Offering a high quality and affordable education along with the chance to live in the happiest and safest country on earth are just some reasons to consider studying in Finland

More than 20,000 international students are currently studying in Finland and there’s never been a better time to join them. For the second year in a row, Finland was voted the world’s happiest country in the World Happiness Report 2019.

In your time away from study there’s plenty to explore, from visiting Santa Claus in Lapland to witnessing the country’s natural phenomena of permanent sunrise, the Midnight Sun, from June to July.

Finland is the perfect destination to boost your career prospects, as shortages in the labour market mean there’s plenty of opportunity for employment once you graduate.

Finnish universities

LUT UNIVERSITY

LUT University (Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT) is a pioneering science university in Finland, bringing together the fields of science and business since 1969.

Our international community is composed of approximately 6,500 students and experts engaged in scientific research and academic education.

• Scientific publications 919
• Number of Master’s degrees awarded: 780, of which 540 were Master of Science degrees in Engineering and 240 were Master of Science degrees in Business Administration
• Number of Bachelor’s degrees awarded: 479, of which 308 were Bachelor of Science degrees in Technology and 171 were Bachelor of Science degrees in Economics and Business Administration
• Number of Doctoral degrees awarded: 56, of which 49 were in technology and 7 in business
• Number of undergraduate and postgraduate students: approx. 5300
• Approx. 80 different nationalities
• Number of students in continuing education: approx. 780
• Number of students in the Open University: approx. 260
• Total staff: 944
• Academic staff: 558
• Financing for 2019: Ministry of Education basic financing 46.0 M€ and supplementary financing 38,2 M€

COST OF LIVING IN FINLAND

Finland is known for its high standard of living, which means that the country is not the cheapest one in the world. However, the cost of living in Finland is about the same as in other EU countries. Expenses vary depending on the accommodation you choose and your personal spending habits.

In Lappeenranta and Lahti, living expenses including accommodation in a student apartment may amount to roughly EUR 700/month.

As a degree student in Finland, you will be issued a student card that entitles you to student discounts on meals and other services (e.g. transport, museums, cultural events
and recreational activities).

BACHELOR’S STUDIES

At LUT, you can choose from a total of five Bachelor’s programmes in technology in English: four double degree programmes and one regular degree programme.

BACHELOR’S PROGRAMMES IN ENGLISH:

» Electrical Engineering (double degree)
» Energy Technology (double degree)
» Mechanical Engineering (double degree)
» Software and Systems Engineering (double degree)
» Technology and Engineering Science

In each Bachelor’s programme, you will graduate within three academic years with a unique skill set that meets the current demands of industry and technology. Each programme is 180 ECTS credits (1 ECTS credit = 26 hours of work related to the course; includes in-class lectures, out-of-class assignments, preparation for the exam, exam). After completing the programme, you will earn the degree of Bachelor of Science in Technology, B.Sc. (Tech.).

After completing the Bachelor’s degree at LUT, you are entitled to continue your studies at the Master’s level at LUT in your chosen field of specialisation.
Double degree programmes The double degree programmes Electrical Engineering, Energy Technology, Mechanical Engineering and Software and Systems Engineering are arranged in cooperation with Hebei University of Technology (HEBUT), China.

All students accepted into these four programmes will receive two degree certificates after they have fulfilled the degree requirements of both universities, LUT and HEBUT. Students complete the entire degree in Finland, in either Lappeenranta or Lahti.

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LAB University of Applied Sciences 

LAB is a university of applied sciences focusing on the working world and innovation. We offer students the best of studies and the professional world in one package. We boldly experiment with new approaches in collaboration with our corporate partners. We play a role in the growth, internationalization and sustainable development of businesses.

We develop solutions for the sustainable use of materials, make people’s daily lives easier and turn innovations into international success stories. In other words, we contribute to the economic prosperity of businesses and society.

Degree courses in Finland

English-speaking Bachelors are mainly found in UAS institutions – traditional universities have more to offer candidates looking for courses taught in English at Masters and PhD level. However, UAS institutions provide more than a hundred Bachelors courses in English, in locations across Finland and in a range of subjects.

A three-year university Bachelors degree, typically taught in Finnish or Swedish, is made up of basic and intermediate study, a language component, and a thesis.

UAS programmes have a strong vocational emphasis, giving students relevant on-the-job training as a compulsory part of the course to prepare them for entering the world of employment. As a UAS student, you’ll complete core and optional studies resulting in the submission of a thesis.

Masters degrees

At Finnish universities, Masters courses take two years to complete. Those delivered at UAS institutions can be shorter, due to candidates needing a wealth of professional experience – usually three years’ worth – before the course begins.

Courses are delivered through a mixture of lectures, seminars, practical workshops and internships, either face-to-face or in an online format. You’ll also gain credits from general studies and language courses. Assessment methods include coursework assignments, exams and a final dissertation.

Your eligibility for a course is based on the extent and quality of your previous academic qualifications, your language skills and other faculty-specific requirements.

PhDs
Finnish PhD courses are only offered at traditional universities. They’re typically four years in length, although some can be longer, and are provided in both English and Finnish.

Doctorate-level study is research based, and incorporates compulsory coursework, seminars, conferences and the submission of a thesis. You might have to defend your published thesis in a public discussion as part of your final assessment.

Unlike Bachelors and Masters, where courses follow a set structure, PhD studies are available in tailor-made form. Shop around to find an institution that can best cater to your research aspirations.

Student exchanges
Students currently attending a UK university can take part in the EU’s education, training and youth support programme, Erasmus+ (confirmed for the 2020/21 academic year). The scheme offers study, training, work experience and voluntary placements, with opportunities lasting from three months to one academic year.

Financial support is available through Erasmus+ for any UK public, private or not-for-profit organisation that is actively involved in education and training. However, your university must have a formal agreement with a partner university in another EU country, of which Finland is one. Speak to your institution for information on how to apply.

If you’re from a Nordic or Baltic country, and currently studying for a Bachelors or Masters, you may be interested in applying for the Nordplus Higher Education Programme enabling you to study in Finland for up to a year.

This information is still valid following the UK’s decision to leave the European Union and will be updated if changes occur.

Course fees
If you’re from an EU/European Economic Area (EEA) country, you’re in luck – you’ll incur no tuition fees studying in Finland. Non-EU/EEA students, however, are subject to annual tuition fees, typically between €6,000 and €10,000 (£4,980 and £8,300). Check with your institution for specific figures.

You’ll also have to pay a small fee to join your university’s students’ union, which is usually around €60 (£50) for the semester or €120 (£100) for the year.

On top of course fees you need to factor in the costs of living in Finland, which can be expensive, as pointed out at Edunation. If you’re living in a city such as Helsinki, you’ll need to budget for €700-€1,000 (£580-£830) per month for costs including accommodation, transport, food and course materials.

If you’re a non-EU/EEA student, you’ll have to prove you have financial backing in the process of applying for your student residence permit. This is in addition to the costs of your insurance.

Funding to study in Finland
EU/EEA citizens will be hard pushed to find funding at Bachelors or Masters level due to not having to pay any tuition fees. However, the Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI) offers a number of scholarships for Doctoral students. Find out more at Finnish National Agency for Education – Scholarship programmes.

Alternatively, look into completing an Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Degree. As part of this scheme, EU/EEA and non-EU/EEA students can benefit from postgraduate funding.

If you’re a non-EU/EEA citizen, you may still be able to find funding for your Bachelors or Masters through your place of study. Browse Study in Finland’s details on tuition fees and costs to see if funding is available to you.

While you’ll have the freedom to find part-time work to support your time in Finland, don’t rely on this as your sole source of income. As a native English speaker, you may find language barriers prevent you from securing employment. If you’re successful in finding a job, you may find that your earnings don’t fully cover your costs of living. Ensure that you’ve budgeted carefully before making the move.

Student visas
As an EU/EEA citizen, you won’t need to apply for a visa to complete your studies in Finland. However, you’ll need to register at your local police station within three months of your arrival, and if you’re staying for longer than a year you’ll need to register with the Finnish Population Information System. This can be done at your nearest Local Register office.

If you’re from a country outside the EU/EEA and looking to study for a minimum of three months, you’ll need to obtain a renewable student residence permit.

To apply for this permit, you’ll need a formal letter of acceptance from your Finnish university, health insurance and proof that you can support yourself financially through your studies. Applications can be processed via Enter Finland or the Finnish consulate or embassy in your home country – for the UK, this is the Embassy of Finland, London.

This can be a lengthy process, taking a number of months, so allow plenty of time for your application to be approved by sending it off as soon as possible.

This visa information is still valid following the UK’s decision to leave the EU and will be updated if changes happen.

How to apply
All applications to study at Bachelors or Masters level in Finland must be submitted through Studyinfo.fi. The site can also be used to browse available courses in both English and Finnish, and contains information on all areas of the Finnish higher education sector.

Typically, annual deadlines are as follows:

Bachelors – January for courses starting in the autumn term, or September for courses with a January start date.
Masters – application windows are slightly more lenient, opening late November/early December and remaining open till mid/late January. UAS institutions can extend this deadline to March in some cases.

If you’re applying for a PhD course, you’ll do so directly to your chosen institution. There’s no stipulated timeframe, with some schools accepting applications all year round. Check whether you’re working to a deadline or not before beginning your application.

Masters applicants should hold an undergraduate degree, as well as proof of language proficiency where required and proof of higher education qualifications. You won’t typically need to sit an entrance exam, although if you’re applying for a UAS Masters you might also need a few years of professional experience.

To be accepted onto a Bachelors course, you’ll need to hold the right educational certificates, meet language expectations and successfully pass an entrance exam.

Language requirements
You must be able to demonstrate proficiency in English for English-taught courses. The most commonly accepted proof is the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

If you’re a native English speaker, you most likely won’t have to prove your proficiency with an official test. Exact guidelines for language requirements vary between institutions – check with yours to see what’s required of you.

To study courses in Finnish, you’ll need to be relatively fluent in the language when making your application. This means that you should be between intermediate and advanced level on the following proficiency scales:

Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment (CEFR)
National Certificates of Language Proficiency (YKI)

Comparison to UK qualifications
The undergraduate qualifications you’ve earned in other European countries should be recognised by Finnish universities, thanks to the country’s involvement in the Bologna process – an agreement made between EU member states to ensure the direct comparability in the standards and quality of higher education qualifications.

This means that your Finnish qualifications should be internationally recognised too, although it’s always best to check this with individual employers.