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Scholarship information and University and Secondary School rankings

Scholarships in Finland

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OVERVIEW

  • Finland, officially known as the Republic of Finland, is ranked number 12 in the world with a score of 7.618 out of 10 in the quality of life index established by the Economist Intelligence Unit. The Reader’s Digest also puts Finland at the top of the list of 141 nations ranked according to a combination of factors that include air and water quality, respect for biodiversity, greenhouse-gas emissions, with social factors that include gross domestic product, access to education, unemployment rate and life expectancy.
  • Finland borders Sweden to the west, Norway to the north, Russia to the east and Estonia to the south. It is part of the European Union.

LANGUAGE

  • Finland has two national languages, Finnish and Swedish, as well as officially accepted minority languages that include Sámi, Romani, Finnish Sign Language and Karelian. Immigrant languages include Russian, Estonian, English, German, French, Somali, Arabic, Chinese, Kurdish, and Albanian. Among the immigrant languages, the top three most used are English, German and French.
  • 9% of the population speak Finnish, 5.3% speak Swedish, and approximately 1900 people speak Sámi.

CLIMATE     

  • Finland experiences both a maritime and a continental climate due to its geographical location. In the northern part of the country, the winters are long and cold, while the summers are hot but brief. Meanwhile, the southern part of the country has milder winters and pleasant summers. The far northern portion of the country experiences Polar Nights, where the sun never completely sets during winter for almost two months. During winter, the average temperature drops to -4 degrees Celsius between December and February. The coldest month of the year is January when temperatures often drop to -15 degrees Celsius. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Finland was in 1987 when it dropped to -34.3 degrees Celsius.
  • Finland is considerably colder than other countries, with the weather varying significantly during the four seasons. As such, international students must arm themselves with the appropriate clothing.

COST OF LIVING   

  • Finland consumer goods including groceries, transportation, utilities, and restaurants are 3 percent more expensive than those in New York City. Meanwhile, rent and mortgage expenses are 60 percent lower relative to the same city. The local purchasing power is almost the same as that of the US.
  • International students need to budget for €700-1500 per month, to cater for everyday expenses like food, accommodation, travel, insurance, etc. This amount also depends on the city one chooses to live and study in.

EDUCATION           

  • Finland ranks number 13 among the preferred nations for international studies. However, the country offers only some programs in English. This fact brings the country down a notch on the list of preferred countries by international students. Studies show that the primary factor being considered by international students in selecting an international school is the language of instruction.
  • The higher education institutions are small enough to operate functionally and efficiently. They are all internationally oriented with unique regional features, and one can choose between very different study environments ranging from larger urban campuses to closer-to-nature campuses.
  • From autumn 2017, tuition fees were introduced for non-EU/EEA students. As such, the minimum tuition fee charged for an English-taught degree is €1500 per year, and the average tuition fee charged across the different universities is €10000-16000 per year.
  • Students from EU/EEA countries do not pay tuition fees.

BENEFITS OF STUDYING IN FINLAND

  • Finland has one of the best higher education and training systems in the world.
  • Finland is also the most innovative country in the world.
  • Finland provides a very conducive study environment for its students. The air is clean, and the country is peaceful. Also, essential commodities are readily available.

SCHOLARSHIPS

  • All Finnish universities that admit international students are now required to have a scholarship program for students of non-EU/EEA countries. Every university thus has its own scholarship system.
  • There are scholarship options available for gifted students, offered as full or partial fee waivers, or performance-based refunds. Non-EU/EEA students with excellent academic performance are therefore eligible to apply for any of these tuition waivers.
  • The scholarships offered do not cover living expenses. Scholarship recipients therefore have to be able to cater for their living costs.
  • External programs like Erasmus Mundus also help to finance studies. This particular scholarship covers participation costs, a living allowance, travel costs and insurance.
  • Note that tuition fees are not charged for doctoral programs.

FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS

  • A non-EU/EEA student must prove that he/she can support his or her living costs while in Finland for studies. The required sum of money is €700-1500 per month or €8000 – 18000 per year, depending on the town one chooses to study in.

GENERAL APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Before you fill any form:

  • Note that you must apply to the school before you apply for a scholarship, i.e., apply to a certain program that is available at a school in Finland.
  • Get all the details on the course you wish to apply for, including duration, the location of the university, admission requirements, living costs, etc.
  • Make sure you meet all the requirements for the course you are applying for.
  • Do not be in a rush to settle for a program; instead browse through the available options before you make a decision.

The application process for a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree is the same, i.e.:

  • Select the degree program
  • Look for scholarship options
  • Check the entry requirements and deadlines
  • Apply online. Note that there is no application fee. Check if there is provision for scholarship application at this point.
  • Attach all supporting documents
  • Do the entrance examination
  • Await notification from the University of your acceptance into the degree program

Below are two examples of scholarship opportunities that you can apply for.

a) Bachelor’s Scholarship

Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences (SeAMK)

  • SeAMK is a multidisciplinary institution of higher education based in the region of South Ostrobothnia in West Finland.
  • This institution houses 4800 full-time students.
  • SeAMK offers bachelor programs in English, ideal for international students.

Scholarship Overview

  • The SeAMK Scholarship for First-Year students is granted to all first-year students who are required to pay tuition fees.

Fields of Study

  • Bachelor in International Business
  • Bachelor in Nursing

What does the scholarship cover?

  • This scholarship covers 50% of the tuition fee, valued at €3400 per academic year.

Am I Eligible to Apply?

  • You need to be a fee-paying first year student from a non-EU/EEA country
  • To be eligible for the scholarship after the first year, you must accrue a minimum of 55 credits in the previous academic year.

How do I Apply – Next Steps

  • To apply for this scholarship, apply for admission to SeAMK through the study in Finland website indicated below.

b) Master’s Scholarship

Tampere University

  • Tampere University is a multi-disciplinary university in Finland.
  • Almost all internationally recognized fields of study are available at this institution.
  • This university was newly created in January 2019 following the merger between Tampere University of Technology and University of Tampere.

Scholarship Overview

  • The scholarship program at this university is intended for students who are required to pay tuition fees for Master’s degree programs that are offered in English.

Scholarship Categories

  • Tuition Fee Scholarship – This scholarship covers 100% or 50% of the tuition fees for a two-year Master’s program
  • Global Student Award for Academic Excellence – This is an academic excellence scholarship that covers 100% of the tuition fee. It also includes a €7000 annual scholarship to cover living expenses for the entire duration of the course.
  • Early Bird Scholarship – This scholarship covers 50% of the tuition fee during the first year of studies.

NOTE: To retain the full scholarship for the second year, you must maintain at least 55 credits during the first academic year.

Application Process

  • Indicate your interest in any of the above scholarships when applying for the study program.

How do I get more information?

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