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Home | Living And Learning | Finland

Finland

Basic


Situated in northern Europe, neighbouring Sweden, Norway and Russia is the land of pine trees and Santa Clause - Finland. However these common associations with Finland have changed for the students wanting to study abroad, for whom Finland has now become associated with English Language higher education. As surprising as it may sound to most non - Finns, but the fact is that English is the most widely studied foreign language in the country and the Finnish universities and polytechnics offer a number of programmes in languages other than Finnish and Swedish. Finland is a very forward thinking society; it has a steadily growing economy, ranks number one in being on the cutting edge of technology, and has one of the best education systems in the world. If you need more reasons for studying in Finland, then here they are: i. Finland is both an exotic and a safe target country. ii. Finland is a global leader in information technology and also enjoys gender equality and low levels of corruption. iii. Its emphasis on nature makes Finland stand out from other European countries. iv. The higher Education institutions are small enough to function effectively. They are autonomous but largely funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture, therefore the ministry also closely oversees the teaching. v. The Institutions provide a wide range of high-quality programmes in English for exchange and degree students at all levels of education vi. Give their students transferrable skills on which they can build their future in academic fields and in the job market. Studying and living in Finland can be a truly amazing experience. Finns are very proud in saying, "living in Finland is like winning the jackpot in the lottery."

People

As a foreigner in Finland, the way Finn's communicate might seem a little strange to you. Finns are very independent in nature and they do not talk a lot, and tend to stick to themselves in most situations which can create an awkward situation for someone who isn't used to that. Though Finn's have a reputation for being reserved, like all generalisations, there are many exceptions to the rule. Once you get to know a Finnish person, you discover their sense of humour, honesty and easy going approach to life. You will discover that the Finns are open, warm, honest and very friendly. Finns do not have any kind of sexual discrimination. They have gender equity.

Finns are very punctual. Most of the people speak Finish and Swedish language and not many people speak English. People like to visit each other regularly. In the summertime the Finns like attending the various festivals of one kind or another hosted by various towns and cities. And in the wintertime skiing and skating are the popular activities out-of-doors.

If you are invited to a Finnish home, it is good to take a small gift and be careful to take off your shoes at the outdoor. At a Finnish home you are generally served with coffee and it is very interesting to know that Fins have a Wworld record of taking on average, nine cups of coffee. Finns have the reputation concerning drinking. Alcohol can be bought in the special stores called Alko. You are not allowed to drink in the public places. Smoking at any place is forbidden. You should go to the smoking place and smoke. People do not smoke inside their own house. They generally go to the balcony to smoke. Sauna is the part of Finnish culture. You can find Sauna wherever you go on Finland. The fact that there are 5.2 million Finns and 1.7 million sauna proves it how familiar people are with sauna.

Climate

Finland's climate is temperate. One notable effect of Finland's northerly position on the globe is that the four seasons of the year are clearly distinct from one another. The climate is marked by cold winters and warm summers. Summer is warm and bright with almost 20 hours of daylight at the latitude of Helsinki. The temperature often rises to +20o C or more and occasionally gets close to +30o C in southern and eastern parts of the country. North of the Arctic Circle the midnight sun stays continuously above the horizon from early June to early July, producing white nights of the summer. In the same region, during the winter period, the sun remains below the horizon for 51 days, creating the polar night known in Finnish as kaamos. In winter, temperatures of -20o C are not uncommon in many areas. The average temperature in Helsinki in July is +17o C and in February -5,7o C. Obviously, the winter temperatures in Finnish Lapland are much lower!

Language

Finland is a bi-lingual country with its two official languages, Finnish and Swedish. In most institutions the principal language of instruction is Finnish. However, at some others it's Swedish. For such courses you need to be fluent in the language of instruction already at the time of applying. The Finnish higher education institutions do not offer any language preparation year options.

In many institutions there are complete degree programmes taught in English. Although you do not need to know any Finnish if you apply for any such course, however knowing the language may not only help you feel more at home in Finland, but it can also be an asset if you plan to find employment in Finland either during or after your studies. All international students are encouraged to carry out additional language studies, i.e. Finnish or Swedish language courses at the Language Centre which are often included in degree programmes.

Currency and Money

Finland's currency is the Euro (EUR), made up of 100 cents. Banknotes come in denominations of 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 euros, and coins in denominations of 1 and 2 euros, and 50, 20, 10, and 5 cents. Although 1 and 2 cent coins are legal tender, they are not generally in use in Finland where all prices are rounded to the nearest 5 cents.
See: Euro-Currency-Converter.com

Living Arrangements

Student accommodation in Finland is of high standard whether it's available on the private housing market or in the halls of residence. The apartments and rooms are in very good condition and include central heating, cooking and washing facilities and internet access. Both furnished and unfurnished rooms are available.

Student accommodation in Finland, for both exchange and degree students, is usually organised by established student housing foundations or in some cases by the student unions themselves, or through regional student clubs or faculty organisations. Many towns and municipalities also have dormitories maintained by the municipal community or the educational institution. If you have been admitted to the universities of Finland you can reserve your accommodation using application form at least 5 weeks before the tenancy begins.

Arranging your own housing: While it is of course possible to arrange your housing independently, for example by searching for rented flats on the open market, this can be very difficult to achieve - especially before you have actually arrived in Finland. Also, this may be considerably more expensive than the available student housing options.

