Why Finland

Finland is a welfare state with the aim of securing for its 5.2 million 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. Just like the Finns themselves. In the section Finnish Way of Life you’ll find basic information about Finland and the Finns.We have also chosen some photos to show you how Finland looks like. In the Stories section students who have already chosen Finland give their answers to the question “Why Finland?”StoriesWho?AmandineWhere from?FranceWhy in Finland?EVS-volunteer>> read moreWho?FrédéricWhere from?FranceWhy in Finland?EVS-volunteer in Turku>> read moreWho?BrittaWhere from?Osnabrück, GermanyWhy in Finland?EVS-volunteer in Rovaniemi>> read moreWho? Anil PalikheWhere from? Katmandu, NepalWhy in Finland?PhD studies in medical genetics>> read moreWho? André ZachWhere from? Bern, SwitzerlandWhy in Finland?IAESTE internship in Civil Engineering>> read moreWho? Andrew NestingenWhere from? Washington State, USAWhy in Finland?Scholarship, Scandinavian Studies>> read moreWho? Francisco SocalWhere from?Porto Alegre, BrazilWhy in Finland?AIESEC internship, computer engineering>> read moreWho are they?Jan (Czech Republic), Jelena (Estonia),Viktoria (Estonia)>> read moreWho are they? Khanh (France), Michalis (Cyprus), Pshemek and Olek (Poland)Why are they in Finland?IAESTE traineeship at Helsinki Energy>> read moreWho? Pavla ArvelaWhere from? Czech RepublicWhy is she in Finland?Suomea Suomessa (Finnish in Finland) internship>> read moreWho are they? Roosa, Eeva, LauraWhere from? ChinaWhy are they in Finland?To attend an advanced Finnish course and a conversation course

Three Chinese girls learning the language of a country they had never seen before

