Travelling to Helsinki: Routes and some tips to avoid hassle

I believe, you should have visited a couple of travel agents by now and query about flight booking. So, as you might have noticed by now that the cheapest flights to travel to Finland is via Delhi either by AeroFlot or Finn Air or Austrian Air.
Following are the most common routes Nepalese Students follow while travelling to Finland:

• Kathmandu - Delhi - Helsinki (Finn Air) 
• Good: Cheap and Best, Very good Service, Transit in only one place: Delhi
• Bad: Very long transit (about 15 hours) while travelling from Kathmandu to Helsinki
• My Preference: FIRST
• Kathmandu - Delhi - Paris - Helsinki (KLM and Air France) 
• Good: Relatively affordable price, Good Service
• Bad: Transits in two places: Delhi and Paris
• My Preference: SECOND
• Kathmandu - Delhi - Istanbul - Helsinki (Turkish Air) 
• Good: Relatively cheaper price, Good Service 
• Bad: Transits in two places: Delhi and Istanbul
• My Preference: SECOND
  

Read more »

Learning FINNISH language

I am republishing this post since many requested to post some good links and books that can help them to learn Finnish Language before arrival to Finland.

I don't think there are any good Finnish learning center in Kathmandu. Please check it once on Bishwa Bhasa college, it might have, but I don't know. Else, there are no other institutions  which offers Finnish language.

So, the best way to learn Finnish is to learn online or by buying some good books.

Following are links of some selected books to buy for beginners:

• Finnish for Foreigners 1
• Beginner's Finnish (with 2 CDs)
• Say It in Finnish
• Spoken Finnish
• Finnish-English / English-Finnish Dictionary

Following are some links for learning Finnish:

• Tamy
• Tampare University of Technology Links
• There are some links here as well: TKK's Finnish Course Links"> TKK's Finnish

Read more »

Finland is not ready for international students

- By Undisclosed Author

(Identity of the author is kept secret on request)

"Hell ! I just wanna get out of this city, its so crowded, much crowded. Though it is my own hometown, my Dhaka, but I really can not tolerate uncertain future caused with unstable and statelessness of Bangladesh"

Exactly, it was my motivation to leave Bangladesh in 2004. It had been about complete six years now, but this country,Finland, does not make me feel like my own. 

When I arrived here, I just loved it. I just wanted to hug it on a whole. I came here for my Master's Degree. I did not realize when two years passed while struggling with damn freezing cold winters and bright, sunny and greenery summers. It is a gifted land on Summer while tragic on winters. Education is comparatively average while compared with other European countries except it is absolutely free here. If somebody asks me today to list topmost five reasons to choose Finland on European or American continent for study purpose, I would say, topmost four reasons are just because it is free education. Fifth least priority reason could be it is a safe country. I said it is least priority reason since Finland alone is not safe country in Europe or American continent. 

Read more »

Applying for Student Resident Permit

Firstly, you won't apply for Visa, you will apply for Resident Permit. According to rule of Finland, if you are staying more than 90 days, you will apply for Resident Permit, not Visa. Visa is for those who want to stay less than 90 days.

You don't need any of the documents as you require on other countries. You need only following documents:

• Passport
• Two Color Photo (visa size, normally our passport size photo of Nepal does not match the visa size)
• Academic certificates
• Acceptance Letter (which will come on your admission package)
• Health insurance covering up to € 30000 for one year. (you can do it on insurance companies of Kathmandu or using online insurance services if you can buy online, if you have any friend/relative abroad, ask them to buy it from https://www.schengen-visa-insurance.com/, since it is the cheapest one I have known)
• IMPORTANT: Few friends reported that they are having problem with this insurance in Turku City since Police denied to accept it. 
• I had verified this insurance is valid for student resident permit before publishing it, so generally it should be valid. If you also face the problem in your city, email me with your application number, name, phone number and name of your city; so that I can forward the matter with Immigration Office.
• In Turku, if you want to buy another insurance: http://www.internationalstudentinsurance.com/finland-student-insurance/, it is the cheapest one with maximum deductible amount. If you keep the deductible amount to maximum, cost of the insurance would be around 150+ Euro.
• There is no problem with this insurance on any of the other cities and many students already got their Resident Permit with same insurance in Helsinki, Espoo, Joensuu, Kuopio, Lappeenranta and Tampere. 
• A bank balance certificate showing you have at least € 6000 (Minimum NRS 600000) on your own account. (This amount is to prove that you have enough living expense for one year which will be later needed to show them on Traveler's Cheque while collecting Resident Permit) 
• IELTS or TOEFL result

Read more »

Confirmation to College 2010

Congratulations to all of those who got admission for 2010 August Session !

Good News! Don't worry anything about the place and locality since in almost every city where you are admitted, you will find at least few other Nepalese students and as you know, generally Nepalese are very cooperative and helpful for helping their friends.

What Should you do after getting Admission on a college?

• Confirm your position on college by filling Confirmation form received on Admission Package
• Fill and return Housing Application Form as well to ensure your accommodation. Start looking and booking other housing facility immediately located on that city as well since finding a room on most of the city is another big headache.
  

Read more »

Life in Lappeenranta

- By Baburam Subedi
Published here with the permission of the Author
Original Post can be found here: Life in Lappeenranta

Being student here in Lappeenranta, I am going to write down my experiences during my study hours (in Lappeenranta), which I hope will help to new comers to figure out the overall life style of Lappeenranta and all of Finland.

As you come to Lappeenranta by train from Central Railway station, Helsinki ( Fare With student card €20, without student or VR card, €40) Most of your assumptions from Nepal has already become contrary to the fact. You will not find Europe according to your immagination. If you had come from Suvarnabhumi Airport Thailand, you consider Vanta airport very small. As you see everywhere forest in the way to Lappeenranta, building of your imagination start to collapse slowly. Coming to Lappeenrata in Train is very easy as it informs each and every locations through voice and in monitor in Finnish, English and Swedish. As you get down in Lappeenranta, you will call your tutor. Here tutor are students responsible for helping new-comer students. Don't forget to get the phone number of your tutor from Nepal. As you can ask with college/ University through email. They will provide you all details. I am emphasizing tutor here because he posses the key of your new room and he will take you to room from train station. You may feel little bit cold in August just as you come to Finland being new to here, don't worry ''-30'' or even more in coming winter will coach how to face cold in Finland.

Read more »

Studies and Jobs in Helsinki

Dear Friend,
Thank you so much for writing to me.

Hi, I am preparing for studies in #############  for Masters in ########### as I have been accepted in this University. I guess this University is good.

1) Do you have any idea how to obtain health insurance. Is it good to take from Nepali insurance company or other European insurance company?

Health insurance should cover up to € 30000 for one year. You can do it on insurance companies of Kathmandu OR using online insurance services if you can buy online. If you have any friend/relative abroad, ask them to buy it from https://www.schengen-visa-insurance.com/, since it is the cheapest one I have known yet. It would cost about 50-100 Euro per year depending upon your age. 

If you want to do it in Kathmandu, Everest Insurance also provides customized health insurance service for Finland for 250 USD per year. 

2) I want to focus my studies well and also want to generate at least living expense in Helsinki, is it possible to get a job in first 6 months?

May be. But, I suggest you to focus on studies primarily since you are coming for Master's degree, your studies will keep you fully occupied. Though, it is very tough to get a job even in Helsinki, I feel, you can find something in 6 months to make your living.

Read more »

Should I come to Lappeenranta?

Hello,
I have recently selected as a master's student in Lappeenranta University of Technology. Now I need some practical information as listed below:
1. Education quality at LUT.
2. States of international students.
3. Job availabilities during study.

Hope you can help me in these case. Badly in need of these information. Awaiting for your reply.


Dear Friend,
To summarize in one sentence, Think TWICE before coming to Lappeenranta. Let me answer your query as a whole. Lappeenranta University of Technology does not have good reputation among international students. It is heard to be keeping deaf eyes towards international students. However, its education quality is considered in average while comparing with other average European universities. But, this university can not be compared with other good universities of Finland due to their non international friendly policies and behaviors in action.

But, LUT's Business Department holds a good reputation and international friendly.

Jobs are very difficult in Lappeenranta. Similar with other smaller towns of Finland, it holds very less probabilities of getting jobs, almost impossible during your studies.

Study Material for Bachelor Degree Programme for Entrance 2010

Following materials are general materials and useful for all programs: Entrance examinations includes English Language Test, a Mathematics and motivation test. All tests are conducted in English.

The following material is the collection of the entrance exams from 2000-2006.

Mathematics test 2000
Logical deduction skills test 2000
Mathematics and logical deduction skills test 2001
Mathematics and logical deduction skills test 2002
Mathematics and logical deduction skills test 2004
Mathematics and logical deduction skills test 2005
Mathematics and logical deduction skills test 2006


For all kinds of Engineering Programs including Information Technology, Mechanical

Mathematics Syllabus for Engineering Programs for 2010: Click Here
Mathematics Example Question Set  for 2010: Click Here

Evaluation:

• Mathematics Exam (100 marks) (Selection will be made from its score)
• English Language Test (Pass/Fail) (Must be passed)
• Written Examination to evaluate the motivation for applied program (Pass/Fail) (Must be passed)

Study Material for Bachelor Degree in Nursing for Entrance 2010

Detailed study materials are not announced yet for Nursing. I will update here on the same post once it is announced. Following is the brief description about model of the entrance.


The entrance examination will consist of the following parts:

• Mathematics test. If the applicant fails to reach the minimum point level of 12 points out of 20 in this examination part, he/she will be disqualified from the entrance examination. For those who get to proceed with the examination the points got in this part will not be taken into consideration in the final points.
• Written interview questions (0 - 30 points). The applicant has to get at least 8 points from this part. But the higher and competitive score will increase the probability of selection.
  
• An essay (0 - 70 points). The applicant has to get at least 12 points from this part. Essay is one of the major deciding factor for the selection of student.

Nursing selection is very competitive. Last year, in average 4 students out of each 100 students were selected for admission. So, prepare well for entrance.

Following material is recommended study for Entrance:

• Fry, Sara: Ethics in Nursing Practice, A Guide to Ethical Decision Making. International Council of Nurses, edition 1994 pages 5-159, or edition 2002 pages 4-106, or edition 2008 pages 5-118.
• Marieb E. Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology. 9th edition, pages 1 - 132.