Centre for International Mobility 10/2006

Higher Education in Finland

• Why Finland?

Centre for International Mobility 10/2006

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

Centre for International Mobility 10/2006

Finnish higher education offers plenty of choice

• an extensive network of institutions covering the whole country

• 20 universities and 29 polytechnics

• all institutions internationally oriented with special regional features

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

Centre for International Mobility 10/2006

Finland is a slender lady with plenty of HEIs

Centre for International Mobility 10/2006

• 20 universities in a country of 5.2 million people

• 10 multi-faculty universities

• 3 universities of technology

• 3 schools of economics and business administration

• 4 art academies

• all institutions are state-funded

• 174,000 students

Universities

Centre for International Mobility 10/2006

• reform of the university degrees started in autumn 2005 – transitional period up to 2008

• two-tier degrees: lower Candidate´s (BA) and higher Master´s degrees

• also post-graduate Doctor´s degree (4 years, 240 credits)• exception: medicine and dentistry continue with the system of

one cycle (Licentiate´s degree, 6 years and 360 credits)• BA takes appr. 3 years and 180 credits, MA 2 years and 120

credits• content of the degrees is also modified

• ECTS credit system fully adopted

Universities

Centre for International Mobility 10/2006

Polytechnics

• 29 polytechnics

• 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

• all institutions are state-funded

• 130,000 students

Centre for International Mobility 10/2006

Polytechnics

• non-university higher education with professional orientation

• 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 Finnish students and now also for international students for Bachelor’s degree programmes (www.admissions.fi)

• ECTS credit system fully adopted

Centre for International Mobility 10/2006

International students in Finnish higher education institutions

• Degree students (2005):• Universities: 4 940 • Polytechnics: 4 320

Total: 9 260

• Exchange students (2005):• Universities: 4 629• Polytechnics: 3 068

Total: 7 697

Centre for International Mobility 10/2006

International Strategy for Finnish HEI’s

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

Centre for International Mobility 10/2006

A large number of coursestaught in English

• close to 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

Centre for International Mobility 10/2006

Why 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

Centre for International Mobility 10/2006

How to make your way to Finland?

Exchange students• many opportunities available from bilateral

agreements to multinational programmes

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

Centre for International Mobility 10/2006

How to make your way to Finland?

Post-graduate students and young researches• scholarships available

- bilateral scholarships

- CIMO Fellowships

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

Centre for International Mobility 10/2006

More information

• To discover Finland visit: http://finland.cimo.fi