|
Job Discussion Forums "The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
saren
Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Posts: 70
|
Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2010 7:41 pm Post subject: Tuition free study in higher education in Scandinavia? |
|
|
Tuition free study in higher education in Scandinavia?
I am an English teacher, and have decided to go back to school, but a little short on cash. I need to do some research regarding Scandinavian educational offers to foreigners, and any way I can come to live there, and study there (for a 4 year degree) tuition-free, meaning I become a resident of that country, and enroll in the cost-free, or lower-cost education services they offer to all residents. I need to know which country, and which universities offer the best offer (and I mean offer by the lowest cost to me) to come and study foreign languages there.
Most people in most countries pay thousands to study at a university. But in the Nordic countries, I've heard higher education is free. I want to apply to become a resident and then enroll in a languages program in one of these institutions.
My preferred countries are: Sweden, Norway, Iceland, and Estonia.
If you are a foreigner and you did this, or are a Scandinavian with first hand knowledge of this issue, please reply. Thank you. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
sparks
Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 632
|
Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2010 9:36 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Higher education is free in many other countries in Europe. In Poland you can even get a stipend to live. All that you must do is pass the entrance exams.
Have you really looked into this? I would guess that you would have be a citizen of the country to qualify for this--this is a substantial hurdle as it would most likely require years of residency. If your not you would have to pay like all other foreign students. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Dedicated
Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 972 Location: UK
|
Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2010 10:00 pm Post subject: Re :Norway |
|
|
Saren,
I can only speak about Norway from personal experience. To qualify for free university tuition, you must be a Norwegian citizen.
To become a Norwegian citizen, you have to be a resident in Norway for 7 years, and complete 300 hours of Norwegian language training, as undergraduate degrees are virtually all taught in Norwegian. Postgraduate degrees are often in English.
When you apply, you have to renounce your own citizenship, as Norway generally does not accept dual citizenship (unless one parent is Norwegian). For males, there is mandatory military service of 19 months for all between 18.5 and 44 (55 in case of war).
Norway is the most expensive European country, and to get a visa you have to provide documentation of subsistence (ie. funds in the bank) which currently are NOK 83,000 (about �11.000 a year) just to live.
Accommodation and transport are very expensive. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
saren
Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Posts: 70
|
Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 5:35 am Post subject: |
|
|
Hmm, so which country offers tuition free education for non-eu citizens? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Dedicated
Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 972 Location: UK
|
Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 6:07 am Post subject: Re :Sweden |
|
|
In Sweden, from 1st January 2010, non-EU/EES students will have to pay fees, which on average are between 80,000 - 100,000 SEK a year(approx 8,500 Euros upwards).
Then of course, you have the very expensive living costs....
Check out this website < www.studyinsweden.se>
I fear the days of free education in Scandinavia are now over, as they were becoming swamped with international students, expecting a free ride.
I would imagine Iceland, which is bankrupt, would scarcely be handing out free education any more. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
|
Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 7:02 am Post subject: |
|
|
Hmm, so which country offers tuition free education for non-eu citizens?
Sorry, but I don't see the logic here.
Why should a country educate a non-citizen for free?
What would their own citizens think?
Citizens of the countries you name pay outstandingly high taxes to provide (among other things) free education for their children.
Lots of EU countries provide free higher education for their own citizens. I know of none that will do this for foreigners.
Again, why should they? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
GF
Joined: 08 Jun 2003 Posts: 238 Location: Tallinn
|
Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 6:41 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Oops. Looks like no free lunch here. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
ghostrider
Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 147
|
Posted: Thu May 13, 2010 6:55 am Post subject: |
|
|
Actually, I had the same idea as the OP. If I had applied a year or two ago I would have gotten in before the reforms, but it's too late now. That said, I have other reasons for wanting to live in northern Europe, particularly Sweden, so I may just go for it even at the extra cost. Trouble now is funding. They won't let you in if you've barely got any money in the bank. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home
|
Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 4:52 am Post subject: |
|
|
I konw of a guy who got into Sweden in 2005, studied there, met a girl, then was offered a job after one year of language classes, because of the job, he stayed.
