Masters in Finland: Top Universities, Courses & Career
Pursuing MS in Finland is a great choice for Indian students who want to study in an adventurous and prosperous environment.
Finland is considered the happiest country in the world as it imparts a high quality of life and education to incoming students.
Finnish universities offer a diverse range of academic programs to international students, which not only help them build their knowledge base but also develop the necessary life skills required for solving real-world problems.
In this blog, we have discussed the top reasons for pursuing an MS in Finland, along with top universities, popular courses, eligibility criteria, the application process, and more.
- MS in Finland: Key Reasons to Explore
- Top Universities in Finland
- MS in Finland: Popular Courses
- Study in Finland for Indian Students: Intakes
- Eligibility Criteria for MS in Finland
- Documents Checklist
- Study in Finland: Pre-Application Process for Masters
- Application Process for MS in Finland
- Study in Finland: Career after Masters
- Student-Visa for Finland
- Post-Study Work Visa for Indian Students
- Cost of Living in Finland
- Conclusion
- FAQs
MS in Finland: Key Reasons to Explore
Finland is a country located in Northern Europe that borders Finland, Norway, and Russia. It is the 7th largest country in Europe. Finland is known as the land of happiness and prosperity. With the presence of an adventurous and safe ecosystem, Finland offers a top-of-the-world education system.
Pursuing a Master outside their home country can be a big dream for many since studying abroad provides numerous opportunities to explore oneself in many ways. This holds for Finland also.
Some big European countries, like the UK, France, Germany, etc., provide excellent and high-quality education to international students. Still, chances are very limited due to tough competition and limited resources.
International students should not see it as the end of their aspirations because some other countries, like Finland, provide similar opportunities affordably and sustainably.
Let’s explore some of the top reasons why Indian students prefer to study in Finland.
1. Affordability of Education
Before embarking on the journey of pursuing a Masters in Finland, Indian students focus primarily on estimating the cost of study. Whether they are looking for a career in science & technology, fine arts or finance, MS in Finland is of great value for investment since Finnish universities impart the same type of quality education at a much lower cost as compared to other European countries like the UK and France.
2. Engaging Student Life
Finnish universities provide several opportunities for international students to get engaged in extracurricular activities, workshops, seminars, debates, drama play, etc., which not only prepare students to stand unique but also impart life values and essential skills which help them in the long run. It also instils a quality of understanding and appreciation of the Finnish culture, which international students are unfamiliar with.
3. Diverse Range of Courses
There are about 500 master’s programs available to Indian students in Finnish universities under various streams and disciplines. Most of the programs are taught in English so that international students do not face any language barrier while seeking their dream destination. Finnish higher education institutions have over 20,000 international students.
4. Opportunities to Learn Official Language
It is amazing to know that both Finnish and Swedish are Finland’s official languages. International students pursuing an MS in Finland can learn these two languages, which provides more chances to explore part-time jobs, cut expenses, and enhance their communication skills so that they can interact with the local community quickly.
5. Internationally Recognised Degrees
Finnish degrees are accepted worldwide, which leads international students to further the scope of higher education, research and employment in any part of the world. Of course, after completing a Masters in Finland, students can avail of the stay-back option and explore higher study and jobs in the country also.
Top Universities in Finland
Finnish universities provide a modern and peaceful learning environment, high-quality classrooms and virtual teaching methodologies, and access to free libraries for international students, which enhances their capacity to embrace knowledge and valuable skills.
MS in Finland is less expensive than in major European countries. The tuition fees for non-EU students, including Indians, range from 5,000-18,000 Euros or INR 4.51-16.24 Lakh approx per year, depending on the university and the degree program.
The duration of a master’s in Finland is 1–2 years, depending on course specialisation and curriculum.
Below, we have listed the best universities in Finland for Indian students, including their QS World University Rankings and annual tuition fees.
| University | QS World Rankings (2024) | Tuition Fees (Per Year) |
|---|---|---|
| Aalto University | 109 | 15,000 EUR |
| University of Helsinki | 115 | 13,000-18,000 EUR |
| University of Oulu | 313 | 10,000-13,000 EUR |
| University of Turku | 315 | 10,000-12,000 EUR |
| Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT | 351 | 13,500 EUR |
| Tampere University | 436 | 6,000-12,000 EUR |
| University of Jyväskylä | 446 | 8,000-12,000 EUR |
| University of Eastern Finland | 548 | 8,000-10,000 EUR |
| Abo Akademi University | 601 | 10,000-12,000 EUR |
MS in Finland: Popular Courses
Top universities in Finland provide more than 500 academic courses in various disciplines and streams under masters level. We have enlisted below the top fields of study that majority of international students opt to pursue Masters courses in the country.
