MODULE 9: Getting to Know Finland
It’s worth familiarizing yourself with the country beforehand, so you get more out of the experience and understand your new surroundings better.
On this page, you can find different aspects of Finland as a country and society, e.g. history, education, and foreign policy. The Guide for Coming to Finland also includes information about life in general and more practical aspects of living in Finland.
Finnish Education System
Learn about Finnish Education System on the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture website.
The Ministry of Education and Culture in Finland:
The Finnish National Agency for Education:
- The role of the Finnish National Agency For Education
- Publications by the National Agency for Education
Scholars, prepare for the breakout session during the Arrival Orientation Seminar by reading about higher education in Finland:
- Finland's higher education (HEI) system operates on a dual or "two-pillar" model. Learn about the difference between a university and a university of applied sciences
- Note that each Finnish higher education institution has its own systems, but some common features (e.g. akateeminen vartti - academic quarter) are in use in most institutions.
- Navigating the Finnish Higher Education System (compiled by Fulbright alumna Elizabeth Peterson)
History of Finland
Finnish history dates back more than 10 000 years, and we recommend reading about it. The in-person orientation will also include a presentation about Finnish history.
- Read about the history of Finland in the Guide
Foreign Policy
- “We all have a role in foreign policy. We all have agency in foreign policy.”
Listen to the remarks by the President of the Republic of Finland Alexander Stubb at the opening session of the Helsinki+50 Conference of the OSCE on July 31, 2025 (starting at 18 min 25 sec., length of the remarks: 13 min)- The remarks are also available in writing here: Speech by President Stubb in the Helsinki+50 Conference at the Finlandia Hall on July 31, 2025
If you have time and you are interested in learning more, please consider viewing the following additional resources:
- Watch the documentary Inside the Most Prepared Country on Earth on YouTube. (Video length: 52 min 30 s)
- Read the interview with Ambassador Mikko Hautala: The Russia Whisperer (Foreign Policy 2022, behind a paywall)
Further Reading
The Guide for coming to Finland includes many interesting topics to read through before and after arriving in Finland:
