Welcome to Finland!
Finland is a magical place. Have you ever seen photos about its awesome landscapes? Well, if not go check them out! The dimmed light and the extensive forests covered in snow seems like a dream, especially when you’re on a sleigh. You could be so lucky to enjoy an aurora borealis night!
Being one of the northernmost countries in the world, climate is quite cold. However, it also depends on proximity to the oceanic air influxes: the area of the capital Helsinki and the adjacent coastline enjoy less strict winters, while the central and northern area of Finland have constantly freezing temperatures for months every year.
What are the best universities in Finland for semester students?
Are you still undecided whether or not Finland might be an appealing destination for you? On wearefreemovers you can find a selection of 9 academic institutions offering you the possibility of spending a semester or a full academic year in Finland. Let’s check some statistics about them.
Here you can see the positions of the Finnish institutions among the world’s best universities rankings.
| NAME | QS | THE | ARWU | CWUR | CWTS | Eduniversal palmes | U.S. News & World Report's Best Global Universities Rankings | Webometrics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Helsinki | 104 | 98 | 74 | 111 | 113 | - | 86 | 45 |
| Aalto University - School of Arts, Design and Architecture (PhD level) | 127 | 201–250 | 401-500 | 339 | 354 | 5 | 286 | 157 |
| Aalto University - School of Engineering (PhD level) | 127 | 201–250 | 401-500 | 339 | 354 | 5 | 286 | 157 |
| University of Turku | 287 | 351–400 | 301-400 | 364 | 440 | 3 | 322 | 330 |
| University of Oulu | 408 | 301–350 | 501-600 | 431 | 512 | 2 | 453 | 338 |
| Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences (Undergraduate level) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| HAMK Häme University of Applied Sciences | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology | 470 | 351–400 | 901-1000 | 953 | 1165 | - | 580 | 820 |
| University of Eastern Finland | 499 | 401–500 | 501-600 | 435 | 536 | - | 412 | 516 |
| University of the Arts Helsinki - Academy of Fine Arts | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Finnish education is valid. Prestige is quite spread among its institutions, with a good and English-based formative offer. They are also quite popular on the web, as it can be seen from the Webometrics ranking. Hence, Finland is certainly a desired destination for many international students. The University of the Arts Helsinki is not ranked because of its small size, not because of a bad quality of education. Aalto University places itself among the best business schools in the world according to Eduniversal ranking, with 5 palmes of excellence out of 5.
Costs and fees
Finland is a fairly expensive country. Monthly costs of living for a single person are close to 800€. Keep in mind that, as a student, you could have access to various discounts which can include food, travel, and accommodation expenses.
When it comes to university’s fees, Finland is extremely cheap, with a median 0€/semester for EU free mover students and 450€/semester for non-EU free mover students.
Which Finnish cities are available to free movers?
Currently there are many cities that accept free movers in Finland. Have you ever dreamt of studying in Helsinki or any other city in Finland? Here you can find institutions divided by city:
