Education abroad is considered a notable affair in everyone’s life because not everyone gets such opportunities in their lives. Studying in Finland is also a kind of sweet that not everyone gets to eat but they certainly want to. Being one of the highly flourished countries, Finland blossoms with diversity and culture unlike anywhere else. On Finnish soil, one can find unparalleled growth opportunities and pristine natural beauty. 

Talking about the statistics, Finland currently hosts over 20,000 international students from multiple nations. In the last decade, It is observed that more and more students are shifting their preferences from the US, UK, and Canada to Finland, Austria, Norway, etc. for overseas education due to their emerging friendliness policies for international students. Thus, if you are also considering Finland as your study abroad destination and you are willing to immerse yourself in the Nordic lifestyle, then this study abroad guide is immaculate for you. 

Language and culture 

Finland is one of the most innovative and modern nations in the world. The Finnish people strongly believe in egalitarianism and they aren’t too obsessed with their titles as they value their achievements more. For them, a handshake is the most reliable gesture, and they work on actions more than word. Sauma is the most notable and famous tradition followed in Finland. What adds an extra beauty to the country is the fact that days can be as long as 19 hours in the summer and as short as 6 hours during the winter. The two main languages spoken by the people of Finland are Finnish and Swedish. And the third most spoken language in Finland is English. 

Education System 

Finland hosts two types of educational institutions for higher education: 

1. Universities 

2. Universities for Applied Sciences (UAS) 

The Finnish universities are funded, owned and operated by the state, and focus more on scientific and theoretical education. Moreover, only Finnish universities provide doctoral education in Finland. 

On the other hand, Finnish Universities for Applied Sciences are run, and funded by local and private entities, and their education is centered around practical skills and development. 

The Finnish higher education institutions follow the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) just like other European nations. 

The three levels of degrees offered by Finnish higher education institutions are: 

1. Bachelor’s Degree – The duration is 3 years and offers 180 ECTS credits. 

2. Master Degree – The duration is 1-2 years and offers 60-120 ECTS credits 

3. Doctoral Degree – The duration is around 4 years. 

The Top Universities in Finland 

Finland hosts 13 universities and 22 universities of applied sciences. Furthermore, the educational institutions offer courses in the three most spoken languages – Swedish, Finnish, and English. 

The list of the best universities in Finland is as follows: 

1. University of Helsinki

2. Aalto University

3. University of Turku

4. University of Tampere

5. University of Oulu

6. University of Eastern Finland

7. University of Jyväskylä

8. Lappeenranta University of Technology

9. Abo Akademi University

10. Hanken School of Economics

The following is the list of best English taught universities in Finland: 

1. University of Helsinki.

2. Aalto University.

3. University of Turku.

4. University of Jyväskylä

5. University of Oulu.

6. LUT University.

7. Tampere University.

8. University of Eastern Finland.

Tuition fees and living costs.

Finland proffers higher education to a much more affordable cost relative to UK, USA, Canada, etc. Just like in any other European country, students from the European Union have to pay no tuition fees. And for students from countries other than the European Union, the average tuition fees at different academic degrees is 6,000 EUR per year up to 18,000 EUR per annum. The following are the approximate tuition fees for the following domains: 

• Social Science degrees: 8,000–10,000 EUR/year

• Science, Engineering, and Medical degrees: 12,000 EUR/year

• Education, Humanities, and Economics degrees: 10,000 EUR/year

The average living costs in Finland for international students is as low as 660 euros and as high as 1500 euros depending upon the city where you select to live in. 

• Helsinki: 980 – 1580 Euros per month 

• Tampere: between 870 – 1300 Euros per month

• Oulu: between 660 – 1000 Euros per month

• Jyvaskyla: between 700 – 1100 Euros per month

So, Finland makes a great choice for pursuing higher education given the ceaseless opportunities one can find here.