With an established, well-respected and quality-controlled education system, Finland is becoming the choice of some of the world's leading postgraduate students. Jaanaliisa Kuoppa from CIMO outlines some of the features that make Finnish higher education an opportunity for international postgraduates
Finland is a Nordic country situated between West and East offering the best of both traditions. Independent since 1917, Finland today is in many ways a pioneering EU member state. It is a safe and stable state with a fully functioning infrastructure, education system, health care services and a vibrant cultural life, combining the advantages of a high-tech society with unspoilt nature.
Education is highly valued in Finland, and the high standard of education forms one of the cornerstones of the Finnish national strategy. Twenty universities and 29 polytechnics provide higher education in Finland. All these institutions are internationally oriented and the country's good reputation in higher education, combined with the wide range of courses offered in English, attract interest among an increasing number of international students.
Finnish universities have roots dating back to the 17th century and today the country has one of the most comprehensive university networks in Europe. Of the 20 Finnish universities, 10 are multi-faculty institutions, 3 are universities of technology, 3 schools of economics and business administration and 4 are art academies. The total university enrolment is currently 175,000 students, of which more than 4,400 are international degree-seeking students.
The reform of the Finnish university degrees will take effect in autumn 2005 after which students will take the lower university degree first – the bachelors qualification, comprising 180 ECTS credits and lasting three years of full-time study. For those wishing to pursue postgraduate-level study, the normal choice will be a masters degree of 120 ECTS credits, lasting two years of full-time studying.
The Finnish polytechnic system was established during the 1990s to create an alternative to the 20 universities. Polytechnic education emphasises close contacts with business, industry and services, especially at the regional level. The degrees are designed to meet the changing requirements and development needs of the world of work, having a pronounced occupational emphasis, and qualifying graduates for various expert duties. Polytechnics undertake some research and development with an applied and practical emphasis, with a range of post-experience master-level degrees in specific fields.
There are 29 polytechnics, most of which are multi-field and operate in several units. There are currently more than 130,000 registered students attending polytechnic institutions, with over 3,100 international degree-seeking students and a further 2,900 international visiting students.
At present, Finnish institutions of higher education offer more than 350 study programmes in English. Some of these programmes are short courses that usually can only be taken as part of an exchange programme – other, broader-based programmes take several years to complete and lead to an official Finnish higher education degree. An increasing number of these programmes are offered at the masters level.
Finnish universities and polytechnics cooperate extensively with their counterparts in many countries throughout the world, so there are many ways for you to come to study in Finland.
Exchange students can come to Finland through European Union programmes. Students from the USA may participate in the ISEP exchange programme, while students from the other Nordic countries can take advantage of the Nordplus scheme. Finnish institutions of higher education have bilateral agreements with many colleges and universities abroad that also cover exchange programmes. In special cases, students can be accepted from outside the above schemes.
Though reform is imminent, the current operation of the Finnish university sector is based on the unity of research and instruction. Doctoral studies (jatkokoulutus/påbyggnadsutbildning), in particular, are closely linked with the research work done at universities and international institutions. Licentiate (2 years) and Doctor’s (4 years) degrees are postgraduate degrees in Finland. Students can start working for a doctorate as soon as they have obtained the Masters degree. If they prefer, students can take a Licentiate’s degree (lisensiaatti/licentiat) before the Doctor’s degree. In medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine licentiate is currently a master-level degree, after which doctoral studies can be commenced.
Research and the preparation of a substantial thesis are essential parts of the studies for both Licentiate’s degree and Doctoral thesis. The doctoral thesis is published and must be defended in a public disputation. In addition to research, both Licentiate and Doctoral programmes include studies in the discipline and studies in the student’s specific field of research. It is possible for a full-time student to complete a licentiate in two years and a doctoral programme in four years after Masters degree, but in practice the time spent is often longer. No time limit is set. International students wishing to work for a doctoral thesis in Finland should contact the institution concerned or relevant department directly and make sure that their own field of specialisation is represented there.
The quality of scientific research in Finland is high. Systematic, professional research training is available in about one hundred graduate schools that are attached to Finnish universities and cover all the main areas of research. Students attend top-level intensive courses and receive research tutoring in Finland’s leading research teams that work in close collaboration with other national and international research centres. Some institutions of higher education offer complete postgraduate degree programmes in English. They can be found listed by field of study on the Discover Finland website at finland.cimo.fi (the section on studying international programmes).
Postgraduate students from other countries are considered for admission to all Finnish universities.With the range of programmes offered to international postgraduate increasing on a yearly basis, this is one of the most vibrant and exciting aspects of higher education in Finland. Students interested in pursuing either a taught or research degree are advised to contact the university in which they are interested direct.
Finland is an increasingly attractive prospect for many international postgraduate students. Key features of the advanced degree system include:
In Finnish universities, lectures, seminars, independent work and exams have traditionally been the main study methods. Developing an approach to your study that is free and your own is regarded as common in Finland. Many students are also surprised at the strong emphasis on self-study and the analysis of texts as a source of information compared with lectures. Additionally, the close relationship enjoyed between postgraduate students and their teachers is often a surprise to international students. This is an important feature of the postgraduate experience and helps students to develop their own unique approach to studying.
All students have a right to use the libraries of universities and polytechnics freely with a library card and have access to computer and Internet facilities. Course books may be borrowed for a limited period, ranging from one day up to four weeks at a time or copied for private research use. The libraries of all Finnish universities cooperate by having a common database from which books can be searched and ordered for borrowing. In addition, most libraries have a large selection of national and international newspapers, magazines and journals for the use of all students.
Since university education is funded by the State through the Ministry of Education, students annual membership fees are about 40-85 EUR to cover their activities. Student health services are included in this fee. Membership is compulsory for those studying for their postgraduate degree, but for those pursuing their doctoral studies, membership is optional and they may join the union only if they wish. Polytechnics do not charge tuition fees either, but a few institutions currently charge fees for tuition materials etc. Unlike in the university sector, student union membership is optional. Students in both universities and polytechnics have to pay for their books and other materials, accommodation and their living expenses. In very general terms, the total monthly living expenses of a single student average in the region of 700 EUR.
The cost of living in Finland is about the same as in other EU countries. Students are aided by their student card which will help in cutting costs by getting meals and other services at a student price in your institution, plus reductions on public transport, in museums and at various cultural events and recreational activities.
The Centre for International Mobility, CIMO and a number of other organisations grant scholarships for postgraduate studies and research in Finland. There are also certain scholarship programmes in which the grant is always applied by a hosting Finnish university department or university research institute.
CIMO awards scholarships for postgraduate students and young researchers who have completed a master or doctoral level degree, as well as for teachers and administrative staff from universities abroad. In general, there are two types of scholarships: individual scholarships which young researchers apply for themselves; and host fellowships which are applied for by the Finnish higher education departments wishing to host researchers and postgraduates. Additionally, scholarships are available for those students wishing to pursue postgraduate programmes or research in Finnish language and literature and in Finno-Ugric linguistics, ethnology and folklore. Application procedures and requirements vary, so it is best to refer to the CIMO website for full details.
More information about Finland, studying, practical training and youth exchange is at finland.cimo.fi. CIMO is a governmental organisation promoting international mobility in the fields of education, youth and culture.