Then because he lived with a Swedish woman, after three years he qualified for citizenship. Cohibation, (heterosexual or homosexual) lowers the five years to three. He just got citizenship a bit ago.
I don't think that this is common, but it's possible. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
misteradventure
Joined: 18 Aug 2003 Posts: 246
|
Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 4:03 am Post subject: |
|
|
I'm most familiar with Sweden. All of the students I met graduated with student loans approaching those of US graduates.
Keeping in mind that these loans were EXCLUSIVELY for living expenses, as tuition was 'free', I failed to see the rationale for enduring yet another frigid winter where the booze was expensive and the days far too short. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
jonniboy
Joined: 18 Jun 2006 Posts: 751 Location: Panama City, Panama
|
Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 10:54 pm Post subject: Re: Tuition free study in higher education in Scandinavia? |
|
|
saren wrote: |
Most people in most countries pay thousands to study at a university. But in the Nordic countries, I've heard higher education is free. I want to apply to become a resident and then enroll in a languages program in one of these institutions.
My preferred countries are: Sweden, Norway, Iceland, and Estonia. |
Estonia is doing better than a lot of East European countries sure, but it is still a long long way away from having the same economy as Norway or Sweden. Highly unlikely they'll give free tuition to foreigners. That said cost of living and tuition fees there are way below what you'd pay in Oslo or Stockholm so it's a more realistic choice if finance is an issue. However very few courses there will be taught in English so your choice would be very limited. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
ancient_dweller
Joined: 12 Aug 2010 Posts: 415 Location: Woodland Bench
|
Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 8:47 pm Post subject: |
|
|
still free in Finland though. That's nordic right?
plus Finns have extra kudos because the Russians invaded in the 1940's and lost. 500,000 soviet soldiers perished trying to take the Finns. it wasn't lucky enough to have been graced with being part of the USSR. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Basilm87
Joined: 23 Nov 2008 Posts: 21 Location: Midg�rd/London/Beijing
|
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 1:57 am Post subject: |
|
|
ancient_dweller wrote: |
still free in Finland though. That's nordic right?
plus Finns have extra kudos because the Russians invaded in the 1940's and lost. 500,000 soviet soldiers perished trying to take the Finns. it wasn't lucky enough to have been graced with being part of the USSR. |
May I ask, as I'm not Finnish (I'm Swedish) what, if any universities in Finland are free to undertake study at, as a non-citizen? As the larger and more prestigious ones seem all to have certain fees, even though fairly low compared to the US/UK.
About the kudos; Finland sure indeed held off the Russians good at the end of 1939 onwards, even though you are forgetting the roughly 10,000 Swedes with a few dozen million rounds of ammunition, twelve airplanes for bombing purposes, roughly a hundred artilliery pieces, roughly a hundred anti-air machineguns; a few hundred thousand grenades, a dozen doctors, tents and so on....
Finland also received help from Norway and most likely UK, even though that was a big hush-hush.
The Russian casualties amounted up to somewhere around 200,000 according to Finnish, Swedish and German governments (120k said the Russians). So I believe the figure 500,000 is fairly off.
What made Finland (and allies) come out the victor was most likely: superior equipment, konskenkorva and Simo H�yh�. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
GF
Joined: 08 Jun 2003 Posts: 238 Location: Tallinn
|
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 4:19 pm Post subject: |
|
|
According to A Frozen Hell by William R. Trotter, Molotov claimed the Soviets lost 48,745 dead and another 159,000 wounded, while the author states the actual toll was 230,000-270,000 dead and another 200,000 to 300,000 wounded.
The website http://www.winterwar.com/War'sEnd/casualti.htm#soviet states the total Soviet casualty figure to be 391,783 (not including cases of sickness), based on the research of G.F.Krivosheev.
I believe the full truth will never be known. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Mrguay84
Joined: 03 Dec 2009 Posts: 125
|
Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 8:44 pm Post subject: |
|
|
If I can get a "Swedish partner", then what are the chances of a free Postgraduate degree?
That would be WIN! WIN! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling. Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
|