Higher Education Institutions in Finland

Higher education system consists of universities and polytechnics (universities of applied sciences). The Finnish higher education system is made up of two parallel sectors: universities and polytechnics. The universities rely on the connection between research and teaching. Their basic purpose is to perform scientific research and to provide higher education connected with it. Students at universities may take a lower (Bachelor's) or higher (Master's) academic degree and also academic further education, consisting of licentiate and doctoral degree. Universities also arrange further education and open university teaching.

The polytechnics are usually regional higher education institutions which provide instruction in subjects from several sectors, and which emphasize a connection with working life. The degrees they provide are Bachelor's degrees with a professional emphasis.

There are universities and polytechnics all over Finland, and the ultimate aim is to ensure that all prospective students have equal opportunities for study, regardless of where they live.
Finland attracts international students because of the high quality of education. More than 8400 students from abroad are studying for a degree in Finnish universities. Additionally, thousands of international students from over 100 countries visit Finnish universities annually.

Universities in Finland:
The universities represent the oldest educational tradition in Finland. The first university, The Royal Academy of Turku was founded in 1640. The universities' operations are still based on academic freedom and individual autonomy. Autonomy means that the universities have considerable freedom and independence in making their own decisions. The universities and their faculties decide on the regulations applying to their degrees and on their own curriculums. They also decide how many students to admit each year to study the various subjects they teach. There are 20 universities in Finland, all of which are owned and largely funded by the Finnish government. University studies are available to all, in principle, as Finnish universities do not charge term fees.

Polytechnics - Universities of Applied Sciences:
The special feature of the polytechnics is their close link with working life and their aim of providing skills for expert duties in different vocational sectors. The polytechnics system is fairly recent in Finland, having been created in the 1990s. The new system was introduced in an effort to channel the growth of the higher education sector from universities into the new polytechnics. The new name for polytechnic is University of Applied Sciences.

Finding your degree:
To find a degree prospective students are suggested to visit the websites of the educational institutes. They can be found at the webpage of the Ministry of Education.
Ministry of Education

Bachelor's degree:
Application criteria for Bachelor's degree is a competed higher secondary education and a good command in English proven with IELTS or TOEFL.
Application for Bachelor's Degree in polytechnics can be done with an online joint application at www.admissions.fi twice a year. Application times are January-February and September. The admissions website also provides a lot of practical information about living in Finland. Guidance for filling up the online application is available at the Embassy. After completing online application the applicant receives a confirmation email and a student application number. Students are required to send one attested set of their educational certificates to an address in Finland (first priority college) given in the confirmation email. At one time, student can apply up to four different degrees. A gap in the studies does not affect the chances of getting admission.
Participating in the entrance examination is generally required for Bachelor's degree. Students will be notified with a letter if they are invited to sit in exams (for this purpose students should write their current address or GPO Box address when filling up the online application especially if their permanent address is in a remote area of Nepal). One part of the exam usually is a language (English) skill test. The Embassy does not have sample questions/exams available. The colleges themselves decide where their exams are held, students get the information of the exam location, date and time when they receive the exam invitation letter. The Embassy is normally not notified who are invited to the exam unless the Embassy has been asked to conduct exams. Not all exams are held in Nepal, if the exam location is in Finland, it is necessary to apply a tourist visa in order to participate. For this, more information is available at the Embassy.
Joint application webpage
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Again, another victim of Consultancy

I applied in the study for Finland through the "cross country education center" in Nepal. they told me that they were proper ambassadors .But looking at your blog it seemed to me that it was a mistake to do so? they haven't asked me for much money ,but from their intention it felt as if all the students applying would not be selected,even if they passed the exam.They haven't even gave me my entrance admit card and not mentioned the college name also.I also have quite a confusion on the types of questions asked,the embassy just gave me a question sample is that it,If you could just give me information about the exam and how will i clearly be able to know the truth and apply in universities of Finland by myself ,it would be grateful,plz hurry cause my exam is near as the institution says.

Dear Friend, you are already surrounded by problems. The first thing now, is to contact the embassy and telling them the truth and every detail about your admission process. Read the following post for what to do now? : http://www.nepalfinland.com/2008/04/avoiding-fraud-consultants-of-nepal.html

Entrance Model for Business Information Technology (BIT) Degree in Finland

The Entrance model of Business Information Technology consist of three sections:

1. Language Test for English
2. Logical Thinking (See here for these questions:

http://www.nepalfinland.com/2008/03/sample-entrance-questions-for-it.html). It covers both Mathematical and Logical Deduction questions.

