Why study in Finland?

A Nordic country, Finland, in northern Europe, has been called the world’s happiest country 7 times consecutively. Studying in Finland for international students has the best education system globally. The majority of the population in Finland has a higher degree of education. There has been an increase in student application of about 141% because it focuses on an innovative education system, affordable tuition fees, and high living standards. 22,792 international students are pursuing their education in Finland. There are 400 programs offered in universities across Finland, and almost all of them use English as their mode of instruction. A Finland student visa is required to study in Finland. The Finland study visa is called the ‘Residence visa of Finland.’ This permit is for students who have been on the course for over three months. However, postgraduate students need residence permits for scientific research and to study in Finland.

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Study in Finland : Highlights

• There are 10 QS universities in Finland for international students.
• The Finland study visa is processed within 60 – 120 days
• The average tuition fee to study in Finland is €6000 - €24,000 a year.
• Scholarships worth €5000 - €10,000 are offered to study in Finland for international students
• Finland grants approximately 7039 Finland student visas to international students.
• The Finland student visa success rate is 95%
• Finland is the 8th most educated country in the world.

 

Education System in Finland

Finland education system is considered the best education system in the world. It has carefully created programs that are at par with most of the countries across the world. With prestigious and high ranking universities in Finland, it has emerged as one of the best countries to study in Finland for high quality education. It is also the 8th most educated country in the world. The degrees offered by the universities of Finland offer degrees that take 4 – 5 years to be completed. The universities in Finland are divided into regular universities and universities of applied sciences. They offer degrees in post-graduation and higher scientific and artistic education. The innovative methods and the strong education systems is the reason why international students choose to study in Finland.

 

 Every year, more than 30,000 international students apply for Finland student visas. The acceptance rate or Finland student visa success rate of these applications depends on various factors like the institution, documents provided, eligibility, and the interview. A well-written Statement of purpose can also increase the chances of acceptance by 10-30%. Even after the high number of visa applications, there is a high % acceptance rate of 95%, and only 1.7% of visas are denied by the Finnish authorities. 

 

Top ranking Finland universities for International students

The higher Finland education system  is relatively very young as compared to most of the countries  in Europe. There are 9 universities in Finland featured that rank high on the  QS World University Rankings. Here is a list of best universities in Finland for international students : 

QS Ranking	Name of the University	Approximate Tuition fee (€)
115	University of Helsinki	€13,000-20,000
109	Aalto University	€14,000-25,000
315	University of Turku	€8,000-20,000
313	University of Oulu	€10,000-16,000
436	Tampere University	€8,000-16,000

 

Top Courses offered  in Finland

About 34 globally ranking top universities in Finland offer various degree programs, such as English as a mode of language, from the bachelor's to doctoral level. The tuition fee for a bachelor's program is €6000 a year; for a master's, it is €8000 a year. Below is the list of the top courses, University in Finland for master’s and the universities where they are available. 

Course	Name of the University	Annual tuition fee
Computer Science and IT	Aalto University Finland, University of Helsinki	€15,000-25,000
Business Administration	Tampere University, Hanken School of Economics	€18,000-20,000
Sustainable Forestry and wood technology	University of Eastern Finland, Aalto University	€12,000-18,000
Renewable Energy Engineering	LUT University, Aalto University	€15,000-22,000
Early Childhood education and care	University of Helsinki, University of Turku	€10,000-12,000
Tourism and Hospitality management	Lapland University of Applied Sciences, Haaga Helia University of Applied Sciences	€10,000-15,000
Design and Media	Aalto University, University of Tampere	€18,000-25,000

 

Courses of MS in Finland for Indian students

There are some of the best courses to study in Finland. Universities provide students with an array of courses for all levels of programmes. Here is a list of Master’s courses in Finland with other details.

Name of the University	No of Courses offered	1st year tuition fees (₹)
University of Helsinki	21	₹ 12 – 17 L
Aalto University	6	₹ 9 – 14 L
University of Turuku	15	₹11.2 L
University of Vaasa	4	₹9 L
Tampere University	11	₹11.2 L
Lappeeranta University of Technology	16	₹16 L

 

Admission Requirements to Study in Finland

Depending on the immigration laws, there is a specific Finland study visa requirement. Here is a list of eligibility and documents required to apply for Finland student visa

 

Eligibility conditions and required documents to study in Finland for Indian students

The following are the requirements and eligibility to study in Finland.

