There are two types of higher education institutions in Finland – universities and polytechnics. There are additional courses that allow you to continue your studies. In Finland, Baccalaureate's and master's degrees are basic higher education degrees. 

Obtaining a first degree (the so-called kandidat) requires 180 academic credits (ECTS), which usually corresponds to 3 years of study. To get a higher degree (the so-called maisteri or magister), the corresponding master's degree, you need 300 academic credits, that is, 5 years of full cycle of study.

To obtain a master's degree, it is not necessary to have a lower degree, that is, the student has the right to study under the master's program, bypassing obtaining a baccalaureate's degree. For Individual Master's programs, universities have the right to set selection criteria, which include the requirement to have a baccalaureate's degree or complete a similar program of study.

Universities also award the following academic degrees: licentiate (lisensiatti / licenciat, 2 years of training) and doctorate (tohtori / doktor, 4 years of training). You can join the doctorate program after completing your master's degree. Before starting work on a doctoral dissertation, a graduate student is eligible for a licentiate degree if desired. The main part of the work aimed at obtaining licentiate and doctorate degrees consists of scientific research and dissertation preparation.

Having made a decision on admission to a Finnish university, it is necessary to draw up a detailed plan of further actions. In particular, to enroll in a higher education institution in Finland, you must:

1. Decide on your specialty and University. At the same time, the language of instruction plays an important role. It can be taught in English, Finnish, or Swedish. You can learn more about universities and training programs on the official website of education in Finland. 
2. Contact the selected University and specify all the details of admission. In almost all universities, the application period falls on January-February. Some universities may have different deadlines.
3. Submit a request. You can do this through a special website Studyinfo.fi. you can apply for 6 programs simultaneously. At the same time, Finnish universities that are desirable for admission should be indicated in order of priority.
4. Wait for a response about accepting the application and send the documents. The list of required documents should be found out in advance, at the stage of familiarization with the requirements of the selected University. Immediately after receiving confirmation of acceptance of the application, send the documents for consideration.
5. Wait for an invitation to take an entrance test or interview. Usually, an invitation to take the entrance exam comes to prospective applicants in February or March. To be admitted to the entrance tests, you must confirm your appearance for the exam. You can take exams not only in Finland. You can find out in which countries testing is allowed on the Finnips website.
6. If necessary, you should apply for a visa to enter Finland.
7. Wait for the exam results and get an official invitation from the University. If you have successfully passed the entrance exams, then you can plan to move to Finland for an education.
8. Now that you have an official document from Finland confirming your admission to the university, you can safely apply for a residence permit for the purpose of studying. 

What documents are required for admission to Finnish universities?

Main list of documents:

• Application for admission to the University;
• Certificate of Secondary Education;
• IELTS, TestDaf, DELF or CELI language certificate;
• Passing entrance exams (if necessary);
• CV-academic resume;
• Motivation letter;
• Letters of recommendation from school and / or university teachers;
• A copy of your passport.

Please note: this list is approximate. Find out about the current requirements of a particular university on the website.

Registration of a residence permit for the purpose of training

If you come from outside the EU/EEA, you usually need a residence permit for a student to come and get a degree in Finland.

Your first student residence permit can be granted to you for the entire duration of your studies, if your passport is valid for the entire period.

The permission allows you to work a maximum of 30 hours per week. If your work is related to your degree (for example, practical training or a thesis), then this 30-hour limit does not apply.

Please note that if you are coming to Finland to study for a PhD or study, you must apply for a residence permit for research. 

You can start the process of obtaining a residence permit after official admission to a Finnish university. Learn more about the requirements and procedures for obtaining a student residence permit on the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) website. Carefully follow the instructions and regulations of the immigration authorities to ensure that you get a permit in advance of the start of your studies.

Start applying for a permit online at Enterfinland.fi. After you submit your application via email, you will need to visit the embassy to verify your identity and submit your fingerprints. Take with you all the documents that you provided in the online service. In addition, you must pay the fee at the embassy/consulate. You may also be asked to participate in an interview.

When traveling to Finland, make sure that you have all the necessary documents. Once you arrive in Finland, you can register with your local immigration department to register your temporary international student status.

Is it possible to get a scholarship to study?

The Finnish education system does not provide a large number of scholarships for international students. Only some categories of students studying in Finnish or Swedish in Master's or postgraduate programs can get the opportunity to study for free.

For example, masters who take part in the Finnish government competition can receive financial support for a period of one semester in the amount of 800 euros per month. 

Future doctors of science can receive a scholarship from the Center for international mobility or the Finnish government, which amounts to 1,500 euros per month.