Best Universities in Finland

Finland is not only famed for its gorgeous landscapes but also has a strong reputation for imparting quality education. Named amongst the happiest countries to study abroad, Finland stands as the epitome of healthy and harmonious education offered by its esteemed academic institutions. High-end programs, expert faculty, remarkable research center, and universities in Finland have it all. So, if you are planning to study in Finland, here is a blog that aims to highlight prominent and top-ranked universities and colleges in the country. 

Why Study in Finland?

Are you aspiring to learn from the best in the world? Then, a study in Finland is worth considering. Not, yet convinced? You’ll be happy to know that education in Finland revolved around a very basic idealogy that “the nature of students is to know more about the world around them and experiment with what they learn.” Keeping this in mind, the country has a proven track record as a place of a world-class education. The egalitarian principle of universal education has caught the attention of international students planning to study abroad. The teachers are not just proficient in their subject area but experts in training and learning. Getting a Finnish degree means having a high level of dedication and competence in your field of study. Universities offer a blend of formal and extracurricular learning aiming to unlock the maximum potential of their students. Not to forget, Finland has a booming gaming sector and strong ICT module. So, experience the cutting-edge digital technology that makes learning fun!

Best Universities in Finland for International Students

The country is home to an array of universities that have received global accreditation and are on the wishlist of a plethora of students. Glance through the list below mentioning different universities in Finland with their corresponding QS rankings for the years 2022-

Universities in Finland	QS Rankings 2022
University of Helsinki	104
Aalto University	=112
University of Turku	=295
University of Jyväskylä	=348
University of Oulu	377
Tampere University	=414
Lappeenranta University of Technology	=414
University of Eastern Finland	521-530
Åbo Akademi University	601-650

Tampere University

In January 2019, Tampere University was founded by the merger of the Tampere University of Technology and the University of Tampere. The university predominantly offers education in natural science courses and engineering programs but also offers a vast number of courses in different areas. With more than 30,000 students, the institution consists of Centres of Excellence (CoE) which are ideal for carrying out research in the field of your choice. At TU, you will encounter 7 faculties offering top-notch programs in an array of fields. 

University of Helsinki

Based in the capital city of Helsinki, it is one of the oldest and biggest universities in Finland and was established in 1640. The institution persistently ranks among the top universities in the world and is home to a community of 31,600 students. Apart from the Finnish and Swedish-taught courses, the university offers an array of programs in the English language as well. With 11 reputable faculties offering 6,142 degrees, you will find the best fit for you. The consistently higher rank of the university, easy financing options along with an interactive international community makes it the choicest option for international students.

University of Turku

The University of Turku is one of the largest universities in Finland. With over 25, 000 students from 100 different countries, this Finnish university is known for its diversity and academic excellence. The university offers bachelor’s and master’s programs and 300 courses in English such as Law, East Asian Studies, Gender Studies, Biomedical Sciences, Physical and Chemical Sciences, and Information and Technology Systems.

Åbo Akademi University (AAU)

Åbo Akademi University is a one-of-a-kind institution that is renowned for its high-end research facilities. The 100 years old university has two campuses in Turku and Vaasa.  You will come across more than 6,600 peers pursuing similar UG, PG, or Ph.D. courses from AAU. The long list of courses available at the university also entails the ones that are offered in English. Being a popular research university, AAU strives to publish 1,400 research papers every year and has made its mark as one of Finland’s finest research universities.

University of Jyväskylä

The University of Jyvaskyla was established in the year 1863. It is known as the second-largest university in Finland. This centrally located university has established its reputation as one of the top institutions in the field of education and humanities. To deliver the best in the field of education, research-focused courses are offered in almost all the disciplines, and striving toward research excellence has been the driving force of the institution. It houses around 14,700 students pursuing leading courses in distinct domains offered by 6 faculties. The essential vision of the university lies in becoming “a global leader in the study of learning, wellbeing and basic natural phenomena, reshaping competence to build a sustainable society”.

