Medicine is a very prestigious and sought-after profession that involves a rigorous process of becoming a licensed practitioner but with the right study destination, the study could be less cumbersome and even fun. When it comes to studying medicine, the medical schools in Finland are a perfect option. Here is why.
Finland is a beautiful country with a distinct and historic culture, beautiful architecture, and a fascinating way of life.
The Republic of Finland is a Nordic nation located in northern Europe and is the 8th largest country on the continent. Finland is considered the second happiest nation on earth, which will surely please incoming international students in Finland.
International students studying in Finland who love the outdoors will feel right at home. There are a number of exciting activities available to students including skiing, golfing, fishing, lake activities like water skiing, boating and kayaking.
Finnish cuisine is quite delicious and students will be excited to taste plenty of them. Students who like sports will also enjoy Finland, as winter sports like skiing and snowboarding, and ice hockey are very popular in the country.
Finland is home to some very exceptional colleges with an array of degree programs. Finland is also considered to have one of the best, if not the top, education systems in the world. One of the most unique and greatest things for international students in Finland is the cutting-edge educational system and the low tuition cost.
For EU/EEA nationals, medical school tuition is free in Finland. However, international students will be expected to pay for tuition. On average, the cost of tuition can be around 13,000 € per year for non-EU students.
Finally, medical practitioners are in high demand and earn hugely in Finland. The average pay for a Physician is €158,533 a year and €76 an hour in Finland. The average salary range for a Physician is between €105,266 and €201,655 with a Doctorate Degree earning the highest.
Studying Medicine in Finland
More than just being a beautiful country, Finland proves to be an ideal location for international students as well.
With its cheap (oftentimes free) tuition, it continues to attract applicants from all over the world.
What are the requirements to study medicine in Finland?
The basic requirement for studying medicine in Finland is a high school diploma, which should be translated into either Finnish or Swedish.
Apart from this, students also need to undergo an entrance exam. Since this is held simultaneously by Finnish medical schools, this means that the student can only apply to one school at any given time.
A copy of the applicant’s passport, ID, or residence permit card is also needed. It may require SAT results as well. Admission is based on the combined scores of the student’s matriculation certificate and entrance test results.
Medical schools primarily have their curriculum in Finnish. However, some universities also offer a course that utilizes both Finnish and Swedish.
As such, applicants must demonstrate proficiency in either Finnish or Swedish to study medicine in Finland, as this is especially needed during hospital training.
To study medicine in Finland, you need to apply for a 6-year undergraduate program that leads to a Licentiate Degree in Medicine.
Those who have completed schooling for at least 2 years are entitled to use the ‘Bachelor in Medicine’.
The first three years of the curriculum cover the scientific bases of medicine and research.
Other courses cover the aspects of disease prevention and health promotion. The first three years include subjects in Anatomy, Biology, Biochemistry, Physiology, Psychology, Pathology, Microbiology, and Pharmacology, to name a few.
Clinical education, on the other hand, runs from the fourth to sixth year. Here, students train in health centers and hospitals where they take part in patient care.
Here, they get to improve their interaction skills as well. Another requirement that medical students must submit is a dissertation. This may include research work, seminar work, and/or section completions.
The University of Helsinki for one offers an MD-Ph.D. program to eligible students. Only 10 candidates are chosen from the pool of first-year students from the Medical and Dental programs.
This allows the student to start with doctoral research after completing his/her first year at the university.
Medical students are allowed to work as temporary doctors under the supervision of a licensed physician after studying medicine in Finland.
This is granted that they have finished at least 5 years of study. Those who have completed 4 years of study can also work as temporary doctors in a health center ward or a specialized medical care unit under the supervision of licensed doctors.
However, there is a need to complete an internship and pass a three-part exam to receive a complete license or authorization to practice and specialize in any of the 50 medical disciplines.
Physicians can take the licensing exam a maximum of 10 times. After failing 3 consecutive times, the doctor must sit for a year before he/she can try again.
A doctor may be entitled to a conditional license after passing the first exam. Given this, the doctor can practice in a hospital operated by a public body.
After passing the second test, the physician will also be allowed to practice in a health center. These conditional licenses are only valid for a maximum of 2 years. Below is a list of universities with the best medical schools in Finland.
The List of Medical Schools in Finland
- University of Helsinki
- University of Turku
- University of Eastern Finland
- University of Oulu
- University of Tampere
- University of Jyvaskyla
- Abo Akademi University
- Aalto University
University of Helsinki
- Website: www.helsinki.fi
The University of Helsinki, in Finnish: Helsingin yliopisto, in Swedish: Helsingfors universitet, abbreviated UH is a public research university located in Helsinki, Finland since 1829, but founded in the city of Turku (in Swedish Åbo) in 1640 as the Royal Academy of Åbo, at that time part of the Swedish Empire.
