Education system and studies in Finland for Russians

1. Cost of studying in Finland for Russians and foreigners
2. Finnish preschool education
3. Secondary education in Finland, colleges and lyceums
4. How to enter Finnish institutions
5. Higher education in Finland
6. How much does it cost to study in Finland?
7. Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral degrees
8. Study in Finland for free
9. Language classes
10. Studying in Finland for Russians after 11th grade

The education received in Finland is considered the best in the world. It is organized according to the principles of equality, individuality, freeness, practicality and voluntariness, which determines the high quality of knowledge.

Cost of studying in Finland for Russians and foreigners

Larkkulla Language School

• Country: Finland

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• City: Karya

Group Finnish language courses via Skype online at Lärkkulla school for adults over 16 years old.
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Price from: 22610 ₽ ?

250 EUR

in 1 month

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English, Finnish, Swedish languages ​​in Finland at Lärkkulla school for adults from 16 years old

• Country: Finland

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• City: Karya

Accommodation: (Dormitory - Residence)

Lärkkulla school for adults from 16 years old.
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Price from: 33463 ₽ ?

370 EUR

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Accommodation and learning Finnish with a teacher's family in Finland for children and adults

• Country: Finland

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• City: Helsinki

Accommodation: (Family)

Home Language International for children and adults in Finland (Finnish language)
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Price from: 108529 ₽ ?

1200 EUR

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Edunation Pathway Diploma - A new way to enter universities in Finland

• Country: Finland

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• City: Tampere

Accommodation: (Dormitory - Residence)

The Edunation Pathway Diploma is a pathway program for international students who wish to begin their university studies abroad but do not yet meet the direct entry requirements.
Arrival dates:
February, May, September (15.2.-21.5, 17.5.-20.8, 13.9.-17.12.)

Price from: 271322 ₽ ?

3000 EUR

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Higher education in Finland in English

• Country: Finland

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• City: Helsinki

Accommodation: (Dormitory - Residence)

Higher education in Finland in English
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Price from: 542644 ₽ ?

6000 EUR

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Pros and cons of Finnish education

Finnish preschool education

In Finland, kindergartens begin accepting children from the moment they are nine months old. Children have the right to stay in this institution until they are five years old. The employees are faced with the task of providing children with proper care throughout the day and taking part in raising the future generation on an equal basis with their parents.

Parents must pay a fee for their child's stay in a preschool institution. It is not fixed and the same for everyone, and it does not depend on the status of the kindergarten or its interior. The amount of fees for being in a preschool institution depends on the income of the parents. The minimum fee is twenty-three euros, and the maximum is two hundred and fifty-four.

A group can consist of twelve to twenty-one children. The exact amount depends on the age of the kids. More employees work with very young children than with older children.

In large cities, situations often occur when there are no places in kindergartens. In this case, the state provides a cash payment to parents who cannot send their child to a preschool institution and are forced to study with him independently at home.

From the age of six, children begin to attend preparatory courses for primary school, which take exactly one year. They have the status of mandatory for all children and are completely free. Groups for preparation are recruited in preschool or already in elementary school.

A little about financing

A visa will be given only on the condition that the student opens an account in a Finnish bank. The average amount for 1 year is 6,720 €, but it is better to put more.

Most exchange students will have to rent their own apartments and eat their own meals. They are not provided with benefits. Yes, training is free, but that's all Finland is willing to give you.

Another thing is grants for training. But it is very difficult for a student from another country to get a grant. There are one-time grants, but more often at the master’s level - research grants.

All students are paid a stipend, from 40€ to 300€. Got a place in a student house? The stipend will be lower. It all depends on age and form of education.

Secondary education in Finland, colleges and lyceums

Receiving secondary education lasts for nine or ten years and includes two stages. Schoolchildren do not take exams and do not have diaries. Parents learn about educational achievements from the report card in electronic form, which is located in the Wilma system. Children begin their studies in the middle of the last summer month. The school year ends in late spring or early summer. Children attend classes only during the first shift, five times a week. During the entire period, they are allocated vacation time three times.

Children spend six years in primary school. All this time, one teacher interacts with them in a permanent classroom. During the first two years, the main emphasis is on learning the native language, mathematics, reading and natural history. Children are also introduced to physical education and creativity.

