Looks like the fees are coming

[jazzori]

It's also worth mentioning that a university education in Finland isn't free for everyone. You have to get accepted first.

Hey, btw, i just applied to school. Ööö, if they turn me down, do they usually give a reason? (if that's happening before interview, also [like something wrong with the papers - AND NO, I AIN'T FAKING THOSE ] .. but the same question would go for 'after the interview' - do they notify you with what was wrong?)

[EP]

do they notify you with what was wrong?

No, because the reason is that there are this and this amount of study places, the this and this amount of better applicants. It is all about how well you scored in the entrance exam/how good your school papers are.

[rinso]

I speak to these students every week and believe me, they are extremely grateful for the opportunity to study here and genuinely emotional about the opportunity Finland has given them to take skills, knowledge and expertise back to their home countries (eg: developing nations in Africa) and help improve conditions at home. It's true, most of them do not want to stay here, but as a taxpayer it does not bother me that we are subsidising their studies. In fact when I listen to them I feel quite warm and fuzzy that Finland is hosting them and giving them opportunities that richer, bigger more affluent nations are reluctant to offer.

Well that's one of the pro's in not having tuition fees...

With fees, they could support foreign students with grants. It is a way to help the people/countries you want to help.

[sammy]

With fees, they could support foreign students with grants. It is a way to help the people/countries you want to help.

...indeed, which is another thing most people taking part in these recent threads repeatedly overlook, or stubbornly fail to read from the background material.

What the latest suggestions for introducing tuition fees to non-EU students say, in a nutshell:

1) tuition fees would ONLY be collected in certain selected English-language Master's programmes (they would not concern Bachelor's level students and they would not concern Doctoral-level students and researchers)

2) in connection with this, the universities are expected to come up with scholarship arrangements for gifted but financially underprivileged students in these said Master's programmes.

As everyone should know by now these suggested changes demand a change in the law, and AFAIK the bill has not even been presented to the government yet. Nor does anyone yet know for certain which particular Master's programmes would include the tuition fee, or how much the fee would be.

[sinikettu]

As everyone should know by now these suggested changes demand a change in the law, and AFAIK the bill has not even been presented to the government yet. Nor does anyone yet know for certain which particular Master's programmes would include the tuition fee, or how much the fee would be.

Exactly the proposed changes are still in "committee" when they (the committee) have come up with what they think might stand a chance of:
1: passing a vote.
2: have good ideas for the "scholarship arrangements for gifted but financially underprivileged students"
It will then be proposed and be put on the waiting list of Eduskuntatalo debates for new legislation.
That process could take a year.

As the PM said "he expects a lively debate to emerge on the subject of foreign students’ tuition fees."
http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/2009/02/ ... 34697.html
So it does not have a certainty of becoming law.
IMO there will be compromises needed.

[Pursuivant]

But the "political will" is there, so there will be proposal at least...

[sammy]

But the "political will" is there, so there will be proposal at least...

...and no doubt the decision-makers will also keep an eye on what our neighbour Sweden will do. Not that they'd blindly follow, but saying it's not a weighty factor in this issue would be mot traditioner...

[sinikettu]

Just for Sammy..
It is not totally off topic as is deals with Civil Servants/Politicians.
Delaying tactics etc.
http://www.schajer.org/mftm/index.htm
Note the reference to YLE and Finland. Knalli ja sateenvarjo
Sammy do scroll down and try the 20 questions to find out about...Ballymuckie

[sammy]

Sammy do scroll down and try the 20 questions to find out about...Ballymuckie

Ah, tough ones, those. I'm not that much of an expert (although I do have about 70 of those original English-language shows on mp3's - got them from a friend )... I could just about tackle a handful of those questions. Seems the job's not for our department, so pass it on.

But yes that's where the Ballymuckie reference comes from (arkistotehtäviin Ulko-Hebrideille)