Centre for International Mobility 10/2007 Higher Education in Finland Zagreb, Croatia 24.10.2007 Maija Airas, Head of Unit Juha Ketolainen, Assistant Director

Centre for International Mobility 10/2007

Higher Education in Finland

Zagreb, Croatia 24.10.2007

Maija Airas, Head of UnitJuha Ketolainen, Assistant DirectorCentre for International Mobility CIMO


Age:

24 –

19 –

16 –

7 –

Comprehensive school9 years

General upper secondary education

3 years

Initial vocational education c. 3 years

Universities3–5 years

Polytechnics3.5–4 yearsThe Finnish

education system


Finnish higher education offers plenty of choice

• an extensive network of institutions covering the whole country

• 20 universities and 28 polytechnics

• all institutions internationally oriented with special regional features

• for the moment no tuition fees for regular degree students and exchange students


Finland has one of the densest networks of HEIs


• 20 universities - 176,000 students• 10 multi-faculty universities• 3 universities of technology• 3 schools of economics and business

administration• 4 art academies• all institutions are state-funded, and for the

moment state-owned• still they enjoy full autonomy in teaching and research

Universities promoting research and artistic learning


• provide academic education based on research• study time

• 3 years to complete Bachelor’s degree (180 credits)• 2 years to complete the Master’s degree (120 credits)• 4 years to complete the Doctor’s degree (240 credits)• exception: medicine and dentistry continue with the system

of one cycle (Licentiate´s degree, 6 years and 360 credits)

• joint application system starting for international students for Master’s degree programmes (www.universityadmissions.fi)

• ECTS credit system fully adopted

Universities promoting research and artistic learning


Polytechnics geared towards professionalism

• 28 polytechnics (universities of applied sciences)

• 8 fields of study: Natural resources and the environment; Natural sciences; Technology, communication and transport; Social sciences, business and administration; Tourism, catering and domestic services; Social services, health and sports; Culture; Humanities and education

• institutions are mostly state-funded• 132,000 students


Polytechnics geared towards professionalism

• provide professionally-oriented education tailored to the needs of the labour market

• study time • 3.5–4 years to complete Bachelor’s degree (210–240

credits)

• 1-1.5 years to complete the Master’s degree (60-90 credits) after 3 years of work experience

• joint application system for international students for Bachelor’s degree programmes (www.admissions.fi)

• ECTS credit system fully adopted


Recent HE policy developments

• Bologna reforms (degree structure, ects/ds, quality assurance)

• Structural developments, merging of institutions• Changes in ownership, management of universities• Internationalisation: student and teacher exchanges,

foreign degree students, joint study programmes and degrees

• Market-oriented approach to internationalisation:

custom-made education, a trial on tuition fees?


International students in Finnish HEIs

• Degree students (2006):• Universities: 5 434 • Polytechnics: 4 632

Total: 10 066

• Exchange students (2006):• Universities: 4 875• Polytechnics: 3 316

Total: 7 697


International Strategy for Finnish HEIs

By 2010 • 28,000 student exchanges annually• 10,000–15,000 international degree students

Emphasis on• Bologna process• increase of international programmes• clarification of entry and residence requirements of

students• marketing of Finnish HE• student services


A large number of coursestaught in English

• over 400 international study programmes taught in English

• courses ranging from short-term programmes to entire degree programmes

• an excellent choice of subjects spanning from high-tech know-how through to fine arts

• internationally acclaimed expertise in many areas e.g. ICT, bio-technology, forestry and environmental sciences, architecture and design


Why Study in Finland ?

• good and effective education system• affordable higher education• variety of programmes taught in English based on

Finnish know how• modern facilities and well trimmed student services• peaceful and well-organised country• advanced and unusual


How to make your way to Finland?

Exchange students• Limited opportunities available: bilateral

agreements, multinational programmes

Degree students (BA and MA)• eligibility for higher education in own country• entrance examinations mostly required• good command of English• application deadlines mainly from January to May


How to make your way to Finland?

Post-graduate students (PhD) and researchers• scholarships available

- bilateral scholarships

- CIMO Fellowships

- post-graduate and advanced studies of Finnish language in Finnish university


Academic cooperation with Croatia?

• Tempus (12 joint projects 2000-2006 with Finnish-Croatian partnership)

• CIMO scholarship programmes: limited possibilities, postgraduate level

• Erasmus Mundus

• Mobility Finland-Croatia: room for improvement • HE mobility statistics 2006: 7 out / 5 in (8 610/8 191)• CIMO programmes 2006: 3 out / 3 in (10 012/13 015)


More information

To discover Finland visit:

www.studyinfinland.fi

On CIMO programmes:

www.cimo.fi

[email protected]

[email protected]

Documents

Centre for International Mobility 10/2007 Higher Education in Finland Zagreb, Croatia 24.10.2007 Maija Airas, Head of Unit Juha Ketolainen, Assistant Director