With each subsequent year, the number of subjects studied increases, and by the end of primary school, children have skills in important disciplines. The required languages ​​include Finnish and Swedish, as well as two foreign languages.

In the seventh grade, high school begins, located in a different building. Now each discipline belongs to its own teacher. The learning process becomes much easier due to the presence of a teacher's assistant in the lesson. Children study in high school for three years. They can take an extra year to improve their knowledge. After completing high school, children can continue their education or get a job.

Finnish graduates continue their studies at a college or lyceum. Weak students receive working professions in colleges or vocational schools, and students with high scores continue their studies at the lyceum. Depending on the future specialty, studying in Finland lasts from one to four years.

Finnish schools for Russians

In 1997, the Russian School of Eastern Finland was founded, where the majority of Russian children study. Its branches are open in 3 cities - Joensuu, Lappeenranta and Imatra.

So that the children of Russian immigrants can adapt faster, some subjects are taught here in Russian. In addition, when classes are held in Finnish, there is a Russian-speaking tutor in the classroom. He helps students if they don't understand something. Russian students attend additional Finnish language classes.

After graduating from school, groups are formed from its graduates who undergo training in the city's lyceums. They study highly specialized disciplines separately with Russian-speaking teachers, and the main ones together with other lyceum students.

How to enter Finnish institutions

Finnish universities have their own deadlines for passing entrance exams and submitting documents. All necessary information is provided on the official website of the educational institution. It is possible to enroll in several institutions at the same time and use the results of one exam if it is required in several educational institutions. What you need to enter the university :

• The training programs are carefully reviewed and a letter is written with questions about the timing and nuances associated with admission. The letter also specifies the list of required documents;
• documents are sent, after which a call to take exams is expected. During this period, the applicant must begin collecting documents for a visa to Finland in order to obtain permission to visit the country during the entrance exams;
• the applicant passes the exams and waits for the decision of the admissions committee;
• If everything went well and the applicant became a student, he must apply for a student visa and dormitory.

Secondary educational level

Schooling lasts 9-10 years and consists of two levels. The beginning of the school year in Finland falls in August - from approximately the 8th to the 16th (there is no single day for everyone). The end of the educational process is in May.

There are 4 school holiday periods throughout the year:

• 3-4 days in autumn;
• 2 weeks at Christmas;
• 1 week in February;
• 1 week for Easter.

Schoolchildren study only in the first shift with days off on Saturday and Sunday. On Friday, the Ministry of Education introduced a short day in schools.

Finnish schools are not divided into elite and ordinary - they all have the same technical capabilities and funding.

Classification is possible only by form of ownership:

• government;
• private;
• private-public.

When applying to an educational institution, the school administration is prohibited from entering information about the parents’ place of work and their position into the application form.

Education at the school is free. In addition, there is no charge for lunches, excursions, transportation (if there is a school bus), office supplies, textbooks, and tablets.

A 10-point scale is used for assessment. At the same time, up to the 7th grade, students receive only verbal characteristics for their answers and completed assignments: good, satisfactory, mediocre, excellent.

In the lower grades (from 1st to 3rd) it is not customary to evaluate knowledge in any form.

All schools have the Willa electronic system installed. Having received individual access to it, parents can monitor their children's progress.

In this virtual diary, all the points received by students are displayed, their successes are noted, omissions, comments from a psychologist, doctor, and teachers are entered. In general, assessment here is of a purely formal nature and is used only to motivate the student. Neither the school rating nor other evaluation indicators are affected in any way.

Primary school education begins at age 7. For the first two years, kids study only 4 subjects:

• reading;
• mathematics;
• native language;
• natural history.

All classes take place in the same room with the same teacher. Physical education is a separate subject. Particular attention is paid to developing the creative potential of students. Every year the number of subjects increases, and by the 6th grade children already have key knowledge in all general subjects.

The transition to 7th grade marks the beginning of the senior stage of school. The subjects here are already taught by different teachers. The process takes 3 years, and students can add additional ones to the main subjects at their discretion.

Education in gymnasiums

The gymnasium is an alternative to high school. The student can choose an educational institution independently. Currently, there are 441 gymnasiums in Finland, the total number of students in them is 130 thousand people.

Training at this level is also free. The state pays for everything, from travel and food to educational materials.

The only thing students should be prepared for is a heavy workload and serious study, since gymnasium is a kind of preparation for entering a university. Upon completion of this stage of training, you will have to take final exams.

Secondary vocational schools

The Department of Education has provided another alternative education option for high school students - secondary vocational schools. There are 334 of them in the country, the total number of students in them is 160 thousand people.

Selection for educational institutions of this type is based on average school grade. Their graduates receive special education in a specific profession. Duration of training – 3 years. You can master a profession in almost any industry: agriculture, sports, art. Upon completion, you can apply for admission to the university. After passing the final exams, students can choose any university in the country.

Higher education in Finland

There are two types of higher education institutions in Finland:

• universities;
• universities of applied sciences (in other words: polytechnic institutes).

During the training period, the student goes through three stages: bachelor, master, doctor of science. Teaching is carried out in Finnish, Swedish and English. To fully assimilate new knowledge and communicate freely, it is necessary to speak two languages.

Higher education is built on the principle of the Bologna system. At all educational institutions, students accumulate credits. Each credit includes twenty-five hours of credit spent on lectures, practice, and examinations. This gives students greater freedom. They can choose the items they need themselves. The education system in Finland makes it possible to continue studying in another country.

Russian students studying at Russian universities have the opportunity to transfer to a Finnish university. If a student has completed several courses, he can immediately enroll in a master's program by passing exams in the necessary disciplines as an external student.

Do you have questions about obtaining higher education in Finland? Get a free consultation!

• Selection of educational institutions taking into account your requirements
• Registration of documents and visas
• Official tuition prices without agent commission
• Full support at all stages of training
• Monitoring your child 24 hours (if necessary)

To get a consultation

Popular Universities:

• University of Helsinki (Helsingin yliopisto);
• University of Lapland (Lapin yliopisto);
• Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences (Ammattikorkeakoulu).

Step-by-step guide to applying to universities in Finland

Having decided to enroll in a Finnish university, you need to draw up a detailed plan for further actions. In particular, to enroll in a higher education institution in Finland, you need:

1. Decide on your specialty and university. Finland has a wide range of study programs, from art history to information technology. In this case, the language of instruction plays an important role. It can be English, Finnish or Swedish. You can find out more about higher education institutions and study programs on the official Finnish education website.
2. Contact the chosen university and clarify all the details of admission. In almost all universities, the application submission period is in January-February. At some classical universities, the deadlines may differ. To avoid inaccuracies, it is better to clarify this question.
3. Submit your application. This can be done through the special website Studyinfo.fi. You can apply for 6 programs at the same time. At the same time, Finnish universities that are desirable for admission should be indicated in order of preference.
4. Wait for a response about acceptance of the application and send the documents. The list of required documents must be clarified in advance, at the stage of familiarization with the requirements of the selected university. Immediately after receiving confirmation of acceptance of the application, send documents for consideration.
5. Wait for an invitation to take an admissions test or interview. Typically, future applicants receive an invitation to take the entrance exam in February or March. To be admitted to the entrance tests, you need to confirm your attendance for the exam. You can take exams not only in Finland. You can find out in which other countries testing is allowed on the Finnips website.
6. If necessary, you must apply for a student visa. For example, to take an exam in Finland without being an EU citizen, you will need to apply for a short-term student visa. This may be a little problematic since you do not have an invitation to study in your hands. For more detailed information, please visit the website of the Embassy of Finland.
7. Wait for the exam results and receive an official invitation from the university. If you have successfully passed the entrance exams, then you can plan to move to Finland to get an education. But first, you must confirm in the specified form that you accept the university’s offer and are ready to start studying this year.
8. Complete the necessary documents. Now that you have an official document from Finland confirming your enrollment at the university, you can safely apply for a student visa. To do this, you will need to confirm the stability of your financial situation - obtain a certificate indicating that you have at least 6,720 euros in your bank account for the year of study. You will also need 2 photographs measuring 47 by 26 mm, a valid international passport, an insurance policy and a certificate of previous education.
9. Find accommodation in Finland and prepare to leave. It is better to find suitable housing in advance. The Finnish organization SOA deals with student housing issues. You can find out about all rental housing offers by going to the official SOA website.

