PhD Degrees in Finland

Study in Finland

Finland is situated in northern Europe and neighbours Sweden, Norway and Russia. It is a member of the European Union where it represents both Nordic democracy and way of living. Equality in wealth is a key-driver in our society.

For an international student Finland is both an exotic and a safe target country. Finnish society is credible: a networked and transparent open civic society, where education is always a top first priority.

The country is filled with contrasts. We have four distinct seasons including the midnight sun in the summer and a period of near darkness in the Winter. We have large rural areas and the highest technology within reach; East and West you name it.

Finland is a global leader in information technology and also enjoys gender equality and low levels of corruption. We have one of the most advanced education systems in the world, and as a result of our innovative mindset and investing in education we are blessed with high standard of living and quality of life.

Our emphasis on nature makes Finland stand out from other European countries. We breathe clean air, and drink clean ground water directly from the tap. Nature is an integral part of the Finnish way of life for a very simple reason: it is everywhere.

Why Study in Finland?

Finland is a human-scaled, cosy country, with cities and towns designed for people, not just cars. Rush-hours are a rarity.

Our higher education institutions are small enough to operate functionally and effectively. They are all internationally oriented with special regional features, and you can choose between very different study environments ranging from larger urban campuses to close-to-nature campuses.

Higher education institutions are highly autonomous, but largely funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture. Therefore the Ministry also closely oversees the quality of teaching. These efficiently managed institutions:

- react to the needs of the society, and business and industry in their curricula and teaching

- provide a wide range of high-quality programmes in English for exchange and degree students at all levels of education

- give their students transferrable skills on which they can build their future in academic fields and in the job market.

Trust and openness are important concepts in Finland, and getting networked at an early stage is the Finnish way. Here you can start getting connected with fellow international and Finnish students, organisations, and the working world already whilst studying your first courses. Often these networks and friendships last for the rest of your life.

• Lots of Programmes in EnglishFinnish institutions provide over 450 English-speaking degree and non-degree programmes. Some of the programs are short courses, which can usually only be taken as part of an exchange program whilst whole degree programmes take several years to complete, and lead to an official Finnish higher education Bachelors, Masters or Doctoral degree.
• Quality in research and educationOur national education policy, excellent basic education, and student selection for higher education based on competition underpins the high standards in Finnish higher education.Thanks to their basic education and national entrance exams, Finnish students are highly motivated to study. Unlike in most countries, students also have a real influence on the quality of education. There is legislation in place that allows them exceptional influence in developing their institutions and studies together with their teachers.
• Excellent facilities for work and funThe high standard of different facilities provided by Finland and especially higher education institutions is frequently commended by international students. In Finland all students have the right to use the institutions libraries freely with a library card. As well as well stocked libraries , all higher education institutions provide their students free access to the internet. Also municipal library services are open to all, and the basic services are normally free of charge.
• Well-organised countryFinland is a well-organised and efficient society. We rely on (and can rely on!) our general infrastructure as both public and private services are run effectively.Having well run public services like the police, fire and rescue services, transportation, education, and health care are fundamental to our daily living. Our banking services are among the best in world: advanced, innovative and easy to use.

Practical Information

The admissions procedure in a nutshell

Admission to Finnish higher education is organised by the educational institutions themselves. That is, each university and polytechnic in Finland independently selects its own students.

In brief, the admission procedure from start to finish consists of:

• selecting the programme(s) you wish to apply to
• submitting your application, with the required certificates and documents, before the application deadline
• taking an entrance examination, if required
• after this, the higher education institutions make the final student selection from among the eligible candidates
• the admitted students can then start arranging their arrival to Finland.

Where to submit your application

Most Finnish higher education institutions use an on-line electronic admissions system for their Bachelors and Masters level student intake. You will also need to send in copies of your earlier educational certificates and other required documents. Additionally, depending on the programme, applicants may need to successfully pass an entrance examination. You can learn more about the individual admission procedure on the programme pages of the universities.

Application times

The academic year in Finland is divided into two terms:

• autumn term (from August/September to December)
• spring term (from January to the end of May)

Most degree programmes only take in new degree students at the beginning of the academic year. So, usually your application will concern studies that start in the autumn term. In some cases, however, it may be possible to apply for studies that start in the spring term.

The exact application times and deadlines depend on the institution and the programme however, in most cases the annual application period to the university degree programmes begins between November and January.

For Master's level admission, many Finnish universities use the University Admissions Finland www.universityadmissions.fi service (UAF). On the UAF site, you can also find a list of the Master's level application times of those universities that have their admissions via UAF. however, not all universities/programmes have their admissions via UAF - some universities/programmes may have a separate admission route. If in doubt about how and when to apply, please check the correct application route with the Admissions Office of the university you're interested in.Those interested in post-Master's level studies (doctoral studies, research) should contact the universities of their choice directly for information on how and when to apply. Some universities may accept doctoral study applications at all times, while others may have specific application periods.