Top 5 Medical Schools In Finland

Finland is a great place to study medicine and a popular choice among international students due to its cheap tuition and multiple scholarship offerings. In this article, you will find a curated list of the best medical schools in Finland and other details that will facilitate your entry into the schools.

With a literacy rate of 100%, according to World Atlas, Finland places great importance on education. Public universities are free to residents and students from EU/EEA regions, so there is no need to worry about tuition but just concentrate on studies. This is a big plus on the literacy rate in the country and it also encourages the citizens to get a degree in their favorite disciplines.

Higher institutions in Finland offer varieties of degree programs that are common such as business, medicine, social sciences, and so on. The vast degree program offerings coupled with free to cheap tuition makes it an ideal location for EU/EEA students. There are also scholarships and cheap universities in Finland for international students from non-EU/EEA regions, which is another side attraction.

Aside from these, another attraction is its vast number of programs that are taught in the English language.

The official languages of Finland are Finnish and Swedish and are the common languages of instruction in all the universities. However, in order to accommodate foreigners, Finnish higher education institutions are offering 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.

Curated in this post are the best medical schools in Finland, whether you are a resident or an aspiring international student who wants to pursue a career in medicine, you will find this post useful. You can also expand your options of medical schools to apply for in Europe, the US, and other Asian countries.

However, if it is your dream to study medicine in Finland then here are some of the important things to note down and the right medical schools where you can apply for.

Is Finland A Good Place To Study Medicine?

As I mentioned earlier, Finland places great importance on education and also on developing strong, well-prepared physicians that can take up respective medical roles and carry out their duties with the utmost efficiency. According to Freopp.org, Finland ranks #21 in the 2021 World Index of Healthcare Innovation.

As for the medical schools in Finland, there is some prestige around their medical education. The US News & World Reports ranks the University of Helsinki medical program at #93 in Best Universities for Clinical Medicine, while the others are in the #200+ and #300 rankings.

Furthermore, it is a beautiful country, it is safe, higher institutions are among the world’s best, and tuition is mostly free to cheap for students. With these statistics, you should be able to deduce on your own whether Finland is a good place to study medicine or not.

Cost of Studying Medicine in Finland

Medical school in Finland is free for residents and students from EU/EEA regions, however, international students from non-EU/EEA regions pay an average of €13,000 per year for medical education in Finland.

Requirements for Medical Schools in Finland

The basic requirements for studying medicine in Finland are:

  • A high school diploma or its equivalent must be translated either into Finnish or Swedish
  • Undergo the entrance exam
  • A copy of your passport, ID, or residence permit card may be needed
  • SAT scores may be required.
  • A scorecard of NEFT (if required)
  • A certificate of code of conduct
  • Complete application form
  • Documents showing proof of funds
  • Medical checkup result
  • Transcripts from high school and/or other schools attended
  • Must be, at least, 17 years old.
  • Recommendation letters

There are certain ‘secret’ strategies, guides, as well as helpful tips, you need to know when applying for a medical school anywhere in the world to increase your chances of getting accepted whether you are an international or domestic applicant. I have exposed these secrets in my article here.

medical schools in Finland

5 Medical Schools in Finland

According to the US News & World Report and my personal findings, the following are the best medical schools in Finland:

  • The University of Eastern Finland School of Medicine
  • The University of Helsinki Faculty of Medicine
  • The University of Oulu Faculty of Medicine
  • Tampere University of Applied Sciences Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology
  • The University of Turku Faculty of Medicine

1.     The University of Eastern Finland School of Medicine

The School of Medicine at the University of Eastern Finland is one of the top medical colleges in Finland, ranked #380 in the world by the US News & World Report for best universities in clinical medicine. The school is divided into four units:

  • The Institute of Biomedicine
  • The Institute of Dentistry
  • The Institute of Public Health and
  • The Institute of Clinical Medicine.

Through these institutes, UEF School of Medicine offers bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, professional and scientific postgraduate education, and specialization studies. Only two of its medical programs are taught in English, the masters degree in public health and the masters degree in biomedicine.

The school offers an undergraduate medical degree known as Licentiate of Medicine that takes 6 years to complete.

2.     The University of Helsinki Faculty of Medicine

The University of Helsinki is the best higher institution in Finland and its medical school, the Faculty of Medicine is also the best in the country and one of the best in the world. The medical school is ranked #93 in the world by the US News & World Report for best universities in clinical medicine. It offers undergraduate and graduates education in medicine, dentistry, psychology, and translational medicine.

Its medicine and dentistry programs are taught in Finnish and Swedish languages and are 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.     The University of Oulu Faculty of Medicine

According to the US News & World Report, the University of Oulu Faculty of Medicine is among the best in the world for best universities in clinical medicine, ranking at #333. This makes it one of the best medical schools in Europe and in Finland. The school is situated next to the University Hospital of Oulu.

The University of Oulu Faculty of Medicine provides MD and DDS degrees, as well as master’s level programs in nursing, health management, and biomedical engineering.

4.     Tampere University of Applied Sciences Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology

The Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology at Tampere University is among the best medical schools in Finland and in the globe, ranked #441 by the US News & World Report in the category of best universities for clinical medicine. The faculty offers education in the fields of biomedical engineering, biotech, medicine, and health technology.

All the medical programs are taught in Finnish and you must be able to speak the language fluently to be admitted into the program.

5.     The University of Turku Faculty of Medicine

The University of Turku Faculty of Medicine is one of the top medical universities in Finland and in the world, ranking at #225 in the category of best universities for clinical medicine by the US News & World Report. The faculty of medicine focuses on multidisciplinary studies and offers a Licentiate of Medicine or Dentistry program and other master’s level programs.

Only four master’s degrees are taught in English, while the others and all other undergraduate degrees are taught in Finnish.

These are all 5 medical schools in Finland with their details to help you make better-informed decisions on which of the medical schools you will be sending your applications to. Further questions are answered in the FAQs below.

Medical Schools in Finland – FAQs

[sc_fs_multi_faq headline-0=”h3″ question-0=”Are there medical schools in Finland that teach in English?” answer-0=” The University of Turku, Faculty of Medicine teaches in English.” image-0=”” headline-1=”h3″ question-1=”Can international students apply for medical schools in Finland?” answer-1=” Yes, international students can apply for medical programs in Finland if they can speak the language fluently.” image-1=”” headline-2=”h3″ question-2=”How long is medical school in Finland?” answer-2=” Medical education in Finland takes 6 years to complete.” image-2=”” headline-3=”h3″ question-3=”Is medical school free in Finland?” answer-3=” Medical school in Finland is free to Finland residents and students from EU/EEA regions but other foreign students must pay tuition.” image-3=”” count=”4″ html=”true” css_class=””]

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