External studies offered by Finnish universities?

Cloudberry · Post by **Cloudberry** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 9:35 am

Just wondering if any Finnish universities offer the study of their courses (in English) by distance education/external study mode?

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Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 9:44 am

well they do offer courses in a variety of subjects... usually there are courses in the "open university" or "open polytechnic" price usually ranging from 200 upwards... and in some of these you have a few days of lectures and classes and then you do distance work... don't know if theres that many in English though...

I've done a course in network design I'm still needing to do a few papers in and now starting a module on programming at a different UAS, and its basically 2-3 hours a week "in class" and the rest is distance stuff. the only 100% distance stuff I've seen available was for students already enrolled in the university...

sammy · Post by **sammy** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 9:53 am

You probably can complete courses (but not 'courses' in the UK sense of "degree programmes") - as P said non-registered students would usually need to pay... check out these pages

Open University
http://www.avoinyliopisto.fi/en-GB/

Open Polytechnic
http://www.amk.fi/avoin/en/index.html

Finnish Virtual University
http://www.virtuaaliyliopisto.fi/vy_front_page_eng.asp

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 10:00 am

well I am getting about 30 credits out of these courses each, but thats going to be a piece of paper I can wipe with if its on soft tissue... might look nice on my CV... and if I ever get to study my masters I might be excused something if these are fresh, though I doubt.

Cloudberry · Post by **Cloudberry** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 3:16 pm

I've been looking at a Master's program at Finnish uni and I just wondered if I could get started on any of the core units by distance ed to save some time. I have emailed the uni but they have yet to respond.

Thanks for those links sammy, I'll go check them out now

Pursuivant wrote:well I am getting about 30 credits out of these courses each, but thats going to be a piece of paper I can wipe with if its on soft tissue

you'll be disapointed - the paper they use is usually quite hard

Cloudberry · Post by **Cloudberry** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 1:57 pm

Uni got back to me - no go - they don't do any distance studies. Looks like I'll have to wait till I get there

Also, none of the open/virtual uni's had anything that would be useful for me to study.

Oh well, it was worth a shot anyway

sinikala · Post by **sinikala** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 2:42 pm

If you are looking at distance learning, why does it have to be limited to Finland?

You could check if the place you intend to study in Finland accepts ECTS from other institutes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_C ... ion_System

then specifically do they accept ECTS from distance learning?

Then look at where else you can obtain ECTS credits by distance learning. Go to google, with the search terms ECTS distance learning and the faculty name or subject which you intend to study.

Cloudberry · Post by **Cloudberry** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 1:57 pm

sinikala wrote:If you are looking at distance learning, why does it have to be limited to Finland?

You could check if the place you intend to study in Finland accepts ECTS from other institutes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_C ... ion_System

then specifically do they accept ECTS from distance learning?

Then look at where else you can obtain ECTS credits by distance learning. Go to google, with the search terms ECTS distance learning and the faculty name or subject which you intend to study.

Oooo okay - that's a great idea. I hadn't considered that.

I was also looking at an open learning course at Aberdeen College in Scotland and it mentions that the course gives you a recognised "ASET qualification" which doesn't seem to be on that European Credit Transfer list. Looks to be a UK thing though... http://www.aset.ac.uk/intro_to_aset.php

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 2:14 pm

yes well if you have money to throw out a window tell me where you lives at and I'll be there with my hat
(funny, usually the ad of Kidneypond University pops up in these discussions)

Cloudberry · Post by **Cloudberry** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 12:18 pm

Yeah, well that's exactly the problem, studies anywhere else in the world are expensive. In Australia for example, if I want to undertake a single uni unit (either on campus or by distance ed) it will cost me $1,200 per unit. And, these units can't be student loaned - you have to pay them up front. I suppose that's why I was looking at Finland as an external study option.

I was just looking at Aberdeen for a creative writing and journalism diploma - it's under 400 euro for the whole course even as an international student which is quite reasonable. But that's totally separate to what I want to do at uni. My undergraduate degree is in social science (majored in counselling and human services - minored in sociology). Vaasa uni has an anthropology/sociology themed Masters degree that looks interesting. I thought it would be nice if I could do some units by distance before arriving next year just to get a bit of a head start. Was worth a try

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 1:26 pm

so you have been accepted already?

sinikala · Post by **sinikala** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 4:23 pm

Pursuivant wrote:yes well if you have money to throw out a window tell me where you lives at and I'll be there with my hat
(funny, usually the ad of Kidneypond University pops up in these discussions)

It's simple arithmetic to see if it makes financial sense to pay for the cost of studying a unit.

If
- the total cost of the extra units is €X
- but saves time, you graduate early and enter the workforce Y months early
- and your salary when you enter the workplace is €Z/month

if X/Y < Z it's worth it
if X/Y > Z it's not worth it

This is the same reason why in spite of UK students having relatively high tuition fees, the fact that they graduate 2 years quicker than in Finland (and 3-4 years younger) means a number of extra years of earnings, which offsets the student fees.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 6:55 pm

that assumes that you get a job

Upphew · Post by **Upphew** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 7:13 pm

But you can work while studying and get student discount from vr etc... traveling half price is worth something?

Cloudberry · Post by **Cloudberry** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 3:30 am

Pursuivant wrote:so you have been accepted already?

No I can't apply till January. I suppose you're going to tell me not to count my chickens before they hatch? that I haven't got a chance in hell of even getting into the degree

I guess I just want to study something. I've studied continuously since 1994 (and worked the whole time). I graduated my degree last year and feel a bit lost. I just completed a TESOL qualification last month (so that I'll have another employment option in Finland) but would like to have something lined up to study for next year. What can I say, I'm a study addict

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