"Non-citizens of Finland can get financial aid for studies in Finland if they live in Finland on a permanent basis for a purpose other than studying. This requires that they are registered as a permanent resident in the Finnish population register system. The purpose of residence in Finland is determined by reference to such matters as the residence permit, registration or acceptance to an educational institution. For further information, please see the website of the Social Insurance Institution (Kansaneläkelaitos, KELA): http://www.kela.fi"
I guess you all have noticed these words at above paragraph in most of the Finnish university's website under the financial aid section. The best thing about Finland is free education, which has lead to Finland being the first choice academic center for lots of the people, especially from 3rd world country. Personally I am planning to move away from Finland to some other country in search of better education. Finland's education system might be one of the world's top in terms of technology and innovation but it lacks the commitment and teaching methodology from the professors. The great professors never takes any classes and are always busy with the researches, well that's good for the country but is it good for the students? obviously not. Professors who are full time employee at the university are really busy in their researches for the companies; they don't even take a single class in a year and are still employed by the universities. If I ask what are they for then some replied they are Thesis supervisors and they may help student by giving chance to one of their research. I think those professors are just employed for the advertisement of university saying such big guns teach here. Personally, I don't need that kind of professors who cannot deliver his/her knowledge to their students and who are also never seen inside the university premises.
The biggest joke Finland plays with the financial aid seekers starts with "Unfortunately", saying "unfortunately we are not able to provide financial assistance to international students, bla bla bla", at last they provide the link to KELA - Organization which provides social services. Now let me include the words from the websites where we seek for financial aid.
I guess you have read above about what the university says about financial aid to the students, here's what kela have to say:
If you are not a Finnish citizen, you may be entitled to financial aid with education in Finland if
* you are registered as a permanent resident of Finland in the population register system and
* your purpose for residence in Finland is something other than education (for example, work, family ties or return migration).
This above statement clearly mentions that if you are not a permanent resident of Finland then you are not eligible for financial aid, but here is what the Police have to say about getting permanent resident:
A permanent residence permit is issued to an applicant who has resided in Finland for a continuous period of four years under a continuous fixed-term residence permit (working status). An application for a permanent residence permit is filed with the local police. The other possibility of issuing permanent resident is to be married or have legal relationship with Finnish nationals for least of four years.
This whole thing clearly means there is no any possibility of getting student financial aid in Finland, by the way, some of the websites may suggest you to visit CIMO's website to have possibility of financial aid, but here's what CIMO says:
CIMO scholarships are mainly targeted for postgraduate students who have completed their Master-level studies. CIMO's undergraduate scholarships promote advanced studies of the Finnish language.
Now, isn't it a clear joke that Finland plays with the financial aid seeker? first it says to have permanent residence to be eligible for financial aid, and to be permanent residence you have to work full time at least for four years or marry a Finnish citizen for four years, and the duration of your studies are normally two years. So, what shall I say now? shall you be enrolled in the university at first and halt your studies for four years and after that get permanent residence permit and again start your studies to get financial aid, wow, it’s better to say directly that NO FINANCIAL AID FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, but they never say no but keep giving you the link to other websites to check the possibility, but that will be just wasting your time, so please find some other way to fund your studies rather than to search for financial aid and be a joke.
as far as i know CIMO only grants those foreign students who are fresh and have nor stayed in finland..CIMO grants for study is also seems big joke for international students especially who are from third world..
ReplyDeleteThey population small, their budgets are tight and there is a possibility that part of the world gets so cold during winter, it might freeze the fuk over, so with that and the small population it isn't something backpacking to do. Have a set itinerary and find a consulate and make sure there is a consulate American if your American before you visit. It gets so cold, that place is like a forested bog basically with snow on the ground at least half of the year. Military are the only jobs they really have, seems like anyway, and it's not something tourists realize until they try to go there, or they try to school there, that there are only about 6 or 7 million people in the whole place, and the majority have enlisted or are enlisted. They are smart, and it has urban, and has been independent since 1917, so it is still a rather new place. Rarely when I see an American in America do I not think green card holder. I think tourist occasionally. Finnish is a protestant language. Did you know that?
ReplyDeleteglad to hear more facts !!!
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