Living In Finland 2005[1]

Living in Finland A brief guide for international students and trainees • Finland, Finns and the Finnish way of life • Formalities and other practical information

Centre for International Mobility

The Centre for International Mobility CIMO is an organisation operating under the Finnish Ministry of Education offering services and expertise to encourage cross-cultural communication. CIMO administers scholarships and exchange programmes and is responsible for implementing most EU education, training, culture and youth programmes at national level. To support internationalisation of educational and training institutions in Finland, CIMO offers training, information, advisory services and publications. CIMO also promotes and organises international trainee exchanges. In addition, CIMO advances teaching of Finnish language and culture in universities abroad and arranges summer courses in Finnish language and culture for international students. Through promotion of cross-cultural communication, CIMO helps improve know-how, equality and tolerance in Finnish society. CIMO works in close cooperation with authorities, educational and training institutions, associations and other organisations involved in administering and funding activities relevant to CIMO’s field of operation both in Finland and abroad. More information at http://www.cimo.fi.

Editor: CIMO Communications Language editing: Sheila Reynolds Cover layout: Private Eye Cover photo: Comma Finland Copyright: CIMO Communications ISBN 951-805-044-9 (Print) ISBN 951-805-043-0 (PDF) 10th revised edition, 1/2005, WellPrint Oy, 10 000

Living in Finland A brief guide for international students and trainees • Finland, Finns and the Finnish way of life • Formalities and other practical information

Contents

Finland, Finns and the Finnish way of life

6–21

This is Finland

9

These are the Finns

15

And this is the Finnish way of life

17

Studying and training in Finland

22–41

Studying in Finland

25

Training in Finland

35

Don't forget the formalities ...

42–55

Before entering Finland

45

Arriving in Finland

51

Staying in Finland

53

Practical information

56–78

Everyday practical information from A to Z

59

Survival vocabulary

70

Addresses and links

72

Finland facts and figures

78

Foreword

To the reader… We’re glad you have chosen Finland. This booklet contains basic facts about Finland, the Finns and our way of life so that your entry to our country should be as smooth as possible. It also contains those basic facts about the practical details you need to sort out before you can concentrate on your study or your work experience. For the rest you’ll also find a list of useful addresses. The details were compiled in November 2004, but we update the information for the web version which you can find at our Discover Finland website at http://finland.cimo.fi where you can also find additional material. Remember that if you have a problem you can always turn to the international office of your place of study, to your teachers or even to your student representative. Your fellow students are also certain to be happy to help. If you visit Finland for work experience you’ll get support from the organisation that arranges this, from your Finnish employer, from your colleagues or from CIMO. We wish you a pleasant, memorable and profitable period of study or work experience in Finland.

... from CIMO with love

Finland, Finns and the Finnish way of life

Photo: Comma Finland

Finland’s geopolitical location between East and West has always been reflected in the country’s events and goings on. With this combination of western and eastern influences, Finnish culture has developed into something strong and highly individual. Just like the Finns themselves.

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Studying and training in Finland

7

This is Finland

Independent since 1917, Finland today is in many ways a pioneering EU member state. It is a safe and stable welfare state with a fully functioning infrastructure, education system, health care services and a vibrant cultural life.

Photo: Comma Finland

History moulded between East and West Today there are around 5.2 million Finns. Our first ancestors arrived in the region around 8,000 years before recorded times from the east and the south. During the following millennia, habitation in the region increased and the culture developed. Finland’s situation between the aspirations of the churches and politics of East and West began to be seen clearly in the country’s history after the first thousand years of modern reckoning when Sweden and Novgorod, or Russia, fought for mastery of the territory which lay between them. Sweden won and between the years 1350–1809 Finland was under Swedish rule. During the Napoleonic wars Sweden ceded Finland to Russia and the country became an autonomous Grand Duchy ruled by the emperor of Russia, the Tsar. Finland became independent in 1917. After the civil war that took place the following year, the republican constitution was introduced in 1919. Twenty years of peace ended in 1939. During the Second World War Finland fought against the Soviet Union in the legendary Winter War (1939–40) and the Continuation War (1941–44) as well as against Germany in the war in Lapland (1944–45). Finland was one of the few countries which was not occupied during the Second World War. The country remained independent but lost large tracts of land to the Soviet Union, including large parts of Karelia. Finland was the only country in Europe to pay its war reparations in full, down the last penny. Freedom of religion was enshrined in law in Finland in 1923. Finns are not active church goers even though most of them nominally belong to the church. Around 85% of Finns belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church while 1% belong to the Orthodox Church. In addition to these two official religions, the country also has Catholic, Jewish and Muslim populations as well as countless other smaller religious denominations. During the 1950s a change began which transformed the then agrarian society into the welfare state and technologically pioneering country Finland is today. The year 1952 is clearly etched into the national psyche as the time when Helsinki hosted the Olympic Games. In 1955 Finland joined both the United Nations and the Nordic Council. The concentration on international cooperation in the fields of politics and the economy continued into the 1970s. During the 1980s Finland experienced the effects of the so-called “casino economy” which came to an 9

Photo: Iittala

end with the recession of the early 1990s. At the same time, however, the move towards a leading position in the race towards technological prowess accelerated. In 1995 Finland joined the European Union and in 2000 the country got a new constitution.

A parliamentary republic and a stable welfare state… EU member state Finland is a stable parliamentary republic ruled by a multi-party system. Ultimate power lies with the people, represented by Parliament. Legislative power lies with Parliament and ultimate executive power lies with the President in conjunction with a government which has the support of Parliament. The unicameral parliament has 200 seats to which representatives are chosen every four years by direct election. The president is chosen by direct election every six years and now there is a limit of two terms of office. 10

Finland, Finns and the Finnish way of life

Finland is a welfare state with the aim of securing for its 5.2 million inhabitants equal opportunities for a good life and for the most efficient use of its resources as possible. A number of the services available are provided by the State and a number by the municipalities and these include, for example, health care, education, child day care, old people’s services and basic support for the unemployed. Citizens can enjoy these services from the cradle to the grave.

…with a strong competitive edge Finland’s investment in R&D as a percentage of GDP is among the highest in the world. In 2003, the International Institute for Management Development ranked Finland as the world´s most competitive country with a population under 20 million people. Finland joined the European Monetary Union in 1999 and its economic base lies in export. The three major export sectors are electronics, paper industries and metal and engineering. (Many of the world’s leading newspapers are printed on Finnish paper). A fourth biggest export sector is the chemical industry. Finland is also one of Europe’s leading biotech countries. The close cooperation between universities and both bio- and technological centres of excellence is one of the defining characteristics of Finnish companies. When it comes to information technology, Finland is certainly a super power. The World Economic Forum has listed Finland as the leading country in the world in this field. Finland has one of the world’s densest concentration of mobile phones and nearly 61% of 15-75 years old Finns have their own e-mail address. Finnish industry success stories include the following top companies; Nokia in telecommunications, Kone as a lift and escalator manufacturer, Metso Paper Inc–the supplier of technology, systems and equipment for the pulp, paper and converting industries and paper company UPM-Kymmene.

From Kalevala to Kaurismäki—it’s culture Finnish culture is strong and multi-faceted with new figures appearing continuously and Finnish art academies are among the most popular seats of learning. Finnish conductors, contemporary composers, singers, architects, pop and rock bands, video artists and designers are also active in forging their reputations abroad. The classical composer Jean Sibelius and the architect Alvar Aalto are examples of the foundations of Finnish culture, great names from earlier generations whose reputation still attracts visitors to Finland. HIM, the Rasmus, Nightwish, Bomfunk MC, Jimi Tenor and the Leningrad Cowboys are among those figures in Finnish culture who represent today’s musical directions and who attract attention around the world. The early years of the 1900s are called the golden age of Finnish culture, a period of national romanticism when the country’s desire for independence was at its peak and artists created an identity for their country which had its foundations in Nature and in the national epic, the Kalevala, which appeared in the 19th century. This national epic is one of the greatest in world lite11

rature. It is based on the ancient Karelian folklore and was put together by Elias Lönnrot in 1835. The Kalevala has inspired artists beyond Finland’s borders as well and J.R.R. Tolkien was an admirer of the world of the Kalevala with reflections of this visible in his Lord of the Rings. The first book published in Finnish was a grammar by Mikael Agricola in 1543, and Seven Brothers (1870) by Aleksis Kivi was the first novel in Finnish and its characters are still a living part of the Finnish mythological landscape. Among the 20th century Finnish writers with international reputations are Mika Waltari, the creator of the muumins Tove Jansson, Arto Paasilinna and Mauri Kunnas. The Finns are also great theatre-goers, filling both auditoriums and the stages of amateur theatres. There are theatres everywhere and one of the evergreen summer traditions is the outdoor theatre. Summer is anyway the high point for various festivals, the biggest of which have founded a cooperation organisation called Finland Festivals. The Finnish love of opera is seen at the Savonlinna Opera Festival held every year in July. Singers of the calibre of Karita Mattila and Soile Isokoski, and composers such as Aulis Saulinen and Kaija Saariaho are artists who have made major contributions to the international world of music. Cinema is highly popular and domestic film production has expanded in recent years. Aki and Mika Kaurismäki are among the best known Finnish directors as well as Hollywood action director Renny Harlin. Finland is a gold mine of architecture and design. Both Finnish design and architecture are functional, natural and austere with a purity of form and material. Finnish design brands such as Iittala, Arabia, Marimekko and Vuokko are respected the world over from Japan, through Italy to the United States. Tapio Wirkkala, Timo Sarpaneva and Stefan Lindfors are among the best-known abroad of Finland’s designers while the architects Alvar Aalto and Eliel Saarinen are the big names of Finnish architecture. The Unesco list of world heritage sites includes five locations in Finland: the 18th century wooden church at Petäjävesi in central Finland, the Suomenlinna fortress outside the capital city of Helsinki, old Rauma, the most extensive complete wooden townships in the Nordic area, the idyllic mill village at Verla in southeast Finland, and the Bronze Age burial site of Sammallahdenmäki on the southwest coast of Finland. In addition Finland’s architectural achievements of the 20th century are famous the world over.

A nation nuts for sports Finns have a real passion for sports and their patriotic spirit is aroused in international ice hockey games, skiing competitions, athletics (especially when competing against neighbouring countries) and in motor sports where the Finns made real breakthroughs in the late 1990s. Finland has also achieved a lot of media coverage internationally for organising some crazy sports events such as wife-carrying, boot-throwing, mosquito killing world championships or swimming in ice cold water in the winter.

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Finland, Finns and the Finnish way of life

Photo: Jussi Nukari / Lehtikuva

“The Flying Finn”, long-distance runner Paavo Nurmi ran the country onto the world map in the 1920s. Modern Finnish sports icons include the stars of the Formula One and rally world such as Kimi Raikkönen, Mika Häkkinen, Tommi Mäkinen and Marcus Grönholm. Finland’s ice hockey rinks have produced international stars such as Teemu Selänne and Saku Koivu. Alpine skiers Kalle Palander and Tanja Poutiainen are from Finland as are football wizards Jari Litmanen and Sami Hyypiä. Given the country’s excellent natural setting, it is no wonder that sports are the Finns’ favourite leisure time activity. Slalom and cross country skiing are popular in winter as are snowboarding and ice fishing, where a hole is drilled in the ice and you fish through it. During the summer, biking, hiking, swimming, canoeing, river rafting and yachting are popular, as are Finnish baseball, which differs from the American variety, and soccer. And Finland is gradually filling up with golf courses and golfers.

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These are the Finns

English is widely spoken in Finland though more often than not getting to know Finns requires you to take the initiative. And of course a few Finnish words and expressions make an exotic souvenir to take home with you.

A warm hearted people—once you get to know them Finns are regarded as coming from the Great Bend of the Volga. The most recent genetic studies have nevertheless revealed that the theory of an eastern origin may not be so accurate and that Finnish DNA may actually be very close to European DNA. Nevertheless the jury is still out on this one. Even though it is not possible to talk in general terms of a national character, all in all it is fair to say that Finns perhaps give an extreme degree of space to other people which can mean that the initiative for making friends often falls to the foreigner. However, many have observed that once the ice is broken Finns are open, warm and can be relied on. Honesty and dependability are the two characteristics most highly regarded by Finns.

