Confused on filling Confirmation/Enrollment Form

[ Novia UAS (http://www.novia.fi) is still accepting application for Bachelor Degree Programme in Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM).    
Deadline of Application: 7th August 2008. ]

Dear Friend,
        I have already been accepted in Yrkeshogskolan Novia UAS,Ekenas, as an ICZM student for the upcoming session.It would be a great help to me, if you could help in sorting out my following problems.

Firstly, I have got few confusions about the confirmation form I  got. If possible from you, I want to know wether I need to send just a single copy of filled confirmation letter or  along with all my other  original academic and experience certificate?

Beside that my other confusion is about confirmation form itself. In the letter it is written that "I have attached copies of the educational certificate I used for applying with the confirmation form" as well as there is some thing to fill in the attendance section.Does that section apply to me or it is just for the student's with Finnish educational certificates?

 

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

Generally, single copy of filled confirmation letter is required on most of the polytechnics. But, as you told the confirmation letter states the above sentence. So, it is really confusing. So, it is better you contact/email the International officer of the college on the address given on Confirmation Form or acceptance letter. And, as the sentence says, 'the copies of ....', meantime, if you include the certified copies of your certificates, it would be enough for them. Visit the Embassy of Finland in Kathmandu if you still find problems on filling it; they will be happy to help you.

 Thirdly I want to know If sending of the confirmation firm is to be done  through embassy here along with the resident permit application or I have to send it myself separately?

No. You just send it immediately. Do not wait for Resident Permit. You sent it yourself to book your seat on the college.

 

Fourthly, to fill my health insurance form I need to know exact date of start of my class there and the date of course completion because I have to fill my date of departure and return date on that form.I am asking you for this because I could not find out any information in English on the Novia UAS website until now.

Your acceptance letter contains the starting date of your degree and also mentions when you should arrive in University. So, go through it. And, also, you will need health insurance just for year now and you will renew your health insurance next year. So, take the insurance from about 2 weeks before of your class starts so that it also includes the date of travel as well.

 

Finally, Could you please tell me the purpose behind sending the envelope attached with Novia UaAS address on it. Is that for resending the confirmation form on the same envelope from here?

 

It is sent with the purpose to resend the documents on same envelope but from Nepal; it might not work. So, to happy yourself; keep all documents on the same envelope and wrap it by some other ordinary Nepalese Envelope and post it.

 

The other query is could you please find out the exact duration of my course in years?

I found out the following texts from the website of your University:

A new Bachelor's Degree Programme in Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM), hosted by the Yrkeshögskolan Novia - University of Applied Sciences, is launched in 2008. It is a full degree Bachelor's degree programme (240 ECTS) spanning 4 years of full-time studies aimed for students from both EU and non-EU countries.

Electronic Goods and Foods in Finland

Dear Friend,
  How much do electronic goods(Laptop computers, camera, mobile phone) cost in Finland.

 

  What type of food do we get to eat in Finland? How much would they cost?
 

Dear Friend, Thank you for mailing me.

Electronic Goods are expensive if you compare with the price of US and Nepal. So, if you think about buying a Cell Phone, it is better if you buy from Nepal unless your interest is in Hi-Tech and Latest Mobile Phones. Laptops, they are relatively cheaper than Nepal but really expensive than US. Camera and other stuffs are similar. Check out the prices on most common shopping networks of Finland:
www.netanttila.com
www.gigantti.fi


You will get the similar kind of foods as you used to have in Nepal except some typical Nepali food. You will find rice, Daal, every kind of curries and all those items as we used to have in Nepal in our regular menu. So, don't worry about it. But, be sure to carry some spices (Masala) if you want to have real taste of Nepal. You will miss here, MoMo, Sel-roti, chhoela and Kachila items. But, we do use to make them as well on festivals. In average, 70-100 Euro will cover your foods for a month, excluding liquor. So, don't worry, it is not much expensive.

Resident Permit and Ostrobothnia Practicalities

Dear Friend,
Thanks for your mail.

I am admitted in central Ostrobothnia university but i am confused about further process so your blog helps me a lot. Already we are advised by the embassy they told us not to make Draft they said us just show 6000 in my personal account whats about the draft?

The process follows like this: When you apply for Resident Permit, you will just show 6000 Euro balance in your personal account. Once your Permit is approved, Embassy will inform you. Then, you will go to embassy and collect a letter of Visa approval. Then, with this letter, you should go to Ministry of Education to make Euro Exchange certificate. With this certificate, you can make a Draft of 6000 Euro and Travel Cheque. So, after you go to embassy with Draft, they will stamp your passport with Resident Permit, only after thoroughly examining the draft you have made. Visa will be issued only after making draft.

How much does the living cost will be monthly what kind of company we have to search for job?how much we can work daily?

Monthly living cost is about 300-400 euro depending upon the cities including, rent, food and misc expenses if you live single. About job, the most common jobs are cleaning, delivery of newspapers, Posti (Postal Office) and similar. The most important thing is that getting job is really difficult. Once you got the job, depending upon the job, you will get around 300-700 per month which is typically a good amount for living expense by working 20-25 hours a week. 25 hours is the maximum limit to work legally.