It is the oldest and largest university in Finland with the widest range of disciplines available. The University of Helsinki is internationally renowned for high-quality teaching, research, and innovation.
UH mission is to conduct high-quality research and provide research-based undergraduate and postgraduate education in medicine and dentistry.
The Faculty educates health care specialists, including physicians, dentists, psychologists and speech therapists as well as Master’s degree holders in translational medicine.
Also, the faculty of Medicine is part of the Academic Medical Center Helsinki (AMCH), one of the best medical campuses in Europe.
Ranking: For Medicine:
- #1 in Finland
- #24 in Europe
- #98 in the World
Programs offered: The University of Helsinki faculty of medicine provides education in the degree programs like Medicine and Dentistry, bachelor’s and Master’s Programs in Psychology and Logopedics, and the Master’s Program in Translational Medicine.
The Faculty also provides postgraduate research education.
Admission requirements: with an acceptance rate of 17% the University of Helsinki is considered very competitive with the following requirements: GPA: 3.00, IB: 30, Average Entrance Score: 75, IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 92.
Tuition: The tuition fees for the University of Helsinki Master’s Programs in English are 13,000, 15,000 and 18,000 EUR per academic year, depending on the program.
The fee for Bachelor’s Program in Science is 13,000 EUR per academic year. Tuition is free for certain students. To see if you fit into the criteria click here.
University of Turku
- Website: www.uta.fi
The University of Turku, in Finnish: Turun yliopisto, in Swedish: Åbo universitet, shortened UTU located in Turku in southwestern Finland and is the third largest university in the country as measured by student enrollment, after the University of Helsinki and Tampere University.
It was established in 1920. The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Turku is an internationally successful research and teaching unit which works in close collaboration with regional, national, and international partners.
Ranking: For Medicine:
- #2 in Finland
- #102 in Europe
- #293 in the World
Programs offered: the University of Turku – Faculty of Medicine offers Master’s degrees that include the Licentiate in Medicine and Dentistry.
Students can also take up a Bachelor/Master of Health Sciences degree as well as a Master Program in Health Biosciences.
The medium of instruction is Finnish and it is mandatory that the students be proficient in the language, in order to gain admission to the programs.
Admission requirements: The main criterion for admission is examination results. The University of Turku is one of the most selective universities in the world, accepting 1 out of 5 students who submitted the application. Click here to see all requirements and to also apply.
Tuition: Master’s Degree Program in Biomedical Sciences € 12,000, Master’s Degree Program in Future Health and Technology € 2,000, Master’s Degree Program in Human Neurosciences € 10,000.
Fees do not apply to citizens, students from the European Union (EU) countries and the European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland and also transfer students, regardless of their citizenship as well as doctoral programs. Access scholarship aids here.
University of Eastern Finland
- Website: www.uef.fi
The University of Eastern Finland (Finnish: Itä-Suomen yliopisto) is a university in Finland founded in 2010 with campuses in Joensuu and Kuopio.
The University of Eastern Finland is considered to be one of the most prestigious universities on the planet, securing a place in the top 5% of the world’s best universities.
The School of Medicine is a multidisciplinary educational and research institution of the University of Eastern Finland.
Ranking: For Medicine:
- #3 in Finland
- #112 in Europe
- #312 in the World
Programs offered: UEF School of Medicine organizes tuition in the fields of Medicine, Dentistry, Biomedicine, Nutrition and Health Promotion.
In addition to Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs, they offer professional and scientific postgraduate education and specialization studies.
The School of Medicine is also an active international educator. UEF offers two English-language Master’s degree programs: the Master’s Degree Program in Public Health and the Master’s Degree Program in Biomedicine.
Admission requirements: acceptance rate is 21% and fairly competitive with the following requirements: GPA: 2.5, IB: 27.
Tuition: The non-European citizens studying for an international Bachelor’s or Master’s degree have fees that vary from 8,000 to 10,000 € per year depending on the program.
The university offers tuition waivers and scholarships for international degree students required to pay tuition fees. There are no tuition fees for EU and EEA citizens. See details here
University of Oulu
- Website: www.oulu.fi
The University of Oulu, in Finnish: Oulun yliopisto is one of the largest universities in Finland, located in the city of Oulu. It was founded in 1958.
The university’s Faculty of Medicine is ranked as one of the best medical schools in Finland and in the top 400 worldwide.
The Faculty of Medicine, an integral part of the Kontinkangas Life Sciences Campus, is situated next to the University Hospital of Oulu.
The faculty provides versatile education in the field of health sciences. In addition to MD and DDS degrees, students can complete Master’s level education in nursing science, health management science, teacher education in health science, and medical bioengineering.
Ranking: For Medicine:
- #4 in Finland
- #125 in Europe
- #348 in the World
Programs offered: University of Oulu – Faculty of Medicine offers students three basic degree programs, the Licentiate in Dentistry, Medicine and the Master of Health Care program.
