MS in Finland: Top Universities, Fees, & More

Are you seeking to become an expert in business, natural sciences, economics or education? Then pursuing an MS degree is the best fit as it provides knowledge and training in specific areas of science, technology, mathematics, or in the behavioral sciences, medicine, nursing, social work, and a wide range of related multidisciplinary subjects.

Are you looking for a country to pursue your higher education and settle with good career prospects? The answer is MS in Finland. In 2018, World Economic Forum’s Universitas 21 (U21) Ranking of Higher Education Systems ranked Finland’s higher education system is the best in the world.

As the home to some of the world's best and most prestigious universities, studying master's in Finland is just the right step to kickstart your higher education and career. You must select a master's specialization based on your academic background and long-term goals. Read on to discover about the courses, fees, eligibility criteria and other important factors necessary to study in Finland.

Duration of MS in Finland

In Finland, master's degrees are always two years long, while at universities of applied science, the time frame may be shortened because of the requirement that students have a significant amount of prior work experience.

The application process for master's programmes in Finland typically runs from November through February or March. The Finnish academic year begins in September (though it may sometimes close as early as the end of January). Depending on the master’s degree in question, the exact dates may vary from one university to another or even within a single university.

Eligibility To Study In Finland

Applicants must fulfill general eligibility criteria before they are evaluated for various study options. The criteria includes the following: 

• An accepted proof of language proficiency (through language tests and other university approved methods of demonstrating language expertise)
• Submit all the required application documents within the deadline
• IELTS Academic: Overall score of 6.5 and writing score of 5.5
• TOEFL iBT (Internet-based Test): 02, and 22 for writing 
• TOEFL PDT (Paper- delivered Test): Reading 22, Listening 22 and Writing 24
• Admission criteria for subject-specific master’s is to have a bachelor’s degree with good score in the concerned field

 Outstanding applicants with degrees in other disciplines, such as engineering, mathematics, physics, information systems, or the natural sciences, will be considered, provided they have the necessary training and can demonstrate the required abilities.

Course Structure Of MS in Finland

Any masters course, say Masters in Computer Science, spans across two years and comprises a total 120 ECTS credits. The two-year programme consists of the following: 

• Major Studies (40-60 ECTS)
• Minor Studies (20-25 ECTS)
• Elective Studies (25-30 ECTS)
• Master’s Thesis (30 ECTS)

Tuition Fees to Study Masters In Finland

Choosing to study in Finland is one of the best decisions a student can make as its education system is very well known to dominate the world stage. In light of the same, no tuition fees is charged from the some category of students that would include citizens of EU/EEA states or Switzerland, holders of a permanent Finnish residence permit/ long-term resident’s EU residence permit (P, P-EU), holders of a fixed-term continuous residence permit (A) which hasn’t been granted based on studies, and holders of an EU Blue Card (a residence permit card with a marking “EU Blue Card” as the type of the permit)

MS in Finland for Indian students comes with a certain tuition fee as they belong outside the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland. English. The annual tuition fee depends on the university and the degree programme, varying between €4,000 and € 18,000.

Top Universities for Pursuing MS in Finland

For students looking for the best universities to study abroad, the below-mentioned Finnish universities are the best bet. 

Scope and Job Prospects after MS in Finland 

The door to career prospects after pursuing MS are wide open for students. The degree gives them an excellent foundation for doctoral studies and post-doc positions at universities and internationally. 

The technology and IT sector of the nation is now its largest industry, and it is regarded as a significant European tech centre. Helsinki was recognised as the third-best city for work-life balance in the 2022 Work-Life Balance Index. In an index that also took into account vacations, sleep, commuting time, disposable income, and total hours worked, it came in equal first for a "happy and wellbeing" score.

With an MS degree in hand, the students have a great probability of bagging a good job opportunity across various companies and industries while also striking a perfect work life balance in Finland.