Studying in Finland- Pieces of My Experiences as an International Student.

Schools Search & Application Time: My first thoughts about studying in Finland began when I compared the relative costs of studying the same degree programme in International Business and Marketing Logistics with those of Dutch Universities in Holland where I live. It’s far cheaper in terms of Tuition fees, Living expenses and students general wellbeing in Finland than in the Netherlands. Also the quest of studying away from folks and relatives far away into Northern Europe and the Scandinavians were among the lists. While it costs approximately 7000euros as tuition fees per year for International students (non Europeans), the Living expenses averages 9000-12,000euros per year depending on your life style. It is note-worthy to remember that there are no tuition fees in Finnish Universities and the average living cost is just minimum of 6000euros as their law requires. You can do the easy math’s- after all they all have the equivalent ECTS. So I chose Finland, the only Euro country in Northern Europe and the country of Nokia.

Entrance Exam /Admissions: I did fill my application before the stipulated deadline and I was invited for the Entrance Exam at Haaga Helia, Helsinki & Satakunta University of Applied Sciences, Rauma. Haaga -Helia did contacted me by email immediately for their entrance exam but SAMK Rauma never did though I was invited for their entrance as well. I had already booked my flight with fixed date of returning from Finland before I got their invitation in the mail box. So it costs me more to rebook another return flight. It was really expensive. I suggest that the admission officers should also contact their invited students by emails as well since mails could be delaying sometimes. Fortunately I got in during the exam and I chose SAMK (Satakunta University of Applied Sciences) because they are offering International Business & Marketing Logistics IBML which is just too exceptional & interesting.

Acceptance/Accommodation: The University does not offer accommodation to its students new or old. You have to sort out your own accommodation yourself. Funny enough the procedure to acquiring student accommodation is not even included in the admission package. Many of the international students in my class waited till their arrival before discussing accommodation issue with the international co-coordinator. As a matter of fact, most of them were stranded not having any where to put their belongings but to resort to expensive hotels as last resorts. Though interim arrangement was later made for them by the school, they were given one/two weeks automaton to vacate the apartment. It is better you applied for accommodation immediately you receive the admission package. Don’t wait until your visa or resident permit is ready before you start applying. It is very competitive in Rauma during Autumn when all schools are just resuming, bear this in mind.
Visas: I got my resident permit from the Finnish embassy in the Hague, Netherlands, and it took approximately a month or less than 4 weeks depending on the time of application and additional documents that requires clarification. They usually don’t deny visas and resident permits if you have the required amount to study of minimum 6,000euros per year, health insurance cover, and your acceptance letter. Don’t be scared if you have the required documents. Is not like American embassies and others that would for no good reason would want to frustrate your study plans. Only carefully filled the form and submit all the required documents on time.

Flight/Arrival: I did book my flight from Schipol-Amsterdam to Helsinki immediately I got my study permit. I booked it for afternoon but I was wrong. I got to Helsinki Vantaa about 6pm and board a bus going to Rauma, but it never got there. The journey was to take approximately 4.5hour but lasted till dead in the night. The saga is a long one. I ended up calling a taxi at Eura because there was no exchange bus going to Rauma that late. I knew no one and was getting chilly in the night so a 15mins journey from Eura to Rauma costed nearly 60euros by taxi. The taxi woman was driving slowly so the meter could read more money for her and she could not even understand English language. Eventually, I got there so late at night at the Bus station not even knowing the direction there; nevertheless I could still smile that I made it at last. My advice is you should remember to book your flight so you could arrive early enough to find your way. For you guys’ coming from Africa and Asia this is important to remember. The taxi man was also mysterious, he set his meter reading at 8 euro and eventually collected 10 Euros for a distance of 2mins.Afterwards I found out that taxi meters starts reading from 8euros in the nights in Finland.

Pickups & Student Tutors: Don’t get on top of the world when you receive an email from the school representative usually a student tutor that s (he) will be helping you when you arrived for your pick -ups and pick downs. They don’t usually turn up. They do it only when is convenient for them just to get the credit from the school. Irrespective of the time you arrived be prepared to do your pick-up and downs yourself. It happened to me when I arrived. I got the same impression too but when I called, the sad news was that am arriving too late in the city that I have to find my way myself. Student tutors should be committed as in other countries of the world. My relative went to study in the USA and the University arranged a pick irrespective of the time. Be advised that it is different here in Finland.

Orientation: The orientation was on 25th of August 2008 and the Auditorium was beautiful and colorful with students from different nationalities and racial background. It was so strange to notice that the president could only communicate to everyone in Finnish not in even a single English word was heard in the midst of International students. It was really a kind of shock as we international students gape moronic understanding nothing. They said we should go behind to back of the auditorium where an interpreter could help but nothing happened. This was a dimensionless embarrassment and I suggest the school management should effect a change of approach recognizing that first impression matters a lot in the light of international environment.

Teaching style: The system of studying and learning is quite and totally different from my earlier methods of learning in a University. Please be aware it is a polytechnic not a university per say that could be rated in a world atlas. Though is bearing a University of Applied Sciences -it is not-it is less than a University. I never knew this until of recent when I ordered my transcript from The University of Nigeria where I had spent a year in Banking & Finance and could not match the course outlines together. Nevertheless, they use the learning by doing method approach called the Problem Based Learning (PBL). It is interesting don’t be afraid guys; it gives the big picture of real life situations out there and the practical approach to solving them.

Students Teams (Problem Based Learning, Stimulus, Findings, Coping with the Finns): The students are usually grouped into smaller units of self guided teams with teachers as facilitators. The greatest challenge is not the PBL itself but the team members usually the Finns. They are from cold temperate regions of the world so also is their behavior. They are recluse and don’t mix up with others in the group. They form their own group within the group and you foreigner that is not a *yes yes* to their will as an outsider. They take only their ideas even if their ideas are weak and pointless. You have to have self confidence to succeed in the PBL evaluations and push in your ideas to have a voice. It is a real test and most times it creates back stabbing and deep seated ill will and at worst, crises. It happened in my group and other groups as well to the extent that group two had to miss their final report presentation due to conflicts. Be aware of this. To be forewarned is to forearm. Don’t miss it up; it is still interesting to work in teams, there you can make long lasting friends and learn corporate values for the future.

Learning Finnish Language: The University provides a means where you can learn the basic Finnish language. It is equivalent to a 3credit value unit. It is enough for the foreign students to learn the basic Finnish only and will be exempted from the Higher Finnish courses and Swedish according to their law, but you have to apply for the exemption yourself. You can also supplement learning the Finnish language by registering for extra classes in the city. I enrolled for this also and is interesting speaking some Finnish words, phrases and sentences to friends. It gives a kind of belonging and the Finns are so happy when a foreigner speaks Finnish to them. It is not so hard a language to learn, I think is truly interesting if you had the interest.

Jobs: Getting a Job in Rauma is not so easy. I think the best place to choose is not Rauma when applying. It should be bigger cities like Helsinki, Turku, Tampere & the likes. The degree program of International Business & Marketing Logistics (IBML) looks attractive and lucrative but do not let that temptation lures you in that choice if you must get a part time job to supplement your finances. You will be so frustrated, coupled with the loneliness and the cold temperatures in the winter period. Though I was able to get a cleaning Job in a restaurant where I do the dish washing, it didn’t come not until after two months and still I remain the most fortunate at the moment in getting a part time paid job in the evenings among the international students in my class. Be wise please in your choice of school selection, keep this in mind.

Transportation: The major mode of transportation is the bicycle for students. The city is a small one so is wise to learn how to ride a bicycle if you don’t. In extreme cold winter, it could become so slippery when the ice is melting and many accidents do happen. It is preferred to use the winter tires though the difference is not so much for bicycles. I remember when I fell down from my bicycle one cold evening and the pains were awful the next morning. It is also possible to get students 50% discount when travelling between cities as a student in Finland irrespective of your nationality, so it makes it a lot of sense with your student ID.

