Application Process in 2009 for Bachelor Degree Studies in Finland

Please read below the summary of the process once more if you are applying for Bachelor Degree Programme in Finland:

Application Period: 12 January 2009 - 13 February 2009

Apply through: Joint Admission Application System

Important Update: IELTS or TOEFL is Compulsory for all students from this year, 2009. [TOEFL score 550pbt /213crt /79-80ibt; IELTS academic score 5.5].

1. Make available your high school/secondary school certificate and travelling passport. You need passport to apply to UAS. So, you ought to have made it by the end of December 2008 to apply in January 2009 for August 2009 Session.

2. Search colleges and program of your interest from college sites. The list of entire universities available in Finland is available on my previous posts: http://infostridesblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/lists-of-finnish-universities-that.html

The website of CIMO contains another very simple and handy tool to search for colleges and program of your interest: Please click here to search for it.

3. Finalize on your choice of universities and program, then sorts the final list.

4. It is essential that by now you should have done your IELTS or TOEFL because it is compulsory for all students. So, you should have completed the IELTS or TOEFL test by the end of December or still attempt it this January.

If you have already taken IELTS or TOEFL test, make sure that it is valid till the September of 2009. The valid date of the test is just two years; so if you had taken tests after September 2007, they are still valid to apply for 2009 August session. If you had taken tests before September 2007, your Tests will be expired by the time the studies start; so you need to take the test again. While searching for colleges, check the test score to confirm that your scores are enough for apply for.

5. There is joint application system for Bachelor level. You can click here to apply for maximum of four Universities of Applied Sciences at a time with a single document.

6. The process of applying may differ college by college. In general, you will apply online. Then, they will send you a confirmation of your filled form, which you filled during applying online. So, you print it, sign it and post it to college by mail along with the photocopies of your high school/secondary school certificate and passport photo page. Some college may also want you to send some additional documents as well. You need to visit college website to confirm what additional documents they required.

7. You should send your documents with printed application confirmation sheet to the first school of choice by regular post or courier post.

8. Wait for response from the chosen Polytechnic/Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS) during March. If you are selected on first phase, they will mail you to appear for Entrance Test/Examination. If you are not getting any invitations to appear for Entrance test, it means you are not selected.

9. If you are invited to appear for Entrance Test/Examination, please check out for updates on www.infostrides.net about model questions for entrance test.

10. Appear for the Test/Examination. Do your best. Exams are bit easier. They ask you average level questions. It won't be hard for you if you work little bit before entrance exam.

11. Wait for Response for Admission. You might hear the good news of admission acceptance during end of May, June and July.

12. Congratulations!!! If you pass the examination…Ticket to Finland.

NB: We strongly recommend you NEVER to go to consultants. What they can do for you is just to post your documents for you, which you can do yourself with very minimum cost. So there is no point for paying those more just to send the application. Some consultant may also tell you that they have very close contact or agreement with the university or polytechnic for your admission process. But, they are not true. They are just making you fool. They can not do anything during admission process.