Finnish universities maintain high positions in the Times Higher Education World’s annual University Rankings.

The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2023 includes 1,799 universities across 104 countries and territories, making it the largest and most diverse university rankings to date.

Some Finnish universities are in the top 20% of THE World University Rankings 2023:

• University of Helsinki #110
• Aalto University #201–250
• Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT #301–350
• University of Oulu #301–350
• Tampere University #301–350
• University of Turku #351–400
• University of Vaasa #351–400
• University of Jyväskylä #401–500
• Åbo Akademi University #601–800
• University of Eastern Finland #601–800

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings measure the performance of universities based on indicators across four areas: teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.

See the full rankings here!

See rankings by industry here!

NORDICS EDUCATION

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In order to be eligible for university studies in Sweden, you must demonstrate that you meet the English requirements for the course or programme.

Bachelor’s level

For courses and study programmes at the bachelor’s level, the English language general entry requirement is the equivalent of English studies at the upper secondary (high school) level in Sweden, called English 6.

Master’s level

For most master’s level courses and programmes, the requirement is also the equivalent of English 6, though a few may require a lower or higher level of English.

Check the course description

You can find out what the English requirement is for the course or programme you’re applying to by going to the course description page on the university’s website. Please note that some universities have their own requirements regarding demonstrating English proficiency.

How can I meet the English language requirement?

You can demonstrate that you meet the English language requirement through:

• certain upper secondary (high school) studies,
• certain university studies,
• or an internationally recognised English test.

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Completing a university degree is considered to be an expensive endeavour and tuition fees are usually making up the bulk part of the cost. This is not the case in Norway where public funding secures free education for both Norwegian and international students.

The majority of Norwegian universities and state university colleges are publicly funded and the Norwegian government considers access to higher education for all to be an important part of the Norwegian society. Thus, as a rule, Norwegian public institutions do not charge tuition fees. This also applies to international students, no matter which country you come from.

Private institutions charge tuition fees for their degree programs, but the fees are usually significantly lower than those of comparable studies in most other countries. Also, international students are treated equally to the Norwegian students, and are not charged with higher fees.

High cost country

However, you should take into consideration that Norway is a high-cost country and living expenses are high. International applicants from outside of Europe must expect to document a high level of subsistence to be granted a student residence permit.

If certain prerequisites are met you could also be eligible for financial support that can pay for some of your living expenses. Through various fellowship programmes, scholarship schemes or student loans, international students can receive funding for a full degree or a limited number of semesters. You should be aware that these funding opportunities are few and will in most cases not cover the total costs of you stay in Norway. In most cases funding from your home country or the use of private funds will be necessary.

However, many international students in Norway hold part-time work, but you should not rely on that option as the the scope is limited.

Scholarships and grants

Most Norwegian institutions have various bilateral agreements with foreign institutions of higher education. These agreements are usually designed for the mutual exchange of students, researchers and teachers.

However, there are also some national programmes that offer scholarships and other types of funding for international students to study in Norway. Certain restrictions and prerequisites apply for all these programmes. In addition, there are various scholarships available offered by private and non-profit organisations.

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International student life in Finland can be both hectic and laid-back. A balanced student life means that you can concentrate on your studies as everyday life is well-organised and reliable.

One of the strengths of Finnish higher education institutions are the modern learning environments and facilities. Our high-quality classrooms and virtual learning environments, and free libraries enable students the best possible learning experience.

Recent surveys say that international students enjoy the campus environment and their institutions’ eco-friendly attitude. Also, the design and the quality of the campus buildings, and the surroundings outside the campus inspire international students in their everyday life.

Student unions and associations look after students’ interests and organise free-time activities, like sports and cultural events. Joining student activities is a good way of getting to know other students and be a part of the Finnish student life.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT LIFE IN FINLAND

You can find a lot of useful general information and advice on living in Finland, Finnish culture, the Finnish society, travelling in Finland, and much more at:

• InfoFinland
• ThisisFINLAND
• VisitFinland

RESIDENCE PERMITS

Non-EU/EEA students need a student residence permit. After you receive your official letter of acceptance, you can begin the student residence permit application online at Enterfinland.fi. Remember that you must personally visit a Finnish embassy or consulate as part of this process. Start your residence permit process as soon as possible, carefully following the immigration authorities’ instructions and regulations, so that you can receive your permit in good time before your studies begin!

You can find detailed information and advice on the residence permit requirements and procedures on the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) website.

After your graduation, you may apply for an extension of your residence permit to look for work or start a business.

ACCOMMODATION

You have two main options when searching for accommodation: established student housing foundations and the private market. 

Student housing providers are listed on the SOA (Finnish Student Housing Ltd.) website. The average monthly rent for a single room in a shared student flat ranges from around €160 – €380. Single apartments or family flats are also available, but the rent is likely to be higher in these non-shared apartments and they often have long waiting lists.

You can also arrange housing independently by searching for rented flats on the open market, or on social media. Open market flats tend to be more expensive than those available via student housing foundations.

It is also a good idea to ask the university you have been admitted to for advice on the other locally available student accommodation alternatives. Check the related information on the website of your hosting Finnish university or UAS.

WORKING IN FINLAND

In addition to some useful extra cash, having a part-time job can be a good way of gaining valuable work experience and networks alongside your studies. If you are non-EU student, you can work within certain limits on a student residence permit.

Finding a job in Finland can be quite challenging as not all fields of study offer opportunities for employment before graduation. Job applicants may also be required to have Finnish or Swedish language skills.

AFTER GRADUATION

Non-EU students can also apply for an extended residence permit for up to a year after graduation. This is intended to help graduates in their search for work. More information is available at www.migri.fi.

WHERE TO LOOK FOR EMPLOYMENT?

When you start looking for a job, first check out the careers services your Finnish university has on offer.

Visit the Work in Finland site to learn about work opportunities in Finland. Also see their Jobs in Finland pages!

General advice and tips on where and how to look for employment can also be found for example on the InfoFinland website.

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One of the reasons why sometimes people postpone their dreams is the thinking of “the money is not enough”. However, many times that can be solved simply by controlling expenses. In this blog, I will give some budgeting tips to keep your expenses as student in Sweden in the minimum. Therefore, you will be able to enjoy this beautiful country without worry about your pocket.

COST OF LIVING

Everyone wants to know about cost of living in Sweden. However, it is very difficult to answer the questions because there are many factors like: city where you live, if you are single, if you have family, if you are vegetarian, etc.

I did a chart with monthly spendings according to 3 perspectives one friend that really saves money, the other that don’t really care about money and me. (Let me be clear we all three are students that live alone)

If you give a check to the chart, there are thousands of difference between each budget. My expenses are in the middle of my thrifty friend and the big spender. Of course, there were some months I spend less and some I was off my budget. In that way, I learn how to manage a balance between saving money and also enjoy Sweden.

So, Let me share tips for your budget in each category!

HOUSING

The cost of housing in Sweden’s major cities can be very high, this also varies if you prefer an apartment for yourself or if you can share it with 2 or more people. In the chart above at the beginning you can see that my rent and the rent of my thrifty friend is 3,500 SEK, we both have a room with its own bathroom, we share a kitchen with more people, also the rooms are not in the central area, but they are accessible to the center. On the other hand my big spender friend decided to rent a studio apartment but a little further from the center.

I must say that to really save in housing as a student in Sweden, the best option is to rent a room in the university housing, the rent for these varies between SEK 3,000 and SEK 7,000 for a single student. But it is always the cheap option.

GROCERIES – FOOD

The cost of groceries and food is the most variant of the chart above, it depends basically on the diet and if you are willing to cook every day.
My thrifty friend spends only 1000 SEK per month, he avoids eating meat every day and cooks all the time. In my experience I have a budget of 1800 SEK, because I like to cook only from monday to thursday. On fridays and weekends I like to invest more money visiting different restaurants.

