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Living in Finland

Finland is a country for people who are looking for something different, for those who are willing to change their lifestyle and embrace a life surrounded bu the splendour of nature. It is a modern and safe country full of natural beauty.

Finland as a place to live

Finland is a modern and safe country full of natural beauty. Finland has high standards of education, social security and healthcare and scores high in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). Finnish degrees are not only recognized worldwide but highly appreciated. Finland is a country on the top of the world – full of breathtaking natural beauty, quirky people, interesting places and tranquillity.

Living in Finland is laid back and safe. The presence of nature pretty much anywhere you go brings peacefulness to everyday life. There is always a place to escape to if you are in the need of a break and some quiet. The Finnish mentality is very honest, humble and unyielding. A good demonstration of this is the fact that we are at the top of the Corruption Perceptions Index where countries get points for how clean of corruption they are. (Source)

Finland has four wonderful seasons which means that it never gets boring. There is always something to wait for, whether it be the gorgeous colours of autumn leaves, snow and a white Christmas, the longer days of spring or the nightless nights of summer. There are big cities, little villages and everything in between. In Finland, you can really make your life what you want it to be and the possibilities are endless.

Welcome to Finland Guide

The Finnish people

At first glance, Finns might seem distant or shy but once you actually talk to them Finns are friendly and humorous people. The shy and withdrawn image of a Finn is a stereotype that is very often inaccurate.

Finns aren’t big on small talk, and quiet moments in conversations are not considered awkward. Silence merely means the person doesn’t have something essential to say.

Coffee is a Finnish favourite – Finns often meet over a cup of ‘kahvi.’ Whether you’re at work or at a friend’s home, you’ll probably hear, “Let’s have a cup of coffee,” at some point in the conversation.

Finnish facts

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

Studying in Finland

Finland’s higher education system is the best in the world according to Universitas 21 Ranking 2018.

The Finnish higher education system comprises universities and universities of applied sciences. The universities engage both in education and research and have the right to award doctorates. The universities of applied sciences are multi-field institutions of professional higher education. Universities of applied sciences engage in applied research and development.

The first and second cycles of higher education studies are measured in credits. Study courses are quantified according to the workload required. One year of full-time study is equivalent to 1600 hours of student work on average and is defined as 60 credits. The credit system complies with the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS).
Higher education qualifications in Finland are referenced at levels 6, 7 and 8 both in the National Qualifications Framework as well as in the European Qualifications Framework.

Source: www.oph.fi/en/education-system

Finland’s #1’s

Finland’s higher education system is one of the best in the world
Universitas 21 Ranking 2020 (www.universitas21.com)
Finland is the happiest country in the world for the fifth year running
The Happiness Research Institute, World Happiness Report 2022
Finland is the most stable country in the world
The Fund for Peace, Fragile States Index 2020
Finland is the safest country in Europe
The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2019
Finland is the best country in the world in a comparison of human well-being
Sustainable Society Index, Main results 2016
The air in Finland is the cleanest in the world
Finnish Meteorological Institute, Finland tops WHO air quality statistics
Finland has the highest level of human capital in the world
The Lancet, Measuring human capital: a systematic analysis of 195 countries and territories, 1990–2016

Campuses and campus towns

Our three campuses are located in beautiful Finnish towns: Kokkola, Pietarsaari and Ylivieska. Students of our English conducted degree programmes study on our Kokkola and Pietarsaari campuses. The learning environments of our campuses are diverse and transformative.