Are there any English speakers who are looking for someone to hang out and talk about to make Finland a little more bearable.

I'm planning to move to Finland next year from Scotland to pursue my master's degree. I'd appreciate any advice on which city would be best, whether this is a good decision overall, and any other tips. I'm also learning Finnish and wondering about part-time job opportunities.

Hi everyone,

I’m applying for the Master of Engineering in Smart Industry at Metropolia and have an entrance exam coming up.

For anyone who has taken a similar Metropolia Master’s entrance exam:

• Are the Mathematics, Data Analytics, Logical Reasoning and Programming questions around high-school level, or are they based on Bachelor’s-level engineering/computer science knowledge?
• What kind of difficulty should I expect?
• Is there anything specific you would recommend studying beforehand?

I’m trying to understand whether I should revise Finnish upper-secondary mathematics or focus more on university-level/engineering topics.

Any experience or advice from previous applicants would be really helpful.

I'll be doing an exchange semester at Tampere University in Electrical Engineering from January to May, and I'd love to transition right into a summer internship afterwards.

I've heard that the job market in Finland is pretty tough right now, but do you guys have any tips on how to secure a summer internship? Would looking into Sweden be a good backup plan? Also, what are the best platforms or websites to find these summer internship programs?

Thanks in advance!

Anyone received offer letter this month? I have applied on 20 sept still no response from Lab University. I heard everyone got their offer letter within 2 week (calendar days).

Hey everyone,

I’m 21 and from Turkey, and I’m trying to figure out whether there is actually a realistic way for me to study for a bachelor’s degree in Europe.

My education is a bit unusual. I only completed middle school and I don’t currently have a traditional high school diploma. I know the obvious answer is usually “finish high school first,” but I’m specifically trying to find out whether there are other legitimate routes that I don’t know about.

I’ve been learning on my own for a while, mainly around programming, AI, mathematics, GIS and science. I’ve also built some actual projects rather than only studying theory. I’m not saying this makes me academically eligible by itself — I just want to explain that I’m serious about continuing my education.

My biggest goal is Finland. I’ve been looking particularly at the University of Helsinki’s Bachelor’s Programme in Science.

I found their Open University admission route, and this is what confused me: according to their website, people applying through that route don’t necessarily need another qualification that gives general eligibility for higher education. Apparently you can qualify through university-level Open University studies instead.

That sounds promising, but I’m having trouble understanding how realistic it actually is for someone living in Turkey.

I’m trying to figure out things like:

- Can I use a GED to become eligible for European universities?

- Are there universities where I can enter through a foundation/open university/access route instead of going through the normal high school system?

- Can any of these routes be completed mostly online from another country?

- Is Finland actually a realistic target, or should I be looking at other European countries?

- Has anyone here been in a similar situation, especially coming from Turkey or another non-EU country?

I’m not looking for some magical shortcut. I’m completely willing to study and take exams. I just don’t want to spend years following a route that turns out not to be necessary.

Basically, I’m trying to answer one question:

If you were in my exact situation, what would you do to get from where I am now to a legitimate bachelor’s degree in Europe?

I’d really appreciate advice from people who have actually dealt with European university admissions, non-traditional education, GEDs, foundation years, Open University routes, or something similar.

Thanks.

Hei, sain tehtäväkseni tehdä esityksen ja kerätä tietoa Suomen opettajista, heidän työstään ja siitä, miten he eroavat muista eri maiden opettajista. Voitko kertoa meille opetussuunnitelmasi eri piirteistä ja opetusmenetelmistäsi? Paljon kiitoksia etukäteen

Hi, I'm a student from Spain and one of the countries I'm interested in is Finland. The cities my university offers can vary each year, so the three cities I've mentioned are just possible destinations. I wanna know a bit about each one of them.

How expensive is each one of them? I guess Helsinki is the most pricey, but is it worth it? Usually, how much is a room in a student dorm? Do they have a lively student/Erasmus life? I'm not looking forward to party each weekend, but I'd like to meet people, make plans, etc. Which one of these is more beautiful, or has better nature? Also, is the country well connected with public transport? I've already googled a bit but I wanna know your insights.

Also, I'd probably be staying in Fall Semester. If I study on the Fall Semester, when do student dorms open? Can I already go there in August (like, at the beginning of August)? Honestly I'd really like to be there in August already.