Students are educated using a balanced combination of theory classes and clinical practicum and are trained by being made to attend lectures and by participating in patient examinations.
Admission requirements: candidates are to apply online by presenting the following: High school or equivalent, final transcript of records, English Language Proficiency, TOEFL IBT-580, IELTS:6.5. See all requirements, tuition, and scholarship information here
University of Tampere
- Website: www.tuni.fi
Tampere University in Finnish: Tampereen yliopisto, shortened TAU is a public Finnish university that was established in 2019 as a merger between the University of Tampere and Tampere University of Technology.
University of Tampere – Medical School is one of the prestigious institutions in Finland, offering students a chance to train as qualified health care practitioners and researchers.
The Medical School has established close The Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology (MET) is dedicated to pursuing world-class research and delivering high-quality education in the fields of biomedical engineering, biotechnology, medicine, and health technology
Ranking: For Medicine:
- #5 in Finland
- #131 in Europe
- #370 in the World
Programs offered: University of Tampere – Medical School offers students the chance to take up programs that can lead to a Licentiate in Medicine, which takes 6 years to complete, and a Master of Science in the fields of Biochemistry, Nursing, and Public Health. Students can take up a Doctorate degree program in Public Health, Medical Sciences, Nursing and Philosophy.
The faculty has formed an alliance with the Faculty of Medicine at Maastricht University in the Netherlands, facilitating students.
Admission requirements: the University of Tampere is considered highly competitive with an acceptance rate of only 5% with the following average academic scores required, TOEFL IBT-70, PBT- 580, IELTS- 6.5. See all requirements for various degree programs here.
Tuition: see tuition fees and free-tuition eligibility criteria here.
University of Jyvaskyla
- Website: www.jyu.fi
The University of Jyväskylä (Finnish: Jyväskylän yliopisto) is a research university in Jyväskylä, Finland.
It has its origins in the first Finnish-speaking Teacher Training College (the so-called Teacher Seminary), founded in 1863.
The University of Jyväskylä is a nationally and internationally significant research university and an expert on education that focuses on human and natural sciences, one of the largest and most popular multidisciplinary universities in Finland.
Ranking: For Medicine:
- #6 in Finland
- #214 in Europe
- #629 in the World
Programs offered: In addition to sports sciences, the subjects which can only be studied at the medical faculty include the following subjects in health sciences: physiotherapy, gerontology and public health, sports medicine, and health education.
Admission requirements: see all admission requirements, selection criteria, tuition, scholarships and also apply here.
Abo Akademi University
- Website: www.abo.fi
Åbo Akademi University, in Swedish: Åbo Akademi ˈǒːbʊ akadɛˈmi, in Finland Swedish: ‘oːbu ɑkɑdeˈmiː is the only exclusively Swedish language multi-faculty university in Finland or anywhere outside Sweden. It is located mainly in Turku but has also activities in Vaasa.
Ranking: For Medicine:
- #7 in Finland
- #347 in Europe
- #1111 in the World
Admission requirements: the following are average score requirements GPA: 2.7, IBT: 30, IELT: 6.5, TOEFL: 92. See all requirements here.
Tuition: Citizens of non-EU/EEA countries, who do not have permanent residence status in Finland, are liable to pay tuition fees. See tuition details and apply here.
Aalto University
- Website: www.aalto.fi
Aalto University, in Finnish: Aalto-yliopisto, in Swedish: Aalto-Universitetet is a public research university located in Espoo, Finland.
It was established in 2010 as a merger of three major Finnish universities: the Helsinki University of Technology, the Helsinki School of Economics and the University of Art and Design Helsinki.
The close collaboration between the scientific, business, and arts communities is intended to foster multi-disciplinary education and research.
Ranking: For medicine:
- #8 in Finland
- #496 in Europe
- #1791 in the World
Programs offered: Aalto University offer the following medical programs: biomedical imaging, pharmaceutical development & medical technology and nursing.
Admission requirements: with an acceptance Rate 15% Aalto university admission is considered very competitive with the following average academic scores required for admission, GPA: 3.00, IB: 30, IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 92, SAT: 1300.
Tuition: find all tuition information here.
FAQs
Can I study Medicine in English in Finland?
You can study virtually any academic subject in Finland. Finnish universities have been expanding the number of study programs offered in English to attract more international students.
There are now more than 600 study programs at the Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate levels, and the number is growing every year.
Is Finland Good for Medical?
Finland is one of the best destinations to study medicine for International students. It enables the students to have brighter career growth after studying MBBS in Finland.
It provides both practical and theoretical education which empower students to become successful practitioners.
Which Country is Best for Studying Medicine?
The United States of America. The US, without a doubt, is the best country to study medicine. Following the QS Top Universities ranking.
How Long Does it Take to Study Medicine in Finland?
6-7 years from the time of medical school admission to becoming a doctor in Finland.