Are you interested in becoming a nurse in Finland? If yes, you need to obtain a bachelor’s degree in Health Care, which then allows you to become a registered nurse roughly after three and a half years. To become a public health nurse, you’ll need to study for four years.
Currently, there is a shortage of nursing personnel in Finland, similar to many countries in Europe. Since their government is placing a huge value on healthcare, they need more nurses to provide these services. Statistics show that the need for nurses and their related fields is expected to increase in the coming years.
But more than these things, being a nurse in a European country can open a lot of opportunities and benefits for you. If you’re planning to start your nursing career in Finland, you will need to find a good nursing school. To help you with this, we listed the best nursing schools in Finland that you can consider.
Can International Students Take a Nursing Program in Finland?
International students can take a nursing program in Finland, given that they meet the admission requirements mandated by their chosen university. Like other programs’ admission requirements, nursing schools will also require you to present academic transcripts, language proficiency test results, and student visas.
If you are an undergraduate degree-seeking student who wants a comprehensive article about the application process at a Finnish university, read this article!
Is it Expensive to Study Nursing in Finland?
For EU/EEA/Swiss students, tuition fees for nursing programs are free of charge, they are only required to pay for the student union fees. As for non-EU/EEA students, students are charged with a significant tuition fee usually costing around EUR 9,500 annually.
Check Also: Programs in Europe for International Students
Top Nursing Schools in Finland
1. Lapland University of Applied Sciences – Healthcare and Nursing
The Lapland University of Applied Sciences is spread out on campuses in Kemi, Tornio, and Rovaniemi, with the nursing program offered in Kemi. The university was created through the merger of Kemi-Tornio and Rovaniemi individual institutions, bringing together academic departments and continuing all the individual universities’ academic programs. Lapland University of Applied Sciences nursing school is considered to be the best nursing school in Finland due to its prestige and academic excellence.
As far as nursing is concerned, the program is 3.5 years long, enabling graduates to work in Finland as well as in international hospitals and health centers. While some studies can be carried out in English or Swedish, all practical training is in Finnish, so you will need to be fluent in the language to attend courses.
2. Satakunta University of Applied Sciences – Health and Welfare
The Satakunta University of Applied Sciences is a university in the Satakunta region of Finland, catering to around 6,000 students and spread across multiple locations with headquarters in Pori. One of its main faculties is the Health and Welfare Faculty, which was the first to offer studies in human aging and care for the elderly. This specialization in aging services is what makes SAMK unique in its care programs.
The degree program in nursing focuses on working with clients in different age groups, promoting their health and well-being, and treating their diseases. The SAMK program prepares future nurses for working in hospitals and care institutions, as well as in clients’ homes and open counseling centers.
Studies at this nursing school in Finland are split between basic communication and basic nursing interventions, professional studies with more of an emphasis on specific ages and settings for nursing, and clinical practice and a bachelor’s thesis.
As the program is taught in English, it’s very open to international students and also includes opportunities for studying or doing clinical practice outside Finland.
3. Novia University of Applied Sciences – Health and Welfare
The next top nursing school in Finland is Novia University of Applied Sciences, which offers bachelor’s and master’s programs in Swedish and English based in Vaasa, Turku, Raseborg, and Jakobstad. By merging several other institutions, this university was formed in 2008.
The Bachelor of Health Care in Nursing is offered in English and accepts only 25 students every year, for a duration of 3.5 years. It is very popular with international students and aims to educate competent registered nurses in a multicultural environment. As they focus on international cooperation, Novia encourages exchange programs with partner universities or clinical practices outside of Finland.
During the program, studies are split between Core Studies, which cover a multitude of courses across the university, and Professional Studies, which focus specifically on nursing and biomedical sciences. Within clinical training, students are exposed to basic nursing, specialized nursing, and home care settings.
While teaching and exams are all in English, some national nursing recommendations are mainly in Swedish and Finnish. There is a pre-requisite of basic knowledge of Finnish or Swedish, which students can learn during their first year and before clinical studies begin. Before graduating, students must prove their competence in either Swedish or Finnish at a certain level.
4. JAMK University of Applied Sciences – School of Health and Social Studies
JAMK University of Applied Sciences is situated in central Finland and offers a variety of English programs including the Bachelor of Health Care in Nursing. The program accepts only 40 students per year, allowing for a small intake with increased collaboration and a great student-to-faculty ratio.
During the JAMK nursing program, you will learn to plan, implement, and develop health-promoting, preventative, healing, and rehabilitative work in health care. Your career can span basic health care, social welfare, or specialized health care for individuals and public and private companies and organizations. Regardless of your end goal, the program can be tailored to a personal study plan which ensures that students build knowledge in their desired area of expertise.
5. Savonia University of Applied Sciences – School of Healthcare and Social Services
Last on our list of the best nursing schools in Finland is Savonia University of Applied Sciences nursing school, whose program is offered in both English and Finnish and taught on the Microkatu campus in Kuopio. For the English language program, only 25 students are accepted every year.
By following this program, you will not only become a highly-skilled nurse with the required competencies to be a registered nurse in Finland abroad, but you will also gain a multicultural understanding of nursing. You will also benefit from a multi-professional learning environment in modern facilities. The university has a simulation center and several clinical skill laboratories equipped with state-of-the-art health technology where various medical scenarios can be simulated. You will have internships from the first year of your studies to make you come to grips with what nursing life is really like.
Savonia University of Applied Sciences has multiple international partnerships, allowing you to study and practice around Europe, Africa, and Asia. You can also study international issues and develop intercultural skills. Finally, there is the possibility to continue your studies further by signing up for a Master’s course at Savonia University.
We hope that this article on the best nursing schools in Finland was helpful. If you are planning to pursue your studies in Finland, explore our Study in Finland page for more good-to-know information and tips! Also, check out our Available Programs for International Students page to uncover all the amazing academic opportunities waiting for you!
