Record numbers of applicants from foreign countries

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Thu May 15, 2008 10:09 am

A record-breaking 24000 students from 150 countries applied to the international programmes in the Finnish polytechnics... Polytechnics are needing to organize co-operation on other continents, as the Finnish consulates don't necessarily give visas just to come to take an entrance test.

Nationalities applying for the English programmes in the polytechnics 2008:
Nationality/Applicants/Valid applications
Nigeria/7870/2873
Ghana/3069/977
Nepal /2177/1503
Suomi /2038/2000
Etiopia /1975/1197
Kenia /901/580
Bangladesh/901/442
Pakistan /802/351
Kamerun /738/525
Kiina /316/170
Venäjä /299/177
Vietnam/223/95

So it seems apart from a few exceptions almost half of the applicants in a given country can't read instructions but waste time

And this is just the number of applications, how many eventually get a study place of the 24000 applicants... 1000 or so?

**Sponsor:**

rinso · Post by **rinso** » Thu May 15, 2008 10:31 am

How many of those 11.000 valid applications would get an invitation, and how many would get a visa?

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Thu May 15, 2008 10:41 am

All valid applications get an invitation. But depending on the country - no visas. Hence the need to organize the exams abroad. The polytechnics have to to organize 1:1 co-op partner institutes which is slightly problematic, like it says in the article Turku polytechnic had no contacts on the continent and invited the African applicants for the examination but the consulates told them to piss off and thus Turku got a lot of grief. The consulates don't believe someone would come to Finland, sit the test, go back home, wait for the results, apply for a permit... they believe someone would land in Finland and piss off into the EU... the Schengen treaty adds another aspect to the equation. They don't believe anyone in their right mind would stay in Finland - but the other EU countries get peeved if the Finnish border "leaks".

rinso · Post by **rinso** » Thu May 15, 2008 11:35 am

So we have to test 2873 Nigerians in Nigeria.
Why do I have this strange feeling that the results might be funny?

natty · Post by **natty** » Thu May 15, 2008 3:04 pm

Yes, i totally agree with geniedevil!
I have heard and seen how horrible these colleges are!!
You really dont know until you go there yourself specially that Haaga-Helia!!!!!!!!!!!!

wildclaw · Post by **wildclaw** » Thu May 15, 2008 5:34 pm

natty wrote:Yes, i totally agree with geniedevil!
I have heard and seen how horrible these colleges are!!
You really dont know until you go there yourself specially that Haaga-Helia!!!!!!!!!!!!

May I ask what is so !"#¤% about these polytechnics?

I wonder because in my own country (which is a EU member state) it tends to be the opposite : universities are some kind of trashcan where any idiot can get in (well, they usually drop out during the first semester, but still), while polytechnics equivalents have much better reputation ...

pikkupeikkomyy · Post by **pikkupeikkomyy** » Fri May 16, 2008 9:46 am

One more thing about all this people. Who could explain me how are they thinking to survive in Finland? Without help from KELA and without basic knowledge about Finland and it's lifestyle

Nigeria/7870/2873
Ghana/3069/977
Nepal /2177/1503
Suomi /2038/2000
Etiopia /1975/1197
Kenia /901/580
Bangladesh/901/442
Pakistan /802/351
Kamerun /738/525
Kiina /316/170
Venäjä /299/177
Vietnam/223/95

rinso · Post by **rinso** » Fri May 16, 2008 9:53 am

pikkupeikkomyy wrote:One more thing about all this people. Who could explain me how are they thinking to survive in Finland? Without help from KELA and without basic knowledge about Finland and it's lifestyle

They think it is easy to find a part time job.

Well after they have been accepted, comes the shock of showing enough funds to survive (€500,=/month) plus medical insurance before they can get a residence permit based on study.

decoy77 · Post by **decoy77** » Fri May 16, 2008 11:27 am

Not much Indian students coming here for studies??
I think mostly there are going to US and UK i guys. or they are looking for master level courses.

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Fri May 16, 2008 11:36 am

I guess if its "free" there must be something wrong with it - if you pay very much money it must be excellent. So when they implement non-EU students tuition fees and double them for Indians they'll get 100 000 applications

decoy77 · Post by **decoy77** » Fri May 16, 2008 11:45 am

Nice point hank.

tuhandsome · Post by **tuhandsome** » Sat May 17, 2008 4:12 pm

The entrance exam somehow can tell the difference between the education level in hi-school of Fin and Asian countries, it is just worth class 10 level ! But there is one factor, that is the difference method, it's a well-known fact that Asian tends to put more stress on students =)) I have seen that many guys left the most famous University of Technology in Asia just to move to a poly in Fin ! Let's see what they are looking for in Finland

the hi-level and complex course is not what they need, it's easy to handle those craps just by studying more and reading more !

luybeo · Post by **luybeo** » Fri May 30, 2008 12:24 pm

pikkupeikkomyy wrote:One more thing about all this people. Who could explain me how are they thinking to survive in Finland? Without help from KELA and without basic knowledge about Finland and it's lifestyle

Nigeria/7870/2873
Ghana/3069/977
Nepal /2177/1503
Suomi /2038/2000
Etiopia /1975/1197
Kenia /901/580
Bangladesh/901/442
Pakistan /802/351
Kamerun /738/525
Kiina /316/170
Venäjä /299/177
Vietnam/223/95

Have you ever heard of the word "adapt"? Cultural shock is ordinary. It certainly is difficult at first but students will be familiar with the new environment soon. The time of adaptation depends on the students. And how do you know that the foreign students don't have basic knowledge of Finland and its lifestyle?

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Fri May 30, 2008 12:42 pm

...because they ask silly questions here?

everestbear · Post by **everestbear** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 7:36 am

coming myself from a developing country ( one among mentioned in the list) to Finland, i can tell the exact situation of most of these students. Most of them attempt to enter Europe as students for better living while some genuine students for further education but alas once they reach finland, cultural shock, harsh weather, lack of jobs for students or anyone for that matter keep them out of their course (they cannot fully concentrate on their studies) and end up as depressed bunch of third-world countrymen communiting among themselves, struggling and saving money. They change school after school just to elongate their stay in the country and some manage to get finnish girls for that purpose and very few students manage to complete their study. Of course, it's nice that education is cost-free in Finland but........

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