Photo: Heikki Saukkomaa / Lehtikuva

A challenging language, but easy to pronounce Finland has two official languages, Finnish and Swedish which is spoken as a native language by a little less than 6% of the population. There are 6,500 people, mainly in the north of Finland in Lapland, who speak Sámi as their native language. Finnish is a Finno-Ugric language, related to Estonian and Sámi (formerly known as Lappish) and more distantly to Hungarian. Swedish belongs to the northern branch of the Germanic languages. The grammatical structure of Finnish differs widely from that of Indo-European languages. There are 15 cases appearing as suffixes on the ends of words, most of which correspond to prepositions in other languages. Adding a suffix usually affects the sound of the basic word in ways that can become quite complicated. There are no articles and no grammatical gender either so there is no difference between ‘he’ and ‘she’, both of which appear as ‘hän’ in the written language. Finnish words tend to be rather long, but the pronunciation is easy and the words are pronounced the way they are written. Just remember to put the stress on the first syllable of the word.

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And this is the Finnish way of life

The Finnish way of life reflects the democratic principles of the nation. It is based on equality between all the people. Nature plays quite a role in the Finnish way of life as well sports, the arts and sauna.

Photo: Comma Finland

The rhythm of the four seasons The Finnish landscape is a blue-green mosaic of waterways and forests with room to move and wide open spaces. The country is among Europe’s largest when it comes to land area though one of its smallest when it comes to population. Around 70% of the land area is forest and 10% water. There are around 200,000 lakes and the largest archipelago in Europe is found in Finland’s waters. Even today nature creates quite a challenge for Finland’s farmers as the country is the world’s northernmost cultivated area. Outdoor life and communing with nature are popular leisure pursuits. A sparsely populated country, Finland also benefits from the so-called Everyman’s Rights which give freedom to move around the forests and countryside without express permission of the landowner. This also includes the right to pick berries, flowers and mushrooms as well as to light a fire. The environment must not be damaged in anyway and rules regarding protected species and the lighting of fires when there are forest fire risks must be followed. Characteristic of Finland are the four clearly defined seasons. Summer is a time of light and in the height of summer the sun dips below the horizon for just a couple of hours and the night is just a delicate twilight. In the northernmost parts of Finland in Lapland the midnight sun can be experienced for around a couple of months during June–July when the sun remains above the horizon the whole time. This night without darkness is celebrated towards the end of June with the Juhannus midsummer festivities when large bonfires are traditionally lit and love spells are cast. During the summer months a lot of Finns virtually move out to their summer cottages. Towards the end of the summer during August’s warm and darker evenings, crayfish parties are held. Autumn is the time of harvest and of berry picking and collecting mushrooms. The so-called “Ruska” when the leaves change colour dramatically into a sea of bright reds and golden yellows presaging the arrival of the rains or of snow is also a part of autumn. The darkest time of the year is around November when the leaves have fallen, and the rain has not yet turned to snow which will reflect the light. In the north snow may settle around the end of October or early November while in the south this will not happen until early December. Winter is also the time of the polar night when 17

the sun will not rise above the horizon in the north of the country at all for several months. Christmas is a great family festival with rich traditions. Father Christmas lives in Finnish Lapland and he makes personal visits to many families—or simply leaves presents under the christmas tree. The spring period from February to April is really the time to be outdoors: the snow is firm and the sun reappears. The arrival of summer is marked carnival style with the traditional students’ and workers’ festival on May Day, or Vappu.

Traditional delicacies and new functional food The location between east and west is also reflected in Finnish cuisine which is a melange of European, Scandinavian and Russian cooking. Fish is widely eaten and the forests abound with blueberries, lingonberries, cloudberries and mushrooms. The short summer nights make Finnish berries especially tasty. The potato is to the Finn what pasta is to the Italian and it forms part of almost every meal. Dark rye bread is also a staple and the Finns frequently drink milk as an accompaniment to their meals. Foodstuffs made with reindeer meat are one of Finland’s special delicacies and these are often served in Lapland. Traditional Finnish dishes include mämmi, eaten at Easter-time with cream or milk and the “kalakukko” from the Savo region which features local small fish served inside a bread crust. Finnish vodka is also known around the world. The consumption of milder alcoholic drinks such as wine has increased over recent years. Liberal consumption of alcohol, especially at the weekend, is a Finnish trait. This rather uninhibited attitude to alcohol is summed up in the old saying “If drink, tar and sauna can’t fix it, it’ll be the death of you.” Finns are among the greatest coffee drinkers in the world. Coffee parties remain a common form of socialising. A new food trend is linked with the development by some Finnish food manufacturers of so-called functional food where the food itself has health-giving properties. Accompanying this is a new-found favour for traditional Finnish oat porridge and rye bread. New innovations include a margarine that reduces cholesterol and xylitol chewing gum designed to protect the teeth. Lactic bacteria and vitamins are also added to milk these days.

Finnish woman power There are approximately 2.6 million women and 2.5 million men in Finland (as at end 2002) and equality between them is granted by the equality act passed in 1987. Finnish women were the first in Europe and the second in the world to be granted the right to vote in the national elections and to be electoral candidates in 1906.

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Finland, Finns and the Finnish way of life

Photo: Tor Wennström / Lehtikuva

Within the EU Finnish women are among the best educated and more than half the students in higher education are women. Most Finnish women have paid employment as efficient maternity leave and child day care systems enable career and family life to be combined. The visible rise of women to the highest echelons of political power really took off in the 1990s. In 1990 Finland became the first country in the world with a woman defence minister, in 1994 a woman became the speaker of the Finnish parliament and in 2000 the country elected its first woman president, Ms. Tarja Halonen (in the photo above). In 2003, Finland chose its first woman prime minister who, however, resigned after two months in office after a political scandal. But although many issues of equality between the sexes in Finland are fairly well catered for compared with many other countries, equal pay, for example, has not yet been achieved.

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Photo: Ida Pimenoff / CIMO

Relax—take a sauna The fact that there are 5.2 million Finns and 1.7 million saunas says it all. Sauna is still an important part of the Finnish way of life. There are saunas everywhere in Finland and it’s customary to go to sauna about once a week. As a general rule women and men bathe separately, except within the family. Finnish sauna is one form of the ancient sweat bath tradition. It relaxes the muscles and relieves muscular aches and pains. It also helps you sweat away mental stress. In sauna there are heated stones onto which you throw water to create steam. Some Finns also whisk themselves with bunches of birch leaves to stimulate the circulation of blood. The most important thing to remember in sauna is to take time and listen to your own body. You don’t have to wait until others take a break, just leave the heat room when you no longer feel comfortable. Every now and then you should leave the heat room to take a shower or a swim to cool off.

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Finland, Finns and the Finnish way of life

Connecting—without the small talk The Finnish way of life is easy going and strict formalities aren’t really observed. People are straight talking and gaps in the conversation aren’t generally dreaded the way they are in many other countries. In conversation it is polite to wait for the other person to finish what they are saying before presenting your own viewpoint and this tends to slow down the rhythm somewhat. In Finnish, the familiar word for you, ‘sinä’ is used almost universally though the older generation tend to use and expect the formal you, ‘te’. At work the atmosphere tends to be informal, first names are used and people dress casually. When going out it pays to be aware that usually each member of the party pays for themselves. Tips are not generally given except perhaps the doorman at bars in order to facilitate entry the next time or in restaurants if you are particularly pleased with the service. Finns entertain regularly at home. When you are invited to a Finnish home, it is considered polite to take a small gift for your hosts. Coffee is part of Finnish entertaining. Although it is not very common in Finland just to drop in uninvited, such surprise visitors could expect coffee and coffee bread (or ‘pulla’). Smoking is forbidden in public places, offices and other workplaces. Employers have built special facilities for smoking but if there are no such places smokers go outside. Restaurants and bars must, by law, reserve areas for non-smokers. At home, guests who wish to smoke generally only do so if their host does so first. Generally speaking, smokers will go out to the balcony to smoke.

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Studying and training in Finland Studying and training in Finland is a safe, though quite an exotic way to acquire academic and professional experience as well as to gain personal growth through living in a foreign country, amidst another culture.

Studying and training in Finland

Photo: Comma Finland

Finland is a safe Northern country, an EU member state with stable society, where the advisory services for foreign students are well organised. Therefore studying or training in Finland is quite an easy way to gain experience of living in another country, in the middle of another culture, away from the familiar things and ways of one’s own home country. Here you’ll find basic information about the things you ought to do before arriving Finland and how to arrange the basic matters securing a pleasant stay.

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Studying and training in Finland

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Studying in Finland

The advisory services for foreign students and trainees are well organised in Finland and you will get all the support you need in order to get the most of your stay. In order to read of the experiences of other international students and trainees in Finland, visit CIMO’s Discover Finland website at http://www.cimo.fi and check the publication Advanced and unusual—Finland as seen by international students and trainees, an occasional paper issued by CIMO in 2003. Education is highly valued in Finland, and the high standard of education forms one of the corner-stones of the Finnish national strategy. The Finnish education system consists of preschool education, comprehensive school, post-comprehensive general and vocational education, higher education and adult education. The comprehensive school provides a nine-year educational programme (with a voluntary 10th year) for all children of school age, beginning at the age of seven. Post-comprehensive education is provided by general upper secondary schools (approximately three years, ending in the national matriculation examination) and vocational institutions (three years, leading to upper secondary vocational qualifications). The objective of the higher education system is to offer a student place to two thirds of each age group. Higher education is provided by 20 universities (yliopisto / universitet in Finnish / Swedish) and 29 polytechnics (ammattikorkeakoulu / yrkeshögskola, for short AMK / YH). Adult education is provided by special institutions, vocational institutions (specifically by vocational adult education centres), polytechnics and universities, all of which have a continuing education centre. The Finnish institutions of higher education are internationally oriented, and the country’s good reputation in higher education, combined with the wide range of courses offered in English attracts interest among an increasing number of international students. There are more than 400 international study programmes taught in English, and approximately 100 of them are degree programmes. So, in order to study in Finland, you do not necessarily need to know either of country’s two official languages, which are Finnish and Swedish.

Photo: Ida Pimenoff / CIMO

Twenty universities The basic mission of universities is to carry out research and provide education based on that research. All Finnish universities are state-run, with the government providing some 70% of their funding. Universities select their own students, and all fields apply a numerus clausus (closed number) system in which entrance examinations are a key element. All universities confer doctorates.

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Photo: Sanna Skants / CIMO

Finnish universities have roots dating back to the 17th century and today the country has one of the most comprehensive university networks in Europe. Of the twenty Finnish universities, ten are multi-faculty institutions, three are universities of technology, three schools of economics and business administration and there are four art academies. In addition, university-level education is provided at the National Defence College under the Ministry of Defence. The total university enrolment is currently 174,000 students, of which approximately 4,200 are students from abroad studying for a degree. The number of international visiting students at the Finnish universities is approximately 4,000 per year. Increasingly Finnish students do part of their studies at other universities in Finland or abroad. Finnish university degrees correspond to Bachelor’s (kandidaatti/kandidat), Master’s (maisteri/magister) and Doctor’s degrees (tohtori/doktor). In most fields students can also take a Licentiate’s degree (lisensiaatti/licentiat) before the Doctor’s degree. In August 2005 Finnish universities will adopt the new two-cycle degree system: three years for a Bachelor’s degree and two additional years for a Master’s. Furthermore, the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) will be implemented as the sole credit system in Finnish universities. 26

Studying and training in Finland

Continuing education centres at the universities provide professional education for university graduates and also organise open university instruction. Information about open university courses in English is available from the universities and on the internet at http://www.avoinyliopisto.fi/english. See also Addresses and links / Finnish Universities, websites (pages 76–77).

Twenty-nine polytechnics The Finnish polytechnic system was built during the 1990s to create a non-university sector of higher education. Polytechnic education emphasises close contacts with business, industry and services, especially at the regional level. The degrees are designed to meet the changing requirements and development needs of the world of work, having a pronounced occupational emphasis, and qualifying graduates for various expert duties. Polytechnics undertake some research and development with an applied and practical emphasis. There are 29 polytechnics, most of which are multi-field and operate in several units. Currently there are approximately 129,000 students registered at polytechnics in Finland. Around 3,000 of them are students from abroad studying for a degree. In addition, there are approximately 2,600 international visiting students at the Finnish polytechnics. Polytechnic-level education is also provided for Finnish citizens at the Police College, which operates under the Ministry of the Interior. Polytechnic degrees are Bachelor-level higher education degrees with a professional emphasis. Studies are organised into degree programmes, which are confirmed by the Ministry of Education. However, the curricula are independently decided by the polytechnics. The extent of a degree programme is measured in credits. The term “credit” refers to approximately 40 hours of work. The study load for an academic year is around 40 credits. The extent of most degree programmes is either 140 or 160 credits, which corresponds to three and a half or four years of full-time study; an extension of one year is allowed. The studies also include an on-the-job training period. Students can also combine their degree with studies in other fields, other institutions, or abroad. See Addresses and links / Finnish Polytechnics, websites (page 77).