Aalto University

Aalto University is a multidisciplinary academic institution offering remarkable education in popular fields. Securing the reputable 127th global rank in the QS Rankings 2020, AU was founded in the year 2010. The institution comprises 6 esteemed faculties which offer quality degree programs spread across diverse fields. Recently, AU has secured 7th rank in the field of Art and Design by QS, 33rd in the field of information technology by US News, and can be spotted at 22nd position in Shanghai Rankings for Telecommunications Technology. The university has around 20,000 students, approximately 13% international students.

Lappeenranta University of Technology

The Lappeenranta University of Technology or LUT is another popular university in Finland. The university has two campuses in areas like Lappeenranta and Lahti. LUT has three main schools such as Business and Management, Engineering Sciences and Energy System. The University has over 7000 international students and offers multiple programs in the English Language. LUT is amongst the top 200 business schools in the world and offers a highly competitive MBA.

Top Public Universities in Finland

Listed below are the top public universities offering academic degrees to international students –

1. University of Helsinki
2. Abo Akademi University
3. Aalto University
4. Tampere University
5. University of Jyväskylä

Top Business Schools in Finland 

Business School	World Ranking (2021)
Aalto University School of Business	71(QS)
Hanken School Of Economics	1277
Turku School of Economics TSE – University of Turku	287(QS)
University of Vaasa School of the Management	401
University of Oulu – Oulu Business School	251(QS)
Åbo Akademi University	795(CWUR)
Faculty of Management- University of Tampere	395(QS)
Faculty of Social Sciences and Economics- University of Eastern Finland	49(THE)
Faculty of Social Sciences- University of Lapland	2647
School of Business and Economics- University of Jyväskylä	67(THE)
Tampere University of Technology	414(QS)
University of Helsinki	104(QS)

Study in Finland: Education and Living Costs 

Ever thought about how expensive is it to study in Finland? International students have to pay a minimum of EUR 6,000 which can go up to EUR 18,000 per year at prestigious universities for full-time bachelor’s or master’s courses. However, doctorate courses are usually tuition-free. 

Other conditions of fee exemption include those students with an EU Blue Card or permanent or fixed-term residence permit. Moreover, an exchange student may not have to pay the tuition fee. Also, if you choose to study in Finland, either in Finnish or Swedish, then you may be exempted from tuition charges.

When we talk about the cost of living, how much money you spend majorly depends on the place where you study in Finland, your lifestyle, and of course your spending habits. Choosing to study in Helsinki, the capital city can be a little more expensive than in smaller towns like Oulu. Your average cost of living can vary between EUR 700 to EUR 1,000 per month. Getting a student residence hall or dormitory can be a real money saver.

Student Visas for Finland 

As an Indian student wanting to study in Finland, you need to have a valid passport and a visa to enter a new country. The Single-entry visa enables entry to the Schengen zone once and for up to 90 days in any 180 days while the Double-entry visa increases your entry to twice. Other than this, there is a Multiple-entry visa granted for various consecutive visits to the Schengen area and the total duration of the stay cannot exceed 90 days in 180 days and this is valid for a maximum of 5 years.

In case you wish to extend the validity of your visa while in Finland, you need to contact the local police authorities there.

Financial Support and Scholarships

Now that you have an idea of how much it costs to study in Finland, looking for the best scholarships for your chosen course and university should be the next step. The universities in Finland offer a range of scholarships for international students who are required to pay tuition fees. Let’s take a look at some of the scholarships you can avail yourself for studying in Finland:

• Finland Government Scholarships for International Students
• Aalto University Scholarship
• University of Helsinki Scholarships for International Students
• University of Tampere Scholarships for International Students
• CIMO Doctoral Fellowship for International Students
• University of Oulu Masters Scholarships for International Students
• EDUFI Fellowships Program for Young Doctoral Students
• Protein Science International Masters Scholarship at University of Oulu Finland
• University of Helsinki International Student Scholarship Grant
• University of Turku Postdoctoral Research in Science and Medicine

FAQs

Thus, we hope that through this blog, you are now familiar with leading universities in Finland. Looking forward to studying in Finland? Let the experts at Leverage Edu ease out your educational journey by guiding you throughout the process of finding the right course and university as well as sorting out the admission process and sending a winning application! Hurry up! Register for a free e-meeting now!