on equipping the students with resources to live a meaningful life that is high on productivity. Finland was ranked as the 2nd most competitive country by the World Economic Forum's (WEF) global competitiveness report 2020.
• World-class Universities: Many Finnish Universities have performed very well on various global rankings indices. Some of these Universities include the University of Helsinki, Aalto University, the University of Turku, University of Jyvaskyla, just to name a few.
• Safe Country: Finland is generally considered a very safe country for international students. It consistently ranks high in global safety indices. With low crime rates and a friendly population, students can feel secure and focus on their studies. This makes Finland an attractive destination for international students. 
• Culture: Finnish society is egalitarian, which contributes to wage parity. Moreover, Finland is one of the most stable and peaceful countries in the world. Hence, if you are fond of spending quiet holidays during your academic break, you might as well choose Finland as your study-abroad destination.
• Other factors: Certain other factors that contribute to the Finnish education system include individual grading of students, an impetus to holistic development, and a preference for cooperation instead of competition.

Key Highlights

Here are some of the key highlights of studying in Finland:

Number of Universities in Finland	13 Universities and 22 Universities of Applied Sciences
Cost of Studying in Finland (per year)	€5,000 - €18,000
Cost of Living in Finland (per month)	€550 - €1,100
Part-time Work	30 hours/week
Post-Study Work Permit	2 years
Top 5 Universities (Times)	The University of Helsinki, Aalto University, the Lappeenranta University of Technology, the University of Oulu, and the University of Tampere

Education System in Finland

The following points provide an overview of the education system in Finland:

• Early childhood education and care: This is meant for children before the start of their pre-primary education and lasts for 0-6 years.
• Pre-primary education: It lasts for 1 year and acts as a connecting link between early childhood education and care, and primary and lower secondary education.
• Primary and lower secondary education: It is Comprehensive School Education and is meant for all children between 7 and 17 years of age.
• Upper secondary education: It includes either general upper secondary education or vocational education and training.
• Higher education: It includes a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, doctoral degree, and licentiate degree. Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees are provided by Universities and Universities of Applied Sciences, while Doctoral and Licentiate Degrees are provided only by Universities.

Top Courses in Finland

IIE data reveals that India was one of the top sending markets for Finland’s higher education institutions. Business, Administration and Law, Information and Communication Technologies, and Engineering courses accounted for 62% of international students. The choice of subjects reveals that Indian students are more inclined towards professional and technical courses.

Here are some of the top courses in Finland:

Academic Field	Top Course
Technical	Agricultural Sciences Computer Science Materials Engineering Data Science Mathematics and Statistics Pharmaceutical
Natural Sciences	Chemistry Physics Biology
Humanities/ Social Science/ Language	Law Politics Education
Management/ Finance/ Economics	Economics Management

Admission Requirements to Study in Finland

Even though admission requirements to study in Finland vary on the basis of degree level and course, the given below list provides an overview of the basic requirements to study in Finland Universities:

• Duly filled application form for the university/ college
• Upper secondary-level educational documents
• Degree certificates/ officially certified copies awarded by the main university
• Transcripts of records awarded by the main university
• Score reports of SAT/ GRE/ GMAT
• Score reports of IELTS/ TOEFL/ PTE/ Cambridge Proficiency
• Resume
• Statement of Purpose
• Essay
• Letters of Recommendation from employer/ professor/ teacher
• Other documents such as portfolio/ sample work, etc. in case of specific programs such as designing and architecture
• Proof of finances
• Medical tests

Students must note that there are two intake seasons in Finnish educational institutions. These include Autumn intake (primary intake with most course offerings) and Spring intake (secondary intake or extension of Autumn intake). Make sure to meet all the deadlines and arrange your documents well in time.

Top Cities Preferred by Students

Finland is home to one of the best educational systems in the world, incredible natural beauty, and worth-exploring culture and heritage. As per the QS Best Student Cities 2025, Helsinki is ranked in 66th position and is also home to University of Helsinki. Helsinki becomes a natural choice for international students. Other Finnish cities include Tampere (home to Tampere University of Applied Sciences), Espoo (home to Aalto University), Turku (home to Turku University of Applied Sciences, and Åbo Akademi University), and Vantaa (home to Laurea University of Applied Sciences).

Scholarships to Study in Finland

Scholarships are a great way of reducing your overall cost of pursuing academics abroad. If the scholarship amount is sufficient, you can avoid part-time work and focus solely on your research and academics. Students can apply for various scholarships in order to reduce their overall cost of pursuing academics in Finland. In order to be eligible for a scholarship candidates are required to have a strong academic background, decent work experience (if applicable), and other extracurricular achievements. Some of the scholarships include:

• Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Programs
• Finnish Government Scholarship Pool
• The University of Helsinki Scholarship

Education Loan for Studying in Finland

Studying abroad is an expensive endeavour and scholarships are fiercely competitive. In such a scenario, students can opt for education loans for studying in Finland. Education loan approval becomes easy if you receive an offer from a top-ranked University. Hence, make sure that you take your entire selection process very seriously. Moreover, make sure to check the career outcomes and employability options of the course that you intend to pursue. Borrowing an education loan needs equal deliberation as studying abroad.