- Arts, Media & Communication
- Business & Management
- Computer Science & Information Technology
- Education & Pedagogy
- Engineering & Technology
- Environmental Studies
- Health Sciences
- Humanities
- Natural Sciences
- Social Sciences
Also read – How to Find the Perfect Study Abroad Program
Study in Finland for Indian Students: Intakes
The academic year in Finland begins in September every year, which is standard for all Finnish universities. The commencement of the academic year marks Fall intake, whereas Spring intake is a secondary intake and begins in January/February.
Fall intake or autumn intake is a major intake in which all courses are available for international applicants. In contrast, spring intake offers very few courses to those who missed the admission chance in fall intake.
The application deadlines vary across all universities and courses.
| Intakes | Intake month | Application Cycle |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | September/October | August-October |
| Spring | January/February | January-March |
Eligibility Criteria for MS in Finland
The higher education system in Finland consists of two interrelated components: University and the University of Applied Sciences (UAS). Both of these sectors offer academic degrees to international students.
The basic differences are:
- Universities offer academic degrees on Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral level
- UAS offers more practically oriented Bachelors and Masters degrees.
For masters in Finland, students need to have completed a 3-4 year bachelors degree (equivalent to 180 ECTS).
For UAS masters, there is an additional requirement of at least 2-year of work experience after completing a bachelor’s degree.
Academic Proficiency:
- A minimum GPA of 65-75% is required on a scale of 1-10.
- Specific subject-related knowledge and skills are required.
English Proficiency:
- Indian students applying for masters courses must have the following English language proficiency.
- As the majority masters programs are taught in English, applicants to English-taught programs do not need to demonstrate Finnish or Swedish language skills.
- English language proficiency may differ from university to university.
- TOEFL iBT: A minimum score of 90-100
- IELTS: A minimum average of 5.5-6.5 or equivalent
Also read – Masters Abroad Top Courses Universities
Documents Checklist
The following documents must be submitted while proceeding with the application process for a Masters in Finland.
The specific requirements for a particular course or institute can differ.
- Completed University Application
- All Previous Academic Transcripts and documents
- 2-3 passport-sized photo
- Score certificates for language proficiency tests like TOEFL/IELTS/PTE/Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)
- Score certificates for standardised tests like GMAT/GRE, etc. (if required)
- 2-3 Letters of Recommendation
- 1-2 Statement of Purpose
- CV/Resume
- Work Experience certificate (for UAS masters programs)
- Non-refundable application fee (if applicable)
- Health Insurance
- You must show evidence that you have the money to fund your stay in Finland (minimum 560 EUR/month, i.e., 50,000 INR/month)
Study in Finland: Pre-Application Process for Masters
- Visit the official websites of the universities that provide the desired course.
- Check the complete details of the program, like course overview, scholarships, and employment opportunities, after completing the course..
- Complete the application process on Finnish common application portal
- Pay the tuition fees and apply for scholarships/financial aid right away.
- You will get the receipts for the application fees by email.
- Now, wait for the university’s response.
Application Process for MS in Finland
Top universities in Finland accept applications through the Finnish common application portal, Studyinfo.
International students can find and compare various courses according to their preferences, submit necessary documents and application fees, explore scholarship programs and track their application status.
Non-EU applicants can submit their application for masters courses free of cost.
Study in Finland: Career after Masters
Below, we have tabulated the popular industries in Finland along with their top recruiters and the average salary that they offer to international students after completing MS in Finland.
The average salary may depend on several factors like age, experience, employer, locality, etc.
| Top Industries | Recruiters | Average Salary (Per Year) |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science & IT | IBM Microsoft Nokia | 46,000-86,000 EUR (INR 36-77 Lakh) |
| Engineering & Technology | Konecranes Oura Eaton Etteplan Oyj | 68,000-92,000 EUR (INR 60-85 Lakh) |
| Education | 3D Bear Educraftor Fun academy Claned | 48,000-75,000 EUR (INR 43-70 Lakh) |
| Healthcare Sciences | Abbott Labcorp Aiforia Herantis Pharma | 34,000-97,000 EUR (INR 30-87 Lakh) |
| Business Management | Prop Tech Finland Allianz Nordcloud Katico | 53,000-80,000 EUR (INR 47-72 Lakh) |
Student-Visa for Finland
To pursue Masters in Finland, Indian students must apply for a student resident permit (permit A) at least three months before the commencement of the academic program.