Ways to study in Finland Finnish universities and polytechnics cooperate extensively with their counterparts in many countries throughout the world, so there are many ways for you to come to study in Finland. Visiting students

Exchange students can come to Finland through European Union programmes. Students from the USA may participate in the ISEP exchange programme while students from the other Nordic countries can take advantage of the Nordplus scheme. Finnish institutions of higher education have bilateral agreements with colleges and universities abroad which also cover exchange programmes. In special cases, students can be accepted from outside the above schemes. 27

Degree students

As a general rule, international applicants for degree studies in Finland must first meet the minimum requirements of their own country for entry into higher education. They must also be prepared to come to Finland to take an entrance examination, especially when applying for entry to universities. For the degree programmes, a good command of English must usually be certified. In other degree studies a good knowledge of Finnish or Swedish is in most cases compulsory. Further information about application and entrance requirements is best obtained directly from the university or polytechnic. Post-graduate students

Post-graduates from other countries are admitted to all Finnish universities. Students are advised to contact the university in which they are interested direct. For more information contact the international office of your home institution or the international office at the chosen institution in Finland. More information also available at CIMO’s Discover Finland website on studying and training in Finland at http://finland.cimo.fi.

Good to know In order to make most of your study period in Finland, here is some food for thought concerning advance planning, study methods, the question of languages and semesters. Advance planning pays off

Advance planning is a part of effective studying, so in order to get the most out of your stay in Finland, academically as well as personally, it is advisable to plan the scope of your studies beforehand. When coming to Finland as a visiting student you should also check how the courses you plan to complete will be recognized in your home institution. You can get this information both from your home institution and direct from the institution in Finland. Since the finalised course programmes are generally issued rather late, it’s worth taking the initiative in searching out the course information directly from the Finnish institution. Independent work in a relaxed atmosphere

In the Finnish universities, lectures, seminars, independent work and exams have traditionally been the main study methods. Studying in Finland is generally regarded as relatively free. Some students are surprised at the strong emphasis on books as a source of information compared with lectures. Many students find that the relationship between students and teachers in Finland is relaxed and informal, and that teachers are easy to approach. Universities usually have a Language Centre where students may carry out additional language studies, which are often included in degree programmes. See also Everyday practical information / languages (page 64).

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Studying and training in Finland

Photo: Ida Pimenoff / CIMO

Two semesters

The academic year has two semesters. The autumn semester generally runs from September (in polytechnics also from August) to December, and the spring semester from January to May. There is no summer semester, but university students can take examinations and study for their degrees in the summer months on courses arranged either by the universities themselves or by the Summer University system (21 in all). Costs of studying and living

Since university education is funded by the State through the Ministry of Education, students enrolled in regular degree studies pay no tuition fees. The student unions, however, charge an

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annual membership fee of about EUR 40–85 to cover their activities. Student health services are included in this fee. Membership is compulsory for those who are studying for their Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, and those who are pursuing their doctoral studies may join the union if they wish. Polytechnics do not charge tuition fees either, but a few institutions currently charge fees for tuition materials etc. Student union membership for students in polytechnics is optional. Students in both universities and polytechnics have to pay for their books and other materials, plus their accommodation and living expenses. The total monthly living expenses of a single student average approximately EUR 700. The cost of living in Finland is about the same as in other EU countries. Remember that with a student card you’ll get meals and other services at a student price in your institution, and reductions, for example, for transport, museums and various cultural events and recreational activities.

Photo: Ida Pimenoff / CIMO

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Studying and training in Finland

Do not forget personal and leisure expenses. In Finland there are many things to see and to do, and during your stay you may also want to visit the neighbouring countries. Remember too that accommodation is usually paid for in advance at the beginning of every month, so when arriving you should have enough euros to cover the first month’s rent. Please remember also the costs for visas and other formalities. Financial aid

Foreign students who are accepted into degree studies in Finland may obtain study aid from the Finnish government if they have lived in Finland for at least two years for some purpose other than study and their residence in Finland is considered to be permanent. Returning immigrants and refugees are exempt from this regulation. The citizens of EU and other EEA countries may apply for study aid if their studies are closely related to their work in Finland, if they have become involuntarily unemployed in Finland, or if their parents are working in Finland. The Centre for International Mobility CIMO and some other organisations grant scholarships mainly for post-graduate studies and research in Finland. There are also certain scholarship programmes in which the grant is always applied by a hosting Finnish university department or university research institute. Additional information is available from CIMO, Finnish embassies and the appropriate authorities (in most countries the Ministry of Education) in your own country. See also Addresses and Links / Grants, scholarships and exchange programmes (pages 73–74).

Services The universities and polytechnics offer many kinds of information and other services such as advisory services for international students, student libraries, computer classes, sports facilities and help with housing. Accommodation

Student housing is generally organised by established student housing foundations. In some university towns accommodation can also be arranged through the student unions themselves, or through regional student clubs or faculty organisations. Many towns and municipalities also have dormitories maintained by the municipal community or the educational institution. The receiving institution usually takes care of the accommodation of exchange students and scholarship holders. It is advisable to apply for a flat as soon as you have been accepted to study in Finland since there are more students applying for student flats, especially in the autumn, than the student housing foundations are able to handle. Remember that the rent is usually paid in advance, at the beginning of every month. More information at the international office of your chosen institution in Finland. See also Addresses and Links / Accommodation (page 76).

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Healthcare

Health services for university students are provided by the Finnish Student Health Service FSHS (Ylioppilaiden terveydenhoitosäätiö YTHS/Studenternas häsovårdstiftelse SHVS). The FSHS is a foundation financed by the Social Insurance Institution, the students and student unions, the university cities and the State of Finland. The FSHS provides students with preventive health care, medical care, mental health care and dental health care. All student union members have automatic access to these services. A part of the membership fee of Student Unions goes to the FSHS. In addition to this healthcare fee, patients are charged small fees for consultations and treatment. The student health centres are open during normal office hours. Outside these hours, students should contact the nearest public health centre. The emergency number in Finland is 112. Students of the polytechnics do not have a comparable system to the FSHS. See also Everyday practical information / Medical services (page 65), and Addresses and links / Healthcare (page 75). Library and Internet

All students have a right to use the libraries of universities and polytechnics freely with a library card. Course books may be borrowed for a limited period, ranging from one day up to four weeks at a time or copied for private research use. The libraries of all Finnish universities cooperate by having a common database from which books can be searched and ordered for borrowing. Most libraries have a large selection of newspapers, magazines and journals. All institutions of higher education provide their students access to the internet. Computers connected to the internet are available at university libraries or computer centres. See also Everyday practical information / Libraries (page 64), Internet connections (page 63). Student unions

Student unions organise various activities for their members. In some cities they can also help to arrange accommodation for their members. The student card entitles its bearer to a number of benefits. In addition to health services these include subsidised meals, cheaper rates on public transport, other cheap travel options and various discounts. In polytechnics student union membership is optional. In universities it is compulsory for those who are studying for their Bachelor’s or Master’s degree. The membership fee is EUR 40–85, which includes a health-care contribution that entitles students to inexpensive healthcare services. After payment of this fee, students receive an official student card. It is most important to keep the receipt for the payment of the student union membership fee because you will need to show it when registering at the university. The receipt also counts as proof of student union membership until the actual student card is issued.

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Studying and training in Finland Other student associations and societies

Apart from the local student unions, students run a large number of other associations and societies. Some of these have long traditions and play an important practical role in student life. At the national level there is the National Union of Finnish Students (SYL) for university students and the Union of Finnish Polytechnic Students (SAMOK) for those studying at the polytechnics. Other associations operate at the faculty level, while others cater for individual subjects. Political and cultural societies of various kinds flourish in all institutions of higher education. These associations not only participate in matters related to studies and student status but also in international affairs and in cultural activities in general. There are also local associations for foreign student in several cities. More information available at the international office and at he local student union at your chosen institution in Finland. See also Addresses and links / Student organisations (page 75).

Formalities for students It’s important that you arrange all formalities such as your visa, residence permit, work permit and insurance well in advance before packing your bags for Finland. Ensure also that you have the financial means to cover your living expenses in Finland and possible trips within Finland or to neighbouring countries. Remember to leave enough time for these formalities. See Don’t forget the formalities (pages 45–49).

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Studying and training in Finland

Training in Finland

Finland offers good opportunities for practical training related to your studies and placements in Finnish companies with a high international profile.

Ways of doing practical training in Finland Training opportunities in Finland are available both for full-time students who have completed at least one year at a university, polytechnic or a vocational college and also for students who have recently graduated. The training period has to be directly related to the student’s particular field of study. Relevant work experience is desirable but not always a requirement. The training often takes place during the summer (June–August), but training is also possible in other times of the year. The minimum training period is one month, maximum 18 months. To participate in a trainee exchange programme you should ■ be over 18 years of age ■ have completed at least one year at a university or in other institution of higher education ■ have graduated not more than two years ago, by the time your training begins ■ speak English, Swedish or Finnish well enough to get by ■ have a positive attitude towards serious work There are various ways to complete your practical training period in Finland. The application procedures vary according to the field of study. The Centre for International Mobility, CIMO, is the organiser of many of the practical training programmes. The European Union’s training/education and youth programmes offer various possibilities as do other organisations.

The application procedure

Photo: Kati Koivikko / CIMO

Technology and related subjects

Contact the local IAESTE for further information. Your university may also have a LEONARDO project through which training exchanges are arranged. In that case, contact the international coordinator of the international office. Economics, business and commerce

CIMO does not have a special programme but we accept applications from the students of these subjects. No placement can be guaranteed, however. The local AIESEC office might also be able to help you. 35

Photo: Kati Koivikko / CIMO

Finnish language

The Finnish in Finland Programme offers students of the Finnish language the opportunity to come to Finland as trainees. Students must have completed the first year of their studies and have at least a working knowledge of Finnish. Placements are found within various organisations, as well as in libraries and museums and helping out with local festivals. Alternatively, there can be placements in a Finnish family. Agriculture or horticulture

CIMO’s Programme for Renewable Natural Resources offers placements on farms specialising mainly in mixed farming or in market gardening. The majority of placements are for the summer season. CIMO’s partner organisation in your own country will provide further information as well as application material. Your local IAAS organisation may also find you a placement in Finland. 36

Studying and training in Finland Languages, education or pre-school education

The Teaching Assistant Placement Programme gives students the opportunity to spend a period of practical training in Finland teaching his/her mother tongue (e.g. English or German) as a foreign language to Finnish students. The placements are available in universities, colleges, schools and kindergartens. Get in touch with a contact organisation in your own country if there is one. They will forward your application form to CIMO. ■ As a general rule, you should submit your application 4–5 months before the planned training period. Applications for the summer programmes should reach CIMO by mid February through CIMO’s contact organisation in your country. ■ Other organisations arranging temporary work in Finland are Nordjobb, Nordpraktik, The Finnish Branch of Service Civil International, Finnish Youth Cooperation Allianssi, International Cultural Youth Exchange, International 4H Youth Exchange, Viittakivi International Folk High School and the International School of Helsinki. More information at the Discover Finland at http://finland.cimo.fi → Practical training.