Part-time Work Options for International Students in Finland

Students, who have been granted a residence permit for studies, are allowed to pursue paid employment for 30 hours per week in any job field. Students can work full-time during their holidays; however, they need to note that their working hours must not exceed an average of 30 hours per week at the end of the year. If your degree requires you to pursue a paid internship or a diploma work, it will not be counted in the weekly 30-hour limit. Part-time work options for international students in Finland can be found with the help of networking and various websites such as Monster, Adecco, The Hub, etc.

Post Study Work Permit in Finland

Once a student has completed his/ her degree or research in Finland, he/ she can apply for a new Finnish residence permit. This includes multiple scenarios:

• If your degree or research work is complete in Finland, you have a job: In such a scenario you must have a signed employment contract or a binding job offer. Here, the application fee will be €380 for an electronic application and €480 for paper applications.
• If your degree or research work is complete in Finland and you are looking for a job or want to start a business: In such a scenario, you must apply for a new residence permit within five years from the date of expiry of the residence permit for studies or research. This permit may be valid for 2 years. Here, the application fee will be €470 for an electronic application and €520 for a paper application.

Job Prospects in Finland (ROI)

ROI (Return on Investment) is an extremely important factor for students when they finalize a course, University, or country. ROI is the value for money that you get after investing in something; in this case, education in Finland. The following jobs in Finland are in demand:

• Teacher/ Educator
• Nurse
• Information Technology Specialist
• Game designer
• Accountant/ Economist
• Environmentalist
• Computer Programmer

The table given below provides a list of some of the top companies in Finland:

Top Companies in Finland
Brava Invest	Seure	Tampereen
Posti Palvelut	L&T	Nokia
Fortum	Neste	Kesko
KONE	Stora Enso	Suomen
Palmia	RTK-Palvelu	PKC Group

Popular Job Sectors in Finland

According to HitHorizons, there are 675,545 companies in Finland. Top industries and job sectors in Finland, according to this data, include:

Popular Job Sectors in Finland
Services Sector (27.7%)	Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate (23.3%)
Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing (14.6%)	Construction (6.3%)
Manufacturing (5.4%)	Retail Trade (5.3%)
Transportation, Communications, Electric, Gas, and Sanitary Services (3.3%)	Wholesale Trade (2.9%)
Public Sector (0.2%)	Mining (0.2%)

Average Salary in Finland - By Job

As per Trading Economics, average wages in Finland are around €3,758 per month as of July 2022, this translates to €45,096 per annum. The table given below provides certain professions and their corresponding salaries. Data has been sourced from Teleport:

Job	Median Annual Salary
Software Engineer	€38,187
Project Manager	€39,340
Lecturer	€43,386
Accountant	€62,818
Business Analyst	€39,579

Study in Finland FAQs

Q. Why should I study in Finland?

A. Finland offers a world-class education system with many Universities performing extremely well on global ranking indices. The education system is focused on multidisciplinary academics and is more research-based. Finland Universities are more affordable as compared to other developed countries, and the cost of living in Finland is less. Students, studying in Finnish Universities, have the freedom to choose their subjects and modules, as the curriculum is flexible. In addition to this, Finland can provide you with a high standard of living, a clean environment, and a path to permanent residency once you have worked for four years in Finland.

Q. What is the cost of studying in Finland?

A. The cost of studying in Finland depends on the degree level and the University you have chosen. On average, we can say that you would be required to shell out €5,000 - €18,000 annually towards your tuition fee. The following fee range has been sourced from the official websites of different Universities:

• Aalto University: €12,000 to €15,000 per year
• Hanken School of Economics: €12,500 per year
• Tampere University: €7,000 to €12,000 per year
• University of Helsinki: €13,000 to €18,000 per year

Q. Can I work part-time while studying in Finland?

A. Students, can pursue paid employment for 30 hours per week in any job field or sector. Moreover, they can pursue full-time work during their holidays. However, students must note that their annual average must stay at 30 hours per week. This means that even if they are working full-time during their holidays, they need to balance it out with their working hours while their classes are in session. However, if a paid internship or diploma work is a part of your course, it will not be counted in the weekly 30-hour limit.

Q. What is the Finland student visa fee?

A. If your course is more than 90 days in duration, you need to apply for a residence permit in order to pursue your academics. The validity of this residence permit is the same as the duration of your course. In the case of an electronic application, you need to pay €350 and in the case of a paper-based application you need to €450. If you wish to extend this permit, you need to pay €180 in case of an electronic application and €250 in case of a paper-based application.

Q. What are some of the top Universities in Finland?

A. Top 10 Universities (based on Times Higher Education Rankings) in Finland include the

• University of Helsinki
• Aalto University
• The Lappeenranta University of Technology
• The University of Oulu
• University of Tampere
• University of Turku
• University of Vaasa
• University of Jyvaskyla
• Abo Akademi University
• University of Eastern Finland