Sweden: Tuition fees approved for non-European citizens

[sammy]

Here in Finland, Finns are the majority in university, because they set very few limited places for foreign students.

Some might say that the Finns are a majority not because the number of international students was somehow "limited" but because the primary raison d'etre of the universities is to provide higher education to the people in Finland

So, even if they do charge tuition fees, there won't be much difference in foreign student numbers.

Dunno, my guess would be that the number would drop. IIRC that happened in Denmark when they introduced tuition fees in 2006. But how much would it drop exactly, that's anyone's guess.

And hey, biology isn't just recognising different species of birds or seeds from each other. Chemistry goes into the mix as well

[Hank W.]

And yes, in all those well-known universities in US or Australia,

Oh, so they have universities in Australia? So much for well-known

[everestbear]

with tuition fee, finland will disappear out of world map!! yes Nokia is there .... so perhaps not!! but will definitely be in the brink of disappearance. Who's gonna know and care to learn about Finland??

Mr Hank, your view on that!?

[sammy]

Who's gonna know and care to learn about Finland??

Hard to say, perhaps those who are genuinely interested in studies, culture and life in other countries (like Finland) in the first place... at least it would help getting rid of those w*nkers who merely are interested in things that they can get "for free".

[easily-lost]

Here in Finland, Finns are the majority in university, because they set very few limited places for foreign students

Some might say that the Finns are a majority not because the number of international students was somehow "limited" but because the primary raison d'etre of the universities is to provide higher education to the people in Finland

So, why would they claim to want MORE AND MORE international students and at the same time set the limits of foreign students' number? Isn't it a protection for Finnish students and being contradictory to its own policy? Well, if the limitation is removed, I'm afraid there won't be so many Finns left in the university either, they will be the same as in universities in US, Australia and so forth.

And Hank, I'm afraid you're not cruel enough to learn medicine (testing on animals or human beings, etc. You'd faint!) and too true to be a lawyer.

[Hank W.]

Who's gonna know and care to learn about Finland??

Mr Hank, your view on that!?

Wikipedia 2038:

In Nepalese tradition, Finland is a mythical kingdom hidden somewhere beyond the snowpeaks of the Himalayas. It is mentioned in various ancient texts, including the Studying Abroad Tantra and the ancient texts of the Zhang Zhung culture which pre-dated Tibetan Buddhism in western Tibet. The Bön scriptures speak of a closely-related land called Suomi. The Hungarian scholar Sàndor Körösi Csoma, writing in 1833, provided the first geographic account of "a fabulous country in the north...situated between 45' and 50' north latitude".The myths of Suomi were part of the inspiration for the story of Shangri-La told in the popular novel Free Education published in 2033, possibly influenced by the accounts of Nicholas Roerich published under the title Finlandia three years earlier.

[Hank W.]

And Hank, I'm afraid you're not cruel enough to learn medicine

I'm an army paramedic - we test on people

[sammy]

So, why would they claim to want MORE AND MORE international students and at the same time set the limits of foreign students' number? Isn't it a protection for Finnish students and being contradictory to its own policy? Well, if the limitation is removed, I'm afraid there won't be so many Finns left in the university either, they will be the same as in universities in US, Australia and so forth.

You could read this http://www.minedu.fi/OPM/Koulutus/artik ... index.html and this http://www.minedu.fi/export/sites/defau ... 012_fi.pdf for starters. They should answer your question.

Browsing those documents and pages, a certain small detail that which will not escape you, I'm sure, will also help you understand why Finnish students will remain a majority in Finnish universities, regardless of "limitations" or (as yet only suggested) fees.

hint: haluatko ostaa vokaalin?

F _ NN _ SH L_NG_ _ G_

[easily-lost]

hint: haluatko ostaa vokaalin?

F _ NN _ SH L_NG_ _ G_

Miksi haluan ostaa vokaalin?!

If you mean Finnish language will be the obstacle, I'm sure there are plenty people who can get it perfectly if they really want to. That's because I have seen many live examples.

[sammy]

hint: haluatko ostaa vokaalin?

F _ NN _ SH L_NG_ _ G_

Miksi haluan ostaa vokaalin?!

If you mean Finnish language will be the obstacle, I'm sure there are plenty people who can get it perfectly if they really want to. That's because I have seen many live examples.

Hey, but that's genuinely good news Please, please do spread the word to the universities and the polytechnics - they'll save a lot of money when they can forget about offering any English-language degree programmes AND Finnish language courses.

(The vokaali thing is from an old tv show that... oh, never mind see the vid )

[tuhandsome]

Here in Finland, Finns are the majority in university, because they set very few limited places for foreign students. So, even if they do charge tuition fees, there won't be much difference in foreign student numbers.

Oh man... I mean the difference in the amount of students taking part in English degree (especially Polytechnics)! I can see that 90% of those degree are foreigners What if 90% of that 90% disappear ? Whom will those UAS teach ?

[everestbear]

let's face it... when potential students seek to add exotic degrees in their CV, their radar picks up a mere faint interest in Finland and of course only when those USA, UK, Australia, Germany blah blah destinations become elusive, then they say terve!! talking about free.... well I never imagined there could be a business of kirppis proportion !! i mean secondhand shops!! in any country.

[everestbear]

Who's gonna know and care to learn about Finland??

Mr Hank, your view on that!?

Wikipedia 2038:

In Nepalese tradition, Finland is a mythical kingdom hidden somewhere beyond the snowpeaks of the Himalayas. It is mentioned in various ancient texts, including the Studying Abroad Tantra and the ancient texts of the Zhang Zhung culture which pre-dated Tibetan Buddhism in western Tibet. The Bön scriptures speak of a closely-related land called Suomi. The Hungarian scholar Sàndor Körösi Csoma, writing in 1833, provided the first geographic account of "a fabulous country in the north...situated between 45' and 50' north latitude".The myths of Suomi were part of the inspiration for the story of Shangri-La told in the popular novel Free Education published in 2033, possibly influenced by the accounts of Nicholas Roerich published under the title Finlandia three years earlier.

well... Hank, I will use this as reference in my thesis if it's related.

[easily-lost]

Hey, but that's genuinely good news Please, please do spread the word to the universities and the polytechnics - they'll save a lot of money when they can forget about offering any English-language degree programmes AND Finnish language courses.

(The vokaali thing is from an old tv show that... oh, never mind see the vid )

It seems the language is the last "wall" against the overwhelming competitive foreigners staying in Finland. Unfortunately, Finland is not a self-sufficient country; it HAS to do business and trade with other countries. That's why "foreign policy" plays such an important role in the government. Can you imagine what life (if there were any left) will be like when foreign goods start to vanish from the market and people's daily life?

As to say vokaali, I wonder whether there is any Finnish Scrabble game. It'd be fun to learn new words that way.

[sammy]

It seems the language is the last "wall" against the overwhelming competitive foreigners staying in Finland.

Indeed, but unless you've got a few big screws loose in your head, you surely realise what a whacking big wall it unfortunately is for the vast majority of prospective students, workers, you name it. If it wasn't we'd be writing Finnish on Forums like this.

If you wish to brighten up my day, you could contact the Immigration Service and the universites' admission services and ask how many "foreign" applicants per year apply successfully to Finnish-language degree programmes... and how many of the remaining know Finnish even to the extent of saying "missä on lähin ruokakauppa?".

Please understand that I would personally cheer aloud and put out bright-coloured flags if we could have more even relatively fluent Finnish-speakers immigrating into the country. But I'm afraid the word "more" is rather an overstatement there, since it's hard to imagine how there could be less. As it is, pfft...