• Completely filled visa application with a cover letter
•  A passport with at least one year validity 
• Letter of acceptance from a desired Finnish university of Undergraduation admission in Finland
•  Receipt of the tuition fee payment
• Proof of enough financial resources (€560) to support your expenses during your stay 
• Health Insurance Certificate
•  Scholarship documents 
•  Two passport size photographs
•  Processing fee of €350 
•  Academic Transcripts and certificates 

 

Language requirements to study in Finland

English is not mandatory in top universities of Finland. It is always beneficial for specific programs and universities. Nevertheless, students must be proficient in English if they want to study in  Finland, especially in an English program. The language requirements may differ from program and the student's chosen course. Programs like Business Studies, Economics, and computer sciences use English as a mode of instruction in Finland. Such programs may require the submission of language proficiency scores. The following are the minimum language score requirements for English: 

IELTS: Minimum score of 6-6.5

TOEFL iBT: Minimum score of 79-92

 

English proficiency requirements to study in Finland’s popular Universities

Name of the university	Required IELTS score	Required TOEFL iBT score
Aalto University	Overall 6.5, minimum 5.5 in writing section	Total of 92 with a minimum score of 22 in the writing section
Arcada University of applied Sciences	Minimum 6.0 overall	Total of 79
Lapland university of applied Sciences	Overall 6.0	Minimum Total of 79-80
LUT university	Overall 6.5	Total of 90
Qulu university of applied Sciences	Minimum 6.0	Minimum Total of 90 with a minimum of 20 in the writing section
Tampere University	Minimum score of 6.5, no section below 5.5	Total of 92, no section below 20
University of Eastern Finland	Bachelors: overall 6.0 Masters: Overall 6.5, minimum 5.5 in writing section	Bachelors: Total of 78 Masters: total of 90-92, minimum of 22 in writing
University of Helsinki	Minimum score of 6.5	Minimum total of 92 with a minimum score of 22 in the writing section
University of Jyvaskyla	Overall 6.5	Minimum total of 92
University of Lapland	Bachelors: minimum score of 6.0 Masters: minimum score of 6.5, minimum 5.5 in writing section	Total of 92
University of Oulu		Bachelors: minimum total of 78 Masters: total of 92 with a minimum of 20 in writing section
University of Turku	Bachelors: overall 6.0, no section below 5.5 Masters: Overall 6.5, no section below 6.0	Bachelors: overall score of 80, no section below 16 Masters: overall score of 90 and no section below 20

 

Top Cities Preferred by Students to Study in Finland

Finland has become a popular destination for international students. Known for its best quality education, affordable cost of living, stunning natural landscapes, and other various reasons for Living in Finland. Here is a breakdown of the approximate estimated cost of living including rent, food, bills, transport and groceries in different cities in Finland. Here is a breakdown of the approximate estimated cost of living including rent, food, bills, transport and groceries in different cities in Finland.

City	Rent	Food	Utilities	Transport	Groceries
Helsinki	€900 - €1,500	€300 - €500	€100 - €200	€50 - €80	€200 - €300
Tampere	€600 - €1000	€250 - €400	€80 - €150	€40 - €70	€150 - €250
Turku	€600 - €1000	€250 - €400	€80 - €150	€40 - €70	€150 - €250
Oulu	€500 - €900	€200 - €350	€70 - €120	€30 - €60	€120 - €200
Jyväskylä	€500 - €900	€200 - €350	€70 - €120	€30 - €60	€120 - €200

 

1. Helsinki: Helsinki is the capital city of Finland. Some of the metropolitan areas of Helsinki are Espoo, Vantaa, and Kauniainen, and surrounding commuter towns. The average cost of living of Helsinki is €925. Helsinki also has many prestigious and high ranking universities that offer range of courses in English. Helsinki is a student friendly city in Finland as it is affordable in terms of accommodation and food as compared to other cities. Moreover it is safe and friendly place to live, with a low crime rate. 
2. Tampere: Tampere which is also known as the ‘Manchester of Finland’ is a city in the southern Finland. It is the most populous inland city amongst the Nordic countries. The prestigious universities which bring most international students to study in Finland, University of Tampere and Tampere University of Technology are both located in Tampere. The average cost of living of Tampere is €800 - €1200.
3. Turku: Turku is located in the south west of Finland and is one of the great cities for international students to study in Finland. It is inclusive, welcoming, and has a lot to offer in terms of academics and excellence. The average cost of living of Turku is €500 - €600. Turku is home to two best universities of Finland, the University of Turku and Turku University of Applied Sciences. There are also other various education institutions in Finland. The University of Turku is a research university in Finland which is the best leading in the country. 
4. Oulu: Oulu is a unique city located in North Finland. The city offers an excellent academic environment to study in Finland. The city is home to a number of world-class universities and research. The cost of living in Oulu is €350 which is relatively low.
5.  Jyväskylä: Jyväskylä is the seventh largest city in Finland. It is a very student friendly city to study in Finland. The universities in Jyväskylä have universities which place a strong emphasis on research and academic freedom. Most of the international students choose Jyväskylä when deciding to study in Finland. The University of Jyväskylä is ranked 489 in the QS ranking and considered one of the best Nordic institutions in Finland. The average cost of living is €1031. 

