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

The country
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. Our country has also been rated as the least corrupt state in the world.

Finland is also a country with a strong competitive edge. Finland's investment in R&D as a percentage of GDP is among the highest in the world. The International Institute for Management Development has ranked Finland as one of the most competitive in the world several times. Finland's strength lies in the fact that its economy is one of the most technologically advanced in the world. The WEF report cites Finland's "strong political institutions, a focus on technology, and sound macroeconomic management" as some of the reasons for this country's impressive economic performance.

The Finns
Finns have a very strong sense of national identity. This is rooted in the country's history - particularly its honorable wartime achievements and significant sporting merits - and is today nurtured by pride in Finland's high-tech expertise.

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. Honestly and dependability are the two characteristics most highly regarded by 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 Finns words and expressions make an exotic souvenir to take home with you.

Equality
There are approximately 2.6 million women and 2.5 men in Finland (as at end 2001) 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.

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 women defence minister, in 1994 a woman became the speaker of the Finnish parliament and in 2000 the country elected its first woman president. In 2003 Finland chose its first woman prime minister.

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.

Finns have a real passion sports and their patriotic spirit is aroused in international ice hockey games, skiing competitions, athletics (especially when competing against neighboring 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 organizing some crazy sports events such as wife-carrying, boot-throwing, mosquito killing world championships or swimming in ice cold water in the winter.

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 bath separately, expect within the family.

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, 'sinδ' is used almost universally though the older generation tends to use and expect the formal you, 'te'. At work the atmosphere tends to be informal, first names are used and people dress casually.

Nature and 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.

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 color 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 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.

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

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 education programme (with 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 Finnish institutions of higher educations 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 300 international study programmes taught in English, so you generally only need to know one of the country's two official languages, Finnish or Swedish, if you are interested in studying for a complete academic degree in Finland.

In Lappeenranta University of Technology as in most of 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 s 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. Our university has also a Language has also a Language Centre where students may carry out additional language studies, which are often included in degree programmes.

The Academic year has two semesters. The autumn semester runs from late August to December, and the spring semester from January to May.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR ADMISSION:
• Attested Copies of all Academic Certificates
• Attested Copies of Experience Letters (Optional)
• 5 Fresh Passport Size Photographs
• Attested Copies of First 2 Pages of Passport

NOTE: All educational documents above should be attested by IBCC & HEC

ENTRY EXAM:
Student must have to clear the entry exam after getting the admission letter before applying the visa in Islamabad, Pakistan.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR VISA:
• Passport (original)
• 3 completed and signed Visa Application Forms (Available in our offices)
• All Educational or Relevant Documents
• Admission Letter
• 3 Passport Size Photograph
• Bank Statement (Personal)
The costs of living and studying
since university education is funded by the State through the Ministry of Education, students enrolled in regular degree studies pay no tuition fees. The students union, however, charge an annual membership fee to cover its activities. Student health services are included in this fee. Membership in 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. In addition membership is compulsory also for exchange students who are staying longer than three months in Finland.

Students 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. 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 neighboring countries.

Here in Lappeenranta every student can make a positive impact on his own future and the future of others by actively participating in university life in and outside the campus. LUT's staff will be willing to help and provide any assistance needed to make exchange students feel welcome. If you are looking for a unique experience and want to meet people from all over the world then Finland and Lappeenranta is your choice. Do not hesitate - you will not regret it!

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