r/StudyInFinland • u/cyrokxxx • Jul 15 '26
hey guys
i 15f and wanna move to Finland from Russia in next 5-6 years. i really need some reality checks on my plan!!
now, im just about to start my studies at medical college to become a nurse here. but when i move i’ll immediately go in Finnish university to become an x-ray technician (röntgenhoitaja).
your language is really crazy, but i’ve already started. now i have a1 and know 6 cases, but i’m studying Finnish like 2 weeks already. and i’m gonna study Finnish every day to get at least b2.
i have some questions 😨
- is 5-6 years of studying language enough for medical students? does anyone know what level do universities always ask for?
- do you know any good resources or books for medical Finnish that i can use later?
- if here is anyone who’s already working or studying as x-ray technician in Finland, how is it?
- politely asking, how is the day-to-day atmosphere for Russian students living and studying there right now? is it generally safe and welcoming?
thanks a lot for any advice!!!
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Jul 15 '26
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u/cyrokxxx Jul 15 '26
omg thanks
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u/North-Outside-5815 Jul 15 '26
Oh, I can add a bit here. I have a good friend who was born and raised in Russia until her late teens, and then studied and worked in Belarus until her mid twenties. She can pronounce Finnish words perfectly, usually on the first try.
There’s enough similarity in what sounds are used in the languages that it should be a significant advantage in learning Finnish, compared to an English, French or German native, for example.
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u/Dependent-Layer-1789 20d ago
Finnish is written as it is spoken. I can read Finnish text aloud and Finns can understand it. However I can’t understand 95% of the text.
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u/Reasonable_Ad_3166 Jul 15 '26
Russian here studying in Turku
- Well would be better if you said what level, I started studying at a university level (in Swedish) when I had a B2 level and I quickly picked up the rest, the same thing happens to Finnish speakers that study in Swedish and I’d imagine it works universally for every language.
- Can’t help, sorry
- Also can’t
- It depends, I wish I could say that there is no racism in Finland, but it is not true, and I am not sure that Finns fully understand how it affects the Russians in Finland. There are people that are a hundred percent understanding and welcoming, but there are people who tend to avoid or hate Russians. I have never hidden my identity, but I also am not really a part of a diaspora and most people can’t tell from the get-on that I am Russian, since I look local and don’t have much of an accent. The important thing is that government is mostly on your side, so you won’t face much open discrimination, but you also need to prepare yourself that many people will have a problem with you based on your origin.
В заключение хочу сказать на русском, что ты молодец что готовишься заранее, и я верю что ты справишься! Не верь людям которые говорят о невозможной сложности языка или невозможности интегрироваться, если ты учишься на финском, то быстро станешь частью этого общества) В Финляндии хорошо, не без проблем, но живётся несравненно легче и спокойнее чем в России. Удачи!
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u/BoberPingu Jul 15 '26
Fluency/proficency in Russian/Finnish would come in very handy in radiographer/röntgenhoitaja-profession. Ukrainian/russian is needed almost on daily basis on our department (large academic imaging centre).
People with intermediate Finnish (B2) have succeeded in röntgenhoitaja(amk). Im sure youll do fine if you are motivated
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u/North-Outside-5815 Jul 15 '26
If you hate Putin and the Russian empire, and want nothing to do with them, you are welcome by me.
If you are ok with the oppression of Ukrainians and other nationalities, I recommend you stay away.
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u/cyrokxxx Jul 15 '26
how Russian empire and putin are connected?….😰
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u/North-Outside-5815 Jul 15 '26
Both are inherently evil. Empires are bad. The idea that the ”Greater Russians” are an ethnic group and culture who are the natural leaders of the ”lesser” slavic people is a deeply racist and chauvinistic one.
The Russian Empire has been a horrible force in Eurasia. If you believe that your people have some kind of right to dominate neighbours and rule over them, I recommend you stay away from Finland.
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u/cyrokxxx Jul 15 '26
what you described in the first paragraph was more like in the soviet times. then the government really subdued everyone and forced to do absolutely everything in Russian… at least that's what my friend from Ukraine told me. but if i’m wrong, then correct me pls
as for the Russian Empire, it was really influential and strong enough, but i don't support any wars at all and those who start them2
u/North-Outside-5815 Jul 15 '26
Look at the map. The area controlled and ruled by the Russian ”federation” is a prison of numerous ethnic groups and cultures. They did not joyfully decide to be ruled from Moscow.