 

Scholarships to study in Finland

There are various scholarships provided to international students. The Finnish government actively supports international students who deserve financial aid through programs like Government scholarships. Here are some essential scholarships and the amount provided in Finland: 

Name of the Scholarship	Awarded by	Amount awarded
Finnish government scholarship	Fully funded scholarships that is for merit students who want to pursue master’s program at the University of Helsinki	€1000  and Tuition fee for 2 years
University of Tampere scholarships	Offered by students pursuing Masters in English in Tampere university	Either 100% or 50% of tuition fee + €7000 per year
Protein Science International Masters Scholarship	Offers scholarships to excellent international students who want to pursue a master’s in Protein Science and Biotechnology at the University of Oulu.	maximum of 2 years
Finland Government scholarships for International students	Provided to researchers of any academic field	€1500 monthly

 

Top Scholarships for Indian students in Finland

Finland welcomes all Indian students in the country with different study programs at all levels to study in the best universities of Finland. The universities in Finland  and the Finnish government offer various scholarship schemes to students that cover their tuition fees. . Here is a comprehensive list of Finnish scholarships for Indian students.

Name of the Scholarship	Description	Amount awarded
University of Helsinki Scholarships	Awarded by the Finnish national agency for education (EDUFI)	€1500 monthly
University Scholarships	Offered by individual Finnish Universities	€5000-18000
Erasmus Mundus Scholarships	Funded by the European commission	Covers tuition fees and provides stipend ranging from €1100-1500
EDUFI Fellowships	Funded by the Finnish National agency for Education	€1900 monthly

 

Education Loans to study in Finland

Basic education is almost free in many countries, but higher education tuition fees are always on the expensive end and students may require some kind of financial aid like scholarships or education loans for the same. Education loans provide a student with additional funds for living expenses during their stay in Finland. The international Students have various loan options in Finland catering to support their education. Below mentioned are the primary student loans availaible in Finland each featured with benefits 

Type of Loan	Provider	Type of Interest	Repayment Terms
Kela student Loan	Government	Fixed	Grace period + up to 25 years
Bank Loans	Private Bank	Variable / Fixed	Varies by bank
Specialized Education loans	Private Bank	Variable / Fixed	Tailored to the study program

 

Step – by – step process to apply for an education loan to study in Finland

Step 1: Research a few banks and lending institutions 

Step 2: follow their bank’s website for the latest update and notifications

Step 3: Apply for the Finland education loan by filling out the form completely and accurately.

Step 4: Make the submission of  the application and provide all the required documents.

 

Part-Time Work Options for International Students

The Finland student visa comments with a significant advantage that the international students can work part-time in Finland for about 30 hours per week. They have the right to  work part-time during holidays and in an academic year while they study in Finland. Many part time employers in workplaces also offer work timings that are flexible for the students. The salary ranges from  €8 - €10 per hour usually, depending on the roles and responsibilities of the job. The students can also get paid extra if they work shifts in the evening. 

 

Part time work regulations Finland

•  An international student can only work part time for 30 hrs. in a  week. 
•  There are no restrictions for the number of working hours During semester breaks. 
•  Academics of the student should not be compromised while doing part-time work. 
•  Attendance should be completely met while working part-time.

 

Popular part time job opportunities to study in Finland

Part time job in Finland	Average annual salary in Finland
Cab Driver	€16,800
Security Guard	€16,900
Waiter/ waitress	€17,000
Delivery Driver	€20,562
Cleaning staff	€31,586
Data entry clerk	€37,251
Teacher	€38,523
Retail sales associate	€57,952
Customer service Representative	€71,760
Nurse	€90,000

 

Post-Study Work Permit in Finland

Companies like Nokia, Kone, and Rovio Entertainment in Finland offer students quite rewarding career opportunities upon completion of  their education. After graduation, they can apply for a two-year work permit to look for work.The rate of employment in Finland is 77.4%. 

