No use even applying from some countries

[Hank W.]

It seems if a country has too many aspiring students, nobody gets even to try. Nigeria and Nepal seem now to be on the black list. Too many applicants with very little realistical chances to get in, and the fear of Finland just being a stepping stone to get into the EU.

So, life isn't fair. The bluer you get the worse the situation - of Nigerian applications almost 70% are not approved. Now Sweden is so bad as from the whopping 5 visa applications filed there (by resident 3rd country nationals), a whopping 2 were not approved so thats 40% already.

[sinikettu]

I think that the EU is going to close this "Education" route very soon.

Nowhere Mäki Poly degree courses in "International Border Hopping" will soon be no longer available.

The Finnish embassy in Nigeria received 1,000 visa applications and its counterpart in Nepal, 500 applications from people applying to the Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki.

How many applied for Nowhere Mäki courses?

http://virtual.finland.fi/stt/showartic ... up=General

Now we can expect a few more posts on this board.:"Why waz mi joly fine aplication regectd by nazty Finnish Embacy?"

[Cod]

..how about this then, the condition of studying in, say western Europe, is that you then must return to your country for a grand period of say , 7 years to work or you forfeit your western degree.

That way everyone is happy. Europe gets to help Nigeria pull itself out of troubles by infusing its young up-and-coming professionals with some economic tricks and making sure they spend long enough in Nigeria to try and impliment a few of them, maybe even encouraging them to stay and rebuild the country.

[Hank W.]

So apart from the logical problem of verifying a person's whereabouts - what incentive then exactly would that be for me to pay that out of my tax money? Unless its calculated as development aid?

[fishee]

How about withdrawal from Schengen area, then no poor guy would resort to use Finland as the gateway. UK seems not bother by it.

[Hank W.]

Not an option that one either, as theres the Nordic free movement area as well.

[Cod]

Unless its calculated as development aid

..works for this tax payer

Stopping the brain drain from Africa could make quite a difference..

[Tiwaz]

How about withdrawal from Schengen area, then no poor guy would resort to use Finland as the gateway. UK seems not bother by it.

Oh grand. And start digging up your passport and other papers when you want to have nice little european vacation...

Much less hassle to just regulate accepting foreign students more strictly.

[sammy]

Unless its calculated as development aid

..works for this tax payer

Stopping the brain drain from Africa could make quite a difference..

Well, there ARE some student exchange programmes to Finland that are funded from the development aid money - also the EU-funded Erasmus Mundus which Finnish universities also participate in... but as far as I know the foreign degree students who come to Finnish universities or polytechnics are not exactly 'urged' to return to their home countries... I mean the choice is more or less up to themselves actually whether to return, to stay in Finland or (as the career-oriented might choose to do) continue their studies etc in some other country that offers more lucrative career prospects.

Then again there aren't really many scholarship options for others than post-Master's level students...

IIRC there are some undergraduate scholarship programmes in Norway that include the waiving of the study loan IF the student returns to his/her home country after graduation... the Quota scheme... dunno if the Finnish KELA could, without the oil & cod money , offer the same...

[Cod]

Norway that include the waiving of the study loan IF

well thats impressive.

I guess for many they only ever wanted to escape so going back is the last thing thats on their mind.

[sammy]

I guess for many they only ever wanted to escape so going back is the last thing thats on their mind.

That's possible of course... was only pointing out that it's one way of fostering 'development aid' and attempting to reduce brain drain. The students taking part in the Quota scheme do not need to return to their home country - if they choose not to do so, they'll just need to pay back the study loan just like the Norwegian students. According to the relevant website this programme is open for 1100 students annually. It would be kind of interesting to know how many of those participating do return to their home countries after graduation.

Perhaps I'm somewhat too idealistic here, but isn't the very goal of development aid just this - to provide help where it is needed, so that people would not have to feel the "need to escape"? Yes, people in the so-called developing countries can be as career-oriented, selfish and greedy as any of us, but I'd be greatly surprised if they still did not consider their home country... well, their home country... and at least some of them might fgenuinely wish to go back and work towards making life better for others.

Or am I just being a silly git again...?

[anis_huq]

Dear friends,
If a country is in the white zone (i. e. no representation) like mine (Bangladesh) then is it good or bad for applicants?

[sinikettu]

Dear friends,
If a country is in the white zone (i. e. no representation) like mine (Bangladesh) then is it good or bad for applicants?

Your representation comes via the Finnish Embassy in India.

http://www.varsityadmission.com/StudentVisa/Finland/