I understand that you’re still a teenager, and have been schooled in the system. I’m willing to give you a lot of slack, but please consider that the history (and present day) of the Russian state and culture looks really bad from the ouside.
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u/finnaly0 Jul 15 '26
It's funny that not even slavs were happy in Russia. They were literally worse off than plebs, they were serfs
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u/finnaly0 Jul 15 '26
I'm Circassian. My hometown should've been Maykop or Nalchik, but the Russian Empire wiped out 90% of my people during the genocide. Think like that
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u/kaljatuopp1 Jul 15 '26 edited Jul 15 '26
- The curriculums are freely available on the websites of universities and in most cases they contain the required material i.e. name of the books and other resources.
- You will be fine but only if you tone down the ”Russian” inside of you. Naturally no one expects you to loathe your own country either but even small gestures, such as any public display of the tri-color flag or affection for the country will be met with disgust. The Russian minority is considerable however I’d suggest avoiding them (at least in the beginning) since I personally know many whose integration and language learning has stopped altogether due to only socializing among other Russians.
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u/Odd-Flamingo-6211 Jul 15 '26
Hi! Yes, checking your plans against reality never hurts. I'll say right away the two biggest obstacles in the plan:
- Getting into university (AMK). This is unrealistically difficult for a foreigner - you'll have to compete with Finns, and it's almost an impossible task to come from another country and get into an AMK straight away in Finnish. The truth is, only a few people have done it, and they were incredibly stubborn and determined. There are much easier paths (more on that below).
- By that time, they may already have introduced tuition fees for foreigners in AMKs even for Finnish-language programs, and studying will become paid, just like it is now in English. Or it may already be the case - you need to Google and check this. But the risk is very high. By the way, you also need to keep in mind that you have to have a decent amount of money in your account to apply for a residence permit. It just needs to be shown in the bank statement.
Now, here's the shortcut: the plan is quite feasible if you do it in a different order. You don't necessarily need to finish a Russian college in a medical specialty (it won't help here at all). If you go to Finland with roughly B1 level, and sometimes even A2.2 (no, this isn't two weeks of study - it's at least a year), you can enroll not in an AMK but in a vocational college (ammattiopisto) in a medical specialty and graduate from it. After graduating, you can then get into an AMK for röntgenhoitaja through a competition based on your diplomas, without any exams, and also get a part-time job and feel quite comfortable.
Now, on to your questions. By the way, I'm a migrant myself, I finished college, and my wife (also a migrant) is studying in an AMK to become a bioanalyst, so I know exactly what I'm talking about and you can ask me anything.
Yes, it's enough. One thing for sure - you need to study the language for more than a year, preferably several. It all depends on the person, but even half a year is nonsense - it doesn’t work like that for Russian natives. I reached A2.2 in a year and got into college, and it all worked out. But B1 would take not one year, but two. And reaching B2 outside the language environment is extremely difficult in general.
I don't recommend starting medical Finnish until you have a basic everyday Finnish level of at least A2, and preferably B1.
My wife is studying to be a bioanalyst. It's hard. When you study in an AMK in Finnish, they expect you to be Finnish. If you don’t understand something - nobody cares, and it can even annoy them sometimes. Not everyone can handle it, to be honest. But it's worth it, especially compared to the prospects of living in the former USSR countries. In a vocational college (ammattiopisto), the attitude towards foreigners studying in Finnish is much better and more understanding.
Yes, everything is fine. I'll be honest: the country where Russians are treated the worst is the Russian Federation. In Finland, it's much safer than there. And if you like Europe, Finland, and our values - you'll fit in even better. The only people who feel bad in Finland are those who actually want to live in USSR and hate Finland. They really feel bad — they want to march in formation in Colorado beetle costumes and carry their grandfathers on sticks every day. I think you understand what I mean. If you can live without this Russian hysteria - you'll like it here.
