From England

[cloud]

Hello everyone I am currently a student in England. I am British, but I would like to move to Finland after my degree is done... but, I'd like to ask whether there is any point in me actually finishing it ? I wonder, would I have to be re-educated to suit their standards? Sorry if there's a topic about this already... Any help would be appreciated If you could email it, that would be great as my pc doesn't seem to like this site much

[Hank W.]

Well. the best option would be to go to http://finland.cimo fi, and/or the website of wherever you're enrolled at now; and then figure out if you'd come over for an exchange. That way you can figure out if you like it or not... as in "straight off Ryanair, no education, no language, what the f* you think of beig doing - counting the trees?". Not saying if you've got a degree here they'd be offering much anything but tree counting, but still...

[mago]

Hank, can you post the link for the tree counting job.

[Hank W.]

There you go, though its an advanced position, acorn-counter.

[Richard]

There you go, though its an advanced position, acorn-counter.

Better than that even, it's Fir cones not acorns, the fir cone guys laugh at the acorn guys

[cloud]

Hehe... thanks for the help I have already been to Finland though Hank I'm not one of those lovely people who come on here gushing about the heavenliness of a place I'd never stepped a foot into I've emigrated to a country without knowing it once in my life and that's enough... English may be easy to pick up as you go along, but Finnish is no picnic Hence my wondering whether my degree will count for anything there or whether I might as well not do it altogether

[sammy]

Hmm... tricky

Might depend on what your UK degree would be (Bachelor's?) and in what field... also, what kind of work would you bee looking for?

In some instances, let's say e.g. if you were a Doctor, you'd need to have your qualifications recognised. There's some general-level stuff on that in here:

http://www.oph.fi/info/recognition

Providing a little bit more info on the above details might encourage your fellow countrymen (ie UK degree holders) into sharing their experiences

[Rosamunda]

Well in that case....

..... if you are doing a degree in Medieval English Literature, then er no, I wouldn't bother finishing it. But if you are reading Russian or some of that IT stuff then, er yes, maybe.

BTW, you don't need a degree in marine engineering to clean boats, and you don't need a degree in botany to pick blueberries.

It depends what you are studying and what you intend to do when you get here.

Generally speaking though, a degree of common sense is the most useful qualification of all.

[cloud]

yes, it's a bachelor's degree. In erm... international politics.... because I don't know what I want to be and am open to any work (within reason ). Oh and I already speak fluent Russian... maybe a diploma that proves it would help?

[sinikala]

yes, it's a bachelor's degree. In erm... international politics.... because I don't know what I want to be and am open to any work (within reason ). Oh and I already speak fluent Russian... maybe a diploma that proves it would help?

Depends how far you are into your studies.

You say you are doing a BA in International politics. 3 years?

- You can't be a fresher otherwise your course will only just have started.

- If you have passed part II & are entering your final year and asking us if you should bother finishing a degree when you have only 8 months to go, then you deserve a slap.

- I assume then that you have passed Part I and are starting part II?

The Bologna Process means your degree will count for as much as any Finnish Bachelor's degree in a few years time.

I would say that in terms of getting a job (a decent job, not picking berries), having a degree is quite important, in case of applying for a job if there are two similar candidates up for the same job, I'd rather be the one with a degree than without.

I'm not in a recruiting position, but occasionally get asked opinions about whether someone is suitable for employment. I don't like quitters. You don't want holes in your CV and need to explain them away with... "yeah well, I heard that there wasn't much point in finishing my BA as I was coming to Finland" <---- not good.

If you can transfer your studies to Finland that might be an option, personally I'd complete in the UK then move here, if you are of standard UK student age then you will have a BA at 21, pretty much the same age as many Finns are after completing their fresher year.

[cloud]

yes, it's a bachelor's degree. In erm... international politics.... because I don't know what I want to be and am open to any work (within reason ). Oh and I already speak fluent Russian... maybe a diploma that proves it would help?

Depends how far you are into your studies.

You say you are doing a BA in International politics. 3 years?

- You can't be a fresher otherwise your course will only just have started.

- If you have passed part II & are entering your final year and asking us if you should bother finishing a degree when you have only 8 months to go, then you deserve a slap.

- I assume then that you have passed Part I and are starting part II?

Haha! You're right. I have just passed part one of BA International Politics. No, I wouldn't consider quitting after 2 years, since I'd be in much more debt then... so, no need to get violent That's all I wanted to know - whether to finish the course or not. Thanks for your help, it is much appreciated *bows*