Bachelor's in Finland

Useful advice relating to undergraduate and postgraduate studying. Find information on admission, study permits, universities, polytechnics, courses and student life in Finland
Post Reply
suomalainenamerican
Posts: 15
Joined: Sun May 23, 2010 4:57 am

Bachelor's in Finland

Post by suomalainenamerican » Sun May 23, 2010 5:21 am

Hello,

I am a Finnish-American with citizenship in both countries. I currently possess a Associate's of Arts and Science Degree (2-year degree) and am interested in obtaining my bachelor's through a Finnish University. Although I speak a reasonable amount of Finnish I am interested in doing a degree program in English, possibly at the Helsinki University of Economics.

My Questions are as follows:
-Would my two year degree transfer/be recognized in Finland?
-What is the minimum amount of time required for Finnish citizens to live in finland in order to receive full citizenship rights? Could I receive full citizenship rights in Finland despite never having lived in Finland?
-What is the cost of tuition for citizens/non-citizens?
-How much does living in finland cost; food/housing per each month? Especially in a town like Helsinki?

Any help answering these questions, along with relevant additional information would be greatly appreciated.

Kiitos



Bachelor's in Finland

Sponsor:

Finland Forum Ad-O-Matic
 

User avatar
Pursuivant
Posts: 15089
Joined: Thu Mar 11, 2004 11:51 am
Location: Bath & Wells

Re: Bachelor's in Finland

Post by Pursuivant » Sun May 23, 2010 9:53 am

suomalainenamerican wrote: a degree program in English, possibly at the Helsinki University of Economics.
Does one exist? The start-from in-English bachelor degrees are in the polytechnics. The English programmes in the unis are master programmes that require a bachelor degree on the bottom (theres like two? that aren't?). As an academic bachelors degree is basically an "university dropout" still for a while before they get better established. HSE and Hanken (the Swedish one) are both top notch. Polytechnicswise Haaga-Helia, but those "International Business" degrees are 15 in a half dozen and mean jack, might as well apply with a degree in women studies and gothic flatulence, gives better chance of getting into an interview. (come on, I was mostly always asked of my cruise liner purser career than my coding skills applying for IT) Science - IT or Engineering - if you plan on having a job in Finland. Theres dozens of no-can-speak people graduated from Nowheremäki polytechnics, competing with no-speak Economics majors from HSE and Hanken for the same 2 jobs they forgot to write "we assume you speak fluent Finnish" in the job ad.
-Would my two year degree transfer/be recognized in Finland?
In the Finnish system you write your matriculation after high school, after which if you go to the uni you take a 3 years bachelors degree + 2 years masters. So whats that associate then, kindergarten? You might be able to transfer some credits in some universities in some cases.
-What is the minimum amount of time required for Finnish citizens to live in finland in order to receive full citizenship rights? Could I receive full citizenship rights in Finland despite never having lived in Finland?
Rights as in what exactly? To pay taxes? If you're a bloke you have the privilege of national service.
-What is the cost of tuition for citizens/non-citizens?
Theres no tuition fees -yet (books, copies, student union fees, health insurance etc. cost) but getting in is a different thing. Some people spend 2-3 years on prep courses trying to get into law or med schools. Also if you apply, you will be in the "foreigner" queue with your SAT degrees, as regardless of your passport its "where you had your education" from the academic POV. so a Frenchman with a Finnish matriculation is "Finnish" and a Finn with a French matriculation is "foreigner".
-How much does living in finland cost; food/housing per each month? Especially in a town like Helsinki?
Well, the ballpark can be deduced from that foreign non-EU students to get their residence permit need to show 6000 euros per year. That 500 per month is something of a calculated poverty level with student dorm housing and canteen meals.
relevant
It sort of depends what your long-term plans are.
"By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes."


Post Reply