Study in Finland 2025: Guide for International Students

Finland has one of best education systems in world. Currently, there are 2,000 Indian students studying in Finland. Finnish government plans to invite 15,000 international students before 2030 and wants to provide employment to 75% of international students.

Finland is a Nordic country located in Northern Europe. Helsinki is its capital city. World Happiness Report 2025 named Finland happiest country. More Indian students are now choosing to study in Finland. This is due to changes in immigration policies elsewhere. Finnish government plans to invite 15,000 international students by 2030.

Finland is clearly becoming a popular place for Indian students. Its education system is high quality. The country focuses on human development. It also has a high per capita GDP. The rising number of applications shows how attractive Finland is academically.

If you are planning to study at a Finnish university, this article is for you. We cover key topics for studying in Finland. This includes its education system, living considerations, required documentation, and application timelines. According to Finnish Immigration Service, most non-EU student applications come from India and China. However, applications from Nigeria, Bangladesh, and Pakistan are also increasing significantly.

Climate in Finland

Based on the direction of airflow, the Finnish climate shows features of both maritime and continental climates. During winter, you will enjoy long, dark days. You will face snow and freezing temperatures from November to March. In summer, you will face almost endless daylight with temperature differences. Sometimes, the sun may not set at all for weeks

• Northern Part: Winter is the longest season here. For about 7 months, this region is covered with snow, and winters here are cold and long
• South Coast and Southwest Part: Summer and winter are of the same duration. These regions are covered with snow for about 3-4 months. The average annual temperature in this part is nearly 5.5 °C
• Snow Cover: In cities such as Helsinki and Turku, located in the South and Southwest parts, winter temperatures tend to average between 0 and 5 °C, however, temperatures might dip to as low as −20 °C
• Rainfall: Rainfall in Finland is irregular, and February, March, and April are considered the driest months. On average, annual precipitation is nearly 600 mm

Students must be prepared with weather-appropriate clothing since the weather in Finland is towards the colder side of the spectrum.

Accommodation in Finland for Students

If you need student housing in Finland, you have two main options. You can use a student housing foundation, like HOAS or VOAS. Alternatively, you can search the open rental market.

Because of this system, students need to start searching well in advance. Allow plenty of time to secure a place. It's usually simpler to find an apartment during the spring term than in the autumn.

Student rent typically costs between €250 and €500 monthly. This price depends on the flat's location. This payment excludes food and other personal costs. Students can also look for private rentals directly. A private flat usually costs around €600 per month.

• If you have not been able to arrange an apartment before your arrival in Finland, you will have to find temporary accommodation or short-term accommodation
• Always check the authenticity of a private landlord before making any decision
• Be very clear with the terms and conditions of your rent agreement

How to Study in Finland from India

Students looking to study in Finland need to be aware of the correct exams required, the application process, documents, timelines, intake seasons, etc., before applying. The overall application process and documents for different universities are more or less similar; however, different courses at different universities might require a certain academic background or a certain minimum score in examinations. Students can refer to the table given below in order to understand the various academic programs that are offered in Finland:

Students must note that universities might require a certain cut-off percentage in 12th standard scores, graduation, test scores, etc. while some may take a bird’s eye view of your entire profile. Some programs might require that you study specific subjects in your 12th standard or graduation. Hence, the eligibility for various programs depends on the choice of your program and the university to which you wish to apply. You can read about converting percentages to GPA.

Documents for Finland Application

Documentation often confuses the students. A brief overview of the required documents is given below:

• Application form (hardcopy or softcopy as per the requirement of the university/ college)
• Upper secondary-level educational documents need to submit to the admissions services/ department
• Degree certificates/ officially certified copies awarded by the main university
• Transcripts of records awarded by the main university
• Score reports of SAT/ GRE/ GMAT
• Score reports of IELTS/ TOEFL/ PTE/ Cambridge Proficiency
• Resume
• Statement of Purpose
• Essay
• Letters of Recommendation from employer/ professor/ teacher who can provide positive details of your professional achievements and abilities
• Other documents such as portfolio/ sample work, etc. in case of specific programs such as designing and architecture
• Proof of finances
• Medical tests

Intake Seasons in Finland Universities

There are two intakes in Finland's educational institutions: Autumn and Spring intakes. Finer details of both intakes are given below:

Autumn Intake:

• It is the primary intake for all the universities. A maximum number of students apply for this intake
• Orientation week and classes for the Autumn intake begin in August – September
• The application process for this intake starts near December of the previous year and closes around January–February of the year under consideration

Spring Intake:

• It is the secondary intake and can be considered an extension of the Autumn intake
• Orientation week and classes for the Spring intake begin in February – March
• The application process for the Spring intake starts in May of the previous year
• The student population is usually lower in the Spring intake as compared to the Autumn intake

Also Read: Fall Intake vs Spring Intake

Timeline for Finnish universities

Since the Autumn intake is considered the primary intake in all Finnish universities and colleges, we are providing an approximate timeline for the same. Please note the dates vary from university to university and course to course. The given timeline is intended to provide you with an overview of the application process. Here we have considered that you are applying for the Autumn 2026 intake:

To meet the deadlines and for a hassle-free application process, we suggest the following:

• Do the shortlisting of courses beforehand
• Make a note of all the exams that are required and get their scores well before the deadline
• You must have sufficient time for test preparation
• Start collecting the necessary documents and start filing them in an organised way
• Keep a backup of your university/ course, just in case you get rejected in your primary application

Steps to Apply to Finland Universities

Students must take care that their application process is organised. Do not keep things pending till the last moment. Here is a broad overview of the steps that you need to follow for your application process:

• Select the course(s) that you wish to pursue
• Shortlist the universities/ colleges where you wish to study
• Find out the exams that you are required to appear for
• Plan the timeline and keep sufficient time for test prep and document arrangement
• Take the tests and be ready with their scores
• In the meantime, you must start working on your resume, SOP, essays, LOR, and other related documents
• Prepare and file all the necessary documents
• Stick to the timeline and apply well before the deadline
• Appear for the interview(s)
• Accept the offer from the university/ college
• Once you have accepted the offer, you must begin the visa application process
• Make sure that you are ready with a plan to arrange for your housing

Exams to Study in Finland

If you belong to a country where English is not the native language, you will have to provide proof of your English-language proficiency. Score of standardized tests such as the International English Language Testing System, Test of English as a Foreign Language, and Pearson Test of English (PTE) is accepted. 

Different universities have different criteria to judge your English language proficiency level. In addition, since there are multiple options for the student, a student is free to choose the exam of his/ her choice.

Other Popular Exams

• SAT: SAT or Scholastic Assessment Test measures literacy and writing skills that are required by students to ace their academic curriculum. This test is typically taken by school students who wish to apply for undergraduate courses.
• GRE: Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is taken by students who are pursuing or have completed their graduation or post-graduation, and wish to apply for Master's or Doctoral courses. Many B-Schools accept GRE scores as well.
• GMAT: GMAT or Graduate Management Aptitude Test is used to measure the aptitude of students who wish to study Management courses.

Cost of Living in Finland

The cost of living in Finland depends on a variety of factors such as your location, your accommodation, your dietary habits, your lifestyle, and other miscellaneous charges. Some of the factors have been mentioned below:

• Accommodation
• Food and groceries
• Utilities such as electricity, water, gas, internet, etc.
• Books and reading material
• Stationery
• Weather-appropriate clothing
• Commuting and travel
• Insurance charges
• Miscellaneous charges such as dining out, parties, etc.

You can refer to the table below to get an approximate idea of the charges:

Health Insurance for Students

It is mandatory for a student to obtain health insurance in order to receive a residence permit for studies. The insurance depends on the duration of your course and must be valid for entire duration of your course. If your course is for more than 3 months in duration, it is compulsory for you to have health insurance. Students who study for less than 2 years must obtain private insurance that covers the cost of medical treatment up to €120,000. Students who study for 2 years or more must obtain private insurance that covers the cost of medical treatment up to €40,000. In either case, the insurance deductible must be less than €300. In addition, students must note that their insurance must be valid when they arrive in Finland.

Cost of Studying in Finland

The cost of studying in Finland depends on factors such as your course, your university/ college, your campus, etc. However, on average, the given points will help you gauge the average cost of studying in Finland:

• The average 1-year Bachelor of Engineering tuition fee in Finland is INR 8 Lakhs
• The average 1-year MS tuition fee in Finland is INR 10.73 Lakhs
• The average 1-year MBA tuition fee in Finland is INR 8.52 Lakhs

Scholarships in Finland

Studying in a foreign land be tough, especially when we consider the financial aspects of the same. In such situations, students can apply for various scholarships in order to reduce their overall cost of pursuing academics in Finland. Students with a strong academic background, impressive test scores, and strong resumes can reap the benefits of such scholarships. An overview of the documentation and selection process of scholarships is given below:

• Compile your academic records
• You might be required to submit letters of motivation
• Prepare an organized resume
• Prepare well for a scholarship interview if your university/ college has a scholarship committee

Note that a student is usually required to apply for a scholarship at the time of his/ her admission application. Hence, it is important that you do not miss out on the scholarship applications.

Education Loans for Studying in Finland

To borrow education loans for studying in Finland you need to fulfil eligibility criteria. Below, we have mentioned some eligibility for student loans.

Whether you qualify for a scholarship or not, you can always apply for an education loan. Usually, banks have similar criteria for providing loans. Some of the general conditions are given below:

• You must be an Indian national
• Your academic record must be strong
• You must have received an admission offer from an eligible course of study, and the course must help you in gaining meaningful employment
• You must be 18 years of age, or else your parents can avail loan on your behalf.

Post-Graduate Work Permit Finland

After you complete your degree or research in Finland you can apply for a new residence work permit. Following points will elaborate on the details:

• The permit may be for 2 years
• You can take the permit in three parts if you wish to
• You must have completed your academics or research as the case may be
• You must provide proof that you have at least €560 per month at your disposal
• You will need a valid passport, passport photo, degree certificates, financial documents, research completion certificates (if applicable), etc.

Now students are aware of various factors that come into play when considering education in Finland. For help with university applications, students seeking to study abroad can contact our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors.