r/StudyInFinland

Hey everyone!

I’m from Russia and finishing high school (11 years of education). I want to study Translation / Translation Studies / Applied Linguistics in Finland, preferably in English. My English is fluent (IELTS around 6.5–7.0). I’m planning to start learning Finnish this year, but right now I don’t speak it at all.

I have a few questions and I’d really appreciate honest answers:

1. University and program choice
   Which university is best for someone who wants to focus on translation rather than pure literature?

I’m looking at:

· Tampere University — English Language, Literature and Translation
· University of Helsinki — Bachelor’s in Languages
· Åbo Akademi — English Language and Literature
· University of Turku — English

Which of these is actually good for practical translation (CAT tools, subtitling, localization, etc.)? Or should I consider other options?

2. Language barrier
   If I start my studies in English, how hard is daily life without Finnish during the first year?
   Will I be able to handle bureaucracy, student housing, banks, part-time jobs using only English?
   Does the university offer Finnish courses for international students, and are they enough to reach a decent level?

3. Costs and housing
   What should I realistically expect to spend per month as a student in Tampere, Turku, or Helsinki?
   How hard is it to get a student apartment for an international student?

4. Overall experience
   Is Finland still a good choice for a Russian student in 2026, considering visa/residence permit issues?
   How are international students treated in Finnish universities?

5. Education length: 11 vs 12 years and Foundation Year
   I have 11 years of Russian school, but I know Finnish universities normally require 12 years. How strict is this rule in reality?

I’ve read that some international students can enter with SAT results instead, or after completing one year of university in their home country. Is that true for applicants from Russia right now?

Does anyone know if the universities I mentioned (Tampere, Helsinki, Turku, Åbo Akademi) have official Foundation Year / Pathway programmes, especially for language-related degrees? Are these programmes part of the university or separate paid courses? Are they worth it compared to just taking the SAT?

6. Portfolio: is it really necessary?
   I keep seeing conflicting information about portfolios for translation/linguistics programmes. Some people say you need to submit a detailed CV describing your whole life, others say a small portfolio is enough.

For bachelor’s programmes in Finland, do I actually need a portfolio? Or is admission based mostly on school grades, IELTS, and sometimes SAT?

If a portfolio is needed, what should it include? For example:
· short translations
· essays
· language certificates
· a CV
· a motivation letter

I don’t have any official translation experience yet, so I’m not sure what to show.

7. What do Finnish universities actually look at?
   I want to understand what really matters when applying for translation/linguistics. What weighs more in admission:

· school grades?
· IELTS/TOEFL score?
· SAT score?
· motivation letter?
· portfolio?

Do they care about things like olympiads in English, online language courses, or volunteer work? Or is it mostly formal criteria? If someone studied in Finland, can you share what made you a stronger applicant, especially as an international student?

I’d be grateful for any personal experience, especially from international students who studied in English and later learned Finnish.

Thanks in advance!

Hey!

Migri requires original documents at service point for student permit renewal but I cannot ship original documents from abroad due to time sensitivity and price (I am a student)

My bank copies are all electronically signed. How strict is Migri in presenting copy documents at appointment for those who have been thru this?

Thank you

Hei! Haluaisin kuulla kokemuksia ihmisiltä, jotka ovat hakeneet Opetushallitukselta ulkomaisen oikeustieteellisen tutkinnon rinnastamista oikeustieteen maisterin (OTM) tutkintoon.
Olen suorittanut Isossa-Britanniassa BA (Hons) Criminology and Law -tutkinnon sekä sen jälkeen Master of Laws (LLM) in Human Rights Law -tutkinnon.
BA-tutkintooni kuului mm. Administrative Law, English Legal System, Legal Method, Criminal Law I & II, Law of Evidence, Legal Research Methods, Public International Law sekä Civil Liberties and Human Rights.
LLM on 90 ECTS ja siihen kuului mm. Mental Health Law, International Refugee Law, Children, Law and Society, Climate Change Law sekä Human Rights Law -tutkielma.
Lisäksi olen ennen näitä tutkintoja suorittanut Suomessa jonkin verran oikeustieteen opintoja 16 opintopistettä. mm. velvoite- ja sopimusoikeutta.
OPH:n mukaan ulkomailla suoritetulla oikeustieteellisen alan toisen vaiheen tutkinnolla voi hakea OTM-rinnastamista, ja tarvittaessa voidaan määrätä enintään 100 op täydentäviä oikeustieteellisiä opintoja. Kysyin OPH:lta ennakkoon koulutustaustastani, mutta he eivät tee ennakkoarvioita, vaan asia selviää vasta maksullisen hakemuksen käsittelyssä.
Olisi siis todella kiinnostavaa kuulla ihmisiltä, jotka ovat oikeasti käyneet tämän prosessin läpi:

-Millainen ulkomainen oikeustieteellinen tutkinto teillä oli?

-Saitteko ehdollisen rinnastamispäätöksen?

-Kuinka paljon täydentäviä opintoja määrättiin?

-Mitä oikeudenaloja jouduitte täydentämään?

-Kuinka kauan täydentävien opintojen suorittamiseen meni?

-Jos taustalla oli UK law degree / LLM, kiinnostaisi erityisesti kuulla kokemuksia.

-Onko joku saanut hakemuksen hylättynä siksi, että koulutuskokonaisuus poikkesi liikaa suomalaisesta ON + OTM -kokonaisuudesta?

Haluaisin lähinnä saada käsityksen siitä, millaisia tutkintotaustoja on käytännössä hyväksytty ehdolliseen rinnastamiseen ja kuinka paljon täydentäviä opintoja ihmisille on määrätty ja miten se prosessi toimii.
Kiitos jo etukäteen, jos jollain on omakohtaista kokemusta tästä!

Hi everyone,
I’m from India and I have completed a BSc in Psychology (56%, CGPA 5.88). I’m considering doing a Master’s in Public Health / MSc Public Health in Europe, and Finland is currently one of my main options.
I’m particularly interested in Finland because there are English-taught programmes that accept students with a Psychology background. For example, the University of Eastern Finland offers a 2-year MSc in Public Health and lists Psychology as an eligible background.
However, I’m not sure whether Finland is the best choice for career opportunities after graduation.
I would really appreciate advice from people who have studied or worked in Europe, especially international students.
My main questions are:
Is an MSc/MPH in Public Health from Finland worth it for an international student?
Would you recommend Finland over Sweden, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands, or other European countries for Public Health?
Which country has better job opportunities after an MPH/MSc Public Health for non-EU graduates?
How important is learning the local language for getting a Public Health job?
What are the realistic career options after graduation — epidemiology, health promotion, healthcare management, research, NGOs, health policy, etc.?
Is it difficult to get a job in Public Health in Finland without a Finnish-language background?
Considering tuition fees and living costs, which European country gives the best overall value for money?

I’m mainly looking for honest experiences and realistic career advice, rather than just university rankings.
Thank you!

Sup'!

Let me first introduce myself a bit: I am currently living in Switzerland, working as a sysadmin. I'm looking to start new sciences oriented studies (BSc, then maybe MSc or even more), probably at the University of Helsinki. Atm, I'm not sure what field I wanna study specifically, but physics, maths, computer science, information security and quantum computing are fields that captivate me; I just want to learn things more deeply with great people who love learning about their fields.

I'm making this post in hope of getting a few tips, and eventually getting feedback from alumni or whatever.

I was thinking e.g. something like:

• How is the learning aspect approached? Are students more into learning or focused on success?
• How advanced are universities in modernizing learning methods based on neuroscience?
• How much flexibility is there to take courses across different fields/programmes?
• How much would it cost approximately to live in Helsinki as a student (per month/year)?
• How could I raise funds to start my studies? Could I get scholarships from Finland? Or maybe even from Switzerland (more oriented towards Swiss people who studied in Finland).
• How easy is it to find somewhere to live?

etc.

I'd be really grateful to get any answers! I'll take anything, these were just a few examples.

Thanks! :)

Hi. I was just curious whether it's possible to complete a bachelor's degree of 180 ECTS in 2 years. ChatGPT said long ago that it's not possible, whereas gemini says it's very much possible even though the burnout will he immense, which is pretty obvious.

Is it really possible? Or both the AI chatbots are just playing with me?

has anyone ever done online school (American curriculum) and got accepted into a Finnish university? I’m American currently in an online school due to medical complications, my dad is from Finland and I really wanted to move there for uni and reconnect with my Finnish culture and maybe live there permanently, but I’m not sure if they would accept my diploma? Please guys if you’ve done it or know anyone who’s studying an American online school and got into Finnish unis let me know this is crucial as I just started my first year online💔

I will need to do some part time job during my stay in the country, and I'm curious realistically what are the chances of me getting a job. Coming from EU, clear background, and already worked at two different places.

I know it depends on which place I will be staying at, but there are plenty of cities within a one hour trainride, so I would say there will be plenty of opportunities. My focus is on how many people are trying to get a job as well? Are finnish workers preferred over international ones (which is very likely, and understandable), and if yes, by how much?

What are my chances of getting something?
Technically I can get by with my allowance and savings, but it will be very tight, and I do NOT want to take any loans whatsoever.

Hello guys,
I am going to reach Vaasa on the 20th but the keys for my accommodation are at the office and it closes at 3:30pm, I am not sure I can reach by then.
Is there anyone near the olympiakatu voas housing facility or near by? If so can you collect my keys and I’ll reach out to u?

I am in Finland already for several years and during this time I’ve reached language skill ~ B1.2. I passed YKI for b1 and work some customer service job (in finnish) but it feels like I AM STUCK in my finnish skill. I’ve reached a certain point and I cannot get out of this mid-level.

My biggest problem is that I am trying to get a job in Finnish in my area (engineering). I just can’t get to the level of fluency where I could feel comfortable at work or even pass the interview (I had one and I wasn’t selected).

Does anyone have any experience or advice how to keep progressing?

I'm an Electrical Engineering student thinking about doing an exchange semester at Tampere University from January to May.
I'd love to hear your experiences about what the university is like, making friends, and overall student life!
Also, I have a couple of specific questions:

1. Is it realistic to land a summer internship in Finland right after the exchange semester?
2. I hold Italian citizenship (EU citizen), so work rights won't be a problem. How difficult is it for an EU student to get an engineering internship in Tampere or Finland in general?
   Any advice or tips are greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Hello,

I will relocate to Helsinki around the end of Aug this year. I'm an international student, and I wanna buy some second-hand furniture that will last a long time.

If you have any you no longer need, I'd be glad to buy them from you and be a kind owner.

My apt is located near Arcada UAS, btw if you are an alumnus of Arcada, that's perfect!

List of furniture:
1’ bed and mattress
2’ sofa for two people or three people
3’ lights
4’ Chairs and Tables
5’ curtain
6’ others if you advise

Plz dm me any time!

Hi everyone, I'm from India and planning to pursue my Master's in CS/AI in Finland. I'm looking to connect with Telugu/Indian students already studying in Finland, especially in Helsinki, Tampere, Turku or Oulu. I'd also like advice about accommodation and part-time jobs. Please DM me if you're in a Telugu/Indian student group.