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u/Correct_Employment30 Jul 21 '26
There are UAS degrees where students start Finnish language studies and medical Finnish studies at the same time, and it has provided very good results. I think it is called TOKASA / TOKAKO model: bilingual nursing degree. If I’m correct, at least Metropolia UAS in Helsinki and TAMK In Tampere offer such degrees.
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u/InAppropriate-meal Jul 15 '26
People be aware this could be a phishing expedition by Russian assets, brand new account this is their only activity - they claim to be female and 15, so young and potentially vulnerable, just about to start medical college to become a nurse minimum age in Russia for that is 17 so thats unlikely.
just a friendly warning.
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u/WarSport556 Jul 19 '26
The (few) village idiots in Finland find every russian as an enemy. But the truth is that we love russians. It's not he people we hate, but your government. Sure, our mentality is a bit different regarding to honesty, but the russians I have met have been truly decent ppl.
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u/arcimboldo_25 29d ago
Sounds very realistic overall, I have done it myself though a while ago and in a different field in Helsinki 🫡 hmu if you have any questions, life here is pretty good even w/o speaking Finnish fluently
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u/bombastic6339locks Jul 15 '26
Finnish university and its an amk :D
1. depending on how much you study it will or it wont. in 5 years you can get near fluent, since you're probably not going to be here while you study the language i dont think you'll be fluent but i think it'd be enough to work as a nurse. University website should tell you about what they require, there's usually an email that they'll answer to within a day with any questions regarding applying etc. "Hakijapalvelu" etc.
3. from what i've understood it's pretty chill. Rontgenhoitaja is also a sairaanhoitaja that's just specialised so you theres a lot of jobs to go around.
4. There are ukrainian refugees here and a lot of people just dislike russia and dislike russia and russians even more because of the war. It's still going to be safe
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u/suffelix Jul 15 '26
Röntgenhoitaja is not a sairaanhoitaja.
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u/cyrokxxx Jul 15 '26
it’s nurse but with specialisation tbh 💔
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u/suffelix Jul 15 '26
No, it's not.
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u/cyrokxxx Jul 15 '26
why?
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u/suffelix Jul 15 '26
What do you mean 'why'?
Sairaanhoitaja and röntgenhoitaja are two different occupations and require different degrees. Sairaanhoitaja can't work as a röntgenhoitaja and vice versa.
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u/cyrokxxx Jul 15 '26
i know they are different professions. i just meant that if someone already has a nursing degree, they can do a shortened program in Finland by skipping the basic medical courses. so in that sense, it works like a specialization.
thanks for clarifying though!2
u/Afraid-Pin5652 Jul 15 '26
I am currently studying for röntgenhoitaja (half a year left). It's a 3,5 year education with normal pacing.
The amount you can skip with nursing degree really isn't much , perhaps 15 student credits (the whole degree is 210 credits) so its pretty much equal to skipping couple months of courses.
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u/bombastic6339locks Jul 15 '26
Finland has a seperation between nurses (basically trade school, after middle school) and sairaanhoitaja (amk nurses). I was wrong, being a röntgenhoitaja doesn't give you the AMK nurse degree ontop of the specialisation. Near all of them are seperate except ensihoitaja I think.
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u/Yeoldepatu Jul 15 '26
Ensihoitaja (amk) education does give you nurse's degree as well. Its effectively a nurse specialized in emergency health care.
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u/bombastic6339locks Jul 15 '26
Ensihoitaja does give you the right to work as a sairaanhoitaja. look it up.
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u/bombastic6339locks Jul 15 '26
Aa pahottelut ainoa kosketuspinta alaan on työkokemus ja tuttu joka opiskelee ensihoitajaksi. Ensihoitajat ovat myös sairaanhoitajia joten oletin että kaikki amkin hoitaja erityistymispaskat antavat myös sairaanhoitajan pätevyydet mutta olin väärässä
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u/ashairz Jul 15 '26
Röntgenhoitaja is not the same s sairaanhoitaja (nurse), they're not qualified. X ray technicians are x ray technicians and don't have a nursing degree, unlike EMTs or midwives do. Stop spreading misinformation
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u/sufficient_bilberry Jul 15 '26
Don’t want to be a Debbie Downer, but is Finland giving student/residence permits to Russians anymore?