Cost of Living: Well, I could say life is cheaper for the students in Finland than in the Netherlands. There is no tuition fees as compared to the 6800 Euros you must pay as international students to study this same International Business in any of the Dutch Universities. The living cost is a minimum of 500 euro per month as compared to the 750euro minimum (9000 euro per year). There are also students apartment in Finland but not such in Holland where you can afford the rent of 200 Euros per month including water bill and electricity. It averages 440 Euros in the city of Rotterdam, Netherlands where I had lived per room per month. Though things, food, electronics are far cheaper in the Netherlands and so much opportunities in Holland, I still think studying in Finland is cheaper for international students than in Holland.

Loneliness/Clubs: Loneliness knows me by name the first few months I was in Finland. I think this is the Finnish syndrome irrespective of the city you are living in. They notice strangers so quickly but they don’t get you along. They don’t talk to you, so you must talk to them if you must converse at all. Sometimes they can’t keep a conversation along and they are so uncomfortable communicating both at school and at the dormitory. It is worst at the supermarkets especially when you are looking for something to buy. It is up to you to event the different coping mechanisms to get yourself along. The clubs in the evenings of Wednesdays (free) and on Saturdays (6 Euros) was one of the ways out. Their girls are beautiful but so shy talk to you, when they re drunk you see the loveliness in them. I couldn’t get any information about where to worship and go to church in English Language though I got to find out a little group later at Turku teaching college.

University Transfer: After studying International Business one year in Rauma, Finland; I got back to the drawing board to access my learning process and juxtapose them in projection of my future career. I noticed firstly that the University has great infrastructures, personnel, supporting and regulatory framework for any student to achieve his /her ambitions. But again, the city is an old ancient city full of aging population, stereotyped and just waking up to the breaking light of globalization. They are not used to foreign students especially black Africans. Everyone stares at you in the street with sinking looks like a masquerade, some even think you are criminal and the racial instinct is so acute both at school and in the street. Then I ask myself, is this really an international city and how do I reconcile this learning environment with my future career. It does not translate and ring a bell. So I had plan to seek a University in better city that define and reflects my ambitions and at same time gives me a sort of Internationality. I studied hard to acquired above the minimum 48 ECTS points to transfer within one academic year to another University of Applied Sciences. That school is Turku University of Applied Sciences.

Turku University Of Applied Sciences: The city of Turku was the former Capital city of Finland. It has an airport and a seaport where the cruise ships sail freely to Stockholm and Tallinn with lots of tourist attractions and a keen sense of Internationalization for a young ambitious students like me.
Also, the University of Applied sciences is the second largest with about 20% population of the city as students. The city is home to Nokia assembly plant in Salo. The courses in International Business Management are well structured in way that allows you to choose freely with enormous international partnerships. A sigh of relief at last. I caught for the first time a glimpse of the future on a better cliff and I could see the whole world all around me in a bigger and appealing picture. This is an International Business environment and the world is just outside the class room. I am loving it.

Exchange Studies: As a matter of facts; I am almost done studying within confine University class rooms. It is time to Internationalized and broaden my horizon in a bigger world as an exchange student. I chose to study in Canada as first choice and Holland as a back door should in case the spaces are too few for all the Native Finnish students who want to go to North America. As if my predictions are always right, I got the chance to study in Inholland, Rotterdam; as the name truly reflects-IN- HOLLAND-ROTTERDAM - the very hob of International Business and the port of globalization in Europe. I must say it has been a great adventure and much more rewarding to realize that challenges makes our lives more interesting else is not worth trying at all.

These are just pieces of my experiences studying International Business Management in Finland. So far so good it is interesting to be away from home and loved ones, meeting new people, learning different cultures and different coping mechanism in a foreign country.