The price of accommodation varies depending on the type of the accommodation. The rents for study-bedrooms vary between euro 151 and euro 219 per month.
For general information on student housing in Finland, please visit the web site of Finnish Student Housing Ltd (SOA) http://www.soa.fi/en/

Cost of living

The cost of living is high in Finland, which was recently reported to be the 10th most expensive country in the world in which to live (http://www.internationalliving.com/qol06), while another recent survey found Finland to be the most expensive place in Europe for popular grocery products (http://www2.acnielsen.com/news/20060424.shtml) Alcohol is also particularly expensive to buy in Finland.

Typical prices include:
Litre of petrol EUR 1.30
Litre of milk EUR 0.75
6 eggs EUR 1.00
Pint of beer EUR 5.00
Litre bottled water EUR 3.00
Restaurant meal for 1 between EUR 5 and EUR 25
VAT at 22% is included in the price of most goods and services.

Leisure, Entertainment

There are a number of leisure and entertainment options available to you on and off campus. In Finland, each higher education institution has a student union to look after students' interests. This student union membership entitles you to a variety of student discounts - and also, the student unions organise a lot of different activities you can take part in. In addition to that, there usually are several separate clubs and student associations that centre around some hobby, sport, or other interest. You will find information about these on your institution's notice boards, from the student services, or your fellow students.

Off campus also you will find a plethora of entertainment activities to be a part of. Finnish people are very keen on sports. The most popular sports and leisure activities in Finland include walking, cycling, jogging, hiking, swimming and skiing. While in winter you can enjoy sports such as skiing, ice skating and ice hockey; in summer, sailing, fishing and canoeing are popular pursuits on the many lakes and waterways. Other than this the use of saunas is a national pastime in Finland.

Helsinki acts as the entertainment and culinary centre, with a vast range of excellent restaurants, cafes, bars and clubs where you can socialise. You can also visit the various concert halls and theatres. If you love dancing then you could also pay a visit to the numerous discos and night clubs. Music lovers also have a wide range of options to choose from.

If you want to closely witness the Finland culture and catch the Finns in their true element of enjoyment, then you must be a part of the various festivals held in the country. From theatre and literature festivals to jazz, rock and music festivals, you would have a gamut of options to choose from. Helsinki also has a number of big department stores, shopping centers, boutiques, etc. Some of the famous shopping centers include Forum, Market Square, StockMann, etc. You could also visit some of the major tourist destinations and attractions like The Santa Claus Village; Suomenlinna Fortress; The National Museum of Finland etc

Student Visa

Short-term visits to Finland (up to 3 months)
A visa is a short-term residence permit that usually allows you to stay in the country for a maximum of three (3) months. You may need a visa if you, for example, plan to take a short language course in Finland, or if you need to visit Finland in order to take part in an entrance examination. Nationals of the Nordic and EU countries do not need a visa to enter Finland. You can check if you will need a visa, and the travel documents accepted by Finland. on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland website.

Long term Visit (longer than 3 months)
If your studies in Finland last more than three months you will need a student residence permit or, if you are a Nordic/EU/EEA citizen staying in Finland for more than three months (six months for Nordic citizens), you need to register your residence in Finland. If you have come to Finland with a short-term visa, you will usually need to return to your home country to apply for a residence permit.

Detailed information on visa and residence permit requirements is available from the Finnish Immigration Service, or from the Finnish embassy in your home country.
Finnish embassies: www.formin.fi
Finnish Immigration Service: www.migri.fi

WORKING
If you are a Nordic or EU/EEA national, you do not need any special permits for working in Finland during your studies. There are no restrictions as to how many hours per week you are allowed to work, but you should take care that work does not get in the way of your study progress.

Non-EU students can work within certain limits on a student residence permit if the work is practical training included in the degree or if the amount of part-time work does not exceed 25 hours a week. There are no limits in terms of hours on full-time work outside term times (summer and Christmas holidays specifically).

For more information about work regulations concerning international students, see the web service of the Finnish Immigration Service.

Insurance

Accidents can happen to any of us, but the important thing is to be prepared for such emergencies, especially when you are living on a foreign land. A medical emergency during your study tour can not only disrupt your studies but can also ruin your finances. That is why it is very important to bring a valid health and accident insurance policy with you that covers you during your stay in Finland and also during your travel to and from Finland.

As a rule, only permanent residents of Finland are covered under the Finnish National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme of KELA. Thus, international students residing in Finland on a temporary student residence permit are not covered by the NHI scheme. Thus, while insurance is strongly recommended for all foreign students, if you are a non-EU/EEA national, health insurance is obligatory when you are applying for your student residence permit.

Note that if you need urgent medical attention in Finland, you have access to medical treatment under the Finnish national legislation, regardless of your nationality. However, if you are a citizen of a country with which Finland does not have any social security agreements (or other equivalent arrangements) the health care provider has the right to charge you the full cost of the treatment. Nordic and EU/EEA citizens on the other hand are entitled to reimbursement of their treatment costs.

Student health services in Finland: Student healthcare for those studying at universities is offered by the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS).

For students enrolled at polytechnics/universities of applied sciences, healthcare is provided through municipal healthcare providers. You can find out more about student healthcare arrangements from your hosting Finnish institution directly.
Please note that even though your student status enables you to use student healthcare services, this does not replace the need for valid insurance.


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