What documents are needed for admission to universities in Finland?

To enter a Finnish higher education institution, you need to prepare a package of documents:

• a school leaving certificate translated into English by a translation agency and certified by a notary;
• results of passing the English TOEFL or IELTS test;
• essay or motivation letter.

Documents are submitted electronically or sent by mail. When submitting them, it is important to adhere to the submission deadlines indicated on the website of the selected university.

In particular, documents for undergraduate programs at the University of Applied Sciences are usually submitted from January 7 to February 12. For admission to the spring semester – from September 2 to 13. Some universities set their own deadlines for submitting documents - these need to be clarified in advance.

In addition to a student visa to stay in Finland, you also need to take out health insurance. It comes in two types:

• SIP Integral is required for those students who are enrolled in a study program of less than 2 years and who cannot use the national healthcare system. Its annual cost is 427 euros;
• SIP Compliment - intended for those students who intend to study for more than 2 years and can use the national healthcare system. Its cost is 256 euros per year.

How much does it cost to study in Finland?

Studying in Finland for Russians and other foreigners is absolutely free. However, you will have to invest some money. The student must pay benefits and union dues. Most often, the amount of these payments does not exceed ninety euros per month. The student pays for housing and meals independently. For example, the cost of a room in a hostel ranges from one hundred fifty to three hundred euros.

A student visa allows a foreigner to work about twenty hours a week. Despite free education, a Russian student must have about seven thousand euros in his account upon admission. This amount is required for annual residence in the country. Without this money, the student simply will not be issued a student visa.

How do students live in Finland?

Students have two options for living while studying:

• in dorm;
• in a rented apartment.

Almost all universities have their own campuses where their students live. At the same time, there are very few free ones - in most cases, the student will have to pay for the room or place in it provided to him. The cost depends on the educational institution, but in any case, a hostel will be cheaper than renting an apartment.

To obtain a place, you need to contact the curator who is involved in this issue immediately after receiving confirmation of enrollment. Sometimes you have to wait for a free place because you simply may not have time for the distribution of housing. In this case, the only option left is to rent an apartment.

Usually students unite in groups of 2-3 people to save on housing costs. The rental price depends on the city. For example, in Helsinki it can reach 300-500 euros per month. However, the advantage of this type of residence is that after receiving the diploma, residents do not have to move out of the apartment if they plan to continue to stay in Finland.

It should be noted that there are a lot of developers in the country who build condominiums directly for students. Accommodation in them is cheaper, and the living conditions can be considered quite comfortable.

Finland cannot be classified as a cheap country. Local residents are not too happy with their income, which allows them to satisfy only basic needs. Transport services are especially expensive here: one trip on a tram or metro costs 2-2.5 euros, and a liter of gasoline costs about 1.5 euros.

Income tax in Finland varies from 7 to 39% and depends on its size. Foreigners also pay taxes, but only on the profits that were received in Finland.

But this is not all that you will need money for every month:

• grocery basket at the local Prisma supermarket chain – 38.8 euros per week;
• lunch in an inexpensive cafe – 12 euros;
• mobile communications and Internet – 25-30 euros per month;
• visiting museums, exhibitions and galleries – 8-14 euros per ticket;
• cinema ticket – 15 euros;
• subscription to a fitness club for 1 year – 87 euros.

Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral degrees

Bachelor's studies last for four years. In some cases, students defend their final work. For a bachelor's degree you must complete one hundred eighty to two hundred and forty credits. A master's degree can be obtained two years after studying, having accumulated another sixty to one hundred and twenty credits.

Students who graduate from polytechnic universities are required to work for three years in accordance with their specialty and take preparatory courses that last for a year. You can become a Doctor of Science after four years of doctoral studies. After two years, students receive a lecinziate degree, which is not available at other European universities.

Study in Finland for free

Higher education is free not only for Finnish citizens, but also for foreigners. This number includes residents of Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine. During your studies, benefits may be provided for travel, food and accommodation. Specific conditions must be clarified at the selected university.

