English test for admission

[Pursuivant]

If the degree programme one wants to apply for receives only a few applications from abroad,

*snort* ...giggle.... which you are though correct re. the Nowheremäki polytechnics

[sammy]

If the degree programme one wants to apply for receives only a few applications from abroad,

*snort* ...giggle....

YLE 8.10.2008

Ammattikorkeakouluihin pyrkivien ulkomaalaisten määrä on kaksinkertaistunut viime vuodesta. Viime kevään yhteishaun yli 20 000 hakijasta noin puolet oli Nigeriasta ja Ghanasta.

Yep, merely +20.000 applicants altogether to the UAS English-language programmes last spring... I'm inclined to consider that somewhat more than "only a few"

[Rosamunda]

There is an IELTS test centre in Kathmandu.

http://www.ielts.org/test_centre_search ... 55fbb2f8a9

IELTS is recognised all over Europe (and preferred in the UK) and is also now widely recognised in the US. I think it is better to go for an international test rather than some local Finnish assessment which has no value outside Finland.

It is possible to take the IELTS test in Helsinki but I think you will have to take it in Nepal: your visa will depend on your admission to university which will depend on your IELTS score (and other criteria). So you have to do everything in the right order.

Good Luck.

[everestbear]

.. I think you will have to take it in Nepal ..

I am in Finland already, been doing MBA in one polytechnics. I did my IELTS in Kathmandu back in 2006 but the score is invalid now.

[everestbear]

I take quotes from www.admissions.fi
"Applicant who is applying with a foreign qualification (completed elsewhere than in Finland) and who is not a citizen of an European Union/European
Economic Area - country or Switzerland must provide a proof of his/her languge skills by 20 February 2009. "

Now, if I (non-EU guy) apply (for Bachelors/Masters degree) with my masters degree from polytechnics i.e. Finnish degree, am I exempted from having to prove my English skill?

"In addition secondary school education or an university degree in English completed in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, the United States, canada,
Australia or new Zealand is also accepted as a demonstration of sufficient English language skills. Education completed in English in other countries than
the above mentioned will not be accepted. "

It does not mention Finland. So, will Finnish degree in English be not accepted?

Anyone clear on that?

[zam]

Nope,
you cannot apply with a higher education degree, only with upper secondary level degrees (for Bachelor's degrees) or Bachelor degree for Master's degree programme.

It might also be difficult to convince Migri why you'd need another degree in Finland on the same level if you have already completed one here...

What happens after the studies are completed?
After completing the studies, the student may remain in Finland if he or she can be granted a new residence permit on other grounds. The permit may be granted, for example for continuing studies within the same field or on the basis of family ties or employment.

A foreigner who has received a degree in Finland can also get a residence permit for search for work. The permit can be granted as an extended permit for six (6) months.

[everestbear]

It might also be difficult to convince Migri why you'd need another degree in Finland on the same level if you have already completed one here...

Another degree on the same level? That's what Finns are known for, aren't they? Holding double masters degrees or even Phd in different faculties!! There should not be any problem to start another line of study/work in my opinion!! But if you are talking about doing masters and coming back to do bachelors again on the same faculty, I hope you are not!!

[zam]

Doesn't it clearly say that a residence permit can be granted for continuing studies in the same field, i.e. Bachelor > Master > PhD etc. Not going backwards...

[everestbear]

Doesn't it clearly say that a residence permit can be granted for continuing studies in the same field, i.e. Bachelor > Master > PhD etc. Not going backwards...

"The permit may be granted, for example for continuing studies within the same field or on the basis of family ties or employment." It states "for example" meaning it does not limit to but exceeding ......... My understanding so far has been residence permit can be granted e.g. to those who are continuing their studies such as joining Masters after Bachelors in the same faculty as well as to those who have completed degree in one faculty and now opt for another faculty as a matter of subject change/faculty change. To be clear, for example, I complete my Bachelors in law, after that I pursue medicine in the same level i.e. Bachelors. I apply for residence permit extension. Will immigration have problem with that? I guess not.

Ok one simple question to you. Don't you think it's possible for students to change their faculty e.g. from law to medicine, management to nursing or cooking or IT etc.?

[zam]

Ok one simple question to you. Don't you think it's possible for students to change their faculty e.g. from law to medicine, management to nursing or cooking or IT etc.?

