How Can We Study in Finland Without IELTS?

Study in Finland Without IELTS:- Thousands of students around the world are now interested in moving abroad for their higher studies. This increasing competition is the reason why many students are shifting their focus from English-speaking countries like the USA, UK, and Canada to non-English countries in Europe like Germany, Finland, Denmark, Italy, etc.

Finland has recently been popular among international students. The education system of Finland has been long praised by many countries. The holistic education system which is not based on standardised exams and rather focuses on skill development and research is attracting a lot of international students.

Finnish universities have several international bachelor’s and master’s programs that are majorly taught in English. Some of them also require proof of English like the IELTS. However, many students either cannot give IELTS for some reason or they cant score too well on the test. 

To solve this problem, in this blog, we will discuss How you can study in Finland without IELTS.

Shortlisting Universities That Don’t Require IELTS

Before we discuss study in Finland without ielts in detail, let us be clear about one thing. You can get admission into a Finnish university without IELTS, but you cannot get admission into a university without having proper knowledge of English. 

Most students think that if the university doesn’t require ielts then it won’t be necessary for them to have a good knowledge of English. The reality is that you will always be asked for proof of your English proficiency, however, there are other ways of proving this apart from IELTS. 

All the alternate ways by which you can prove your English proficiency will be discussed in the blog. For now, let us focus on the first step to study in Finland without IELTS. This is shortlisting appropriate universities. 

The first thing you need to do is go through the official websites of all the universities in Finland. Then you need to shortlist those universities which offer your preferred course. Go through the entry requirements of your course. 

There you will find a section on language requirements. Some universities will necessarily require you to give a language testing exam like IELTS, or the TOEFL. All these universities are to be removed from your shortlisted list of universities that don’t require IELTS. 

Now, you will have a list of some universities which do accept other proofs of English. English discusses all the proofs of English except for IELTS in the next section. You can have a look at them and identify what suits you the best. 

Alternate ways to prove English proficiency 

All the alternate ways which you can use to study in Finland without IELTS scores are given below. You must always cross-check whether your preferred university accepts the alternate way. If the university website doesn’t have enough information on this then you can contact the university via email or by phone. 

• Other English Tests: There are many reasons why some international students are not comfortable with giving IELTS. If your reason for not giving IELTS is the format of the IELTS then you must try other English testing exams like the TOEFL. If you are not sure if these formats will also suit you or not then you can give mock tests for these which will help you to get an idea about the actual test. You may also go for the Pearson Test of English (PTE) if it is accepted by the university of your choice. 
• MOI Certification: One of the best ways to study in Finland without ielts is by the Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificate. This is a certificate that officially states the language of instruction of your last course. This certificate is provided by the institution of your last education. This means that if your last qualification is 12th std then you can get this certificate from your school if your school has English as the language of instruction. Similarly, if your last qualification was a bachelor program then you can get this from your college.
• Duolingo Test: The Duolingo test is also an English test but the benefits of giving the test need to be discussed separately. The Duolingo test has recently become popular due to its feasibility and low fees. You can give the Duolingo test English even from your phone on the Duolingo app. You don’t require any prior appointment to take this test, it can be taken any time from anywhere. The fees for the Duolingo test are also lower than other English tests. If you decide to give the Duolingo test as proof then you should confirm from your preferred university if they accept Duolingo test scores as it is a new test.
• Video Interview: If your proffered university allows you to study in Finland without ielts then usually they will conduct a video interview or an online test. This is to test your English knowledge and whether you are capable of studying in an English-taught program. This is far easier than giving IELTS as these tests/interviews analyze only speaking and writing skills. The university just wants to make sure that you can communicate efficiently in English and can write exams in English. The reading and listening skills are not much analyzed like in the IELTS. 
• Finnish-Taught Program: Another way by which you can study in Finland without ielts is to study in a Finnish-taught program. This is a rather extreme way but it is not that hard. Sometimes learning a new language is easier and more fun than proving your proficiency in English. Also if you are planning to get a job in Finland after your studies, you should have Finnish proficiency to thrive in the job market. This is also beneficial if you have lesser grades and are unable to get into an English-taught program due to the completion. Finnish-taught programs are less competitive and thus have a better acceptance rate. 
• Pre-Session English Programs: Some Finnish universities offer English programs for international students. This is also one way to study in Finland without IELTS. However, if you choose to go ahead with this way, you need to make sure that your university offers such a program. The university may also require you to pass the English program with hold scores to get your admission into the course confirmed. 

Read More: Study in Australia Without IELTS

Apply for a Finland Study Visa

Once you are done with the application you should proceed with the study visa application. You can apply for a visa only if you have been accepted by at least one university in Finland. As you are applying without IELTS, you may face some difficulties in getting a Finland study visa. 

The visa documents required are the same but now you need to perform very well in the visa interview and are desperate for your English skills. This will ensure that the visa officer doesn’t reject your visa request due to the unavailability of the IELTS score. 

The documents required for the Finland study visa are as follows:

• Passport: A valid passport is required for all kinds of study visas. This is also true for the Finland study visa. You need to have a valid passport (issued in the last 10 years).
• Medical Insurance: Health insurance that covers all your expenses in case of an emergency while your stay in Finland is also required. You can look for the specific requirements on the official website of the Finnish embassy. 
• Acceptance Letter: You need an acceptance letter from the university in which you are planning to study. This letter should clearly state your details and the duration of the course. If you have been admitted based on a pre-session English program then the acceptance letter should also state that.
• Proof of Funds: The Finnish embassy needs to make sure that you have enough funds to sustain yourself during your studies in Finland. Your bank account should show that you have at least EUR 560 per month or EUR 6,720 per year for the period of your studies. 
• Proof of Accommodation: You will of course need a place to stay in Finland. There are several accommodation options, the most preferred one being the university hostel/dorm. If you are staying in the hostel then you must submit the contract between you and the hostel showing that you will be allowed to stay there. Even if you stay in a rented apartment or at some other place, you need to show a similar contract between you and the owner.

Conclusion

To study in Finland without ielts there are many ways which you can use. Some of these are described in this blog. Make sure that whatever way you are choosing is accepted by your university. Many times the university doesn’t mention these ways as a possible way of getting admission.

In this case, too, you should contact the university to ask them if they accept any other proof. The medium of instruction certificate is the best way to prove your English proficiency to study without giving the IELTS test.

If the high fees of IELTS or TOEFL were the reason for you not giving these tests, then consider the Duolingo test which is comparatively cheaper. Visa application may be harder to get approved if you haven’t given the IELTS or any other test. Thus, it is important to perform very well in the visa interview. For more details about study abroad keep your eyes on Course Mentor.

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