2009 Summary:
Application Period: 12 January 2009 - 13 February 2009
Apply Through: Joint Application System at https://www.admissions.fi/
Important Update: IELTS or TOEFL is Compulsory for all students from this year, 2009. Score of the test might differ by individual colleges for which you are applying.
If you are applying for Bachelor Level, I would suggest you following simple steps:
1. Collect your Trancript of +2 and make Passport. You need passport to apply to college. So, you must have made it by the end of December 2008 to apply in January 2009 for August 2009 Session.2. Search colleges and program of your interest from college sites. The list of entire colleges available in Finland are available on my previous blogs http://www.nepalfinland.com/2007/10/polytechnics-in-finland.html and http://www.nepalfinland.com/2007/10/universities-in-finland.html. The website of CIMO contains another very simple and handy tool to search for colleges and program of your interest in http://finland.cimo.fi/studying/international_study_programmes.html
3. Finlalize where you want to apply, sort the final list by the end of December.
4. Meanwhile, start preparing and reserve a test date for IELTS or TOEFL. From this year, IELTS or TOEFL is compulsory for all students. So, you should be completed the IELTS or TOEFL test by the end of December. The minimum score required for the colleges might differ on the colleges individually. So, try to get better score to be safe for all of the colleges. While searching for college, keep in mind about their IELTS or TOEFL requirements as well.
If you have already taken IELTS or TOEFL test, make sure that it is valid till the September of 2009. The valid date of the test is just two years; so if you had taken tests after September 2007, they are still valid to apply for 2009 August session. If you had taken tests before September 2007, your Tests will be expired by the time the studies start; so you need to take the test again. While searching for colleges, check the test score to confirm that your scores are enough for apply for.
5. There is joint application system for Bachelor level. You can visit https://www.admissions.fi/ to apply for maximum of four colleges at a time with a single document. So, it might be the best way to apply for your colleges you sort out on second step. If you are applying for more than four colleges, apply topmost four colleges of your interest by this joint application system and apply individually to rest of the colleges.6. The process of applying may differ college by college. In general, you will apply online. Then, they will send you PDF of your filled form on your mail, which you filled during applying online. So, you print that PDF file, sign it and post it to college by mail along with the photocopics of transcript of your +2, character certificate and passport. Some college may also want you to send some additional documents as well. You need to visit college website to confirm what additional they required.
7. You can send the documents as Normal Mail from Nepal Post Office, Sundhara. It will cost about 250 NRS. You can also send it as EMS from Post Office. It will cost around NRS 900. If want to sent through courier, Linkex or Skynet might be the cheapest one. They cost around 1300-1400.
8. Wait for response from college during March. If you are selected on first phase, they will mail you to appear on Entrance test. If you are not getting any invitations to appear for Entrance, it means, unfortunately, you are not selected.
9. If you are invited to appear for Entrance Test, consult with Finnish Embassy in Bishal Nagar, http://finland.org.np/public/default.aspx?culture=en-US&contentlan=2 about date, place and model questions for entrance test.
10. Appear for Test. Do your best. Exams are bit easier. They ask you average level questions. It won't be hard for you if you work little bit before entrance exam.
11. Wait for Response for Admission. You might hear the good news of admission acceptance during end of May, June and July.
I strongly recommend you NEVER to go to consultancy.
What they can do for you is just to post your document from Nepal, which you can do it yourself with very minumum cost as I wrote above.
So there is no point for paying them more just to send the application. Some consultant may also tell you that they have very close contact or agreement with the university or college for your admission process. But, they are not true. They are just making you fool. They can not do anything during admission process.
You can always mail me if you have any query in mind. I am always ready to support you as much as I can.
Embassy of Finland at Bishal Nagar, Kathmandu, Nepal is also very cooperative and helpful for student issues. You can visit their office or telephone them or even email them at viisumi.kat@formin.fi. Also, you should keep on checking embassy website to know updated information and new changes for this year.
