Obtaining higher education abroad is becoming more and more popular among Russians, because it allows them to gain solid and relevant knowledge, make useful contacts and see new places. Studying in Finland is especially popular among residents of the Northwestern District - after all, they have a number of preferences in obtaining a Finnish visa, and this European country is very close to home. Therefore, future applicants and their parents should study general information about the University of Turku, as well as familiarize themselves with the peculiarities of studying at this university.
General information about the university
The first institution of higher education in the history of Suomi, the Abo Royal Academy, was established in Turku in 1640. For a long time, the Academy was the only university in the country. In 1827, the city experienced a fire that almost destroyed it, so the academy was transferred to Helsinki; now the University of Helsinki is known all over the world.
Until the founding of Abo Academy in 1918, the city remained without a university. Finally, in 1920, with donations from the public, the University of Turku was established, which, unlike the academy, was taught in Finnish, not Swedish. In 1959, the university got a new campus, and in 1974 it became public. In 1995, the university joined the prestigious Coimbra Group, which brings together the most influential universities in Europe.
The list of famous alumni includes Finnish presidents Mauno Koivisto and Timo Airaksinen, politicians Polu Lehtomaki, Lisa Hissalu, Pekka Pusku and Jarmo Viinanen, famous scientist Timo Airaksinen, poet Heli Laaksonen and artist Jussi Tuomolu.
Over the years, the university was headed by politicians I.R.Danielson-Kalmari and E.N.Setyala, as well as the famous geographer Johannes Granø.
As of 2021, about 20 thousand students study at the university (about 8000 in undergraduate studies, 6 thousand in magistracy and 6,000 postgraduate and doctoral students). The university employs about 3400 employees.
The university consists of 7 faculties:
- humanitarian;
- natural science;
- medical;
- Faculty of Law;
- social sciences;
- pedagogical;
- schools of economics.
Also, the university includes educational and scientific centers:
- marine technology;
- astronomy;
- philology;
- sociology of education;
- biotechnology;
- medicine (based on a university hospital);
- informatics.
There are many successful politicians and scientists among the graduates of the university, and this is not surprising, because it ranks third in the ranking of Finnish universities, and its curriculum pays great attention to practical scientific research. Graduates and their parents leave only the most positive comments about the University of Turku. For students from Russia, an additional plus is the proximity of the city to the Finno-Russian border.
The official website of the University of Turku will help you learn more about the history and structure of the university.
How to proceed
The rules and deadlines for admission, as well as the list of documents, differ depending on the specialty and degree for which the applicant applies (you can check the website). When applying for a bachelor's degree, they will require a school certificate and a certificate confirming proficiency in the language of instruction (Finnish - for all specialties and English - for some exchange programs). You will also have to pass entrance exams (written tests), including Finnish or English. Applications for this degree are accepted twice a year: in September and January.
Admission to a Finnish university for master's studies is carried out in January, from the documents you will need a diploma for awarding a degree similar to a bachelor's.
To enter graduate school, you need a master's degree, as well as English and Finnish language certificates. To prove proficiency in English, you must provide a TOEFL, IELTS or CAE certificate.
Non-EU foreigners will have to pay an entry fee of € 100 when applying. For those wishing to prepare for university entrance, we offer intensive summer courses in Finnish.
How much does the training cost and how long does it take?
Until 2021, education in all universities in Finland in Finnish and Swedish was completely free for both Finns and foreigners. Unless you have to pay about 200 € per year in contributions to the student union and for educational materials. Unfortunately, in 2021, this norm is no longer valid, and a bachelor's degree, even with the Finnish language of instruction, will cost about 1500 € per year.
The cost of studying for a bachelor's degree in English is even higher and amounts to 9 thousand euros per year. A master's degree in Finland costs 9000 € per year, regardless of the language of instruction.
In addition to the cost of training, the student will have to pay for meals in the cafeteria and accommodation on campus (about 300 euros). On average, a student will have to spend up to 1,000 euros in addition to living in the country per month.
When planning a budget, do not forget about the costs of applying for a student visa: for example, the consular fee is 55 euros, and for the mandatory delivery of biometric data, you will have to pay another 150 €. Finally, for the approval of the application, a medical insurance policy is required, which will cost 730 euros per year.
The university has a scholarship program for students who have received more than 55% of the possible ECTS (Common European Credit Scoring System) points in a year. Students who reach this mark in the next year receive a scholarship, the total amount of which is half of the annual tuition fee.
Postgraduate studies in Finland, like in the rest of Europe, are free of charge. True, only the full-time form is available, which means that, in addition to working on the dissertation, you will have to perform other tasks of the supervisor, including assistance in teaching.
Periodically, scholarships to study at the University of Turku are offered through the Erasmus + program coordinated by the European Union. At the same time, the amount of the scholarship is about 850 € per month, and travel expenses are also compensated. Training is conducted in English, and a prerequisite for applicants is a language certificate of at least B2.
The organization of the learning process at the University of Turku differs little from that of other European universities. Studying in a bachelor's degree, depending on the chosen specialty, will last from 3 to 4 years. It will take another 2 years to get a master's degree. Finally, postgraduate study takes 4 years in theory, but in practice it can last until the dissertation is defended.
Training is conducted over two main semesters. The first begins in late August or early September and ends in early or mid December. The beginning of the second semester falls on the end of December or the beginning of January, the semester ends at the end of May. There is also a so-called additional summer semester, during which elective courses are offered.
Conclusion
The University of Turku is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Finland, offering training in a wide variety of areas. Education in English will cost about 9 thousand euros per year. At the same time, holders of good grades can apply for a scholarship that will reimburse half of the costs.
