Student Visits FAQ
Program Name: Experience Finland: Finnish Higher Education Experience Visit
Who is the Finland Student Visit Program ideal for?
The Finland Student Visit program is ideal for Grade 11 and Grade 12 students who are interested in the highly ranked, research-based and multidisciplinary programmes at the University of Helsinki. This program would allow students to get first hand information on study opportunities and student life in Finland. The visit also offers students an opportunity to experience Finnish culture, explore heritage sites and natural reserves as well as interact with Finnish students of the same age group.
What is the duration of the program? And what are the different activities or experiences that participants will engage in as part of the program?
The Finland Student Visit program is conducted over 10 days (Monday to the following Wednesday) in Helsinki, Finland. In these 10 days, participants will:
- Get an overview of the Finnish Higher Education System
- Visit the world famous Helsinki Central Library at Oodi
- Have a discussion on student life in Finland with the Student Ambassadors from the University of Helsinki
- Visit multiple university campuses in Helsinki
- Get a guided tour of the Museum of Natural History
- Visit the Heureka Science Park
- Visit the Helsinki Cathedral and the Old Market Hall
Participants will experience these and many other activities as part of this program. There will also be free time for students to explore Helsinki and surrounding areas.
Do student participants need any guardians as part of this program?
Since students who are studying in 11th or 12th grade are expected to be below 18 years of age, University of Helsinki guidelines necessitate the presence of 1 guardian for every 6 participants under the age of 18. These guardians will need to be with their wards throughout the program duration.
What are the available dates during which this program is being offered?
Interested students can choose any one of 4 months for this program. The available slots are:
- September, 2023
- October, 2023
- April, 2024
- May, 2024
Students who sign up for the program will need to arrive in Helsinki at least one day before the start of the program.
Will participants receive any certification at the end of the program?
Yes. Students who sign up for this program will receive a certificate provided by the University of Helsinki Centre for Continuing Education (HY+) at the completion of the program.
What is the cost of the program?
The cost of the program is 3000 Euros (Approximately 2.6 Lakh Rupees). This covers the course fee payment made to University of Helsinki Centre for Continuing Education (HY+), the cost of flight tickets to and from Helsinki, accommodation in Helsinki for the given dates, breakfast and lunch on the given dates, travel to and from the hotel on weekdays, and airport pickup and drop for the group.
Please note that this fee does not include Dinner cost on any of the days, Visa processing fees or Travel Insurance. These expenses will need to be covered by each participant on their own.
How should the payment for this program be made?
The payment for the course needs to be made to the VentureVillage bank account in Finland. University of Helsinki Centre for Continuing Education (HY+) does not accept payment made by individual participants. The entire payment for the program will be made by VentureVillage from their Finland bank account.
Where can I sign up for this program?
Students who are interested in signing up for this program can register their interest by filling this form. We will get in touch with you once you register your interest in the program.
What is the role of VentureVillage and Q Collective in conducting this program?
The Student Visit program does not start or end with the visit to Finland. All participants who sign up for the program will need to complete pre-work shared by University of Helsinki Centre for Continuing Education (HY+) before leaving for Helsinki. These preparatory modules are designed in order to help program participants make the best use of the 10 days spent in Helsinki. VentureVillage and Q Collective are the knowledge partners who assist HY+ in executing all the pre and post program modules in India.
At the end of the program, the knowledge partners will discuss the learnings from the program with each participant, analyse the findings and pass on the feedback to HY+. They will also be in continued discussion with participants to provide them with any support required if students choose to apply to any of the institutions they interact with during this program. In addition, they have also agreed to support HY+ by assisting program participants with travel and stay arrangements during their trip to Helsinki.
What about visa processing?
University of Helsinki Centre for Continuing Education HY+ will send the invitation letter and VentureVillage will send the necessary documents and checklists to the participants but participants need to arrange their own visa. Visa to Finland is applied through VFS. An appointment needs to be booked at one of the centers and documents need to be submitted. Please note that centers for processing Finland visa are only present in Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata , Mumbai and New Delhi
What if I drop out after the arrangement have been made? Will I be given a refund?
Refunds are subject to the cancellation policies of our program partners, travel agency and the hotel partners. The refund policy is as follows:
- Less than 30 days prior to the trip – No refund under any circumstances ( for. e.g. rejection of visa)
- Less than 90 days but more than 30 days – 50% of the cost will be refunded.
- More than 90 days to trip – 80% of the cost will be refunded
Where is Finland?
Finland is one of the Nordic Countries and recently have been in the news for being ranked as the most happiest country in the world for 5 years continuously. On top of this, Finland has been one of the top ranking countries in education for many years. Many countries from around the world has adopted the Finnish way of teaching and in-turn revolutionized their own education system for the good. Finland is considered as one of the safest countries in the world to visit.
Where is University of Helsinki?
Helsinki is the capital city of Finland and bustling Helsinki University campus is right in the middle of the beautiful Finnish Capital city. Founded in 1640, the University of Helsinki is the oldest university in Finland. With a student body of 36,500, it is also the largest university in Finland and one of the leading multidisciplinary universities in the world. The University of Helsinki is constantly ranked among the top 100 universities in the world. Teacher education is one of the core competences of the university.
What is HY+?
HY+ is a fully-owned company of the internationally esteemed University of Helsinki, the oldest (est. 1640), largest, and highest-ranked higher education institution in Finland. The University of Helsinki Centre for Continuing Education HY+ provides continuing education and development services both in Finland and abroad. The purpose of our organisation is to improve the world of the future and promote individual wellbeing by enhancing learning, knowledge-sharing, and development.