Academic System

Finland offers a comprehensive range of courses and hence is an attractive location for international students. There are different types of institutions that are engaged in providing higher education: Universities, Universities of Technology, Schools of Economics & Business Administration, Art Academies, National Defence College and Polytechnics. Universities are dedicated to research and provide education that is oriented towards academics and research. The University academic year begins on 1st September and ends on 31st July & is divided into two semesters. On the other hand, Polytechnics offer practical training and education to build professional expertise. Polytechnics follow a yearly system. Here, instruction starts in the month of August or September and ends in the month of May.

There are 28 Polytechnics & 20 Universities offering more than 400 international study programmes in different disciplines. The languages of instruction are Finnish & Swedish.

Accomodation

A student flat, also called a cell apartment, is the most popular choice for students. Students can also hire apartments at fair rentals either individually or on a shared basis. Apartments are usually situated near campuses making it quick to commute to campus. Universities themselves do not generally provide housing facilities to students. Various student housing foundations help international students to find a suitable accommodation. There are also student unions that are engaged in arranging accommodation for international students. While students can also contact agents to get accommodation, this may prove to be a time-consuming process and agent fees are expensive. Students can try and contact landlords directly as an alternative as this is far more cost-effective.

Climate

Finland is characterized by both a maritime and a continental climate. The country’s geographical position is the key reason behind its unique climatic conditions.

Summers begins in the month of May and have a mean temperature above 10 degree Celsius. A few thunderstorms can be expected during summers. Summer lasts until September.

Winter is the longest season in Finland. It is very cold and the mean temperature always remains below freezing point. Snowfall occurs in almost every part of Finland. The lakes too freeze over in the month of November & December. Winter begins in mid-October & lasts until February.

During spring the snow cover starts melting & the lakes become ice-free. This is the beginning of the cultivation season. Autumn begins at the end of August and ends the cultivation season. The average temperature during these seasons is between 0-10 degrees Celsius. Both seasons last for about 40-60 days each.

Visa Regulations

A visa is mandatory for an international student to gain entry into Finland. Before entering in Finland, students must show their ability to cover their living costs and expenses out of their own funds or through a scholarship. If the course duration is more than three months, then students must apply for a residence permit. For a degree course or in the case of University level education, students can easily get a residence permit.

Students are also permitted to work for a limited time period under the residence permit. Usually, they are allowed 25 hours of work per week during term and unlimited hours during vacations.

Public Transport

The Finnish local public transport system is efficient, safe & reliable. Finland has the densest and least expensive airline network in Europe. There are 24 airports that connect every part of Finland with each other. The rail network is 6000 km longs and covers almost all the big cities in Finland. Electrified lines are available in some prime locations. Moving by road is very easy. The Finnish coach route network is the most comprehensive in all of Europe. It covers almost 90% of the public roads. It is estimated that there are more than 40,000 buses on this network that make traveling easy, comfortable & on time.

National holidays