Want To Study In Finland? These Are Ten Of The Best Schools

Finland is a naturally beautiful country in Europe with relatively cold weather; it is located around the neighboring countries of Sweden, Norway, and Russia. It is a member of the European Union and Schengen region.

Finland’s universities and institutions usually boast of a strong focus on research, industrial innovative development, information technology, clean energy, applied sciences, engineering, etc.

Finland is one of the best countries in Europe to live in, with top students’ location cities being Helsinki, Turku, Oulu, Tampere, and Jyväskylä. Although additional supporting funds will be required as the living standards and quality of life in Finland are quite high, you must have at least €6,720/year to cover living expenses; also, you are allowed to work for 25 hours/week.

Documents Required for Finland Study Application Process

To apply to a Finnish university the necessary application credentials and requirements you must have to be eligible include:

Senior School Certificate with at least 6 credited subjects including English and Mathematics (WAEC, NECO, GCE).
Nigeria International passport.
The Finnish matriculation examination i.e. GRE.
Year one university education transcripts.
Bachelor’s degree certificate.
Full university transcripts.
English language proficiency requirements (TOEFL, IELTS, Pearson Test of English, etc).
Curriculum vitae showing vocational qualifications of three years or more in duration.
Letter of motivation to study in Finland.

Finland Universities Applications

Finland university applications are completed online via two processes such as directly through the university website, or the centralized admissions website The University Admissions Finland (UAF), who will verify your language skills and process your educational certificates using credential evaluation.

Note that all educational application documents must be officially certified by the awarding institution or notarized. Finland University’s admissions window is November-January, although, some Polytechnics are open for applications in August and September.

Top Ten Best Schools in Finland

Here’s a list of ten of the best schools in Finland, this list is based on top global universities rankings such as topuniversities.com, timeshighereducation.com, research, and global academic ratings.

University of Helsinki: This university is located in Helsinki; it is the oldest university in Finland. It has 11 faculties and 11 research institutes, which offer degrees taught in Finnish, Swedish and English. Faculties include Theology, Law, Medicine, Arts, Sciences, Pharmacy, Biology and Environmental sciences, Behavioral Sciences, social sciences, Agriculture and Forestry, and Veterinary Medicine.

Programmes and courses link: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/admissions-and-education/apply-bachelors-and-masters-programmes/bachelors-and-masters-programmes

Admission link: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/admissions-and-education/international-students

University of Jyväskylä: This university is located in Jyväskylä, Finland. It has maintained its origins as a teacher-training college, hence the reason for it being considered the country’s ‘top” university for education programs. The university has seven faculties with over 120 course areas in undergraduate, postgraduate, and teacher training programs. Faculties include Humanities, Information Technology, Education, Sports and Health Sciences, Mathematics and Sciences, Business and Economics, and Social Sciences.

Programmes and courses link: https://www.jyu.fi/en/apply/masters-programmes

Lappeenranta University of Technology: This specialized university of technology is located on the shore of Lake Saimaa. Its main focus areas are green energy, technology and business life. The university has 3 schools and 6 research centers, its courses of study include Chemical Engineering, Energy Technology, Environmental Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Management, Economics, Mathematics, Physics, etc.

Programmes and courses link: https://www.lut.fi/en/studies/masters-programmes, https://www.lut.fi/en/studies/technology/bachelors-programmes-technology

University of Eastern Finland: This public university has three campuses located in Joensuu, Kuopio, and Savonlinna. The University of Eastern Finland offers about a 100 courses and degree programs in its four faculties which include Philosophy, Science and Forestry, Health Sciences, Social Sciences, and Business Studies. The university also focuses on 10 interdisciplinary research areas like Aerosols, climate change and human health, Cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, Forests, global change and bio-economy, Neurosciences, Borders, mobilities and cultural encounters, Photonics, etc.

Programmes and courses links: https://www.uef.fi/en/international-masters-degree-programmes, https://www.uef.fi/en/international-bachelors-degree-programmes

University of Lapland: This university is situated in Rovaniemi, Finland. The university offers courses in four different faculties such as Art and Design, Education, Law and Social Sciences with an Arctic Centre for Arctic studies and research.

Programmes and courses link: https://www.ulapland.fi/EN/Admissions/Masters-Studies/Masters-Degree-Programmes

University of Oulu: This university is located in the city of Oulu, Finland. It is one of the highest ranking universities in the country. It includes six faculties such as Architecture, Mechanical Engineering, Process and Environmental Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Telecommunications, and Industrial Engineering and Management. It also has an array of centres and institutes like the Infotech Oulu, Thule Institute, Giellagas Institute, Martti Ahtisaari Institute, Centre for Wireless Communications (CWC), Centre for Advanced Steel Research (CASR), Center of Microscopy and Nanotechnology, Botanical Gardens and Museum, Zoological Museum, Geological Museum and two science libraries (Pegasus and Tellus), etc.

Programmes and courses link: https://www.oulu.fi/en/apply/international-programmes

Admission and Application link: https://www.oulu.fi/en/apply/how-apply

University of Tampere: This university is located in Tampere, Finland. The university offers courses form nine schools namely; the Institute of Biomedical Technology, School of Communication, Media and Theatre, School of Education, School of Health Sciences, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, School of Information sciences, School of Language, Translation Studies and Literary Studies, School of Medicine, and School of Management.

Programmes and courses links: https://www.tuni.fi/en/study-with-us/tampere-university-studies/masters-programmes, https://www.tuni.fi/en/study-with-us/tampere-university-studies/bachelors-programmes

Admission and Application link: https://www.tuni.fi/en/study-with-us/apply-to-tampere-university

University of Turku: This is the second-largest higher institution in Finland, located in Turku with campuses in Rauma, Pori and Salo. The university offers courses in seven faculties such as: Humanities, Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Medicine, Law, Social Sciences, Education, Economics, etc.

Programmes and courses link: https://www.utu.fi/en/study-at-utu/bachelors-and-masters-degree-programmes

Admission and Application Link: https://www.utu.fi/en/study-at-utu/how-when-to-apply

Aalto University: This is the third-largest higher educational institution in Finland; it is located in Espoo and Helsinki. It offers more than 90 courses from six schools in the bachelor, master, and doctoral levels, leading to degrees in the fields of Chemical Technology, Business, Electrical Engineering, Science, Arts, Design and Architecture, etc.

Programmes and courses link: https://www.aalto.fi/en/study-at-aalto/applying-to-masters-programmes, https://www.aalto.fi/en/admission-services/applying-to-bachelors-programmes

Admission and Application links: https://www.aalto.fi/en/study-at-aalto#/, https://www.aalto.fi/en/admissions

University of Vaasa: This Finnish public university is located in Vaasa. This university comprises three faculties such as: Faculty of Business Studies, the Faculty of Philosophy, and the Faculty of Technology. It also offers various research in continuing Education and Energy.

Programmes and courses link:https://www.uwasa.fi/en/education/international-masters-programmes

Admission and application link: https://www.uwasa.fi/en/education/international-masters-programmes/how-apply