Language
EnglishFull degrees taught in English
01 — Overview
Why Sri Lankan students choose Finland
Two years to find work after graduating — no other country on our list comes close.
Finland offers something no other destination we represent does: a two-year residence permit after you graduate, specifically to look for work or start a company. Everywhere else in Europe gives you nine to twelve months.
It pairs that with thirty hours of permitted work a week during study — double the Swedish allowance — and dependents who can join you with full work rights. For a student weighing the total cost of a European degree against what they can earn while there, the arithmetic in Finland is unusually favourable.
Finnish universities of applied sciences are built around industry projects rather than lectures, which suits students who want to arrive in the labour market with something to show.
- 01A twenty-four month job-search permit — the longest in Europe.
- 02Thirty hours of permitted work a week, for undergraduates and postgraduates alike.
- 03Dependents with full work rights for the duration of your studies.
- 04Project-based teaching in the universities of applied sciences, with real industry briefs.
- 05A world-class software, gaming and robotics sector for its population size.
- 06EU-recognised qualifications under the Bologna framework and the ECTS credit system.
- 07Schengen mobility across twenty-nine countries on your residence permit.
- 08Consistently ranked among the safest countries in the world.
02 — Institutions
The university we represent
Kajaani · Featured
KAMK — Kajaani University of Applied Sciences
A university of applied sciences with a strong reputation in game development, esports business and sports technology, teaching through industry projects rather than lectures. Costs in Kajaani sit well below Helsinki.
03 — At a glance
The facts, in one place
Capital
Helsinki
Language of instruction
English
Currency
Euro
Bachelor’s
3–4 years
Master’s
1–2 years
Credit system
ECTS · Bologna
Visa route
VFS Colombo
Dependents
Yes — full work rights
Intakes
On enquiry
Work rights
What you are allowed to work
30
Hours a week during undergraduate study.
30
Hours a week for postgraduate students.
24
Months to look for work after you graduate.
Yes
Dependents may join you with full work rights.
04 — Entry
What Finland asks you for
Requirements vary by institution and by programme. These are the documents every file needs.
- Completed secondary education, or equivalent, for bachelor’s entry
- A recognised bachelor’s degree for master’s entry
- Academic transcripts, translated and attested
- Evidence of English proficiency
- Valid passport with sufficient remaining validity
- Statement of purpose or motivation letter
- Financial documentation for the residence permit
- Health insurance valid in Finland
Send us your transcripts
We will tell you what is missing and which programmes you qualify for.
05 — Costs
What a year in Finland actually costs
Living costs in Finland are Nordic, but the work allowance and the two-year stay change the calculation.
Tuition varies widely by field, and each university sets its own fees. Living costs depend on the city, on whether you take university accommodation or a private flat, and on how much you cook. The residence permit carries its own financial requirement, set by the migration authority and reviewed periodically.
We prepare a written cost estimate for every student we work with. Tuition for your specific programme, realistic monthly costs for the city you will actually live in, the current requirement for the permit, and the scholarships you may be eligible for. Built around your circumstances rather than a generic table — and there is no charge for it.
06 — Living
Living in Finland
Most international students are in the south — Helsinki, Tampere, Turku — though the university of applied sciences we represent is in Kajaani, further north, where costs are markedly lower and the student community is smaller and closer.
Finland is forest and water: nearly two hundred thousand lakes, and the right to roam across most of it. Winters are long and genuinely dark, and the country is organised around that fact rather than defeated by it. Summers are bright almost around the clock.
English is spoken widely, and university services for international students are among the most organised in Europe. Finnish is hard, and nobody will expect you to learn it to complete your degree.
07 — Our work
What we handle for Finland
- 01University and programme selection
- 02Application filing and follow-up
- 03Statement of purpose guidance
- 04Document preparation and attestation
- 05Financial documentation review
- 06Scholarship search
- 07Residence permit filing at VFS
- 08Accommodation support in Helsinki
- 09Pre-departure briefing
- 10On-arrival registration support
08 — Questions
What students ask us
Can I study in Finland in English?
Yes. The institution we represent teaches full degree programmes in English. Finnish is not required for your degree.
Where is the Finnish student visa processed for Sri Lankans?
Finnish residence permits for study are decided by Migri, the Finnish Immigration Service, with biometrics submitted through VFS. We manage the filing and tell you at the outset which appointment applies.
Can I work while studying in Finland?
Yes. Undergraduates may work up to 30 hours a week during term, and postgraduates up to 30 hours. Hours are counted across the academic year, and we will explain how that works for your programme.
Can I stay in Finland after I graduate?
Yes — for up to two years. Finland grants a job-seeking residence permit of twenty-four months after graduation, the longest of any country we represent.
Is Finland only for technology students?
No, but technology is where its reputation is strongest. Finnish universities of applied sciences also run business, health care, tourism and engineering programmes in English, all taught the same project-led way.
Can my spouse or family join me?
Yes. Dependents can join you for the duration of your studies and are granted full work rights.
Are Finnish degrees recognised internationally?
Yes. Finland is part of the Bologna Process and uses the ECTS credit system, so qualifications are recognised across the European Higher Education Area and transfer readily for further study or professional registration.
Can I travel elsewhere in Europe on my permit?
Yes. Finland is a full member of the Schengen area, so your residence permit allows short-stay travel across the zone without a separate visa.
How much will it cost me in total?
That depends on the programme, the university and the city, and a generic figure would mislead you. We prepare a written estimate for each student — tuition, living costs, permit requirements and any scholarships you qualify for — at no charge. Request yours here.