Rights and duties As a trainee you have certain rights that your employer must respect, in the same way as you will have to observe your own duties towards the company or organisation you are working for. The work environment

Finns have a traditional respect for work, and punctuality is a recognised virtue—people arrive at work on time and do not leave before the agreed time. The work ethic is high and absenteeism is rare. Health and safety regulations are of a high standard, and they are respected. Your skills as a trainee will also be respected, in the same way as those of skilled professionals. International trainees are usually paid the same wages as their Finnish counterparts. The labour market in Finland is very organised. Most Finnish wage earners belong to a trade union of their own branch, and the employer side is also well organised. There are central labour unions in each sector: industry, the service sector, agriculture and within municipalities, the state and the church. The trade unions negotiate collective agreements for their members. Conflicts between parties tend to be resolved in national level negotiations between all contracting parties before they become disruptive and strikes are rare. More information available as follows: the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK at http://www.sak.fi, the Finnish Confederation of Salaried Employees STTK at http://www.sttk.fi, the Confederation of Unions for Academic Professions in Finland AKAVA at http://www.akava.fi. Employment contract

At the beginning of your practical training period it is advisable to draw up a formal written employment contract with the employer as soon as possible. 37

Working hours

The regular working time is usually a maximum of eight hours a day, 40 hours a week (there are some exceptions in some fields). However, the amount of overtime is also restricted: no more than 20 hours during a two week period. Any overtime can only be done with the consent of the trainee. For overtime work, at least the stipulated overtime rate will be paid. In agriculture there is a separate agreement governing working hours and the compensation for overtime during the harvest season. Employers must keep a record of all hours worked by employees; employees are also recommended to keep a note of their own hours. Annual vacations

Employees earn two days of annual vacation for each month after having been employed for at least 14 working days. The actual vacation period is from May to September, but one can usually negotiate other possible arrangements with the employer. Foreign trainees are entitled to the same annual vacation as local workers. The vacation days earned during the training period are usually compensated at the end of the period, either in cash or as days off duty. Salaries

Collective bargaining agreements negotiated between trade unions and employer federations specify the wage levels and other working conditions in many sectors of the labour market. If you feel you would like to consult someone about your salary level, contact a representative of the relevant trade union. Depending on the employer and training placement, foreign trainees in Finland are usually paid between EUR 750 and 1,500 per month before tax. In some cases wages may be paid by the hour. It is very rare for foreign trainees to be granted salary increases. Salaries are usually paid at the end of every month. Payment in advance is not normally possible. Taxes

Foreigners working in Finland for less than six months are liable to tax at source (lähdevero/källskatt). CIMO obtains the necessary tax forms for trainees liable to tax at source and sends the forms to the employer before the trainee arrives. Those working a longer period pay tax at the normal rate (tulovero/inkomstskatt) and get the necessary documents from the tax office of their place of residence. Any mistakes can be dealt with by the local tax office. The general tax rates for foreign trainees are as follows: If you are working in Finland up to six months, you can earn up to EUR 510 per month tax free: earnings over this amount are taxed at 35%. If you are working in Finland between 6 and 18 months, you are taxed at the normal income tax rate. Finland has many bilateral tax agreements that allow foreign trainees, students and researchers certain exemptions from paying Finnish taxes. Trainees from these countries can be taxed at a reduced tax rate: the rates vary according to the trainee’s nationality and, for example, 38

Studying and training in Finland

Photo: Ida Pimenoff / CIMO

how long the trainee is resident in Finland. More information at http://www.vero.fi → English → Tax Guide (The National Board of Taxes).

Costs and other relevant matters Organising everyday money matters and accommodation routines are part of the rewarding experiences of a successful training period. The training period is not just about working, so make the most of the free time among new people and in a new culture. Accommodation

If you are coming to Finland through CIMO’s training programmes, your employer or the local employment office will arrange a place to stay for you, usually a student flat. You will usually be informed of your address before your departure for Finland. If you arrive via other programmes, you will at least be assisted in your search for accommodation. Accommodation is available 39

from the first day of your training. If you arrive earlier, you may have to find accommodation for those days by yourself. The rent is usually paid at the beginning of each month, whereas the salary is often paid at the end of the month. This means that you should bring enough money with you to cover the rent and other expenses for the first month. Trainees pay their own rent. It is worth signing a written contract on the first day of the rental period. Your lease contract will of course be a temporary one, governed by regulations that are different from those of a long-term lease. Most accommodation is in student hostels and dormitories, sometimes in private houses or flats. The monthly rent for a room in a student dormitory is around EUR 250, for a private flat usually at least EUR 350. On the private market you may also have to pay a deposit equivalent to one or two months’ rent. See also Addresses and Links / Accommodation (Page 76). More information available at Discover Finland website at http://finland.cimo.fi → Practical training. Costs

The cost of living in Finland is about the same as in other EU countries. Do not forget your personal and leisure expenses. In Finland there are many things to see and to do, and during your stay you may also want to visit the neighbouring countries. Remember to check the discounts you are entitled to with an international student card. Free time

Employment authorities and also some student organisations arrange leisure time activities for international trainees in the summer. There are club meetings, sauna evenings, company visits, shorter and longer trips in Finland and abroad (e.g. Lapland, St. Petersburg). After your arrival, the local summer programme coordinator will send you information on the programme. Usually the programme includes trips to summer festivals, dances, excursions,

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Studying and training in Finland

sauna parties etc. At these events you can get to know other international trainees as well as local people. Some of the excursions may be arranged during working hours. In that case, you may ask your employer if it is possible for you to participate. It might be useful to bring your sleeping bag with you because you may need it for some weekend excursions. Every town has a tourist office where you can find brochures and information on local sights and events, sightseeing tours etc. There is also a lot of information in the web as well. See also Everyday practical information / Travel and leisure (page 74), Studying / Student unions, Other student associations and societies (pages 32–33). Employment information

Since CIMO does not act as an employment office, it does not arrange any permanent work placements in Finland. Finnish employment offices are part of the EURES Employment Exchange System of the European Commission. The system provides guidance, information and employment exchange services for those who seek jobs in another EEA country. It is also a forum for employers to advertise vacancies and to recruit employees. More information at http://europa.eu.int/eures/index.jsp.

Formalities for trainees It’s important that you arrange all formalities such as your visa, residence permit, work permit and insurance well in advance before packing your bags for a practical training period in Finland. Ensure also that you have the financial means to cover your living expenses in Finland and possible trips within Finland or to neighbouring countries. Remember to leave enough time for these formalities. See Don’t forget the formalities (pages 45–49).

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Don’t forget the formalities... Remember to leave enough time to complete all the necessary formalities you should take care of before tackling your studies or beginning your period of training in Finland.

Photo: Comma Finland

Don’t forget the formalities…

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Studying and training in Finland

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Before entering Finland

Remember to leave enough time to complete all the necessary formalities such as obtaining a passport, arranging visas, other permits and insurance! Check the following sections to see which ones apply to you. The entry of foreign nationals into and their residency in Finland are regulated by the Finnish Aliens Act, Aliens Decree and the Schengen Agreement and Convention. In general, the entry permits are visas and residence permits. More information on the Finnish legislation and on entry permits and residency is available at http://www.uvi.fi (Directorate of Immigration) and at http://www.formin.fi (Ministry for Foreign Affairs).

Passport or official identity card Foreigners coming to Finland need a valid passport, except citizens of the Nordic and the European Economic Area (EEA) countries who need either a valid passport or an official identity card as travel document to prove the identity.

Visa As from March 2001, the Schengen area is formed of thirteen European Union (EU) member states including Finland, and two non-European Union member states Norway and Iceland. The new Member States of the EU as from May 2004 (Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia) do not yet apply the Schengen Convention, which is why the border controls will be kept between the borders of the new and old Member States for the time being. The Schengen area countries have uniform visa regulations and foreigners must fulfil the entry conditions. The countries have agreed on which countries are free of and which countries are under visa obligations.

Photo: Comma Finland

Who needs a visa? ■ The citizens of the Nordic countries may arrive, reside, study and work in Finland without visas or residence permits. ■ The citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA) countries (EEA includes all the EU countries and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) need not apply for a visa or a residence permit before arriving in Finland if they intend to stay in the country for maximum 90 days (if the stay lasts for more than three months, they must register their right to reside in Finland at a police department). ■ Citizens of other countries are required to have a visa or a residence permit, depending on the

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citizenship and the length of the stay, already before coming to Finland. Students (non-citizens of Nordic or EEA countries) who have been accepted to participate in entrance examinations of Finnish institutions of higher education, must apply for a visa for the period of the examinations. When arriving in Finland you may also be expected to show, in addition to your visa and a valid travel document, insurance document for the duration of your stay and other documents related to your stay in Finland. You must prove that you have sufficient funds (EUR 40 per day or a scholarship or a training placement) for your stay and for your return journey or further travel. ■ If you would ordinarily need a visa but have a residence permit valid in one of the Schengen countries, you do not need a visa to enter another Schengen country if the intended duration of your stay is no more than 90 days. Where and how to apply for a visa? ■ If you are a foreign national requiring a visa, you must always have one when entering the

Schengen area. A Schengen visa is applied for from the embassy or consulate of the destination country. So when coming to Finland, you are requested to apply for it either from a Finnish embassy or consulate or from a mission of a Schengen country that represents Finland (see more at the website of the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs). Application forms sent to the embassy or consulate by e-mail or telefax will not be processed. For admission of visa one is always required to have a valid travel insurance together with other documents. Check all the needed documents from the embassy or consulate in question. More information at http://www.formin.fi/missions, at http://www.uvi.fi (Directorate of Immigration), and at http://www.formin.fi/english >> Services >> Foreign nationals arriving in Finland (Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland).

Residence permits There may be some differences in the formalities (concerning the needed documents) for residence permits depending on whether you come to Finland to study or for your practical training period. Residence permits for students ■ The citizens of the Nordic countries may arrive, reside, study and work in Finland without resi-

dence permits. ■ Citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA) countries must register their right to reside in

Finland at a police department when the studies last for more than three months. ■ Foreign students from the EEA countries must meet the following conditions in order to obtain

the right to reside in Finland: 1) the main reason for the stay is to study at a Finnish educational institution 2) sufficient means to support the stay in Finland during the studies 3) a valid health insurance covering all the health risks during the stay in Finland ■ Citizens from countries outside the EEA who intend to stay in Finland for more than 90 days

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Don’t forget the formalities

must obtain a residence permit from the Finnish diplomatic mission in their home country before entering Finland. If they live abroad, the application should be addressed to the Finnish diplomatic mission in their country of residence. A residence permit can also be granted in any other country where they are staying legitimately, if this is considered reasonable. (Residence permit application form and Clarification on studies form can be found at http://www.uvi.fi/English/Application forms/UVI101 and UVI104; fees for permits http://www.uvi.fi/English/Application fees). ■ If you have come to Finland with a visa to take an entrance examination and passed it, you might have to return to your home country in order to apply for the residence permit. Only in exceptional circumstances, when you have been accepted at an educational institution and the studies begin soon after entrance examination, you may be granted the residence permit in Finland. ■ The first residence permit is usually granted for a year, or, depending on the duration of your studies known in advance, for a shorter or a longer period than a year (however, not for more than two years). Usually, if your studies exceed one year, the permit is granted for one year of study at a time. To have your residence permit extended, you must still be enrolled in the same educational institution and present proof of having studied full-time and having completed the annual courses required by the educational institution concerned. Completion of less than full-time studies may lead to rejection of your application to extend the residence permit. ■ Foreign students must meet the following conditions in order to obtain a residence permit for study in Finland: 1) They must be at least 18 years old (in most cases); 2) They are intending to study at a university or other institution of higher education or in a secondary vocational institution; 3) They can produce proof that they have been accepted to study at such an institution (letter of acceptance); 4) Their application indicates the degree to which their studies lead, the language of study and the estimated length of the studies; 5) Their application indicates a statement of their previous studies and language skills 6) They have funds or scholarships that will cover their study and living expenses in Finland.

Please notice! ■ Foreign students from countries outside the EEA are required to demonstrate that they have a minimum of EUR 500 per month at their disposal. If the educational institution provides the student with food and accommodation in addition to free tuition, the amount to be deposited can be reduced at the authorities’ discretion. Foreign students participating in a scholarship or exchange programme may provide proof of acceptance by the programme organiser instead of a deposit. ■ Citizens of an EEA country may demonstrate in any way they choose that they have sufficient means to cover their living expenses in Finland. ■ A student is regarded as a temporary resident in Finland. For this reason, a residence permit is only intended for a temporary stay. Once you conclude or finish your studies, you must leave Finland unless you can provide other grounds for the grant of a new residence permit. A permit may be granted for further studies in the same field, for example.

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Residence permits for post-graduate students and researchers coming to Finland with CIMO scholarships ■ Citizens of the Nordic countries may arrive, study and do research work in Finland without resi-

dence permits. ■ Citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA) countries must register their right to reside in

Finland at a police department in Finland. ■ Citizens of other countries always need residence permits for their post-graduate studies or

research work in Finland (no matter the length of stay): citizens from countries other than EEA countries must obtain residence permits before coming to Finland. In cases where post-graduate studies or research periods last for more than 18 months, post-graduates or researchers must obtain residence permits for employed persons.

Work permits Foreigners must usually have a work permit if they intend to engage in paid employment while in Finland. However there are some exceptions for students and trainees. Students and possibility for working during the study period (required permits) ■ Students who are citizens of Nordic or EEA countries or who participate in EU education and training programmes need no special permits for working. They are allowed to work without restrictions (they will need an employer’s certificate, however). ■ Other international students can work within certain limits on a residence permit granted for studying if the work is practical training included in the degree or if the amount of part-time work does not exceed 20 hours a week. There are no limits in terms of hours on full-time work during holidays (the periods 1 May–30 September and 15 December–15 January). You must obtain a residence permit for an employed person if you intend to work more than 20 hours in a week during the academic term. The permit is subject to a charge and the application should be submitted to the local police in Finland.