 

Eligibility Conditions and Documents required for Post-study work permit Finland

•   The applicant must apply for a status change of residence at the Immigration bureau

•  The student  Must have a job offer from a company in Finland
• Duly Filled application form for post study work permit in Finland
• A Valid passport 
• Residence Card
•  Job contract or an employment certificate
• Certificate of graduation from the university in Finland
• Proof of sufficient financial resources to cover their stay in Finland

 

Step – by – step process to apply for a permanent residency in Finland

Step 1: Complete an education program in from a reputable university in Finland

Step 2: Apply for job employment at a Finnish employer

Step 3: Continue living in Finland for 4 years

Step 4: Apply for the Permanent residency and submit the necessary documents as mentioned.

Step 5: Allow for the PR application to be processed, which takes about 1-2 months

 

Job Prospects in Finland

Finland has a very promising employment landscape and a highly skilled workforce. There are about more than 1 lakh jobs available in Finland. Finland's economy has always been backed up by Technology. Finland also has issued more than 19,000 work permits in the year 2023. The GDP of Finland rose to $312 billion in 2024.High standards and living quality are other factors contributing to rising employment rates. Here is a list of Finland's most in-demand occupations with annual salaries. 

Occupations	Salary (annually)
Engineering	€45,600
IT and Software	€64,162
Marketing and sales	€46,200
Human Resources Management	€75,450
Healthcare	€45,684
Teacher	€48,000
Accounting and Finance	€58,533
Hospitality	€44,321
Nursing	€72,000

 

Cost of  Studying and living in Finland

In Finland, the cost of living for International students is almost €925. This includes rent, groceries, and transportation. The overall expenses may also depend upon the city and the individual's lifestyle. Here is a breakdown of the cost of living for a student in Finland. 

Expenses	Cost in euro (€)
Food	€150-250
Housing	€250-600
Clothes	€50-200
Transport	€60-2,700
Medical	€30-120
Entertainment	€30-500

 

Cost of living of major cities of Finland

Name of the city	Approximate cost of living
Helsinki	€1611
Espoo	€1601
Tampere	€1215
Vantaa	€1472
Oulu	€1193
Turku	€1277
Seinajoki	€1046

 

Finland student visa

If a student’s program or the course of study will take longer than 90 days, then a Finland student visa or a residence permit is required. A Finland student visa is generally granted for the entire duration of the studies. The Finland student visa is granted for the period in which students’ passports should remain valid. 

 

Types of Finland student visa 

Single Entry Visa: This visa allows the student to enter Finland once and stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period

 Double-Entry Visa: This visa allows a student entry in Finland two times and can be valid within the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period 

Multiple-entry Visa: This visa is granted for multiple consecutive visits to the Schengen area. The total duration of the stay may not exceed the number of days specified on the visa sticker, which is 90 days in a 180-day period. The validity of this visa is for a maximum of 5 years

 

Finland Student visa success rate

Every year more than 30,000 international students apply for the Finland student visas. The acceptance rate of these applications is dependent on various factors like the institution, documents provided, eligibility and the interview. A well written Statement of purpose can also increase the chances of acceptance by 10-30%. Even after the high number of visa applications it has a high acceptance rate of 95% and only the 1.7% of visas is denied by the Finnish authorities

 

How to apply for a student visa for Finland

Step 1: Apply to your desired Finnish Educational Institution

Step 2: Apply for the Finland study visa

Step 3: Submit the visa application documents to the Finnish Embassy 

Step 4: Go through the visa interview

Step 5: Await your decision from the Embassy

 

Finland visa processing time

The Finland visa processing time depends on whether you apply for the visa online or in person. Usually, processing an online Finland study visa takes two to three months. The paper applications generally take three months. 

 

Validity of the Finland student visa

The validity of the Finland student visa is the same as the course duration (graduate/undergraduate/language studies) with a grace period of an additional three months. There are also chances of an extension, but the candidate must apply for the extension before the expiration of the visa. The extended visa is provided for the remaining duration of the program

Parameters	Details
For undergraduate programs (3-4 years)	Valid for duration of the course with additional 3 months
For graduate programs (1-2 years)	Valid for duration of the course with additional 3 months
Language studies and Preparatory courses	1 year or the length of the program course

 

Y-Axis –Finland Study Visa Consultants

Y-Axis can assist by giving more vital support to aspirants who wish to study in Finland. The support process includes,  

• Free Counseling: Free Counseling on university and course selection.
• Campus Ready Program: Fly to Finland with the best and ideal course. 
• Course Recommendation: Y-Path gives the best suitable ideas about your study and career options.
• Coaching: Y-Axis offers IELTS live classes to help students clear with high scores.  
• Finland Student Visa: Our expert team helps you to get a Finland student Visa.