Grades and foreign students’ admission to Finnish varsities

Today, I write about grades and how good grades can allow foreign students gain admission into Finnish universities.  

It goes without saying that the Finnish educational system is regarded as one of the best in the world. It has often been admired even by other highly advanced and well-known rich countries.

Foreign students’ intake

As I wrote some time ago, a central objective of the Finnish education policy is to offer all citizens (and foreign students alike) equal opportunities to receive education and help build their future careers. The structure of the education system reflects these principles.

I do not have any figures to show how many foreign students gain admission into Finnish universities. But, I can say that there are quite huge numbers of non-European students wanting to pursue further education in Finland.

There are some English-language programmes that have become so popular in recent years such as the Bachelor of Health Care (Nursing) courses Engineering and Technology; Business and Management; Computer Science and Information Technology (IT); Natural Sciences and Mathematics; and Education and Training.

Assessing applicants from their grades

As I keep saying, the mode of assessing applicants is by checking the applicant’s eligibility based on the filled application form that he or she filled and the accompanying documents.

Although applications are strictly assessed by the university authorities based on the applicant’s quality of the application and accompanying documents as well as the results from an entrance exam (where applicable), the grades from the applicant’s previous studies may also count greatly.

A foreign student needs to study subjects in the home country that can easily be pursued in further studies abroad and have it in mind to obtain high marks or a good performance.

Both high GRE scores and graduating GPA are needed to boost your prospects of admission.

It is usually necessary for a foreign student to show his or her transcript bearing good marks.

This is where I advise that you keep a very cordial relationship with your supervisor in your studies at home and adhere strictly to his or her advice about writing your thesis (or long essay) in order to get a good grade.

More often than not, respecting your supervisor by adhering to his or her advice is important and greatly helps the student write a good thesis.

Opportunities for the future

There are, indeed, many opportunities for foreign students to gain admission. First, the fact that opportunities are being offered in the first place by Finland to potential foreign students is a big encouragement and chance for any future thoughts to further one’s studies abroad. 

You only need to keep in mind that you want to obtain good grades in order to have a better chance for admission.

Moreover, gaining admission through the grades you obtained from your previous studies at home is a sure and fast way of ensuring that the applicant would, indeed, get the chance to be admitted directly into the institution.

I have previously written about the opportunity provided by the Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS) in Finland in the UAS Pathway Studies to Finland programme (see www.uaspath.fi).

Although such a programme offers applicants a convenient way to gain admission to degree programmes in Finland, the time it takes before one gains admission may be a minus when compared with a direct admission based on your high grades.

I end here by reiterating my previous point that the fact that Finland is encouraging or trying to attract foreign students does not mean it should be a dumping ground for any low level stuff.  

Thank you.

The writer is a Ghanaian

lecturer at the University

of Helsinki, Finland

By Perpetual Crentsil