3. Motivation Test: The objective of this test is to check the motivation of applicant to study Business Information Technology and gereral orientation about BIT. It might contain a short essary to test your motivation for BIT study. The essay topic will be given to address your motivation towards the BIT. And, the orientation checks whether you have some any idea about what is Business Information Technology Course or not. It can be checked with the same essay or two smaller two essay can be also asked. Best of Luck for Entrance.

How about getting a job in Finland?

Skilled hands needed in many fields
Finland is bidding immigrants a warm welcome. The attractions of working in Finland include good working conditions and high employment security. Even the intriguing Finnish language poses no barrier to newcomers willing to make an effort. Last year some 22,500 people migrated to Finland.
Photos: Anna Dammert, except inner photo right: Tekes/Matias Uusikylä

Finland has woken up to the fact that when the post-war baby-boom age groups retire, it will face a labour shortage that its own younger generation will be unable to fill. For example, if all the jobs that will be vacated in nursing over the next few decades had to be filled with Finns only, then one in four of Finland’s young people would have to train to be nurses. Since that situation is obviously a non-starter, there is a clear and present need to recruit people from abroad. Other sectors too, such as construction, are facing a labour shortage.

The idea of taking either a short-term or a permanent job in Finland, or actually settling here, is not as extraordinary as it was a mere ten or twenty years ago. The attractions of working in Finland include good working conditions and high employment security. Even the intriguing Finnish language poses no barrier to newcomers willing to make an effort, although admittedly it may slow them down a bit.

Labour mobility has in fact speeded up considerably with enlargement of the European Union. In 2006, some 22,500 people migrated to Finland, over a thousand more than in the previous year and a good 10,000 more than the number of people who emigrated. Finland has been, and still is to some extent, a culturally, ethnically and linguistically homogeneous country; the attitude towards newcomers has been largely one of caution among both officials and the population in general. Now, however, Finland has decided to bid immigrants a warm welcome. The political programme of the second government of Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, which took office in spring 2007, makes a clear transition from a policy on aliens to a policy on immigrants.

Cooperating degree programs in entrance exams

It is the list of polytechnics/UAS and concern degree programs that accept the results of each others' entrance examination in the mentioned field of study for the year of 2008.

Applicant who has applied to 1 - 4 degree programs that are included in the same field of study and accept each other's results will be invited only to one entrance examination, the result will be accepted in all the co-operating degree programs that the applicant has applied to.

If a polytechnic/UAS degree program is not included in the list, it does not accept entrance examination results from any other polytechnic/UAS, and the applicant has to attend the entrance examination of that polytechnic/UAS.

Social Sciences, Business and Administration
Arcada UAS: DP in International Business
Central Ostrobothnia UAS: DP in Business Management
Haaga-Helia UAS: DP in International Business
HAMK UAS: DP in International Business
Jyväskylä UAS: DP in International Business
Kajaani UAS: DP in International Business
Kemi-Tornio UAS: DP in Business Management
Kymenlaakson amk UAS: DP in International Business
Lahti UAS: DP in International Business
Laurea UAS: DP in International Business
Helsinki Metropolia UAS: DP in International Business and Marketing Logistics
Mikkeli UAS: DP in International Business
North Karelia UAS: DP in International Business
Oulu UAS: DP in International Business
Rovaniemi UAS: DP in International Business
Satakunta UAS: DP in International Business and Marketing Logistics
Savonia UAS: DP in International Business
Seinäjoki UAS: DP in International Business
TAMK UAS: DP in International Business
Turku UAS: DP in International Business
Vaasa UAS: DP in International Business

Technology, Communication and Transport
Arcada: DP in Plastics Technology
Central Ostrobothnia UAS: DP in Chemistry and Technology, DP in Industrial Management, DP in Information Technology
HAMK UAS: DP in Automation Engineering, DP in Construction Engineering, DP in Mechanical Engineering and Production Technology, DP in Supply Chain Management
Jyväskylä UAS: DP in Logistics Engineering
Kemi-Tornio UAS: DP in Information Technology
Mikkeli UAS: DP in Environmental Engineering
Oulu UAS: DP in Information Technology
Rovaniemi UAS: DP in Information Technology
Savonia UAS: DP in Industrial Management , DP in Information Technology
South Karelia UAS: DP in Mechanical Engineering and Production Technology, DP in Paper Technology
Turku UAS: DP in Information Technology
Vaasa UAS: DP in Information Technology

