My boyfriend lives in Finland. We are trying to decide if its better for me to move there and get a college degree there. Are there any programs in Finland that teach in English? Also would I be able to get any jobs in Finland? I dont have a college degree. In the states I work as a cna, and im also going to college for a nursing degree. I speak fluent Russian too, if that helps.
Other - Europe - 2 Answers
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1 :
There are very few college programs in the Nordic countries that are taught in English. Most of them are Master degrees. What I believe is most important to mention in this case is that your education from the US will not be automatically valid in Finland or any other country. You will most likely have to take some classes in Finland to even qualify at your current level (CNA). Speaking Finnish is incredibly important to work and socialize! People understand English just fine but it's not the language used at work for most people.
2 :
If you are from the US, you'll need a residence permit to move to Finland. There are three possibilities for this: relationship, studies or work. Relationship: You need to be married or in a nationally-registered partnership, or have lived together outside of Finland for at least 2 years. A relationship-based permit usually gives you the right to work in Finland as well. http://www.intermin.fi/poliisi/home.nsf/pages/3D40575C666ADE37C2256EF4002E2F28?opendocument Studies: A study permit requires acceptance into a full-time program, and you must show you have the funds to cover your stay in Finland. There are Master's programs in English, but I don't believe there are any undergraduate offerings that don't require proficiency in Finnish. A university degree from Finland would definitely improve your work chances in the future though. Work: Without a degree, a work-based permit is very unlikely. They are only issued for skilled work, and companies must show they couldn't find a fitting local applicant first. You should be able to get a job on another type of permit once you learn enough Finnish, but before then it is less likely. It's possible you could find something like tutoring in Russian, or as a personal/home care assistant or in a daycare, but there is no guarantee. Many immigrants find jobs through contacts, so your boyfriend and his family/friends would be the best place to start. If you have the needed savings or your boyfriend is able to support you, the easiest way would be moving over on a residence permit. Then you could study Finnish full time until your language skills were good enough for entry into university there (1+ year). After a few years in Finland, you would be eligible for study loans to help with living costs as well. With good language skills and a Finnish degree, you should have no trouble getting a nursing job (it's one of the most in-demand fields). Otherwise, it makes sense to finish your degree in the US first, while learning Finnish. You will likely have to take more nursing classes in Finland, but you would have the basis for another type of permit and finding work.
