Please Help

[help]

Hello.
I'm from Romania and now I am 16 years old, 10th grade. I'm in high school and I still have 3 more years of school, 10th grade, 11th grade and 12th grade.
After I graduate high school, I would like to move and study in Finland, Helsinki, at University of Helsinki, Faculty of Medicine.
I have some questions and if somebody could answer them, please:

1) Do I have any chance?
2) I know a boy who is from Romania and got into University of Helsinki, but he did school in Finland, too, before University. Is it necessary to do school there?
3) How do I apply for University from here?
4) I read that taxes at University of Helsinki are only 86 euros per year. Is that true? Or is it only for finnish students?
5) How long, in years, is it until, IF, I graduate Faculty of Medicine?

Thank you very much.
Finland is the best country in the world.

[sammy]

First of all... you need to know Finnish (or Swedish) quite well when you apply. Otherwise ... dreaming of applying is rather pointless, since the medical programmes are only available in Finnish (or Swedish). There's no way they will accept anyone "to study Finnish first" so you really need to get cracking with your Finnish.

As such, also foreign secondary school certificates can be accepted. You just apply with "foreign school leaving certificates". You need to ask about the application details from the university.

Having said that, getting admitted to the Faculty of Medicine is not easy. One of the trickiest, even if you know your Finnish fluently. loads of applicants and only a relatively small annual intake. Read: fierce competition. The 90 or so euros is not a fee to the university, it is for the student union membership (but you do need to pay that). Otherwise the studies themselved do not cost anything. BUT you will need to cobver your living expences, since you most probably would not be eligible to any governmental financial assistance from Finland.

You will first need to complete your secondary education. Pay special attention to natural sciences. You need very good grades.

And the Finnish language skills.

It may sound harsh, but as long as you need to go through discussions like this in English... you can forget about studying Medicine in Finland.

[interleukin]

Just to add a little detail, the Faculty of Medicine is so much more than just studies that will give you a medical degree. It can be good to keep this in mind so you are able to make your intentions clear.

[interleukin]

Why don´t you go for a degree in Romania instead? That way you know the language, you know the system, you do not have to pay the high living costs of Finland, and you may actually have a chance of finding a part-time job during your studies.

If you don´t want to study in Romania, why Finland? You do realise that you are picking the country with the hardest language in Europe (for most people)? Unless you have huge ties to Finland and a big family here (which you have indicated that you do not), focusing on Finland is just silly and just a way to make it as difficult for you as possible.

The "free" or "cheap" education in Finland is not as simple as that. You have to be able to survive on no extra money, and you have a constant handicap because of the language.

[help]

I wanted to come in Finland and study there so i can be close to somebody... but now i have to tell that somebody that i cant come there anymore

[sammy]

I wanted to come in Finland and study there so i can be close to somebody... but now i have to tell that somebody that i cant come there anymore

Nope. No-one said "you can not come". We just pointed out that studying at the Faculty of Medicine can be a very tricky path. You might study something else, or try and find work, etc.

Anyway... you have lots of time to think of alternatives. Concentrate on your secondary school first... that would be my advice.

[fox19891989]

If u don't know Finnish,u have better accomplish your bachelor degree in your motherland,and after graduation u can apply Master degree in Finland.

[suomi23]

I'd say you NEED to have a thorough grounding in Finnish language, as with medical studies it's not just ordinary Finnish, but technical language that most people find specialized, so language is essential.

As for the money/taxes, Finnish polytechnics and universities do not charge any tuition fees in their Bachelor’s degree programmes, or Doctoral level studies. Several Master’s programmes do not charge a tuition fee, either. However, some Master’ programmes may have tuition fees for non-EU/EEA nationals. You need to check the tuition fee policy at the institution offering the Master’s programme.

More info: http://www.studyinfinland.fi/

Regardless of whether you need to pay tuition fees or not, you should be prepared to cover your everyday living costs during your studies in Finland.

Terje F.
My Finnish Blog: http://mybheja.blogspot.com/2010/08/why-finland.html
English/Finnish -Self Publishing Resources