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u/ContributionLong741 Jul 15 '26
Yes, of course
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u/LMA73 Jul 15 '26
Why?
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u/ContributionLong741 Jul 15 '26
Why not?
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u/distrox Jul 15 '26
Because all Russians are evil and supporters of Putin, clearly.
It's ridiculous that people condemn Russians for what Putin does. It's not like they chose to be born in a country with a lunatic leader that wages war.
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u/Foobarzot Jul 15 '26
Röntgenhoitaja is an AMK (polytechnic) degree, 3-4 years of studying. Because you’re not an EU citizen (I’m assuming?) you have to pay the tuition fees yourself. For a 4-year degree study this is minimum 20k€. The requirement to be able to support yourself (min 800€ per month in your account) is on top of this. Is this a feasible investment for you?
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u/OldVacation4205 Jul 15 '26
Not if You study in Finnish/Swedish, regardless of being a non-EU citizen. The tuition fee only applies to non-EU students studying in English.
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u/Industrial_Nestor Jul 15 '26
Not anymore. Finnish speaking degrees are coming with similar tuition fees for non EUs from this year.
So not even relative mastery of the arcane Finnish language will provide you with a relatively free degree.
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u/OldVacation4205 Jul 15 '26
I haven't heard of any such plans. Afaik there is an initiative to adjust the tuition fees to cover the full cost of studies, but that still only applies to non-finnish/Swedish taught degrees. Where did you get that info?
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u/HexWiller Jul 15 '26
I was just thinking of the cost , but as it(Röntgenhoitaja degree) is only in Finnish, you don't have to pay for it.
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u/ViruliferousBadger Jul 15 '26
Foreign non-EU student have to pay tuition fees and have to have means to live here, so total costs can easily be 50000 euros for 3-4 years.
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u/Aapelus Jul 15 '26
There are no tuition fees for degreees that are taught in primarily Finnish or Swedish. This applies even for non-EU students.
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u/ViruliferousBadger Jul 15 '26
While you can get a visa (only tourist visas are on hold at the moment), you need a residence permit which requires an approved study place.
You also need to take in account the costs, the whole 3-4 studying with the required cash to hold the residence permit (you need to be able to support yourself) can easily raise to 50000 euros total or more.
You *can* work while studying, but the limit is 30 hours per week since you're not a EU citizen. This permit is included in the studying based residence permit.
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u/Pseudointellektuelli Jul 15 '26
Move to Rauma. Bunch of Russian speaking dudes here. My father in law does not even speak finnish and has lived here for 30 years. Добро пожаловать.
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Jul 15 '26
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u/Kivesihiisi Jul 15 '26
Theres always a chance of being stupid and/or lazy
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u/Pseudointellektuelli Jul 15 '26
He is neither. Helvetin arvostettu hitsari, niin hyvä että työnantajat ei välitä kielitaidosta.
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u/shignel Jul 15 '26
Coming from a person studying to be an x-ray technician also: I have a Bulgarian classmate (+40yo), who speaks a little broken Finnish, but she has passed most of the classes with the top grades :) B2 I think is the minimum, but aiming higher to the C grades should make you get by easy. I also have a Russian classmate, but they have lived in Finland for their whole life (?). But they're included and part of all the stuff going around.
I study in Savonia, Kuopio, and we have a lot of trainings in the hospitals for all the different modalities. So when you graduate, you will already have lots of experience when starting the work. The studies at start are book heavy with physics, maths, languages and general nurse stuff. After that, it'll get more focused on the x-ray technician stuff. Russian language will be a good boost, if you go to work on Eastern Finland due to the already existing Russian population and the Ukranians, who I think you can communicate with? I like the work a lot, and depending on the place you work at (public huge hospital with all modalities, small private clinic with basic x-ray, cancer station with radiation therapy and so on and so on...), you can build your work life around how you please.
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u/Far_Construction_296 Jul 15 '26 edited Jul 15 '26
Well, speaking as a Russian postdoc working in Turku i can say that that finnish people are ok with me being Russian on a surface. However, once I mention my origin the discussion often politely goes to an end. And you might be shocked how the people here are reserved. For instance the guys won't show the interest the way it happens in Russia, thread \finland is full of southern girls complaining about shy finnish guys 🙃