There are two ways by which Indian students can apply for a student residence permit:
- e-service Enter Finland
- Offline/paper application
Application for Student Residence Permit (Permit A)
Indian students must apply for a student resident permit for Finland as soon as they receive an acceptance letter from the university or the University of Applied Sciences. Permit A, or student residence permit, grants a stay to international students in Finland for higher studies that lead to the completion of a master’s degree.
International students are also required to have a Visa D in order to get entry into Finland and obtain a student residence permit at the collection point.
Application for both Visa D and Permit A can be made together on the e-service Enter Finland portal.
To apply offline, applicants can download an application form on the e-service Enter Finland and apply for a residence permit.
Application Process
Indian students can apply for a student residence permit and Visa D together either through the service Enter Finland portal or through a paper application. After successful completion of the application process, they are required to visit the local embassy/consulate along with all the necessary documents for the verification process.
Once verification is done, the embassy/consulate will issue Visa D, with the help of which applicants can visit Finland to collect their residence permit from the checkpoint.
Application Cost
The application fee for the student residence permit is 350 EUR or INR 31,000 (online application) and 450 EUR or INR 40,000 (offline/paper application).
Requirements
- Letter of acceptance from the educational institution
- Money to fund the stay in Finland (minimum 560 EUR/month, i.e., 50,000 INR/month)
- Health Insurance to cover medical and pharmaceutical expenses
- English language requirements
- Passport
- Two passport-sized colour photographs
- Photocopies of all the original documents
Post-Study Work Visa for Indian Students
Indian students who have completed masters in Finland do not need to apply for a residence permit separately. They can apply for an extended license on the basis of a degree before their student permit expires. Students are allowed to continue working or start a new job already before the extended license has been issued.
Students are needed to attach the degree certificate to their application as soon as they receive it.
Application Process
Indian students can apply for extended residence permits either through the service Enter Finland portal or through a paper application.
After they have applied to Enter Finland, employers must add terms of employment and other required documents to their application using Enter Finland for Employers.
After successful completion of the application process, students are required to visit the Finnish Immigration Service to prove their identity, along with all the necessary documents.
Application Cost
The application fee for the post-study work visa is 170 EUR or INR 15,393.
Requirements
- Student residence permit
- University or UAS degree
- Employment offer letter
- Passport
- Biometric information
- Commitment from employer to provide other benefits such as life, health insurance, and pension benefits.
Cost of Living in Finland
An Indian student should prepare to spend between 700 and 900 Euros or INR 63,000-95,000 per month while studying in Finland. Apart from these costs, tuition fees for pursuing courses should also be considered separately.
Below is the table that showcases the general breakdown of the cost of living for Indian students in Finland.
| Expenses | Estimated Expenses |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | 500-700 Euros (INR 45,000-65,000) |
| Food | 20-80 Euros (INR 1,800-7,000) |
| Transportation | 3-60 Euros (INR 200-5,000) |
| Amusement/Leisure | 24-40 Euros (INR 2,000-3,000) |
| Utilities Bills (Electricity, Water, Phone bills, etc.) | 20-100 Euros (INR 1,800-9,000) |
Conclusion
To conclude, Finland is one of the best European countries for Indian students to pursue higher studies. The country is hoping for a surge in the number of incoming students in the upcoming years as Finnish universities are committed to academic and research excellence in every domain of study pursuits. Finland also offers stages to international students to develop innovative and unique solutions to real-world problems like climate change, unemployment, violence, etc.
FAQs
Can Indian students work in Finland while studying?
Yes, Indian students are allowed to work part-time in Finland to develop communication skills and cut expenses. However, they can work upto 30 hours per week.
Do Finnish universities offer full tuition waivers to international students?
Most of the Finnish universities grant full tuition waivers to international students. It also depends on various factors like university, course, eligibility, financial status and academic record of the student.
Is the masters degree free in Finland?
Finnish universities only offer tuition-free academic courses to EU students. As an overseas applicant, you are required to pay the tuition fees. However, you also have the option to waive your tuition fees, either partially or fully, depending on the university, by applying for scholarship programs.
If you are an aspirant looking to study at your dream university, book an appointment with AdmitX today and start your applications early to avail yourself of all the benefits.
