Study and Research Opportunities in Finland

Long and short-term academic programs are available in Finland across many universities and educational centers. International students and researchers may apply to BA, MA, Ph.D., and postdoctoral research programs in Finland. Moreover, summer schools and conferences are other excellent academic activities that make Finland an attractive destination for scholars and scientists. Many programs also come with fully-funded scholarships and fellowships as well as travel grants and financial aid, thus every student, researcher, and professor can always find a suitable program in Finland and apply.

Scholarships and fellowships in Finland

 Grants and Awards in Finland

Summer Programs in Finland

We might stop believing in Santa Claus, but noting his homeland, Lapland always awakes fairytale-ish emotions of childhood. Well, now you have grown up and can go to that Finnish city yourself. The better if you are a student; besides being the country of lakes with refreshing cold temperature, Finland is also an excellent academic destination. 20,000 out of all 300,000 students in Finland are from abroad, and the country is ready to welcome you to the community. 

Universities of Finland

The main types of universities in Finland are divided into ordinary Universities and Universities of Applied Science. There are 13 universities in the country, which include:

The University of Helsinki has particular importance among the mentioned list. First of all, it’s the university from which the whole academic infrastructure of Finland began. The University of Helsinki is the first educational institution in the country. It was founded in 1640. Before it moved to the capital Helsinki in 1829, the university was called the Royal Academy of Turku and was located in the city Turku. 

The University of Helsinki is not praised only because of being the oldest ones in the country. It’s the flagship educational institution of Finland, as UH is popular within the country borders and is also the highest-ranked university in global ranking platforms. 

In general, for the small number of countries’ universities, it’s an excellent indicator to have around ten ranked universities. Except for the Vaasa, University of Arts, LUT University, and Hanken School of Economics, all the others in the above list are in the QS global rankings. Therefore, receiving an internationally competitive education and diploma in the country is quite accessible.

Student expenses in Finland

Up to 600 EUR can be considered a minimum amount students should expect to spend during one month. Adding together the main components of the student expenses, such as accommodation, transportation, utilities, and health, the living cost can reach up to 1,100 EUR a month. Accommodation renting can vary between 300-600 EUR, based on the city of the living. Helsinki is the most popular city, along with Espoo. 

Before 2017, domestic and EU/EEA students were free of paying tuition fees. However, the picture has changed for the latter. In terms of tuition fees, the country offers significantly different rates. You might pay 2,000 EUR for the academic year, while you can also pay 12,000 EUR. The most expensive degrees are in Medical, Social Science, Engineering, Economics, etc. 

Research opportunities in Finland

Finland has built a knowledge-based economy, as it could organize the effective cooperation format between different governmental bodies to boos the scientific and research activities in the country. The overall responsibility for education and science lies in the Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture. The scientific advancements are transferred from theories to practice by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, responsible for implementing Finland’s innovation policy. 

There are 12 public research institutes in the country, the crucial role from which has the Technical Research Center of Finland (VTT). To understand the scope of the Finnish research and the part of the VTT in that, VTT received 20.7 mln EUR from the government to build the country’s first quantum computer by 2024. Other than that, the research institution set the main directions of future research, which might be interesting for those who want to pursue a research career in the country. The directions include the following.

  • Climate action: Low-Carbon Mobility, Energy Intelligence, Low-Carbon Energy
  • Quality of Life: Citizen-Centric Care, Smart Built Environment, Disruption of Work
  • Technological Challenges: Quantum Technology, Synthetic Biology, Superior Digital Systems
  • Industrial Renovation: Re-Birth of Production, Low-Carbon Industry, Disruptive Businesses

You can explore the other research directions of the institution on its official website. It’s possible to research in Finland either through university research projects or by cooperating with research institutions directly. Besides VTT, the other research institutions in the country include Finnish Geospatial Research Institute, Finnish Environmental Institute, Finnish Meteorological Institute, etc., granting you opportunities to cooperate with those closer to your interest area.   

With a modest number of only 13 educational institutions, Finland is one of the globally leading academic destinations due to the rankings and reputation of its universities. Besides, the research in almost any area is significantly enhanced, which grants you chances to conduct research regardless of which topic you want. We hope this section of ARMACAD will help you build a smooth and successful academic career in Helsinki.