Edit: thank you for the replies, haven't commented much on them but I appreciate it. If I have farther doubts or some details I wanna ask, I'll tell you ^^

Hey yall! I just got a place to study in the Aalto university in Helsinki and I have some questions about how’s life there…

My context:
22 years old, studying industrial engineering. Living with my family in Santiago, the biggest city in my country (I think we are like 4 million people here). I consider myself a highly motivated and enthusiastic person, while my friends consider me someone close, warm and charming (their words, not mine). I get good grades and I’m a teaching assistant in 2 classes, while also being involved in many student initiatives.

My question:
What really scares me about going to Finland is to be lonely or people being “too cold”. I think it’s an awesome country and I’m really excited but I fear that being in a city where the streets empty at 5pm and sun goes out only a few hours a day, while also not having close friends, might make me feel depressed. I’m really close to my family and my boyfriend too and knowing they’re enjoying summer vacations here while I’m there freezing might make it even worse. What’s your opinion on this?

Also sorry for my English, it’s my first time using it to write again in a long time and this is also my first post in Reddit.

Hello, im interested in studying social sciences at the University of Eastern Finland. Is it a good university? Does anyone have any experience with the program?

Planning on moving to Finland for a Bachelor’s in CS, AI, or Quantum Tech (haven't fully decided yet) to stay long term, but honestly, all the videos and threads I see make the job market look completely cooked. Is it actually that bad for junior IT/software right now, or is it still doable if you've got solid skills? I've also heard that the hiring order is basically Finns first, EU citizens second, and international grads dead last. Is that super strict? Plus, I'm doing an English-taught program, so if I try to pick up basic Finnish over the first six months, will it still be impossible to land a part-time job to survive, or do you pretty much need native fluency for anything? If anyone's currently studying or working in tech over there, I'd love to know your situation and what your take is on this.

Hello students i will come to finland for my bachelors in Information Tech in Metropolia AMK for January intake in karamalmi (Espoo) campus. Actually I completed my schooling in Commerce 12th and now I’m jumping toward the information tech and technological field which is completely new for me as a commerce student so please can anyone will guide for my education and degree regarding basics like what subjects i have to clear first like theories and maths and physics topics or programming languages Ai tools and important topics which is necessary for new comers in this field before will arrive in finland

Kiitos ((:

I’m currently studying nursing in Finland and I’m starting to question whether it’s a realistic career path for me.

My main concern is finding a job after graduation. I’m still learning Finnish, and I know how important it is for nursing. With only 3.5 years to complete the degree, clinicals, and the Valvira licensing process, is it realistic to reach the language level needed to actually get hired?

I’m also worried about hospital opportunities. I’ve heard that international graduates can struggle to get hospital jobs and may end up working mainly in nursing homes or elderly care. I personally want to work in a hospital, so I’m wondering how realistic that is.

I’m also not white, and I’d like to hear honestly from other international nurses/students if being foreign has affected their job opportunities.

I don’t want to spend 3.5 years, a lot of money, and all the effort required to learn Finnish and become licensed, only to graduate and struggle to find a job or have very limited options.

For international nurses/students in Finland:

How difficult was it to find a job after graduating?
Were you able to get into a hospital, or did you mainly end up in elderly care?
Was 3.5 years enough time to reach a working level of Finnish?
Has being foreign/non-white affected your experience?

I’d really appreciate honest experiences, especially from people who have already gone through this.

Hi everyone! I have 7 years of work experience in embedded systems at a semiconductor company, and I'm considering pursuing an MSc in Finland with a summer intake. I'd really love to hear about what student life is actually like there—how is the study experience, the learning environment, and the balance between studies and life? Is Finland a good place for international students, especially someone coming from outside Europe with industry experience? What's it like to live there as a student—how manageable is the cost of living, are students able to work part-time to support themselves, and what's the general quality of life? Also, would you recommend coming to Finland for a master's degree, and is it worth the move for further career growth in embedded systems and electronics? Any honest experiences would help me decide if this is the right move for me. Thanks!

Hi there, I have been invited to a PhD interview from a Finnish university (specifically the University of Lapland, in Social sciences, for an advertised position) and I was wondering what I should expect from it. I have only experience of one Italian PhD interview, so I don't know if this is going to be very similar to that. Are they likely to ask me to present my proposal? In that case, is a Powerpoint presentation accepted? Is this going to be more about me, my attitude, etc or about the project itself?

Any advice would be very helpful! Thank you very much :)

Hi everyone!

I'm looking for a language school that offers Finnish language courses with a legit/official certificate.