Residence permits for trainees

All foreign trainees (except citizens of EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) need a residence permit during their training period. Residence permit can be applied for at the Finnish embassy, consulate or legation. Residence permit application form can be found at http://www.uvi.fi /English/ Application forms / UVI101. Ground for applying is Other grounds (NOT EMPLOYMENT) and it should be specified: International Training (CIMO). Applications must include placement offer (form 0), Introduction Card, a copy of passport and 2 photos. The applicant must have the passport with him/her when applying. The residence permit application fee is 67 euros (in 2004). If a trainee is a citizen of the EEA countries and the stay in Finland exceeds 90 days, he/she will have to register the right to reside in Finland by the local police authorities after arrival in Finland. The fee for the permit is EUR 26 (in 2004). The maximum period of training is 18 months.

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Don’t forget the formalities

Residence permits for employed persons (worker´s residence permit) Foreigners must usually have a residence permit for employed persons if they intend to engage in paid employment while in Finland. However there are some exceptions, for instance, for students and trainees.

Insurance Don’t forget to take an insurance that covers you during your stay in Finland and also during your travel to and from Finland. For the eventual leisure time excursions it is advisable to make sure that the insurance is valid also in Finland’s neighbouring countries. Insurance for students

In order to come to Finland you are recommended to have a valid health and accident insurance that covers you also during your travel to and from Finland. Note that the European Health Insurance Card is not valid during your travels to and from Finland and during the excursions to the third country. The institutions of higher education do not cover for the eventual accidents taken place during your stay, and without a valid insurance the medical payments may rise high. If you are also going to travel for example in the Finland’s neighbouring countries, make sure the insurance is valid in these countries as well. Remember to bring the valid insurance policy with you. Please remember that though citizens of the EU and EEA countries are entitled to all health services in Finland if they are covered by health insurance in their own country (you should ask the social security authorities in your country for the document needed for social security in Finland) they too must have an insurance. Insurance for trainees

Trainees coming to Finland must have a valid health and accident insurance covering the period of their stay and travel. Trainees should check that their insurance also covers physical work. If you are going to participate in a trainee excursion to some other country (like Sweden, Estonia or Russia) make sure your insurance is valid in these countries as well. Note that the European Health Insurance Card is not valid during your travels to and from Finland and during the excursions to the third country. Remember to bring your valid insurance policy with you. The easiest way is to buy the insurance in your own country. If this is not possible, you may buy a special insurance for CIMO trainees in Finland (valid only in Finland). Note, however, that in this case you must have another insurance policy covering your travel to and from Finland. All employees in Finland have occupational health insurance. All employers are required to arrange, at their own expense, professional-level occupational health services for their employees in order to prevent work-related health risks. The occupational health insurance doesn’t cover eventual accidents taken place during the leisure time. ■ Citizens of the EU and EEA countries are entitled to all health services if they are covered by health insurance in their own country. You should ask the social security authorities in your country for the European Health Insurance Card or the document (E128, FIN/EST 4, FIN/LV4) needed for social security in Finland. 49

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At the customs The customs procedure in Finland is quite standard with the usual international restrictions on certain goods.

On arrival

If you need to bring particularly valuable goods or equipment with you, or, for instance, special medication, it is worth finding out beforehand whether you will need documentations for them. When arriving in Finland, you may also be expected to show, in addition to your visa and a valid travel document (passport or an official identity card, see page 45), an insurance document for the duration of you stay and other documents related to your stay in Finland. Please note that you may also be asked to prove that you have sufficient funds (EUR 40 per day or a scholarship or a training placement) for your stay and for your return journey or further travel.

On departure

Photo: Ilmailulaitos

There are also certain regulations concerning departure. The export of articles over 50 years old that are of cultural and historical value is prohibited unless a permit has been granted by the National Board of Antiquities. More information available at Finnish Customs, customs advice tel. +358-20-391 100 and at http://www.tulli.fi, National Board of Antiquities for exportation of cultural goods at http://www.nba.fi/en/cultural_goods, tel. +358-9-40 501.

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Staying in Finland When you have arrived in Finland, there are some formalities you should take care of before tackling your studies or beginning your period of training. The Finnish Ministry for Finance has founded a portal for Finland’s public sector services and related information for foreigners in Finland at http://www.suomi.fi/english/immigration_ and_emigration. Remember not to hesitate to ask for information and assistance at the international office of your institution in Finland or your employer.

Registration ■ Foreigners who stay in Finland for at least one year must submit personal identity data (e.g.

Photo: Ida Pimenoff / CIMO

name, date of birth, nationality, family relationships, address) to the Population Information System for registration. Registration takes place in a local register office (in Finnish Maistraatti / Magistrat in Swedish). You need to bring with you to the register office your passport, valid residence permit and other official documents (for example, certificate of marriage, birth certificates of children) and you need to fill in and sign the form “The Registration Information on a Foreigner”. Reliable proof should be submitted in support of the information to be registered. The submission of false information is a punishable offence under the Finnish Penal Code. At the same time you may submit an official notification of move at the register office. ■ Foreigners who have moved to Finland, intend to stay here permanently and have got a residence permit for at least one year, may be registered for a Finnish municipality of residence with the same rights and obligations as other residents. ■ Foreigners who reside in Finland temporarily (like a student or a trainee) may receive a Finnish personal identity code (henkilötunnus/personbeteckning) if he/she needs one, for example, for work. More information available at the local register offices (See Addresses and links / Other authorities, page 72) and at http://www.maistraatti.fi, or at Population Register Centre at http://www.vaestorekisterikeskus.fi.

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Photo: Ida Pimenoff

Notification of move When moving you must notify the local register office and Finland Post of your change of address. A notification of move (muuttoilmoitus / flyttningsanmälan) must be submitted within a week after arrival in Finland. Notification must be given every time you move within the country and also when moving abroad from Finland. When moving to or from Finland, notification must be given in writing (forms are available in local register and post offices and on the internet at http://www.posti.fi). At other times (if you have an identity code), the notification of move may also be made by phone. A person moving to Finland from another Nordic country must submit an Internordic Moving Paper. More information is available as follows: Finland Post (Suomen Posti) at http://www.posti.fi, Local register office (Maistraatti) at http://www.maistraatti.fi, Population Register Centre (Väestörekisterikeskus) at http://www.vaestorekisterikeskus.fi and the needed forms at http://www.lomake.fi (English)>Forms>Population Register Centre>Notification of Change of Address. 54

Don’t forget the formalities

Legal rights Basically, the Finnish legal system applies to foreigners and Finnish nationals alike. The rights of foreigners are safeguarded both by Finnish law and by the international treaties that Finland adheres to. The Joint Nordic Agreement provides citizens of other Nordic countries with certain benefits, such as the right to vote in municipal elections. A more detailed account of the legal issues applicable to non-Finns concerning matters of immigration and residence is to be found in the Act on Aliens and the Decree on Aliens. EU regulations concerning the position of foreigners are applied to Finnish legislation. Assistance in legal matters

In legal matters, assistance is provided by local legal advice offices (Yleinen oikeusaputoimisto / Allmännä rättshjälpbyrån). Charges are based on the client’s income. Appointments must be made in advance. Other sources of legal advice are the Ombudsman for Minorities, student unions and law students’ associations at universities. More information available at the international office of your institution in Finland, at http://www.mol.fi/vahemmistovaltuutettu (Ombudsman for Minorities); at the municipal local legal advice offices and at http://www.uvi.fi/englanti/lait.html.

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Practical information What, where, when and how? Here you’ll find answers to at least some of the questions you might have about the way things are said, done and organised in Finland.

Photo: Comma Finland

Practical information

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Studying and training in Finland

57

Everyday practical information from A to Z Please note! Detail of fees and other information are correct as of November 2004. The telephone and fax numbers mentioned in this guide apply when calling from outside Finland. When calling within Finland, leave out the country code (358) and either add 0 in front of the area code (when making calls to numbers outside that area) or leave out the area code (when making calls to numbers within that area). For instance, +358-3-123 4567 becomes 03-123 4567 in the former case and 123 4567 in the latter. Finland uses the 24 hour clock. All times listed are shown in that format. Some words are also given in Finnish and Swedish—you’ll find them in brackets (in Finnish/in Swedish).

Accommodation See Studying and Training in Finland / Accommodation (students, page 31; trainees, page 32).

Photo: Ida Pimenoff / CIMO

Alcohol Alko, the State Alcohol Company, has a monopoly on the sale of wines and spirits. Opening hours may vary depending on the shop. Alko shops are closed on public holidays. Medium-strength beer and low-alcohol wine is also sold in supermarkets and other shops, but full-strength beer is only available at Alko shops. The age limit for the purchase of beer and wine is 18, and for stronger drinks 20. Serving alcohol to those under the age of 18 is forbidden. Note that driving under the influence of alcohol is strictly forbidden. See Driving (page 62).

Banks and foreign exchange Banks are normally open Monday–Friday from 9.00 or 9.15 to 16.00 or 16.15, but office hours may vary. Banks are closed on

Saturdays and Sundays. Cash points (Automatic Teller Machines, pankkiautomaatti / bankautomat) are open around the clock every day, and there are plenty of them. All banks have branches throughout the country. Bank services may also be available at certain post offices. In addition, banks offer electronic services making it possible for you to manage your bank affairs on the internet. There are no restrictions on foreign students or trainees opening a bank account in Finland. You will receive a bank card giving you access to virtually every cash point in the country. Apart from withdrawing cash you can also check your balance and pay bills. If you prefer to pay bills by bank transfer (e.g. for your rent), there is a small charge. When arranging such transfers you may need to show proof of identity. You will normally receive a statement of all your transactions, including cash point use, once a month. Money can be changed at any bank in Finland as well as at many currency exchange offices in larger cities. It is worth 59

changing large amounts at a time to avoid service charges. Foreign currency and traveller’s cheques can also be exchanged at some hotels and at the currency exchange offices. Some banks also have automatic currency exchange machines. Money transfers to and from abroad incur an extra commission fee, the size of which depends on the destination. Having a bank account here is not necessary for receiving money.

Churches and religion Most Finns, about 85% of the population, are Lutheran and 1% belong to the Orthodox Church. These are the two official religions in Finland, which means that they maintain local population registers of their members. There are also Catholic, Jewish and Islamic congregations as well as numerous smaller religious communities. In the Lutheran churches, the main parish service is held on Sundays at 10. The service lasts just over an hour. Holy Communion is celebrated in many parishes every week. There are also services in English. In the Orthodox church there are services every day, and services may also be held in English. More information is available as follows: the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland at http://www.evl.fi, the Orthodox Church of Finland at http://www.ort.fi (only in Finnish), the Jewish Community of Helsinki at http:// www.jchelsinki.fi, the Catholic Church in Finland at http://www.catholic.fi, the Islamic Society of Finland at http://www.rabita.fi/ on religion and churches in Finland at h t t p : / / v i r t u a l . fi n l a n d . fi / fi n f o / e n g l i s h / uskoeng.html (Virtual Finland by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs).

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Cinema In Finland, it’s easy for a foreigner to go to movies, because all films shown are in the original language (frequently this is English) with subtitles in Finnish and Swedish. There are cinemas in almost every town. The major cities also have non-commercial film clubs. The Finnish Film Archives (Suomen Elokuva arkisto / Finlands filmarkiv) offer series of classical films in 2005 in Helsinki, Joensuu, Jyväskylä, Lahti, Oulu, Rovaniemi, Tampere, Turku, Vaasa. Many interesting international film festivals are also organized in Finland. More information is available as follows: the Finnkino distribution chain at http://www.finnkino.fi (only in Finnish), the Sandrew-Metronome distribution chain at http://www.sandrewmetronome.fi (only in Finnish), the Finnish Film Archive at http://www.sea.fi/english and the Finnish film festivals at http://www.sea.fi/lahikuvassa/ linkit/festarit.html.

Climate In Finland temperatures are given in degrees Celsius “°C”. (To convert to Fahrenheit multiply Celsius by 1.8 and add 32.) Finland’s climate is temperate. The mean temperature in Finland is several degrees warmer (as much as 10°C in winter) than that of other areas at the same latitudes e.g. Siberia and southern Greenland. Summer is warm and bright with almost 20 hours of daylight at the latitude of Helsinki. The temperature often rises to +20 °C or more and occasionally goes close to +30°C in southern and eastern parts of the country. North of the Arctic Circle the midnight sun stays continuously above the horizon from early June to early July. Autumn and spring can be rainy. In the winter, nort-

Practical information

hern Finland is covered by snow from November to April. In the south, the snow usually arrives in December. North of the Arctic Circle, the winter includes a period known as the polar night, when the sun does not rise above the horizon at all. In the northernmost extremity of Finland, the polar night lasts for 51 days. In southern Finland, the shortest day is about 6 hours long. In winter, temperatures of -20°C are not uncommon in many areas. The mean temperature in Helsinki in July is +17°C and in February -5.7°C. Finnish Lapland has clearly lower winter temperatures. More information at http://www.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/en/index.html (Finnish Meteorological Institute) and at http://www.foreca.com/eng/weather (Foreca Ltd., a weather service company).

Clothing The four seasons of the year in Finland are naturally reflected in Finns’ choice of clothing. Warm winter clothing is a necessity in Finland—you will need a warm coat, at least, and good winter boots. Warm gloves, a warm hat that covers the ears, and long underwear are items you will appreciate. Although it can be cold outside, buildings are well-heated and people wear light clothing inside. The latest trends in fashion are followed with interest, but the Finnish style of dress is generally more practical or casual. In everyday life it’s comfort that wins out over fashion. On formal occasions, dress is usually conservative. Places of business have their own dress codes which vary according to the company or organization.

Cost of living See Studying and training in Finland / Costs (students, pages 29–31; trainees, page 40).

Credit cards The major credit cards (Visa, Eurocard, Access, Mastercard, Diner’s Club, American Express) are accepted throughout the country. Automatic cash points accept Visa. The Eurocheque is not as popular as it is elsewhere. See also Banks and foreign exchange (pages 59–60).

Culture and Festivals See Cinema (page 60), Theatre (page 68) and Finland, Finns and the Finnish way of life / Culture (pages 11–12). More information at http:// www.festivals.fi (Finland Festivals), at http:// www.kulttuuri.net/english (Kulttuuri.net, a website offering links related to Finnish culture) and at all the Tourist Information Offices in Finland.

Currency Finland’s currency has been the euro (€, EUR) since 1999. Euro coins and notes were introduced in the beginning of 2002. The euro coins minted in Finland are 2 and 1 euros and 50, 20, 10, 5 cents. All cash purchases are rounded off to the nearest 5 cents. All coins can be used anywhere in the euro area. There are seven different euro notes and they appear in 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 euro denominations. More information at http://www.euro.fi/ ohjaus/index.html, and at http://www.vm.fi/ vm/liston/euro.lsp (the Ministry of Finance).

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Disabled persons, services for

■ Winter motoring: Snow tyres are compul-

Efforts have been made to cater for the interests and needs of disabled persons and ensure that they have access to all available services. For detailed information about the services available, contact the international office of your chosen place of study in Finland. More information is available as follows: at http://www.rullaten.fi (Rullaten ry., an organization for promoting information and counselling for disabled persons in Finland), at http://www.kynnys.fi (a website in Finnish, but with a good list of international links at http://www.kynnys.fi/linkit.htm), at http:// www.invalidiliitto.fi (Finnish Association of People with Mobility Disabilities, FMD), at http://www.kuulonhuoltoliitto.fi (The Finnish Federation of Hard of Hearing, FFHOH), http://www.kl-deaf.fi (The Finnish Association of the Deaf), at http://www.nkl.fi (The Finnish Federation for Visually Impared, FFVI), at http://www.cc.jyu.fi/~vamtutk (The Foundation for Research on Disability), at http://www.edf-feph.org (The European Disability Forum).

sory in Finland from 1 January to 28/29 February. Studded tyres may be used 1 November to 31 March or when weather conditions require it. ■ Drinking and driving: Note that driving under the influence of alcohol is strictly forbidden. The maximum permitted blood alcohol level is 0.05%. Infringement of this rule nearly always results in a penalty in the form of a fine or imprisonment. Blood alcohol levels in excess of 0.12% incur heavier penalties. ■ Mobile phones and driving: If a mobile phone is used when driving, the use of a hands-free device is obligatory. More information at http://www. autoliitto.fi (the Automobile and Touring Club of Finland), at http://www.poliisi.fi (the Finnish Police), at http://www.liikenneturva.fi (The Central Organization for Traffic Safety in Finland).

Driving Licence holders from countries that have joined the Road Traffic Convention (Geneva 1949 or Vienna 1968) may drive in Finland on their national driving licence for one year from the date of entry into the country. After six months, you are eligible for a Finnish licence. The age requirement is eighteen. In Finland, you drive on the right and overtake on the left. Main roads are in good condition throughout the year. Headlights are used even during the day. Wearing seatbelts is compulsory, front and back. Petrol sold in Finland is unleaded.

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Drugs The use or possession or dealing of drugs is against the law and carries heavy penalties. More information at http://www.poliisi.fi (the Finnish Police).

Electricity The voltage is 230 AC (50 cycles). Plugs are two pin continental sizes.

Emergencies No area code is necessary for the following numbers, even when using a mobile phone. ■ The general emergency number is 112. ■ The police emergency number is 10022. ■ Other emergency numbers and instructions can be found in telephone booths and directories. See also Medical services (page 65) and Police (page 66).

Practical information

Finnish and Swedish language courses See Languages (page 64).

Financial aid See Studying and training in Finland / Financial aid (students, page 31).

First aid See Medical services (page 65).

Gays and lesbians There are various events, associations, groups, clubs and counselling services. More information at http://www.seta.fi ; [email protected] (Association for Sexual Equality SETA).

Handbooks for foreign students Many of the Finnish institutions of higher education publish their guides and handbooks for foreign students on the internet as well. (For the websites see Addresses and Links, pages 76–77.) Virtual Finland is an excellent multimedia guide to Finland by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs at http://virtual.finland.fi.

Holidays See Public holidays (page 66).

Homesickness and psychological problems When living abroad you have to cope with a new culture, new people and new habits, which, along with studying or training can at times be a burden. Separation from your family and friends can itself make you feel lonely and homesick. Don’t feel ashamed of it, it’s natural. Remember you can contact your teachers or study advisors to talk about personal

problems, but don’t hesitate to get professional help as well. The most important thing is that you talk with someone as soon as possible about the things that are troubling you, so you don’t have to cope with them on your own. For professional help contact the SOS Centre, which helps all foreigners living in Finland and their families, to cope with social and psychological problems. If you are a university student you can contact the Finnish Student Health Service Centre (health centres in 16 cities and towns). The services of Nyyti (Student crisis prevention centre) are available only to students at the multifaculty universities. More information is available as follows: SOS Center, tel. +358-9-413 50 501, at http://www.mielenterveysseura.fi (The Finnish Association for Mental Health), at http:// www.yths.fi (the Finnish Student Health Service Centre), Student crisis prevention centre, tel. +358-9-684 0660 or at http://www.nyyti.fi (in Finnish).

Independence Day Finland declared itself independent on 6 December 1917. The country’s Independence Day celebrations on that date are traditionally quite solemn. Students, for example, organise torchlight processions. In the evening, many people settle down to watch the live TV broadcast from the presidential palace showing festivities attended by distinguished guests from Finland and around the world.

Internet connections Computers with Internet connections are quite readily available, for example in public libraries, some bigger post offices, and there are also special internet cafès in almost every 63

See Don’t forget the formalities / Insurance (pages 48–49).

www.edu.fi → English → Education for foreigners → Studying Finnish, Finnish for foreigners by the University of Helsinki at http://donnerwetter.kielikeskus.helsinki.fi/ FinnishForForeigners, courses in Finnish language and culture at http://www. kesalukioseura.fi/indexen.html (the Summer School Association).

Languages

Libraries

You don’t have to know either Finnish or Swedish to study in Finland, because there are more than 300 international study programmes taught in English. Only if you are interested in studying for a complete academic degree in Finland you generally ought to know one of the two official languages. English is widely spoken practically everywhere in Finland, especially among younger people, so you can communicate and manage in your everyday life without knowing Finnish or Swedish. Some knowledge of the Finnish grammar is helpful when using a dictionary, because otherwise it is sometimes difficult to predict what the basic form is of the word you are looking up. Courses in Finnish language and culture—as well as in Swedish language—for foreigners are arranged in various places all over the country. Universities and polytechnics offer such courses for exchange students, and other open courses are provided by evening schools and summer universities. Naturally you can also get private tuition. Universities usually have a Language Centre where students may carry out additional language studies, which are often included in degree programmes. See also Finland, Finns and the Finnish way of life / Finns (page 15). More information is available as follows: Finnish courses on the internet at http://

The library network covers the whole Finland. All towns and municipalities have public libraries, mobile libraries (bookmobiles) reach even the remotest areas, and both municipal libraries and university libraries are open to all citizens. Students use public libraries, university libraries, research libraries and libraries at educational institutions side by side. The Finnish libraries offer a great variety of services and make an extensive use of information and communications technology and information networks. Finnish public libraries are in fact world leaders among libraries as Internet access providers. Public libraries are responsible for the acquisition of books published in the so-called major languages (English, German, French, Italian, Spanish). In addition to books almost all of the libraries lend for example VHS videos, DVD’s and music CD’s and have at disposal a great variety of newspapers and magazines as well as computers connected to the Internet. The Central Multilingual Library Service, the library specially created for the needs of foreigners is situated in Helsinki at the Main Library.

city. Universities and polytechnics offer computer and internet services to their students. See also Libraries (same page).

Insurance

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Practical information

More information is available as follows: the Central Multilingual Library Service at http://www.lib.hel.fi/page.asp?_item_id=3080, Finnish libraries at http://www.libraries.fi, Helsinki University Library, the National Library of Finland at http://www.lib.helsinki. fi/english/index.htm

tional office of your chosen institution in Finland, the social insurance office in your home country, and for details of the European health insurance card visit http:// europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/news/ 2003/feb/hicard_en.html.

News in English Lost property

Newpapers The most important foreign

Contact the local police. The Finnish word for ‘Lost Property Office’ is löytötavaratoimisto, in Swedish hittegodsbyrå. More information at http://www.poliisi.fi (the Finnish Police).

western newspapers can be bought in Finland or read in the libraries. The newspapers can be bought at bookstores, R-Kiosks and at railway stations.

Mail See Post offices, mail (page 66).

Medical services If you become ill and need urgent medical attention, contact the nearest healthcare centre (terveyskeskus / hälsostation). They charge an initial fee of EUR 10-20 for holders of the Kela card as well as for citizens of EU countries and of those countries with a social insurance agreement with Finland. Others may have to pay the full price which can equal the fee at private clinics, so it is advisable to have insurance. All hospitals have doctors on duty round the clock. The European health insurance card was launched in 2004 and replaces the former E111 and other forms (such as E128), used for temporary stays. The general emergency phone number in Finland is 112. See also Homesickness and psychological problems (page 63), Studying and training in Finland / Healthcare (students, page 32) and Don’t forget the formalities / Insurance (pages 48–49). For more information contact the interna-

Internet Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs has an excellent news room on the internet at http://virtual.finland.fi/news, providing information on both Finnish and international affairs. The YLE24 news service of the Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE is on the internet at http://www.yle.fi/news. The biggest newspaper in Finland, Helsingin Sanomat, publishes an English edition at http://www.helsinki-hs.net. The site also includes some excellent links for foreign visitors. Television The morning programme on

YLE/TV1 includes a news bulletin in English, which can also be viewed on the internet. The EuroNews’ news bulletin is broadcast on the same channel every night, at the end of the day’s programmes. See also Libraries (page 64), Radio (page 66), Television (page 68).

Pharmacies Medicines are sold only at pharmacies (apteekki/apotek). Most pharmacies display a notice giving the address of the nearest pharmacy on night duty.

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Police If you need urgent help from the police, dial 10022 (the police emergency number) or 112 (the general emergency number). No area code is necessary for these numbers, even when using a mobile phone. See Emergencies (page 62) and Lost property (page 65).

Post offices, mail Post offices are usually open Monday–Friday from 9.00 to 18.00 or 20.00. These opening hours may vary depending on the office. Stamped mail (both national and international) can be dropped in the yellow post boxes for collection. Stamps are available at post offices, some book-shops and paper shops, R-Kiosks, some railway and bus stations, and from stamp machines. More information at http://www.posti.fi (Finland Post).

Public Holidays 1 January New Year’s Day (Uusivuosi/Nyår) 6 January Epiphany (Loppiainen/Trettondagen) March–April* Good Friday (Pitkäperjantai/Långfredagen) March–April* Easter Day (Pääsiäispäivä/Påskdag) March–April* Easter Monday (2. pääsiäispäivä/Annandag påsk) 1 May May Day (Vappu/Första maj) May–June* Ascension (Helatorstai/Kristi himmelsfärdsdag) May–June* Whitsunday (Helluntai/Pingst) June* Midsummer (Juhannus/Midsommar) November* All Saints’ Day (Pyhäinpäivä/Alla helgons dag) 6 December Independence Day (Itsenäisyyspäivä/ Självständighetsdag) 24 December Christmas Eve (Jouluaatto/Julafton)

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25 December Christmas Day

(Joulupäivä/Juldagen) 26 December Boxing Day

(Tapaninpäivä/Annandag jul) * Date varies yearly

More information at http://almanakka. helsinki.fi (The Almanac Office at the University of Helsinki).

Radio The broadcasting service consists of several local commercial radio stations and the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE), Finland's national public service broadcasting company. The YLE Capital FM 97.5 MHz (cable 107.3) offers 24 hours of news and features each day in cooperation with major international broadcasters. Besides the FM service there are two DAB-based channels: YLE World broadcasts English 24 hours a day while YLE Mondo features a variety of languages. These two channels are available as digital audio only. Capital FM also broadcasts YLE information about Finland in English and Russian. YLE continues domestic relays of international broadcasting on its FM (and DAB) frequencies in Finland. Check YLE’s website for the foreign programme providers. Radio programmes are listed also in most of the daily papers. More information on YLE news in English at http://www.yle.fi/news, on Capital FM http://www.yle.fi/radiofinland/capitalfm/index. shtml

Restaurants and bars The Finnish restaurant scene is lively and varied, with something for every taste and every budget, from gourmet restaurants to small bars and cafès.

Practical information

Serving alcohol is forbidden to those under 18. If asked, you need to show some proof of your age. Note that the age of 18 is the legal limit, bars and night clubs have the right to set higher age limits for their clients and many do so. Closing times in bars and discos vary normally between 01.00 and 04.00. About half an hour before closing they flash the lights (valomerkki/blinken) for last orders and then stop serving. Please note, that driving under the influence of alcohol is strictly forbidden. See Driving (page 62.)

Sauna You will find saunas everywhere—in hotels, private homes, on board ships, at motels and holiday villages, and of course at country cottages. Public swimming pools also have saunas: it is the custom to wash there before entering the pool. Public saunas are segregated by sex. See also Finland, Finns and the Finnish way of life / sauna (page 20). More information at http://www.sauna.fi/englanti /englanti.html (the Finnish Sauna Society).

euros are rounded off to the nearest 5 cents See also Currency (page 61), Credit cards (page 61) and Banks, foreign exchange (page 59).

Smoking Smoking is forbidden in public places such as offices, shops, buses, cinemas etc. In trains, smoking is allowed in smokers’ compartments only. It is not allowed to smoke at the counter in bars, restaurants and pubs and in casinos you are not allowed to smoke at all.

Sports facilities Sports play a central role in Finnish students’ leisure time, and universities and polytechnics offer various sports facilities for their students. There are also a wide range of free or moderately priced sports facilities offered by municipalities and towns. These include indoor sports facilities, indoor and outdoor ice rinks, tennis and badminton halls, fitness centres and swimming halls. Cross-country ski tracks and jogging tracks are well-maintained. More information at http://www.slu.fi (the Finnish Sports Federation).

Shopping Most shops are open Monday–Friday from 9.00 or 10.00 to 17.00 or 18.00, and on Saturdays until about 15.00. Some shops (especially grocery shops) and department stores stay open later, till 20.00 or 21.00 on weekdays and 18.00 on Saturdays. Nowadays, in the biggest towns, some big grocery stores also stay open on Sundays from about 12.00 to 21.00. In summer, some shops may close an hour earlier and some stay open on Sundays. Small items, sweets, magazines etc. can be bought in kiosks, which stay open later in the evenings. Please note, that the cash payments in

Taxis Taxi centres are found in the telephone directory under Taksi. You can also take a taxi by hailing one or going to a taxi rank. All taxis display a yellow sign marked Taxi or Taksi and, when this is lit, the taxi is available. The fare differs according to the number of passengers and rises on a kilometre basis, as indicated by the meter. You do not need to add a tip but it will certainly be appreciated by the taxi driver. More information at http://www.taksiliitto.fi (the Finnish Taxi Association). 67

Telephone Area code numbers are listed in the telephone directories. The telephone and fax numbers mentioned in this guide apply when calling from outside Finland. (See the section Please note!, page 59.) The number of mobile phones in Finland is very high. When calling to a mobile phone, always dial the prefix (for example 040 or 050). The code for international calls depends on the telephone company you choose. Telephone booths which accept coins are quite rare nowadays. There are still some card phones.

Television and video system There are four main channels: TV1 and TV2 are run by the Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE, MTV3 and Channel Four (Nelonen) are commercial channels. TV programmes originating abroad are shown in the original language with subtitles in Finnish or Swedish. There are also a number of cable channels and satellite channels, mostly international. Reception depends on the aerials or cable networks your house happens to have. Further channels are available subject to special payments and there are also some local TV channels. When you take a television set into use you should notify the TV-Fee Administration either by phone (tel. +358-9-613 161), via the internet at http://www.tv-maksu.fi/ or by filling in a form available at post offices. You must submit the notification before using the television set. The video system in use in Finland is VHS. Video cassettes using the USA standard cannot be watched here, unless you rent a special VCR for the purpose. More information at http://www.yle.fi (the Finnish Broadcasting Company, YLE), at http://www.mtv3.fi, at http://www.nelonen.fi 68

(Nelonen, Channel Four Finland), and on the digital television in Finland at http://www.digitv.fi (Digita).

Theatre Most Finnish towns and cities have theatres. Performances usually start at 19.00, with matinees on Sundays. Tickets can be booked and paid for in advance from the Ticket Service Lippupalvelu or from Lippupiste or directly from theatres. There are student discounts. In Helsinki and in some other cities there are performances by visiting theatre groups from abroad, so you can enjoy theatre even if you don’t speak any Finnish or Swedish. Some cities also have permanent theatre groups performing in languages other than Finnish and Swedish. The Tampere international theatre festival takes place every summer. More information at http://www.teatteri.org (the Finnish Theatre Information Centre TINFO), at www.tampere.fi/festival/theatre (Tampere international theatre festival), and details of ticket booking at http://www.ticketservicefinland.fi, at http://www.lippupiste.fi

Time difference Finnish winter time is two hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). The time difference between Eastern Standard Time in the US and Finnish Standard Time is 7 hours. When Daylight Saving Time is in effect (from the end of March to the end of October) Finnish time is three hours ahead of GMT. The difference between Eastern Daylight Time and Finnish Daylight Time remains 7 hours. Finland uses the 24-hour timetable.

Tipping Tips are customary only for hotel and restaurant doormen and porters. Prices in res-

Practical information

taurants include a service charge; a few extra coins may also be left on the table. Hotel bills include a 15% service charge. Taxi drivers, barbers and hairdressers do not expect tips.

Tourist information Tourist information is available from City Tourist Offices (Matkailutoimisto / Turistbyrå). Most tourist information offices can be found on the web (search with the name of the city). See Addresses and links / Travel and leisure (page 74).

Transport and travel In Finland timetables are reliable, and trains and coaches do leave on time. Timetables vary slightly on public holidays, weekends and during the summer. Arrival in Finland Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is

an international airport with good international and domestic connections. From all Finnish airports there is an airport bus service or local bus to the centre of the local town, and sometimes to nearby towns too. There are also taxis available, including some special Airport Taxis or Yellow Taxis which have cheaper rates for groups of clients going in the same direction. You can also arrive by sea, from Sweden, Germany or Estonia. The main harbour towns are Helsinki, Turku and Maarianhamina (Åland islands). There are international train links to Helsinki from Moscow and St. Petersburg. Public transport The public transport is well

organised in Finland. All towns and cities have local bus services. Helsinki has buses, trams, local trains and a metro. Contact the international advisory service at your chosen institution in Finland for information about the local public transport and the reductions for students.

Travelling in Finland There is a nationwide

network of train, bus and air services. Finland offers a variety of interesting tours, from adventure holidays to escorted luxury tours. For more information contact the Finnish Tourist Board or the local city tourist office when you arrive at your Finnish destination. Travelling in neighbouring countries Fin-

land’s northern location next to Sweden, Norway, Russia and Estonia offers excellent and exciting travel opportunities. There are good air connections to all the neighbouring countries, daily ferry connection to Sweden and Estonia as well as to Russia in summertime and ferry connection to Germany several times a week (http://www.superfast-ferries.net). Russia can also be reached by coach and by train. Remember to check the visa and other possible permit requirements before travelling. See Addresses and links/Travel and leisure (page 74).

Voting When you want to vote in elections held of your home country, contact your embassy in Finland. See Addresses and links / Embassies (page 72).

Zoos The most typical Finnish flora and fauna can be enjoyed everywhere, but if you want to see some more exotic animals residing in Finland and elsewhere, you can visit one of the zoos. The zoos vary as to the size and variety of animals kept there. More information at http://www.hel.fi/zoo (Helsinki Zoo), at http://www.ranuazoo.com (Ranua Zoo), at http://www.ahtarinelainpuisto.fi (Zoo Ähtäri), at http://www.zoolandia.fi (Zoolandia). 69

Survival vocabulary English

Finnish

Swedish

Bye bye

Hei hei / moi moi

Hej då

Cheers

Kippis

Skål

Cold

Kylmä

Kallt

Could you help me, please?

Voitko auttaa minua?

Kan du hjälpa mig?

Do you speak English?

Puhutko englantia?

Talar du engelska?

Goodbye

Näkemiin

Adjö

Good evening

Hyvää iltaa

God kväll

Good morning

Hyvää huomenta

God morgon

Good night

Hyvää yötä

God natt

Hello, hi

Hei / Moi / Terve / Päivää

Hej

How are you?

Mitä kuuluu?

Hur står det till?

How much?

Kuinka paljon?

Hur mycket?

How much does this cost?

Paljonko tämä maksaa?

Vad kostar det här?

I don’t like this

En pidä tästä

Jag tycker inte om det här

I have to go now

Minun täytyy nyt mennä

Jag måste gå nu

I like this

Pidän tästä

Jag tycker om det här

Let’s go!

Lähdetään!

Nu går vi!

My name is…

Nimeni on…

Jag heter…

Nice to meet you

Hauska tavata

Trevligt att träffas

Okay

Okei

Okej

No

Ei

Nej

No thank you

Ei kiitos

Nej tack

Road

Tie

Väg

See you

Nähdään

Vi ses

See you tomorrow

Nähdään huomenna

Vi ses i morgon

See you tonight

Nähdään illalla

Vi ses i kväll

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Sorry / excuse me

Anteeksi

Förlåt

Sorry, I don’t speak Finnish

Anteeksi, minä en puhu suomea

Tyvärr, jag talar inte finska

Sorry, I don’t speak Swedish

Anteeksi, minä en puhu ruotsia

Tyvärr, jag talar inte svenska

Sorry, I don’t understand

Anteeksi, minä en ymmärrä

Förlåt, men jag förstår inte

Straight ahead

Suoraan eteenpäin

Rakt framåt

Street

Katu

Gata

Take care!

Voi hyvin! / Pärjäile!

Sköt om dej!

Thank you

Kiitos

Tack

Toilet

WC

WC

To the left

Vasemmalle

Till vänster

To the right

Oikealle

Till höger

Warm

Lämmin

Varm

Welcome

Tervetuloa

Välkommen

What is this ?

Mitä tämä on?

Vad är detta?

What is your name?

Mikä sinun nimesi on ?

Vad heter du?

What time is it?

Mitä kello on?

Vad är klockan?

Where is …?

Missä on …?

Var är …?

Yes

Kyllä

Ja

one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten

yksi, kaksi, kolme, neljä, viisi kuusi, seitsemän, kahdeksan, yhdeksän, kymmenen

ett, två, tre, fyra, fem, sex, sju, åtta, nio, tio

twenty, fifty

kaksikymmentä, viisikymmentä

tjugo, femtio

Twenty-five, fifty-two

kaksikymmentäviisi, viisikymmentäkaksi

tjugofem, femtiotvå

a hundred, a thousand

sata, tuhat

hundra, tusen

Numbers

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Addresses and links

Embassies All embassies of the countries with which Finland has diplomatic relations and all the Finnish Diplomatic Missions abroad can be found on the internet at the Foreign Ministry’s website at http://www.formin.fi/missions.

