Vocational Schools in Finland for International Students 2024

Are you looking for vocational schools in Finland that help you gain or upgrade your practical and technical skills? If so, then you have made the right choice. The North European country is a popular hub for vocational education and training among its own students as well as the international ones. This blog will help you discover some renowned vocational institutes in the country, along with the programs they offer, admission requirements and their application process. We will also discuss the benefits of vocational education in the long run and its career scope. So let’s get started!

Number of students choosing Vocational Programs after Primary Education	341,600 (as of 2022)
Qualifications Offered	Number of students Choosing Vocational Programs after Primary Education
Top Industries for Vocational Education	Business and administration, health and welfare, engineering, manufacturing, and construction
Language	Instruction primarily in Finnish, with some programs in English or Swedish
Cost	EUR 4,500 per program, with potential scholarships for international students
Employment rate	More than 80%

Also Read: Top 10 Highly-Ranked Universities in Finland 2024

Why Study in Vocational Schools in Finland?

Vocational schools aim to equip students with hands-on practical knowledge relevant to a particular industry. The vocational schools in Finland help provide seamless, future-oriented learning for both local and international students, keeping in mind the needs of local industry. These programs focus on enhancing work-based learning through innovative pedagogy and customized study paths. Given below are some reasons for you to choose Finland as your destination for vocational education and training:

1. Vocational institutes in Finland have a smaller class size, enabling students to learn intensively.
2. The program has individualized instructions, based on developed planning and imparts essential, lifelong skills to students.
3. Students acquire crucial skills through hands-on approach to learning paid, apprenticeships and internships, and immediate employment as soon as they graduate.

Top Vocational Schools in Finland 

There are numerous vocational schools in Finland, seeing that most students prefer and opt for vocational education instead of traditional higher education. Among other industries, the following are generally the most popular choices among students:

1. Business and Administration
2. Health and Welfare
3. Engineering
4. Manufacturing
5. Construction

Here are some of the top vocational institutes in Finland for international students in 2024, along with the programs they offer:

Institute	Program
SASKY Municipal Education and Training Consortium	Vocational Qualification in Social and Healthcare, Practical Nurse and care, and Rehabilitation For Elderly People (top-up)
Tampere Vocational College, Tredu	Vocational Qualification in Social and Healthcare, Practical nursing and care, and Rehabilitation For Elderly People (top-up)
SAIMAA Vocational College SAMPO	Vocational Qualification in Social and Healthcare, Practical nursing and care, and Rehabilitation For Elderly People (top-up)
WinNova	Vocational Qualification in Social and Healthcare, Practical Nurse
Educational Consortium OSAO	Continuous Education in Social & Health Care and Cleaning (non-degree programs)

Also Read: List of Universities in Finland: University for International Students, Without IELTS, For Masters, Rankings

Tuition Fees

Compared to Canada and Australia, the tuition fees for programs at vocational schools in Finland are much more affordable i.e. EUR 4,500 per program. Moreover, students can work up to 30 hours/week at a wage of EUR 8-12/hour, as per the recently modified law for international students.

Vocational Schools in Finland: Admission Requirements

Although the vocational schools in Finland have specific admission requirements for each of their courses, here are some general ones that students must qualify:

1. Completing secondary education equivalent to Finnish upper secondary school
2. Employment Certificate/CV
3. Passport ID page/official ID with your nationality
4. Admission interview
5. Proof of no past criminal record
6. Knowledge of English and Finnish language (IELTS, TOEFL, YKI (Finnish Language Tests))
7. Vocational qualifications in their preferred program

Vocational Schools in Finland: Application Process for International Students

Students can apply to vocational schools in Finland through the following steps:

1. Ensure you meet the basic and program’s specific eligibility requirements.
2. Research and choose a program and institution based on your interests and career goals.
3. Consider factors like location, language of instruction, tuition fees, and application deadlines.
4. Most institutions have online application platforms. Submit all required documents such as academic transcripts, certificates, test scores, and CV/resume. Some programs may require entrance exams or interviews.
5. Pay any necessary application fees.
6. Apply for a student visa through the Finnish Immigration Service well in advance (3-6 months).
7. Prove you have sufficient funds to cover living expenses and tuition fees.
8. Admission decisions are usually made by individual institutions based on academic merit, skills, and motivation. You may receive an offer letter by email.
9. Accept the offer by the deadline and pay any required fees. Apply for a residence permit if applicable.
10. Arrange housing and health insurance.

FAQs

We hope that this gave you a complete overview of studying in vocational schools in Finland for international students. Stay tuned to Leverage Edu for more updates on study-abroad destinations. Thank you for reading!