Finland is a great place to study medicine and a popular choice for international students due to its cheap tuition fees and wide range of scholarships. In this article, you will find a curated list of the best medical schools in Finland and other details to help you get into the school.
According to the World Atlas, Finland has a literacy rate of 100% and places great emphasis on education. Public universities are free for residents and students from the EU/EEA region, so no need to worry about tuition fees, and just focus on your studies. This is a big plus for the country’s literacy rate, and it also encourages citizens to earn degrees in their favorite subjects.
Finnish higher education institutions offer a wide range of common degree programs such as business, medicine, social sciences, and more. A wide range of degree programs and free to cheap tuition fees make it an ideal location for EU/EEA students. There are also scholarships and cheap universities in Finland for international students from non-EU/EEA areas, which is another attraction.
Besides these, another attraction is that it has a large number of courses taught in English.
Finland’s official languages are Finnish and Swedish, which are the common languages of instruction at all universities. However, to accommodate foreigners, Finnish higher education institutions offer more than 500 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs taught in English, as well as doctoral study and research options, according to the Study in Finland website.
The best medical schools in Finland have been curated in this article, which you will find useful whether you are a resident or an aspiring international student who wants to pursue a career in medicine. You can also expand your options for applying to medical schools for Europe, the US and other Asian countries.
However, if your dream is to study medicine in Finland, here are some important things to be aware of and the right medical schools you can apply to.
Is Finland a good place to study medicine?
As I mentioned before, Finland places great emphasis on education and on producing strong, well-prepared doctors who can take on their respective medical roles and perform them with maximum efficiency. According to Freopp.org, Finland ranks 21st in the 2021 World Medical Innovation Index.
As for the medical schools in Finland, their medical education has some prestige. US News & World Report ranks the University of Helsinki’s medical program as the 93rd best university for clinical medicine, with other universities at 200+ and 300th.
Plus, it’s a beautiful country, it’s safe, the institutions of higher learning are some of the best in the world, and tuition is mostly free for students. With these statistics, you should be able to deduce for yourself whether Finland is a good place to study medicine.
The cost of studying medicine in Finland
Medical school in Finland is free for residents and students from the EU/EEA area, however, international students from non-EU/EEA areas pay an average of EUR 13,000 per year for medical education in Finland.
Finnish Medical School Requirements
The basic requirements for studying medicine in Finland are:
- High school diploma or equivalent must be translated into Finnish or Swedish
- take the entrance exam
- A copy of your passport, ID card or residence permit may be required
- SAT scores may be required.
- NEFT’s scorecard (if required)
- Code of Conduct Certificate
- sign the application form
- Documents showing proof of funds
- Physical examination results
- Transcripts from high school and/or other schools
- Must be at least 17 years old.
- recommendation letter
Whether you’re an international or domestic applicant, there are certain “secret” strategies, guidelines, and helpful tips you need to know when applying to medical school anywhere in the world to increase your chances of admission. I’ve included it in my article here.
5 medical schools in Finland
According to U.S. News & World Report and my own findings, here are the best medical schools in Finland:
- University of Eastern Finland Faculty of Medicine
- University of Helsinki Faculty of Medicine
- University of Oulu Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University of Applied Sciences
- Turku University Faculty of Medicine
1. University of Eastern Finland Faculty of Medicine
The University of Eastern Finland’s Faculty of Medicine is one of the top medical schools in Finland, ranked 380th in the world by US News & World Report’s Best Universities for Clinical Medicine. The school is divided into four units:
- Institute of Biomedicine
- Dental Institute
- Institute of Public Health and
- Institute of Clinical Medicine.
Through these faculties, the UEF Faculty of Medicine offers Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes, professional and scientific postgraduate education and professional studies. Only two of its medical programs are taught in English, the master’s degree in public health and the master’s degree in biomedicine.
The school offers an undergraduate medical degree called medical licensure, which takes 6 years to complete.
2. University of Helsinki Faculty of Medicine
The University of Helsinki is the best institution of higher learning in Finland and its medical school, which is also the best in the country and one of the best in the world. The medical school is ranked 93rd in the world by US News & World Report’s Best Universities for Clinical Medicine. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate education in medicine, dentistry, psychology and translational medicine.
Its medical and dental programs are taught in Finnish and Swedish, the only medical school in the country to do so. Doctoral research programs are also offered at the University of Helsinki Faculty of Medicine.
3. University of Oulu Faculty of Medicine
According to US News & World Report, the University of Oulu School of Medicine ranks 333rd among the best universities in the world for clinical medicine. This makes it one of the best medical schools in Europe and Finland. The school is adjacent to Oulu University Hospital.
The University of Oulu School of Medicine offers MD and DDS degrees, as well as master’s programs in nursing, health management and biomedical engineering.
4. Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University of Applied Sciences
Tampere University Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology is one of the best medical schools in Finland and the world, ranked 441st in the US News & World Report Best Universities for Clinical Medicine category. The college offers education in the fields of biomedical engineering, biotechnology, medicine and health technology.
All medical courses are taught in Finnish and you must be able to speak the language fluently in order to be admitted.
5. University of Turku Faculty of Medicine
The University of Turku Faculty of Medicine is one of the top medical universities in Finland and the world, ranked 225th in the US News & World Report Best Universities for Clinical Medicine category. The School of Medicine focuses on multidisciplinary studies and offers medical licensure or dental programs and other master’s programs.
Only four master’s degrees are taught in English, while the others and all other undergraduate degrees are taught in Finnish.
These are 5 medical schools in Finland with their details to help you make a more informed decision as to which medical school to send your application to. More questions are answered in the FAQ below.
Medical Schools in Finland – Frequently Asked Questions
[sc_fs_multi_faq header-0=”h3″ question-0=”Are there any medical schools in Finland that teach in English?” answer-0=”The University of Turku’s medical school teaches in English.” image-0=”” header-1= “h3″ question-1=”Can international students apply to medical schools in Finland?” answer-1=”Yes, international students can apply to medical programs in Finland if they speak the language fluently.” image-1=” ” header-2=”h3″ question-2=”How long is medical school in Finland?” answer-2=”Medical education in Finland takes 6 years to complete.” image-2=”” header-3= “h3″ question-3=”Is medical school in Finland free?” answer-3=”Medical school in Finland is free for Finnish residents and students from the EU/EEA area, but other foreign students have to pay tuition fees