Is Ostrobothnia is a big city?what is the further process for further ? Whats about our pickup in airport?

NO, it is not the large region with enough opportunities. Jobs are really difficult there. Some Nepalese waited about 7-8 months to get any jobs there. There will be no one to receive you in Helsinki Airport. But, once you will be on Ostrobothnia, ask your university to send a student tutor to receive you there. This tutor will take you to your room, if you have already booked a room through university.

Is it compulsory to book room online now or i can search after reaching Finland?

You should book a room immediately. If you did not book the room, where will you stay when you arrive here? Hotels are damm expensive, don't think about them. The safe way is to book now, with the help of University. Another factor is that, finding rooms are not so much easy here and when you come here, it might be too late to search for. So, book it immediately with the help of university. Your admission package came with Acceptance letter also might contain the room booking informations.

Would student union help us for such a process like searching room and job?

No. Student Union is just a public body to carry student voices. It won't assist for jobs are findings rooms. But, there might be a department in university itself, like Career Services which will help you to search jobs. Meanwhile, International office of your university will help you finding rooms.

Can we travel neighboring countries in holiday?

Yes you can. You can visit all of the neighboring EU countries without visa anytime.

Draft and Plane fare

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

1. First of all regarding the Draft of Euro 6000, which we should present at embassy to collect the resident permit. In money matter I'm little bit lucky, because my Brother in USA (DV Holder) has promised to send me all the required money during my study. So, I want to know that, although I've to prepare the draft for visa, does it necessary to take along with me? Will some one ask me to present the Draft at immigration? Since I just want to take small cash with me and cancel the draft before my departure here in Nepal, as my brother can send money at any time as required. If I have to take the Draft, then how early I could manage to send it back? Whether any supporting documents will require to cancel the draft here in Nepal by my authorized representative.

No Friend, you can not do that. Draft will be checked on every stage of your arrival. After your Resident Permit is approved, you will be asked to prepare the draft. Once you prepare the draft, the embassy will take the photocopy of the draft and only them, they will stamp the visa on your passport. Then, the draft will be checked again by Immigration Authority at Helsinki Airport itself. Some Colleges also checks the draft themselves. Again, when you open the bank again, the same draft is checked. So, There is no way to cancel the draft before arrival.

About returning money, you did not mention which city are you coming to. If you are coming for Helsinki, you might get jobs bit early, might be within one or two months. After you get job, you might return the draft. If you are coming to other cities, you can not find jobs easily. It might take 8-9 months to get jobs. In that case, if you dont' have draft, how would you survive? So, I don't recommend returning draft early. I suggest you to return it only after you got job. If it is compulson for you to return it at any cost, you should have backup of amount 2000 in cash, if you are coming for Helsinki and 3500 in cash if you are coming for other cities than Helsinki.

2. Regarding the Airfare, how much do you think the current reasonable amount of air fare from Kathmandu? Do you want to suggest any particular airline or we can choose ourselves? What is the allowed weight of luggage and hand bag generally?

It depends upon the Route, Flight Operator and Availability of the seats. In average, it will cost you 48,000 NRS to 60,000 NRS. You can choose any airlines or route to reach here. The most common route Nepalese Students take to reach here is KTM-DEL-HEL by Finnish Air; KTM-DEL-VIA-HEL by Austrian Air and KTM-DEL-MOS-HEL by AeroFlot. The route of Thai Airlines is also available as another option. Generally, 20-25 KG of luggage and 7 KG of hand bag are allowed.

3. Regarding the Important stuff (Packing up), which things are important to bring with us. More importantly about Cloths, Books, General Medicine , any dry food items…………or any other things you want to suggest.

I will post the entire shopping list to be brought here by the mid of July. Winter Cloths and General Medicines are important. Books are not necessary. Dry foods, as you wish !!

4. As a token of love and respect from Nepal, I want give a gift to my International student officer of my UAS, will they accept anything pleasantly. Or what will be the ideal gift for them?

Yes, it could be a good idea to gift token of love to them. But, it is very hard to recommend what could be ideal gift. I guess, something iconic gift related to Nepal could be ideal gift to them.

5. Regarding the Result. Will all the UAS publishe their result on their website, or is there any other website to check the admission status or the final result, what are the starting and ending date of entrance exam result

No. Only few UAS publishes their results on their websites. The college in which you applied will inform you about the result by at least the end of June if you got selected. If you are not selected for any college, the first option college will inform you about your score in Entrance by Second week of July however the score won't be useful for any other reason. The result won't be published on any public or common website.

6. Finally, I want to request you to start a open forum / chautary in your blog. Where different people can write there views, suggestion and more importantly the contact address/ email id, and same time they can ask their friend to give there address etc. I think that it will be amzing place to find any new friend or reunion to old ones, which are studying the Finland or preparing for it.

Thank you so much for your suggestions. I am also thinking the same. Might be I will start this August. Thank you so much.