2 types of higher education
Finland has two types of higher education institutes, universities and polytechnics. The universities concentrate on academic and scientific research and teaching methods. The role of polytechnics is to respond to the needs of working life. The Polytechnics education focuses on developing professional skills.
Education system in Finland
Chart and description of the Finnish education system.
Finnish education system
The Finnish education system consists of preschool education, comprehensive school, post-comprehensive general and vocational education, higher education and adult education. The higher education system comprises two parallel sectors: universities and polytechnics.
There are no tuition fees in higher education degree programmes. Student financial aid is available for post-secondary studies for Finnish nationals and students registered as permanent residents in the Finnish population register system.
The Finnish higher education sector is a participant in the Bologna Process, a European Union initiative to create a European Higher Education Area by 2010. The higher education sector has adopted comparable degrees, uniform degree structures and a uniform system of credits, the ECTS.
Education system chart
University studies and degrees
Degrees usually consists of studies in one major subject, in one or more minors and language and e.g. statistics studies. In most fields, university studies are divided into basic or introductory studies, intermediate (subject) studies (Bachelor’s level) and advanced studies (Master’s level).
Basic and intermediate studies acquaint the student with the content, foremost concepts,
theories and research methods in the field of study or discipline. In the major subject, this knowledge is deepened and complemented in advanced studies. The aim is to develop the student’s ability to find and apply scientific and artistic knowledge independently and thereby make it possible to advance to postgraduate studies in the field.
Advanced studies provide students with knowledge and skills needed to write a thesis (Master’s thesis). The purpose of the thesis is to demonstrate proficiency in research methods, the use of information sources and scientific or artistic presentation. The extent of higher education degrees is determined as ECTS credits. The minimum extent of lower university degrees is 180 ECTS and they can generally be completed in three years.
The Master’s degree contains 120 ECTS more and its normative duration is two years. The licentiate and doctoral degrees are scientific or artistic postgraduate degrees. In medicine, veterinary medicine and dentistry, however, the higher degree is the licentiate.