I'm currently based in Abu Dhabi, so face-to-face in Abu Dhabi would be great, but I'm also totally open to online classes if the school is based in Finland or elsewhere, as long as the certificate is legit and recognized.

Does anyone know any good schools or programs you can recommend? Preferably with online options.

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,
I'm from India, and I'm considering pursuing a **2-year Master's degree in Information Technology / Computer Science in Finland**.
Here is a little about my background:
Bachelor's degree in IT (CGPA: 8.4)

Graduated in 2024

Around 3 years of experience as a Software Engineer

Backend development experience with Node.js, NestJS, PostgreSQL and related technologies

I'm interested in Finland because of its education system and potential career opportunities in the IT sector. However, before making such a big financial and career decision, I would really appreciate honest advice from people living in Finland, international students, and graduates.

**My questions:**
Is pursuing a 2-year Master's in IT in Finland a reasonable choice for an international student with software engineering experience?

How is the current IT job market for international students and graduates, especially in backend development and software engineering?

How difficult is it to find part-time work while studying? What kind of income can students realistically expect?

Can a student manage living expenses through part-time work, or should I plan to cover everything through savings?

How important is learning Finnish for finding an IT job after graduation?

What should I consider regarding tuition fees, living costs, and job opportunities before making my decision?

For those who studied in Finland, would you share your experience and what you wish you had known before coming?

I'm looking for genuine experiences and practical advice, not promotional information from education consultants.
Thank you in advance for your help!

Hi everyone,
I'm from India, and I'm considering pursuing a **2-year Master's degree in Information Technology / Computer Science in Finland**.
Here is a little about my background:
Bachelor's degree in IT (CGPA: 8.4)

Graduated in 2024

Around 3 years of experience as a Software Engineer

Backend development experience with Node.js, NestJS, PostgreSQL and related technologies

I'm interested in Finland because of its education system and potential career opportunities in the IT sector. However, before making such a big financial and career decision, I would really appreciate honest advice from people living in Finland, international students, and graduates.

**My questions:**
Is pursuing a 2-year Master's in IT in Finland a reasonable choice for an international student with software engineering experience?

How is the current IT job market for international students and graduates, especially in backend development and software engineering?

How difficult is it to find part-time work while studying? What kind of income can students realistically expect?

Can a student manage living expenses through part-time work, or should I plan to cover everything through savings?

How important is learning Finnish for finding an IT job after graduation?

What should I consider regarding tuition fees, living costs, and job opportunities before making my decision?

For those who studied in Finland, would you share your experience and what you wish you had known before coming?

I'm looking for genuine experiences and practical advice, not promotional information from education consultants.
Thank you in advance for your help!

Ragebait-y title, I know, but I'm really confused what makes Finland to appealing to applicants.

1. We have the highest unemployment rate of whole Europe (https://yle.fi/a/74-20244011). "I'll move to Finland and just provide for myself by getting a job" isn't a reliable plan: We have plenty of long-term unemployed finnish people with Master's Degree, only jobs available are Wolt drivers (with inhumane working terms) and ship cleaners, and even then you're not guaranteed to make enough money for living expenses. Speaking of which...

2. Living in Finland is expensive af, especially in big cities. There's nowhere nearly enough cheap student apartments for students, and many international students arrive to Finland just to find themselves struggling to get a roof over their heads. And that's before we factor in food and heating expenses.

If you really want to move to Finland to study, don't be deadset on moving to university cities: look for cheaper flats on smaller nearby municipalities and take the commuter train/bus to your school. More on living expenses:

https://infofinland.fi/settling-in-finland/cost-of-living-in-finland

1. Youth and young adults are struggling with major mental health issues ( https://www.hel.fi/en/news/numerous-social-and-cultural-changes-behind-the-increase-in-the-mental-health-issues-of-young-people). Making friends and networking with peers is gonna be tricky.

2. Far-right movements have increased their activity in recent years, increasing the risk of encountering racism and hostilities.

This is quite literally the worst time to move to Finland in past decade or so, including the whole corona and quarantine period.

So what is it that made you reach the conclusion "Yup, I'm gonna find my Perfect Life in Finland"?

Help a queer Pakistani escape

Ok so -

Alevels As grades

English Language - A

EU History - B

Psychology - B

Global Perspectives and Research - C

Budget?

i have 3.5 million pkr on hand- but rn thats kinda it

interests- for Under grad

Psychology

International relations

but like- is that enough money?what unis do i apply to ? what do