In this page we have collected the most frequently asked questions about the affect of COVID-19 (coronavirus) to Edunation’s applicants. If you don’t find a specific question, you can always contact us! Please also read Edunation’s official statement regarding COVID-19.
Table of Contents
Application process
Yes, Edunation’s partner universities are accepting applications as to the initial application deadlines. The student selection might take a few weeks. Sometimes it might take a few weeks to get the invitation to the online exam or interview.
The application period for the Fall 2020 intake has ended. However, there are some programs open for January 2021 intake.
Most universities will have application deadlines as previously announced. If any application deadlines are being extended, we will notify our applicants and partners about it.
You can apply to Finnish universities with a temporary certificate or academic transcripts. You can submit your final certificate later. In many universities, the initial deadline for submitting the final certificate is 15 July 2020. Some universities are accepting even later submissions. If your graduation is even further delayed, please contact Edunation for further instructions.
Some universities can make exceptions on language certificates and verify your English language skills in alternative ways, e.g. online interviews. Please contact Edunation in such circumstances, as the exceptions are made case by case.
Residence permit
Despite the temporary closure of Finnish embassies and VFS centres, we advise you to start preparing for your residence permit as soon as you get the study offer from the university. You can register in EnterFinland.fi online portal, fill out the residence permit application and prepare for the needed documents. This is also a good time to prepare your financial matters, e.g. apply for a study loan from a bank, if it is possible in your country, By doing all this in advance, your chances of getting the residence permit on time are higher, since your application will be processed after the closures end.
Despite the closure of embassies, you can still submit your application in EnterFinland.fi. Your application will be accepted for processing once you have identified yourself at the Embassy or VFC Centre. Book a time for identification immediately when the Ministry for Foreign Affairs has announced that the exceptional arrangements are no longer in effect.
Starting your studies
As of now, universities are prepared to start the Autumn 2020 semester as initially planned. Some universities will still conduct the beginning of the semester online, while other universities offer students the chance to choose between online and on-campus teaching.
Most universities are prepared for students arriving late, and they accept late arrivals or postponing the start of studies to January 2021 or August 2021. In most programs, it is also possible to start studies by doing online courses. Universities will notify each accepted applicant with detailed information about their online courses and how to enrol to them.
If you don’t get a residence permit for your studies, you are entitled to a full refund of your tuition fees. However, delayed arrival does not automatically give you a right to a refund, unless you decide to cancel your study place and residence permit application. If the university offers you the chance to start your studies online in your home country, we advise you to do so. You can then arrive to Finland when you get your residence permit, even if your arrival is delayed from September 2020.
Other
At the moment, no country in the world is completely safe regarding the coronavirus. However, Finland is one of the most stable countries in the world, and our health care system is well equipped to handle a crisis like the corona epidemic. All people who reside in Finland are entitled to the public health care. Anyone with severe symptoms will get appropriate treatment. The Finnish government has taken serious measures to combat the virus from spreading uncontrollably. The measures were taken at an early stage of the epidemic, and by July 2020 the virus situation in Finland was stable. The public authorities and the health care system have been prepared for the possibility that the epidemic starts to spread again.
At the moment, travel restrictions are in place around the world, including Finland. Finland started to open the state borders in June 2020 for selected countries, and the travel restrictions are reviewed and updated regularly by the Finnish Government. We advise students to follow the instructions of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs to see if they are able to travel to Finland from their home country.
There are usually no deadlines for applying for accommodation in Finland. Students can apply for accommodation throughout the year. We advise you to apply for accommodation once you are able to book your flight tickets to Finland.
Most universities are able to offer flexible payment schedules in time of the corona crisis. When you receive the tuition fee invoice, and are unable to pay by the given deadline, please contact either the university admissions or Edunation admissions, depending on which one has sent you the tuition fee invoice.
You can contact Edunation by email at admissions@edunation.co or by phone or whatsapp at +358 50 354 8603 for any questions about admissions, residence permits or start of your studies. Edunation team works from Monday to Friday between 8 AM and 4 PM (GMT +2).
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