Social Services, Health and Sports
Central Ostrobothnia UAS: DP in Nursing
Jyväskylä UAS: DP in Nursing
Turku UAS: DP in Nursing

Tourism, Catering and Domestic Services
Central Ostrobothnia UAS: DP in Tourism
Jyväskylä UAS: DP in Facility Management
Kajaani UAS: DP in Tourism
Laurea UAS: DP in Tourism
PIRAMK UAS: DP in Tourism
Rovaniemi UAS: DP in Tourism
South Karelia UAS: DP in Tourism
Vaasa UAS: DP in Tourism

Natural Sciences
Kemi-Tornio UAS: DP in Business Information Technology
Lahti UAS: DP in Business Information Technology
Oulu UAS: DP in Business Information Technology

Detail Entrance Exam model structure for Business Degree Applicants for Bachelor Degree

In the examination, the applicants' logical and mathematical thinking and the knowledge of English will be tested. A group interview will be part of the entrance examination. The ability to communicate fluently in English is a prerequisite for admission. Therefore, applicants must pass this part of the examination to be selected for admission. Earlier entrance exam questions are not available for references.

The written part (excluding the mathematics-logical part) in the entrance examination will be based on the below mentioned themes and links:

Theme 1: Current topics in Global Business (Finance and Development. IMF. September 2007)The Urban Revolution, link 1: http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/2007/09/bloom.htm
China's Export Boom, link 2:
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/2007/09/amiti.htm
Helping Global Economy Stay in Shape, link 3: http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/2007/09/cottarel.htm


Theme 2: Copyrights in Global Business
Link 1: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_06/b3919001_mz001.htm
Link 2: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_06/b3919010_mz001.htm
Link 3: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_06/b3919011_mz001.htm
Link 4: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_06/b3919012_mz001.htm
Link 5: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_06/b3919013_mz001.htm

Theme 3: Finland in Global Business
Link: http://www.virtual.finland.fi/Economy/

Model of the entrance question for Finland
Dear friend, as the exam date is fixed for April 17,but i don't have actual knowledge about the questions to be asked ..could you please help me by providing some of the model questions.
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I am glad to find your site after hours of surfing. It is very helpful for those interested to study in Finland.I have my friend who has just received a invitation letter from Vaasa for entrance examination on 23 April,2008. We are at present in Germany as student. As, he has no any problem to travel to Vaasa for entrance as being in Schengen States. He is quite curious about the questions that will be asked in exam. He has a IELTS score of 6.5. Will they only ask in the field of language ,maths, essay writing and logical questions(General knowledge) ?

I would be very grateful if I am able to even get a single hint for it. Oh by the way, he has applied for Bachelor of Hospitality Management ( degree for tourism).I look forward to having your response.

Hi Friends,
In deed, the question pattern differs by the college individually. The Entrance is not uniform for all of the colleges. So, the best guidance could be only from the college authority. But, if they prefer to hide the entrance detail, get prepared only for general subjects you studied on +2 level. English test, logical and mathematical thinking is common for all of the degrees. There will be certainly some mathematics and basic science questions for IT and engineering. General Knowledge questions include some computer basic questions and general logical questions. Rest could not be told friend. So, if you would like to be assured about the model of the question, please try to convince the college. If you have applied for Business Degree, read another one post by me for detail structure of Entrance Examination for this year.

One thing more, there won't be any long answer questions. Only short questions which requires maximum of 4-5 sentences and majority of the questions will be objective one.

Do you know any Nepalese living in Vaasa?
After getting your mail, I contacted one of my friend of Vaasa and asked him what was asked on his Entrance, he also told me that only general mathematics, English and General logical questions were asked. But, his program was different than the one which you have applied for. Don't worry so much about entrance, it is not a big headache.More click here

Sample Entrance Questions for Technology, Engineering and Communication students

If you are appearing for Entrance Exam conducted by British Council or Finland Embassy in Kathmandu, Nepal for Bachelor's Degree in Technology, Engineering or Communication, here are some of the sample entrance question papers from previous years question collection. This question bank is taken from HAMK UAS website.

The entrance examination includes a mathematics, physics and chemistry test as well as a logical deduction skills test and an English language test (written and oral skills).

Mathematics test 2000Logical deduction skills test 2000Mathematics and logical deduction skills test 2001Mathematics and logical deduction skills test 2002Mathematics and logical deduction skills test 2004Mathematics and logical deduction skills test 2005Mathematics and logical deduction skills test 2006