I go to see my interviewees at Mariankatu 11, where the Helsinki Summer University has some of its teaching facilities. All the Finnish courses are organized here, and I really like the athmosphere. It's a beautiful old building with high ceiling, wooden details, light colours and soft light. I see old wooden school desks in the hall, how nostalgic!One of the girls is already there, she comes to me and introduces herself: ”Hei, olen Roosa” (Hi, I'm Roosa). Before I recover from my surprise of meeting a Chinese girl with a Finnish name, I meet the two others, Eeva and Laura. I can't help myself from asking how they have such common Finnish names. They smile and tell mr they got their named when they started to learn Finnish in Beijing two years ago, and it's natural for them to use it when they are in Finland. Later I learn that in the Chinese culture it's quite normal to adapt your name to the right country and context. So I'm talking with Roosa, Eeva and Laura now, and in perfect Finnish!First the girls tell me something about their studies in China. They started at the Beijing Foreign Studies University two years ago, majoring in Finnish and learning English as a minor. There are 24 students in their Finnish course, learning the language very comprehensively through grammar, translations, reading texts and newspapers in Finnish, writing, listening, and discussing different topics. They also have courses on culture and society, as well as on Finnish economics.When I ask how they started learning a strange language of a small country on the other side of the world, they smile and say: ”Why not?” Their future seems bright; they could work as translators or interpreters, for example, in those Finnish companies that are now rushing to China; they could work for the Chinese government, at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs or cultural centers; they could teach Finnish at university in China or they could just move to Finland and continue their own studies at the university.The first (but hopefully not the last) time in FinlandRoosa, Eeva and Laura are in Helsinki for three weeks in August, in order to attend an advanced Finnish course and a conversation course. To cover the costs they received a scholarship from UPM Kymmene, a Finnish forest products company. It's their first time in Finland, and they really enjoy the experience. Helsinki is a beautiful city, they say, even though you easily get lost on the streets that continuously ascend or descend. But then they can always ask someone, and Finnish people seem very friendly, patient and eager to help. Normally they are just so surprised when they hear three Chinese girls speaking Finnish that they always answer automatically in English!The girls are very happy with their teacher, and tell me that he even invited the students to his summer cottage. In the class they enjoy the international athmosphere with participants from Germany, Hungary, Russia, Japan and some African countries for instance. Even though Roosa, Eeva and Laura haven't gotten to know many Finnish people during their stay, they feel it's been a wonderful opportunity to know more about the country and the culture. This experience will help them to understand so much better the things they study about Finland when they go back to China. And maybe one day they'll have an opportunity to come back to Finland for a longer time.Great in Finlandpeople playing music in the streetthe sea in front of Helsinki is something amazing!dogs are nice, even though they are so big!forests, lakes, and blueberriesSurprising in Finlandit's so quiet! So few people and cars on the street, people talking in low voicesshops close early – in China you always find a place to buy what you needfood is very different and expensive, it's a real challenge to find anything for Chinese cuisinesome drunk people lying on the street seems to be just normal!Study abroad in Finland'Green' Finland is becoming an ever-more popular study abroad destination, with six of its universities ranked in the top 200 of the THES-QS World University Rankings.Country overviewFinland, which is part of the EU, neighbors Sweden, Norway, and Russia. With Finnish and Swedish the official languages of Finland, it is essential for young people to learn foreign languages like English, as a very small proportion of the world’s population speaks these two languages. This is great news for international students wishing to take courses in English.The country is best known for its extraordinarily green environment and peaceful surroundings. Accordingly, forestry has historically been the nation’s top industry. But the word ‘Nokia’ probably comes to mind when you think of this high-tech country. Finland is a technology superpower and remains one of the most technologically innovative and advanced countries in the world. Nokia, Finland’s largest company, is the number one maker of mobile phones worldwide. Furthermore, Finland boasts the most Internet connections in the world. So if technology and communications interest you there’s no better place than Finland.Education overviewIf you choose to study abroad in Finland, you will find yourself in one of the best education systems in the world, which sets the standards for many other countries worldwide. With literacy rates also amongst the highest in the world, it is evident that this Nordic country makes it a priority to equip people with the skills and knowledge they need to excel in our dynamic world economy. Finland has six universities in the THES – QS World University Rankings 2006.The Finnish higher education system consists of universities and polytechnics. While the universities provide the typical Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate degrees, the polytechnics concentrate on providing education in specialized professional fields pertaining to technology and transport, business and administration, health and social services, culture, tourism, catering and institutional management, natural resources, the humanities, and education. Polytechnics differ from universities in that they are not government-owned.International students make up 5% of the total population at higher education institutions. Many courses are taught in English, especially those pertaining to subjects that stand out in Finland’s book of strengths – Architecture. Art & Design, and Environmental Science.Click here for more information, tips and advice on international student accommodation and university housing.Pros and consExcellent education systemWell resourced schoolsGood quality of lifeHigh cost of livingCold, dark wintersLack of internationally-recognized schoolsInternational student accommodationFinnish Student Housing Ltd – www.soa.fi is an excellent resource for housing information. Student apartments are probably the most popular choice for students seeking accommodation. Rent prices are fair and the facilities are usually close to campuses. Students can live either on their own or with other students – both Finnish and international. The Finnish Student Housing organization can assist students in finding accommodation before they enter Finland, making for an easy transition. Students wishing to rent apartments privately should note that occupancy in Helsinki is high, so house searching could be time-consuming. Agents’ fees can be high so if you get a chance, rent directly from the landlord. The Internet, of course, is a great starting point for your search.Weather/ClimateSummer in Finland is warm but winters can be very cold. Helsinki will generally not be as cold as some of the more Northern cities, like Sodankyla or Jyvaskyla. Autumn and Spring are temperate. The Finnish climate is relatively dry (winter is of course, snowy). The ‘midnight sun’, characterized by the lack of sunset, and ‘twilight’ season, when the sun doesn’t rise and set, that embrace the other Nordic countries also take over Northern Finland. Not many countries in the world will you find such an intriguing atmosphere.TransportPublic transportation in Finland is efficient, with buses, trams, metros, and trains amongst modes that can be used. Driving is also very common and roads are well constructed. Trains also run daily from Helsinki to Moscow and St Petersburg, Russia, and boats travel to Stockholm, making it easy to venture into the other Nordic countries.Cost*ItemPricelitre of petrol€1.30movie ticket€8.50sending postcard overseas€0.65litre of milk€0.75six eggs€1.00litre of soft drink€3.00litre of bottled water€3.00fast food hamburger€4.00pint of beer in restaraunt€5.00club entrance price€5.0036 exposure film cost€7.00four person cabin per week€200.00*WorldGuide Index from Lonely Planet

A Story of Mr. Anil Palikhe

A “Finno-Ugrian-Nepalese” medical doctor doing research in HelsinkiAnil comes originally from Nepal, but he left his country quite early to study in Europe. First he went to the university in Hungary for 7 years, and now he has been in Helsinki for almost three years, doing research. Smiling he tells that he has feelings of being partly Finno-Ugrian by now. However, cultural differences still surprise him sometimes, and he likes to talk about them. “You are almost blind at the very beginning in a new place, once you open your eyes you see good and bad things, and that’s life everywhere!” Anil says.Anil is a medical doctor, but for the moment he's not practising in Finland. He completed his medical studies in Pécs (Hungary) with a fulltime scholarship from the Hungarian Ministry of Education. Before going to the Medical University he spent one year in Budapest to learn Hungarian from the beginning. Later Anil made all his studies in Hungarian. It was a challenge, but he managed very well at the end. He got another scholarship for his PhD in Hungary, but he started to think about going somewhere else. His Hungarian professor helped him to make a decision to come to Finland. There were so much more resources for research, the professor said.”I didn't even know where Finland was, in Scandinavia?” Anil tells about his arrival to Helsinki. Then he cocks his eye and reveals that his brother had business contacts in Finland, so Anil knew exactly where he was going. Since the beginning he made friends with both Finnish and international people. He says that Finns are very nice in general, and sometimes they seem even too polite to him. ”If all their reactions are nice and polite”, he says, ”you don't know what they really mean.” Anil also noticed that it's sometimes hard to take the first step with Finns. ”They hide like turtles!” he laughs. But not all Finns are shy either, and Anil says he has some very good friends around Finland.”Hard work calls for hard leisure”, as we say in FinnishAnil does research for his PhD at the University of Helsinki. His office and laboratory are in Biomedicum, which is a centre for medical research and training. He participates in a research project with an objective to define the connection between genetics and heart disease. Some of the work is made in the laboratory, some in the office. Anil also takes care of raising funds for the project, and during the academic year he takes part in doctoral courses at the university. That is good for learning new approaches, but also for making contacts anf friends with different people. With all these different things to do, Anil has quite free hands to organize his working days.Generally Anil can do everything in English, but he keeps on studying Finnish. First he attended some Finnish courses at the university, but now he studies independently, mainly by reading and speaking with friends. In his free time Anil likes to relax, sometimes without any attachment with anyone or with anything. From time to time he just takes his bike for the weekend and totally disappears from the civilization – even in the winter. He puts his tent down somewhere in the forest, spends a relaxing evening in the peace of the nature, and comes back on the following day. He lives for the present moment and enjoys the life. He does not make too many plans for the future – “there is enough time for future, let me fix the present first”, he says.MottoDalai Lama, “Every human has to visit a new place in a year.” But I try to do once in a week.Three great things about Finland:Sauna three times a week in a Finnish wayGoing by bike anywhere you wantA summer cottage by a lake, in the summer or in the winterFunny incidents in FinlandA morning coffee with his colleagues in the very first week in Finland surprised Anil. Nobody talked while they were around the coffee table. Anil's first thought was that for some reason they were angry at him. Only later he found out that in Finland silence doesn't mean anything offensive, it is just a normal way to be.On the first winter in Finland Anil got surprised by the cold. He wanted to buy something in a shop just accross the street, so he put on his jacket and went out. However, it was way too cold, so he came back, put on another winter jacket, and then he was able to cross the street.Anil goes to a sauna in his building every week. Once, with some other foreigners, they started to make food on the stove. The caretaker came in and said it was forbidden to grill sausages on the stove, because of the horrible smell. ”It's not a sausage, but fish!” Anil said spontaneously. But the caretaker was strict and carried out the smelling packet.

Main Features

Main Features
Well, its 100% full scholarship program, on which all levels student can enroll.: No need TOEFL/IELTS (Optional): No need property valuation.: No need CA report: No need audit reportSo this program is applicable to all the interested students.Its EUROPE , land of opportunities/Ideas.#100% full scholarship/study free (Most of the European countries have free education)#Student get Schengen Visa ( student can visit or transfer their credit to 15 European country)#Free Visa#Practical education#Top/best education among European country#A student can get 25hrs per week work permit and 5 euro per hrs minimum earning#Yearly three and half month holiday, they can work anywhere with in 15 Schengen country.# Finland is the Golden gate to enter Europe .#One can become a doctor with zero investment#Finland Government invest 20000euro per student for their study#In Finland there is 20 University and 28 Polytechnics/University of Applied Science (UAS)# If any student doesn't like any subject, they can even change it after six month study in Finland .#In Finland there is credit system of study and usually in Bachelor Degree there will be total 210 credits and period of study is 3.5 years and some course may be 4.5 years.# Finland has best human rights among the Europe# Finland is cold place# Study time mostly starts from 8 or 9 amJob opportunities#25hrs work permit in a week#15 euro per hrs earning#3.5 month yearly holiday, can be work anywhere#Initially, night work can be found#Job guarantee after study#Credit can be transfer(Study transfer) to any Schengen country like: Norway (World largest earning), Austria , Germany , Belgium , Denmark , France , Greece , Iceland , Italy , Luxemburg , Portugal , Spain , Sweden , The Netherlands, even in US, Australia , Canada etc.Summary:1) Documents should be provided to us scanned copy first, again all the copy of document with attested.2) After one and half month student will get the invitation letter from the university3) Then the students should be send these invitation letter then they need to fill it out then you need to send us again.4) Then student need to appear entrance exam, which will be conducted by British Counsel5) After a month result will be published, those student who will passed they will be sent admission letter that is final and these student can go.

Very much important for the Students

Bachelor degree programme studies at polytechnicsEducation offered at polytechnics/UAS is more practical and more focused on vocational skills than at the universities. Bachelor degree programmes take about 3.5 to 4.5 years to complete.Polytechnics/UAS provide degree programmes in the following fields of vocational education and training: humanities and education; culture; natural sciences; natural resources and the environment; tourism, catering and domestic services; health and sports; technology, communications and transport; social sciences, business and administration.Bachelor degree programme consists of five modules: basic studies, vocational studies, work practise, free studies and a final project. The scope of the Bachelor degree is usually 210 study credits, even though degrees of 240 and 270 exist, too. In a degree of 210 credits basic studies are usually the scope of 60, vocational studies 90, work practice 30, free studies 15 and the final project 15 credits. During one study year the student is expected to study 1 600 hours which makes up to 60 credits. The study credits used are equivalent to those of the European credit system ECTS (European Credit Transfer System).Visa and residence permitsNon-EU citizens need a residence permit when they have been admitted to a higher education institution and their studies last longer than three months. The residence permit is granted for one year at the time. If the studies take longer than one year, the extension of the residence permit needs to be applied every year until the student has finished the study programme. For readmission of the residence permit the student must meet the following criteria: the student must be a full-time student, the student must be registered in a higher education institution, the student has completed the courses required in the higher education institution study programme. In addition to the residence permit, from 1 September 2007 a student from a non-EU country must have a valid health insurance issued by reliable company or institution. Non-EU students who are studying in Finland in a full-time degree programme for minimum of two years need a health insurance that covers medicine costs. Also, non-EU students must prove being able to support his or her living in Finland see Fees and costs. AccommodationStudent accommodation is available, for example, through VVO and SOA (Finland's Student Housing Ltd.) in Finland, and HOAS (The Foundation for Student Housing in the Helsinki Region) in Helsinki region. Applications should be sent directly to VVO (http://www.vvo.fi/), SOA (http://www.soa.fi/), HOAS (http://www.hoas.fi/) and other student accommodation foundations. Accommodation system varies in different polytechnics/UAS. Some have student campuses and accommodation, while others encourage the students to apply for accommodation from the study town and city. See more detailed information on each polytechnics'/UAS' website.Student accommodation in Finland is of high standard. The apartments and rooms are in very good condition, including central heating, a refrigerator, cooking and washing facilities, and internet access. Both furnished and unfurnished rooms are available. The prices vary depending on the location and the size of the room or apartment. Rents in Helsinki area are the most expensive (rooms 200-300 euros, a one-bedroom apartment 400-600 euros), whereas in Central and Northern Finland the prices are lower (in Oulu, rooms 150-200 euros, a one bed-room apartment 300-350 euros).DEGREE PROGRAMDegree programmesThe following degree programmes start during the academic year 2007-2008.Additional applications »ARCADA »CENTRAL OSTROBOTHNIA UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES »DIACONIA UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES »EVTEK UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES »HAAGA-HELIA UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES »HAMK UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES »HELSINKI POLYTECHNIC STADIA »JYVÄSKYLÄ UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES »KAJAANI UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES »KEMI-TORNIO UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES »KYMENLAAKSON AMMATTIKORKEAKOULU; UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES »LAHTI UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES »LAUREA UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES »MIKKELI UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES »NORTH KARELIA UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES »OULU UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES »PIRKANMAA POLYTECHNIC- UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES »ROVANIEMI UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES »SATAKUNTA UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES »SAVONIA UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES »SEINÄJOKI UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES »SOUTH CARELIA POLYTECHNIC »TAMPERE POLYTECHNIC - UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES »TURKU UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES »VAASA UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES »DEGREE PROGRAM WITH SUBJECT LIST:Degree programmesAdditional applications ARCADADegree Programme in International BusinessDegree Programme in Plastics TechnologyDegree Programme in Human Ageing and Elderly ServiceCENTRAL OSTROBOTHNIA UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCESDegree Programme in Business ManagementDegree Programme in Chemistry and TechnologyDegree Programme in Industrial ManagementDegree Programme in Information TechnologyDegree Programme in NursingDIACONIA UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCESDegree Programme in Social ServicesEVTEK UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCESDegree Programme in European Business AdministrationDegree Programme in European ManagementDegree Programme in Information TechnologyDegree Programme in Media EngineeringHAAGA-HELIA UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCESDegree Programme in Business Information TechnologyDegree Programme in International BusinessDegree Programme for Multilingual Management AssistantsDegree Programme in Sports and Leisure ManagementDegree Programme in Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism ManagementDegree Programme in TourismHAMK UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCESDegree Programme in International BusinessDegree Programme in Construction EngineeringDegree Programme in Mechanical Engineering and Production TechnologyHELSINKI POLYTECHNIC STADIADegree Programme in NursingDegree Programme in Social ServicesJYVÄSKYLÄ UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCESDegree Programme in Music ManagementDegree Programme in International BusinessDegree Programme in LogisticsDegree Programme in NursingDegree Programme in Facility ManagementKAJAANI UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCESDegree Programme in International BusinessDegree Programme in TourismKEMI-TORNIO UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCESDegree Programme in Business Information TechnologyDegree Programme in Business ManagementDegree Programme in Information TechnologyDegree Programme in NursingKYMENLAAKSON AMMATTIKORKEAKOULU; UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCESDegree Programme in International BusinessLAHTI UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCESDegree Programme in Business Information TechnologyDegree Programme in International BusinessLAUREA UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCESDegree Programme in Business ManagementDegree Programme in NursingDegree Programme in Social ServicesMIKKELI UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCESDegree Programme in Business ManagementNORTH KARELIA UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCESDegree Programme in DesignDegree Programme in International BusinessOULU UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCESDegree Programme in Business Information TechnologyDegree Programme in International BusinessDegree Programme in Information TechnologyPIRKANMAA POLYTECHNIC- UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCESDegree Programme in NursingROVANIEMI UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCESDegree Programme in International BusinessDegree Programme in Information TechnologyDegree Programme in TourismSATAKUNTA UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCESDegree Programme in International Business and Marketing LogisticsDegree Programme in PhysiotherapySAVONIA UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCESDegree Programme in International BusinessDegree Programme in Industrial ManagementDegree Programme in Information TechnologySEINÄJOKI UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCESDegree Programme in International BusinessSOUTH CARELIA POLYTECHNICDegree Programme in Mechanical Engineering and Production TechnologyDegree Programme in Paper TechnologyDegree Programme in TourismTAMPERE POLYTECHNIC - UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCESDegree Programme in International BusinessDegree Programme in Environmental EngineeringTURKU UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCESDegree Programme in International BusinessDegree Programme in NursingDegree Programme in Information TechnologyVAASA UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCESDegree Programme in International BusinessDegree Programme in Information TechnologyDegree Programme in Hotel and Restaurant BusinessStudying in FinlandEducation system in Finland and polytechnics Bachelor degree programme studies at polytechnicsFees and costsVisa and residence permitsStudent financial aid and study grantsAccommodationApplication practicalitiesAdditional applicationsTimetable for joint applicationEligibilityDiscretionary admissionGeneral admission criteriaCertificatesFinnish upper secondary education: Finnish Matriculation examinationFinnish upper secondary education: EB, IB or RP -examinations completed in Finland before applyingVocational qualificationsFinnish Matriculation examination and vocational qualificationNon-Finnish qualificationsHigher education degreesEducation system in Finland and polytechnicsThe Finnish education system is composed of nine-year basic education (comprehensive school); upper secondary education, comprising vocational and general education; and higher education, provided by universities and polytechnics. Adult education is available at all levels.The Finnish higher education system comprises 20 universities and 28 polytechnics governed by the Ministry of Education. Multi-field polytechnics train professionals in response to labour market needs and conduct R&D, which supports instruction and promotes regional development in particular. The Ministry of Education confirms the degree programmes of polytechnics.The polytechnics use the terms 'polytechnic' or 'university of applied sciences' when referring to themselves. On this website the term polytechnic/university of applied sciences (abbr. UAS) is used in most cases.Bachelor degree programme studies at polytechnicsEducation offered at polytechnics/UAS is more practical and more focused on vocational skills than at the universities. Bachelor degree programmes take about 3.5 to 4.5 years to complete.Polytechnics/UAS provide degree programmes in the following fields of vocational education and training: humanities and education; culture; natural sciences; natural resources and the environment; tourism, catering and domestic services; health and sports; technology, communications and transport; social sciences, business and administration.Bachelor degree programme consists of five modules: basic studies, vocational studies, work practise, free studies and a final project. The scope of the Bachelor degree is usually 210 study credits, even though degrees of 240 and 270 exist, too. In a degree of 210 credits basic studies are usually the scope of 60, vocational studies 90, work practice 30, free studies 15 and the final project 15 credits. During one study year the student is expected to study 1 600 hours which makes up to 60 credits. The study credits used are equivalent to those of the European credit system ECTS (European Credit Transfer System).Visa and residence permitsStudents coming from the EU countries do not need a visa when studying in Finland. Students coming from other than EU countries need a visa when they stay less than three months in Finland (taking an entrance examination, for example).EU citizens and the citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland (see Directorate of Immigration, http://www.uvi.fi/) do not need a residence permit when studying in Finland. For a stay longer than three months period, students from EU countries need to register their right to reside in Finland at the local police department. The criteria for right to reside in Finland are as follows: the main purpose for residence in Finland are the full-time studies in a Finnish higher education institution, the student is able to support his or her living in Finland, the student has a valid health insurance. Students coming from Sweden, Norway, Denmark or Iceland do not need to have a clarification on their financing.Non-EU citizens need a residence permit when they have been admitted to a higher education institution and their studies last longer than three months. The residence permit is granted for one year at the time. If the studies take longer than one year, the extension of the residence permit needs to be applied every year until the student has finished the study programme. For readmission of the residence permit the student must meet the following criteria: the student must be a full-time student, the student must be registered in a higher education institution, the student has completed the courses required in the higher education institution study programme. In addition to the residence permit, from 1 September 2007 a student from a non-EU country must have a valid health insurance issued by reliable company or institution. Non-EU students who are studying in Finland in a full-time degree programme for minimum of two years need a health insurance that covers medicine costs. Also, non-EU students must prove being able to support his or her living in Finland see Fees and costs.