Education grants in Finland for Russians can only be received by students studying for a master's degree or receiving a doctorate degree. Foreigners studying for a bachelor's degree should not count on scholarships. Students are allowed to work part-time, which makes living easier.

Cost of education

Previously, public universities in Finland did not charge foreigners for tuition, but in 2021 the Finnish parliament passed a law introducing university tuition fees for citizens from non-EU countries. From 2021, tuition fees start from 1,500 € per year. Each university has the right to set its own figure. Study programs in Finnish and Swedish are free.

Foreigners are not paid stipends in Finland. Only students with citizenship of the country or who have a permanent residence permit receive it. Scholarships are paid to Finns by the National Social Insurance Institute. Universities have nothing to do with it; they can only manage rare grants.

Language classes

To successfully obtain higher education in Finland, proficiency in Finnish, Swedish and English is required. There are language schools where future applicants can gain knowledge of the language. Language courses at the University of Helsinki are in wide demand. For fifty-two classes you will need to pay one hundred eighty euros. Russians can attend courses only on a paid basis.

Applicants can study the language individually or in groups. There are also accelerated programs. The future student himself chooses the duration of the language school. He may take lessons for several weeks, or he may stay at a language school for a whole year. The training is successful and effective because the lessons are taught by native speakers. To take courses you will need to obtain a student visa.

What language is the training in?

I understand that Russian students are interested: what language are they studying in? Many people are afraid to learn Finnish - it is difficult and completely alien to our ears. Almost all bachelor's degree programs are conducted in Finnish. Do you know that learning languages ​​is not that difficult?

You won’t be able to enroll after school, because you don’t know the language. You will have to devote a couple of years to language training. Yes, and you won’t be able to study. The option is to prepare in advance or start by visiting a Finnish school. Education in schools is quite possible for Russian children.

If you want to study at the Polytechnic Institute, then you can choose an exchange student program. Teaching is in English. You can enroll after Russian school. True, there are not many such programs; you will have to surf the websites of Polytechnics.

At master's level, most lectures are taught in English. Students from all over the world come here for excellent educational opportunities. Admission to the master's program is on a competitive basis; you will need a motivation letter from your university.

Almost all vocational schools use the state language of instruction. Although, there are exceptions - programs in English. This is done for exchange students. There will be more such programs in 2021.

On the White Rabbit website you can learn Finnish and English. Classes are held online at a time convenient for you. The trial lesson is free.

Studying in Finland for Russians after 11th grade

It is very difficult to get into universities in Finland, since only three percent of foreigners from the total number of students are accepted. Russians can enter university after 11th grade. However, there is a difficulty here. Many universities accept documents in December, when Russian schoolchildren do not yet have a certificate. This issue is resolved under the “ Discretionary admission ” program, which allows you to defer the provision of documents after demonstrating a certificate from the school.

If a university is unable to recruit the required number of students for some specialties, the admissions committee may visit Russia to recruit students. She mainly comes to St. Petersburg and Karelia, and not to Moscow.

To enter the university, you will need to provide IELTS and TOEFL exam results. Some educational institutions do not have exams; the applicant must write a motivation letter in Finnish or English. It is necessary to tell on what principles this particular institution was chosen and describe your ideas for organizing the learning process.

Education in Finland has a huge number of advantages: it is free and very effective. It is difficult for a foreigner to enter a university, but if you make every effort, there is a chance.

Education system

The Finnish education system is considered to be one of the best in the world! The state funds schools and universities. So that's good news. Education is free. For all students, even visitors.

Education is at a high level, and Finnish diplomas are accepted and valued all over the world. If a person graduated from a university here, he can easily find a job. Also, he will be able to apply for a job in Europe. It's much easier than getting a work visa.

Already in schools there is a clear differentiation of the learning process - no basic subjects are singled out. Everything is important. In schools, children do not take exams; there is only a final exam, which gives the right to enter a university.

Yes, this is a difference that our students do not immediately understand. How does the system work? Children finish 9 grades of primary school. After that:

• go to the lyceum, after graduation you take the Finnish version of our Unified State Exam.
• Professional institute.

After the lyceum, you can apply to a university. After college, you can also continue your studies, but more often its graduates immediately look for work.