My big spender friend rarely cooks and most of the time he buys pre-made food or a lot of pizza (lots of pizza !!), his budget is 2000 SEK (I have seen bigger budgets for food anyway)

My advice would be to cook and freeze the food because that helped a lot in your savings, also preparing food with friends reduces spending and you eat much better, in addition to sharing the experience with people.
Don’t forget that saving is not synonymous of  isolation!! In Sweden it is totally normal  have your tupper with food or your thermos with coffee. You don’t really need to spend what your friends spend, you can have good time with your friends without buying food all the time. Also, you will notice that most of the people in Sweden cook themselves , lunch or dinner outside is most of the time for big occasions.

BOOKS

Since most of the material universities require can be found online or in university libraries, books shouldn’t be a budget problem. But if you like regular books instead of e-books or pdfs you must remember that they are not very cheap.

My advice would be that if you will  buy or spend in books for the university , try to find second-hand offers or books from older students. On the other hand, if you are a lover of reading novels, poems or others. I would recommend an e-reader, in this way you do not generate more luggage when it is time to leave Sweden.

TRANSPORTATION

Checking the comparison budget chart above, you will notice that one my friends doesn’t spend in transportation at all, that can be possible if you live in a small city of Sweden, or if you bike or walk a lot. There are also some friends that prefer to pay housing near the university in order to avoid paying transportation. In my case, I paid monthly (student price) because during autumn and winter is difficult to bike and also I really love use transportation in Sweden.

My advice would be to try the first month (ticket) and check if you really need to pay monthly , don’t make the mistake to pay half year ticket or three months ticket from the top. Also the first month is usually when new students visit around, in that way the monthly ticket will be a very good deal.

MOBILE AND GYM

Mobile is not a big spend in Sweden, if you are student you will get a different options and also don’t expensive ones. When you arrive to Sweden, your future university will give you a sim card, it is not mandatory to use that one, I suggest to be patient to search other offers. Besides, around Sweden the internet is amazing, you can have free access in squares, coffees, libraries and of course university. In that way, you will always be able to be connected.

Gym in Sweden is another issue, you will see many people going to the gym and train, and I must say that is not expensive as I thought, there are offers for students from 200 SEK monthly and I consider this price not expensive. However, Sweden is well know for the nature, so basically Sweden is your free gym. You don’t need to pay a gym to be in shape, you can run around the forest or lakes. Also, hiking and walking around the city, it is completely normal in Sweden. Finally , there are some student housing that includes gym and saunas, try to check that too.

LEISURE

Now we can talk about lifestyle! In your leisure time you are the only one with the power of control your budget. However, as i mentioned before, saving is not equal to isolation.

You are not the only one trying to save money, I think that suggest your friends activities where people can split the cost is a good idea, also you can have very good deals around Sweden called “afterwork”, there are places where buying a single beer allows you eat buffet or pizza. Of course , going to this places all the time can be boring after a while, so try to plan picnic or dinner with friends too. In chart above there is a big difference between budgets, but it is not a matter of going out less or more, is about what you do when you go out.

I consider is nice to spend sometimes in yourself like parties or nice dinners. At least some weeks and the others you can try to do other cheap activities.

Both extremes are not good, I have some friends that worry too much about spend a lot that they don’t go out at all, and also I have other friends that spend too much and have budget problems the next month. I think is better to find a balance and in Sweden the balance is totally possible , it is just a matter of planning your budget.

EXTRAS AND SOME LAST ADVICE

Some extras that are not mention in the chart above is the money you will spend at the beginning. Don’t forget that the first month in Sweden is always the most expensive, don’t freak out and be prepared , after settle yourself you will find a balance for sure.

Try to buy Hygiene products (Shampoo, toothpaste, soap, etc) not monthly. If you buy this products from the beginning for about half year , then you will not have problem in your monthly budget.

Also try to buy clothes in your home country , Sweden have sale periods but there are not really cheap. Other option is to buy in second hand stores, that can be very cheap and you can find stuffs in very good conditions.

Finally, there are offers in facebook groups or markets because many people is constantly moving out and they sell many things in good prices.

Camilo – https://blogs.studyinsweden.se/2020/07/24/cost-of-life-and-budgeting-tips-for-students-in-sweden/

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