Transfer Courses to other University

Transfer Courses to other UniversityYou can change your University after completing a semester...Most of the Universities allows transfer of credit from one University to other. But there are some requirements:Only credit hours associated with graduate courses for which a grade of ?B? or better were obtained may be eligible for transfer.A copy of the catalog description of the course and an official transcript showing completion of the course(s) and the grade received in the course (s) must be submitted with the plan of study.For transfer credit, students should refer to the general policies of the University Graduate School. No more than 6/9(Some universities allow 6 and some 9 ) credits towards the Master of Science in Engineering may be earned at another university.Credit must have been granted by a regionally accredited, U.S. institution or foreign university.The credit must not have been used to satisfy the requirements for any other degree.You must furnish an official transcript to the Graduate Records Office.These are most common requirements and may vary with Universities.According to University of Maryland (Mechanical Engg Dept.)Transfer of Credit:All graduate study credits offered as transfer credit must meet the following criteria:No more than six credit hours of graduate work may be transferred from another institution, unless the program has special approval by the Graduate Council. When changing programs within UMCP, the student may request inclusion of credits earned at UMCP. When moving from non-degree to degree-seeking status, however, Advanced Special Students may not include more than six (6) credits.The advisor and Director of Graduate Studies will need to certify that any courses listed are applicable to the student's program and, for non-UMCP courses, that the courses have been revalidated.Credit must have been granted by a regionally accredited, U.S. institution or foreign university. If the latter, evaluation by International Educational Services and the Graduate School is required.The courses must be at the graduate level and have been taken for graduate credit at the original institution.The student must have earned a grade of "B" or better in the course and have a "B" or better average on all the graduate course work taken at the institution from which the transfer is requested.The credit must not have been used to satisfy the requirements for any other degree.The student must furnish an official transcript to the Graduate Records Office.Transfer work satisfies only the 400-level requirements for the master's degree and does not apply to the upper-level requirements.The transfer course work must have been taken within seven years of the award of UMCP's master's degree for which the student is currently enrolled. All other course work must be taken within five years of the master's degree.According to Michigan State University (CS dept)Transfer CreditsGraduate credits earned in another graduate program may be accepted by the Department up to a maximum of 9 credits (excluding research, thesis and independent study credits). Students from the MCEE institutions are allowed up to 14 credits. In such a case, the completed ?Credit Evaluation: Graduate Program? form is to be included with the program. Transfer credit will be given only for courses in which a grade of 3.0 (out of 4) or better was earned and whose content is still relevant and timely.

Why Finland?

What makes International Education work in Finland?
Finland is a country of 5.1 million people located in the North of Europe with Sweden, Norway and Russia as its neighbours. Since 1995, Finland has been a member of the European Union. Education has always been a high priority for Finland. At the moment, Finland has 21 university level institutions and 30 polytechnics. International students (including both degree and exchange students) constitute about five per cent of the total student enrolment at the above institutions.
Citizens of a relatively small country like Finland understand that contacts with other countries are a key to survival and success to today's global competition. Finns have always been eager to study abroad and to bring new skills back home from foreign countries. For professionals of international education in Finland, the problem is not how to persuade Finnish students to depart on an exchange in other countries. The key issue for us has always been how to attract international students to Finland and to achieve reciprocity in student exchanges with foreign universities.
During the 1990s, student mobility flows to and from Finland have increased dramatically. However, until recently, students studying abroad clearly outnumbered the international exchange students coming to study in Finland. For this reason, it was quite surprising for us to learn that, according to statistics published by the European Commission in Spring 2000, Finland (considering its size) seemed to have become the most popular destination for European ERASMUS exchange students planning to study in another European country during the academic year 2000-2001. Not only have the numbers of ERASMUS students been growing. A similar development has also been visible in the flows of students coming to Finland through other international exchange programs and bilateral exchange programs of Finnish universities and polytechnics. (For further information, please see the Statistical Overview of the Development of internationalisation in the Nordic countries distributed to the participants of this session).
Why Finland?
Why have the numbers of international exchange students increased so much during the last years of the 1990s? Why do more and more international exchange students today choose Finland as their destination? In the following, I will briefly try to describe some of the reasons for this development. My conclusions are based both 1) on my own observations during the last eleven years and 2) on a study entitled "Why Finland?" carried out by the Finnish Centre for International Mobility, CIMO, and in the fall of the year 2000. To find out what makes international students come and study in Finland, a questionnaire was sent to about 1,000 newly arrived international exchange students, of whom 561 students of 52 different nationalities answered the survey.

Study in Finland

Considering study in Finland? For international students, Finland offers a multitude of opportunities, an inspiring environment at the crossroads of cultures and an efficient educational system.
Most importantly, Finland offers world-leading expertise in several fields of study, such as information technology, biotechnology, environmental sciences, architecture, music, art and design. But educational opportunities are by no means limited to these areas of Finnish know-how.
The quality of education in Finland is high – but the cost of study is low: Finnish universities and polytechnics do not generally charge tuition fees. Higher education at university level is funded by the state through the Ministry of Education, which also monitors the standard of education through national quality assurance.
Discover Finland is an extensive online resource showcasing Finnish higher education. In addition to an overview of the Finnish educational system, Discover Finland features information on admission requirements, application procedures, student life and practical training opportunities. The site also includes a searchable database of the over 300 international programs offered by Finnish universities and polytechnics.Discover Finland is maintained by CIMO, the Finnish Centre for International Mobility. Affiliated with the Ministry of Education, CIMO coordinates international education and training programs, administers scholarship and exchange programs, and promotes Finnish education and training programs internationally.