Of course it is possible, but it is not always easy to convince the immigration authorities about your personal desires... But in your case it can be easier since you are already in Finland. Sometimes the immigration authorities have e.g. questionned the need of education on Bachelor's level for people who already possess a Bachelor's degree on different field of study.

[sammy]

.. I think you will have to take it in Nepal ..

I am in Finland already, been doing MBA in one polytechnics. I did my IELTS in Kathmandu back in 2006 but the score is invalid now.

Okay, if you need to do IELTS in Finland then the address is http://www.finnbrit.fi
(see: http://www.finnbrit.fi/exams.html)

[sammy]

Ok one simple question to you. Don't you think it's possible for students to change their faculty e.g. from law to medicine, management to nursing or cooking or IT etc.?

On top of what zam said, please also note that changing your major subject is not an "automatic" process - that is, if you have been granted a degree study placement at faculty/department X, you can (usually!) choose minor subject studies rather freely from other faculties/departments. But this, too, has some limitations - see below. However, to start a completely new degree -to change your major subject- is another matter altogether. You usually have to apply for that right separately, and the computer of the faculty may as well say "no".

In some cases, it can be quite tricky; like for example in your example (Law -> Medicine). I would assume that not everyone registered at a university is automatically given full minor subject study rights at the medical faculties. See e.g. this page

http://www.med.helsinki.fi/peruskoulutu ... rjonta.htm

(...which also illustrates another problem in the scenario you mentioned)

As usual, in questions like this it is best if you check out the requirements directly from the institutions.

[everestbear]

Based on schools' replies, what I have understood is that English language test is a must to get admission by non-EU students regardless of whether one is studying in Finland or not!that (funny thing) to get admission in Bachelors, you must have done your high school in one of those countries mentioned in the websites/Finland and your Bachelors/Masters degree from Finland does not suffice to prove you have adequate English language skills for that!! Let me laugh

[zam]

Based on schools' replies, what I have understood is that English language test is a must to get admission by non-EU students regardless of whether one is studying in Finland or not!that (funny thing) to get admission in Bachelors, you must have done your high school in one of those countries mentioned in the websites/Finland and your Bachelors/Masters degree from Finland does not suffice to prove you have adequate English language skills for that!! Let me laugh

High school education completed in English in Finland does not qualify for the language test requirement, only the minimum grade C in Finnish matriculation examination in advanced level English or grade 4 in English in IB Examination completed in Finland. I.e. studying in English in Finland does not qualify, only the listed language tests.

[kalusam]

Applicant who is not a citizen of an EU/EEA -country must provide proof of his/her English language skills by the end of application period to the admissions office of his/her first preference polytechnic/UAS. In order to prove the applicant's English language skills, he/she must provide one of the following minimum requirements: IELTS score academic level 5,5 or TOEFL score 550 paper-based test/ 213 computer-based/ 79-80 internet -based test, or grade C in the Finnish matriculation examination in advanced level English (IB-examination grade 4 completed in Finland, Reifeprüfung -examination grade 7 completed in Finland or EB-examination grade 6.00-6.95), or skills level 4 in English in the Finnish general language examination (www.oph.fi => Tutkintopalvelut => Yleiset kielitutkinnot). Both TOEFL and IELTS test results are valid for two years. The Finnish general language examination does not have a set date of validity. TOEFL score results are only accepted directly from the Educational Testing Service.

In addition, primary and secondary school education in English completed in Great Britain, Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia or New Zealand or Bachelor's or Master's degree completed in English in one of these countries, is also accepted as a demonstration of sufficient English language skills.

Well, personally i think the English test is just a way of scaring people away from applying, because countries like sweden accept equivalent of Country's Secondary School Certificate score in English, For instance The Nigerian WEST AFRICAN SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL CERTIFICATE B Score in English is equivalent to the TOEFL/IELTS language Requirement score
Check it on https://www.studera.nu/studera/1637.html

https://www.studera.nu/studera/1672.html

Here in Nigeria as in other West African Country colonised by the britons like Ghana, English is the means of Education tution from Nursery to primary,seconadry and even at the University level, even if you are been taught a language Course like Yoruba, Ibo or Hausa, you will be tutored in English first before you are familiarized with the Language. In finland, i suppose english is not the second/ official langauge yet they want everyone except for some countries like Great Britain, Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, The big question is that how many people who are citizens of the above countries apply for study in finland ?
The finnish Government should try and include other countries in this their narrow list or better still borrow a leaf from sweden who use an equivalent for Admission.
Cheers .