Study in Finland Without IELTS in 2024

The rising competition to study abroad might be overwhelming for you. Not to forget, exams like IELTS and their preparation could be daunting. Does this mean you should drop your dream of pursuing education abroad? Absolutely not! 

Finland has seen massive development in the education system as it thrives on holistic approaches with no standardized exams. No wonder Finland has the highest enrolment rate of 43.2% for international students. 

Thus, you can find multiple universities offering programs ranging between  bachelors and masters in Finland without IELTS exam scores. To help you better, this article highlights the universities that accept students without an IELTS score. 

Explore the opportunities for yourself! 

How to Study in Finland Without IELTS? 

You should opt for higher education in Finland as it has a holistic infrastructure keeping students' convenience in mind. Nearly 13 universities offer professional degrees, and some admit students without IELTS. Read ahead to understand how to 

Study in Finland without IELTS in 2024. 

Step 1: Do your research and shortlist universities 

Before you make up your mind, shortlist the universities offering the course of your choice. It is easier to refer to rankings of the universities or connect with the alums to understand the culture and quality of the education. 

Most universities upload their admission details on their website. However, the essential requirement to study in Finland without IELTS is fluency in spoken and written English. The following students are eligible to submit their admission forms without having an IELTS score: 

Students with English as their native language 

Some universities in Finland accept candidates whose first language is not English, provided they demonstrate their English proficiency level. This may not be necessary with IELTS and TOEFL, and other alternatives are available. Usually, the university you are interested in can advise you on these and possible rules of exemption as stated by the Studyinfo.fi portal maintained by the Finnish National Agency for Education. 

For instance, LUT University accepts a PTE Academic score of 62 or Grade C in C1 Advanced by Cambridge English Qualifications. While HAMK University often arranges for an English language test for admission. 

Step 2: Application Process

Finland's application process for higher or upper secondary education is divided into four categories. Indian students can sync their academic sessions with the availability of application forms. Below are four different application procedures to 

Study in Finland without IELTS in 2024:

Joint Applications: 

Several universities welcome applications from across the globe through a single form. It is easier to apply in different institutes using a single form. 

Direct Application: 

Indian students can directly fill out the application form for the university of their choice. All the details about direct applications are available on the official university website. 

Supplementary Application: 

This is the application form to fill out the remaining seats in a program after completing the admission procedure. 

Rolling Application: 

Many vocational and higher education institutes admit students throughout the year. Thus, a rolling application form is available for Indian students to apply for a suitable program.  

Step 3: Be ready for the interviews 

After analyzing the student's eligibility, the selected candidates receive an email notification for the interview. If your profile is shortlisted, you must prepare for a video interview. The core purpose of this step is to assess the English proficiency of the candidate based on high-order comprehension tasks. You need to crack this interview to get admission into the bachelors and masters in Finland without IELTS. 

Step 4: Search and apply for scholarships

Multiple institutions in Finland and other countries admit students by giving out scholarships, including tuition fee waivers, accommodation coverage, or hostel fee reimbursement plans. Some of the most popular scholarships provided by the Finnish universities include:

• Finland Government Scholarship
• Finnish Government Scholarship Pool
• Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Programs
• The University of Helsinki Scholarship

These scholarships are available for students from Asia, which is beneficial for Indian students. Thus, a student can pursue a bachelors or a masters in Finland without IELTS by claiming a suitable scholarship. 

Step 5: Apply for a student visa in Finland 

Having a student visa is very important for a comfortable stay in Finland. You must submit multiple documents to get approval on the student's visa. These documents include the following: 

• Active and valid passport
• Passport photos 
• Copies of passport pages 
• Acceptance letter from the chosen university of Finland 
• Documents consisting of information on tuition fees, scholarships, duration of the course, and evidence of financial support 
• Documents of previous qualifications 
• Proof of health insurance 

Studying in Finland is no less than a dream. The educational infrastructure is loaded with resources for your course duration. The following section consists of universities in Finland for international students without IELTS score requirements. 

Universities in Finland for International Students without IELTS Score Requirements

Finland has nearly 20,000 international students pursuing different professional courses. Additionally, the country welcomes several new students like you to expand their educational portfolio. While it is unlikely to find a university with QS ranking that offers admission without an IELTS score, below is a list of universities with a good QS rank.  

S. No.	University Name	Eligibility Criteria for Admission of International Students	English Language Requirement
1.	LUT University	The university ranked 388 in the QS World university ranking 2023 and offers various internal scholarships to students. These scholarship programs include tuition fee waivers depending on the student's merit.	One of the given language test results with a minimum score is required for admission: TOEFL iBT & TOEFL iBT Home Edition -  Minimum overall score of 78 iBT with a minimum of 20 marks in writing  PTE Academic - Minimum overall score:54 C1: Advanced - Grade C  C2: Proficiency - Grade C
2.	Lappeenranta University of Technology	This university ranks between 501-550 as per QS rankings. Moreover, for regular admission in bachelor's coursework, the university accepts upper secondary degrees and SAT and demands no separate English language test.	All students need to fulfil one of the following language requirements:  TOEFL IBT test or TOEFL iBT® Home Edition - Minimum score 90 Cambridge  C1 Advanced - Grade C Cambridge C2 Proficiency - Grade C1 PTE Academic -  Minimum 62
3.	Helsinki School of Business	It is one of the leading universities in Finland, with a QS ranking of 106. Additionally, they don't have entrance exams, and the admission is based on essay questions, interviews, and a high school diploma certificate.	The school allows students to demonstrate English Proficiency with one of the following tests: TOEFL - Score of 88  Finnish Matriculation Exam - M in English A
4.	Metropolia University	Metropolia University holds an impressive rank under 300. The admission procedure is based on ECTS credit points and average grade points.	There are no official language requirements for admission to degree programmes except for Nursing and Social Services.

Choose Your Dream Career 

A degree from Finland is not only prestigious but also a diverse student experience. However, qualifying for IELTS should not hinder pursuing your dream career. Due to the flexible education system and availability of fully-funded scholarship programs, Indian students can take the leap of faith and apply to universities in Finland.