Kela Centre for Student Financial Aid

P.O. Box 228, FIN-40101 Jyväskylä Tel. +358-20-434 6611 Fax +358-20-434 6710 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.kela.fi Local register offices

Other Authorites Directorate of Immigration

P.O.Box 18, FI-00581 Helsinki Customer Services: Lautatarhankatu 10 Tel. +358-9- 476 5500 Fax +358-9-4765 5858 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.uvi.fi Finnish ENIC/NARIC

(Europen Network of National Information Centres on Academic Recognition and Mobility / Network of National Academic Recognition Information Centres) Tel. +358-9-774 775 (National Board of Education), Fax +358-9-774 7201 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.oph.fi/info/recognition Kela (The Social Insurance

Institution of Finland) P.O. Box 450, FI-00101 Helsinki Tel. +358-20-43411 Fax +358-20-434 5058 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.kela.fi 72

Search for the contact information: http://www.maistraatti.fi → Yhteystiedot (in the box provided, write the name of the city where you are going to stay in Finland and you’ll get the contact information of the nearest office). Ministry of Education

P.O. Box 29, FI-00023 Government Street address: Meritullinkatu 10, Helsinki Tel. +358-9-16004 or 57814 Fax +358-9-135 9335 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.minedu.fi Ministry for Foreign Affairs

P.O. Box 176, FI-00161 Helsinki Street address: Merikasarmi, Laivastokatu 22 Tel. +358-9-16005 or 57815 (24-hour service +358-9-1605 5555), Fax +358-9-629 840 or 1605 5799 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.formin.fi Virtual Finland website at http://virtual.finland.fi

Ministry of Labour

P.O. Box 34, FI-00023 Government Street address: Eteläesplanadi 4, Helsinki Tel. +358-10-604 001 Fax +358-10-604 8990 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.mol.fi National Board of Customs

P.O. Box 512, FI-00101 Helsinki Street address: Erottajankatu 2 Tel. +358-9-6141 Fax +358-20-492 2852 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.tulli.fi National Board of Taxes

P.O. Box 325, FI-00052 Vero Street address: Haapaniemenkatu 4 A, Helsinki Information in English (Mon-Thu 9-15): Tel. +358-10-320 310 http://www.vero.fi

Grants, sholarships and exchange programmes Academy of Finland

P.O. Box 99, FI-00501 Helsinki Street address: Vilhonvuorenkatu 6 Tel. +358-9-774 881 Fax +358-9-7748 8299 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.aka.fi Centre for International Mobility CIMO

P.O. Box 343, FI-00531 Helsinki Street address: Hakaniemenkatu 2 Telephone service for international clients (Mon-Thu 10-12 and 13-15): +358-1080 6767 Tel. +358-9-7747 7033 (switchboard) Fax +358-9-7747 7064 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.cimo.fi Discover Finland website at http://finland.cimo.fi Finnish Cultural Foundation

Office of the Ombudsman for Minorities

P.O. Box 34, Ministry of Labour, FI-00023 Government Street address: Mikonkatu 4, Helsinki Tel. +358-9-16006 Fax +358-9-160 47002 http://www.mol.fi/vahemmistovaltuutettu

P.O. Box 203, FI-00121 Helsinki Street address: Bulevardi 5 A, 5th floor Tel. +358-9-612 810 Fax +358-9-640 474 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.skr.fi

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Finnish National Board of Education

P.O. Box 380, FI-00531 Helsinki Street address: Hakaniemenkatu 2 Tel. +358-9-774 775 Fax +358-9-7747 7865 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.oph.fi European Commission / Ploteus

at http://europa.eu.int/ploteus Lions Club at http://www.lions.org in your own country, region and municipality Rotary Club at http://www.rotary.org in your own country, region and municipality

her at airports, transport connections and also contact information for local tourist information services and the Helsinki-Vantaa airport’s timetables: Civil Aviation Administration

P.O. Box 50, FIN-01531 Vantaa Tel. +358-9-82771 or +358-9-61 511 Fax +358-9-8277 2099 Information on arrivals and departures at Helsinki-Vantaa airport 24h +358-200-1 4636 (EUR 0,57/min + local call charge) http://www.ilmailulaitos.fi Timetable search

http://www.amadeus.net/ Finnair

Travel and leisure Finnish Tourist Board / Tourist Information Office

Opening hours 1 October–30 April: Mon–Fri 9–17 2 May–30 September: Mon–Fri 9–17, Sat 11-15 Street address: Eteläesplanadi 4, Helsinki P.O. Box 249, FI-00131 Helsinki, Finland Tel. +358-9-4176 9300 Fax +358-9-4176 9301 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.finland-tourism.com Helsinki City Tourist & Convention Bureau

Pohjoiseplanadi 19, FI-00100 Helsinki Tel. +358-9-169 3757 Fax +358-9-169 3839 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.hel.fi/tourism All Finnish airports, operating airlines, weat74

Tel. +358-9- 818 81 (switchboard in Helsinki) 24 h service: schedules and seat availability for Finnair, oneworld and codeshare flights at Helsinki-Vantaa airport tel. +358-600 140 140 (EUR 1,64/answered call + local net charge for queueing) Fax / booking office: +358-9-81831 875 E-mail: [email protected] (prices and routing) http://www.finnair.com

Practical information

Busses and coaches:

Union of Finnish Polytechnic Students

Matkahuolto

(SAMOK)

P.O. Box 111, FI-00201 Helsinki Tel. +358-9-682 701 fax. +358-9-692 2082, or +358-9-692 2864 National timetable service tel. 0200 4000 (EUR 1,64 / call + local telephone charges) http://www.matkahuolto.fi

Mäkelänkatu 56, 3th floor, FI-00510 Helsinki Tel. +358-20-756 9660 Fax +358-20-756 9669 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.samok.fi

VR Ltd, Finnish Railways PO Box 488, FI-00101 Helsinki Telephone service +358-600 41 902 (EUR 1 + Inc.) E-mail: [email protected] http://www.vr.fi

Sea connections to Finland

Check the routes and operating companies the Finnish Tourist Board’s Finland Travel Guide at http://www.finland-tourism.com

Student organisations National Union of Students in Finland (SYL)

Kalevankatu 3 A 46, FI-00100 Helsinki Tel. +358-9-680 3110 Fax +358-9-680 31131 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.syl.helsinki.fi

Healthcare Healthcare services for university students: Finnish Student Health Service FSHS (YTHS in Finnish)

Main office: Töölönkatu 37 A, FI-00260 Helsinki Tel. +358-9-405 051 Fax +358-9-405 0500 http://www.yths.fi Help for foreigners living in Finland to cope with psychological and social problems: SOS Center

Maistraatinpoirtti 4 A FI-00240 Helsinki Tel. +358-9-41350 510 http://www.mielenterveysseura.fi (The Finnish Association for Mental Health) Student crisis prevention centre for university students: Nyyti ry

Rikhardinkatu 4 B, 3rd floor, FI-00130 Helsinki Tel. +358-9-684 0660 Fax +358-9-6840 6677 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.nyyti.fi

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Ministry of Social Affairs and Health at

Other organisations

http://www.stm.fi Association of Summer Universities Kela (Social Insurance Institution of Finland) at http://www.kela.fi The European health insurance card at http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/ healthcard/index_en.html

in Finland

Rautatienkatu 26 A 4, FI-33100 Tampere Tel. +358-3-214 7626 Fax. +358-3-214 7629 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.kesayliopistot.fi International Cultural Centre Caisa

Accommodation Students should contact first the international office of their chosen institution in Finland. See Finnish Universities, websites and Finnish Polytehcnics, websites.

Mikonkatu 17 C / Vuorikatu 14 FI-00099 Helsinki Tel. +358-9-169 3885 http://kulttuuri.hel.fi/caisa

Finnish Universities, websites Finland’s Student Housing Ltd (SOA Oy)

Kalevankatu 4 A 16, FI-00100 Helsinki Tel. +358-9-6803 3451 Fax +358-9-6803 3452 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.soa.fi HOAS—Foundation for Student Housing in the Helsinki region

Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 29, FI-00100 Helsinki E-mail: [email protected] http://www.hoas.fi

Multi-faculty universities

University of Helsinki, http://www.helsinki.fi University of Joensuu, http://www.joensuu.fi University of Jyväskylä, http://www.jyu.fi University of Kuopio, http://www.uku.fi University of Lapland, http://www.ulapland.fi University of Oulu, http://www.oulu.fi University of Tampere, http://www.uta.fi University of Turku, http://www.utu.fi University of Vaasa, http://www.uwasa.fi Åbo Akademi University, http://www.abo.fi Universities of Technology

The Finnish Youth Hostel Association-SRM

Yrjönkatu 38 B 15, FI-00100 Helsinki Tel. +358-9-565 7150 Fax +358-9-565 71510 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.srmnet.org

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Helsinki University of Technology, http://www.hut.fi Lappeenranta University of Technology, http://www.lut.fi Tampere University of Technology, http://www.tut.fi

Practical information Schools of Economics and Business Administration

HANKEN Swedish School of Economics and Business Administration, http://www.hanken.fi Helsinki School of Economics and Business Administration, http://www.hkkk.fi Turku School of Economics and Business Administration, http://www.tukkk.fi Art Academies

Academy of Fine Arts, http://www.kuva.fi Sibelius Academy, http://www.siba.fi The Theatre Academy of Finland, http://www.teak.fi Universtity of Art and Design Helsinki UIAH, http://www.uiah.fi

Finnish Polytechnics, websites Arcada Polytechnic, http://www.arcada.fi Central Ostrobothnia Polytechnic, http://www.cop.fi Diaconia Institute of Higher Education in Finland, http://www.diak.fi Espoo-Vantaa Institute of Technology, http://www.evitech.fi Haaga Institute Polytechnic, http://www.hiamk.fi Helsinki Business Polytechnic Helia, http://www.helia.fi

Helsinki Polytechnic Stadia, http://www.stadia.fi Humanities Polytechnic Institute of Studies of Human Relations and activities, http://www.humak.edu Häme Polytechnic, http://www.hamk.fi Jyväskylä Polytechnic, http://www.jypoly.fi Kajaani Polytechnic, http://www.kajak.fi Kemi-Tornio Polytechnic, http://www.tokem.fi Kymenlaakso Polytechnic, http://plaza.kyamk.fi Lahti Polytechnic, http://www.lamk.fi Laurea Polytechnic, http://www.laurea.fi Mikkeli Polytechnic, http://www.mikkeliamk.fi North Carelia Polytechnic, http://www.ncp.fi North-Savo Polytechnic, http://www.pspt.fi Oulu Polytechnic, http://www.oamk.fi Pirkanmaa Polytechnic, http://www.piramk.fi Rovaniemi Polytechnic, http://www.ramk.fi Satakunta Polytechnic, http://www.spt.fi Seinäjoki Polytechnic, http://www.seamk.fi South Carelia Polytechnic, http://www.scp.fi Swedish Polytechnic, Finland, http://www.syh.fi Sydväst Polytechnic, http://www.sydvast.fi Tampere Polytechnic, http://www.tpu.fi Turku Polytechnic, http://www.turkuamk.fi Vaasa Polytechnic, http://www.puv.fi/suomi

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Finland facts and figures Official name Republic of Finland (in Finnish Suomi) Population 5,2 million (end 2001) Total area 338,145 square kilometres (land area 304, 473 km 2). Second most northern country in the world after Iceland; 70% forest and 10% water (187,888 lakes, 5,100 rapids and 179,584 islands and Europe’s largest archipelago). Neighbouring countries Sweden (common land border 614 km); Norway (common land border 736 km); Russia (common land border 1,340 km); Estonia (across the Gulf of Finland). Coastline 1,100 km Length of the country 1,160 km Population density Approximately 17 inhabitants per square kilometre Population in urban areas 67% of the population lives in towns and cities. Foreigners in Finland Approximately 107,000 people (end 2003) Languages Finnish (92%) and Swedish (5,5%) are the official languages. Sámi (formerly Lappish) is the mother tongue of 0.03% of Finns. Climate The climate of Finland is marked by distinctive seasonal variations. Winters are cold and summers relatively warm. Local Time +2 hrs GMT Head of State The President of the Republic, elected for a six-year term by direct popular vote. (The next presidential elections will be held in 2006.) National Legislature Finland has a unicameral parliament with 200 members, who are elected for a four-year term by direct popular vote under a system of proportional representation. (The next parliamentary elections will be held in 2007.) Major cities (in 2003/2004) Helsinki, the capital, population approximately 560,000; Helsinki metropolitan area (including the neighbouring towns of Espoo, Kauniainen and Vantaa) population approximately 1.2 million; Espoo, population 224,000; Tampere, population 201,000; Vantaa, population 184,000; Turku, population 175,000. Finland in the International Community Member of the EU, UN, OECD, and WTO, among others. Major Exports Electronic and electrical products, pulp and paper, machinery and equipment, metal products, transport vehicles, timber and wood, chemicals. Currency Euro GDP EUR 142,5 billion GDP per capita EUR 26,800 Further information Finland in Figures (Statistics Finland at http://www.stat.fi/tk/tp/tasku/ suomilukuina_en.html) or Virtual Finland by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs at http://virtual.finland.fi

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Centre for International Mobility CIMO P.O. Box 343 (Hakaniemenkatu 2) FI-00531 Helsinki, Finland Tel. +358-9-7747 7033 Fax +358-9-7747 7064 E-mail [email protected] http://finland.cimo.fi (Discover Finland) Telephone service for international clients: +358-1080 6767 (Mon–Thu 10.00–12.00 and 13.00–15.00)