Finland is a great destination for international students to study, work, or do both at the same time, as long as students can maintain a work-life balance that allows them to excel at both school and work. Finland is known to be an ideal place for overseas learners to work and study at the same time due to the number of work opportunities and advantageous labor laws applying to all exchange and degree students from overseas.
Finland offers high standards of living for international students with its strong economy, cultural diversity, and quality education, making it one of the best options for international students to pursue their academic goals in the country. However, this comes with some budget issues since student life in Finland can be costly for some students. This article covers five of the best ways to work in Finland while studying to support your expenses during your studies.
Is There a Work-Study Program in Finland?
No, but there are several internship-integrated degree programs or diploma works at many Finnish universities without needing to have a work permit. However, if such internship or diploma work programs are not accredited and accounted to a university credit system, or the work starts after completing the program courses, the Finnish Immigration Service requires non-EU/EEA students to work up to 30 hours per week.
Finding work while studying can sometimes be challenging as students may be asked to speak Finnish or Swedish. However, many Finnish universities guide international students to find suitable work while studying to support their expenses. Also, non-EU/EEA students can extend their residence for up to two more years after graduation to work in the country.
Can You Work in Finland While on A Student Visa?
Yes, the Finnish Immigration Service allows international students coming from non-EU/EEA countries to work up to 30 working hours per week if they are enrolled in an exchange or degree program in Finland, whereas EU/EEA students have the right to work in the country without any time limitation.
Additionally, international students from non-EU/EEA countries can work more than 30 hours during the holidays with the condition that they mustn’t exceed 30 hours per week at the end of the year. The work hour limitations do not apply for internship programs or diploma works, which are regulated within the program at Finnish universities.
What are the Benefits of Working While Studying in Finland?
Working as a student can be tiring, yet it can also provide serious advantages for international students in several ways. One of the most important benefits of working while studying is the fact that working provides financial support, making it easier for international students to be financially independent during their stay. International students working up to 30 hours per week can earn approximately €900 to €1,500 per month, which is a considerable amount for an international student to cover his or her needs in a large part.
Another important benefit of working while studying in Finland is that international students can get work experience in the country during their education, which can make it easier for the student to build a network and become familiar with the Finnish work culture beforehand.
5 Ways to Work While Studying in Finland
Working has plenty of advantages, yet it is also important to know how to find a suitable job in Finland. Below, we state five of the best ways to work in Finland as an international student.
1. University Career Centers
Oftentimes, the universities in Finland advertise several part-time jobs available for local or international students at the university, and each advert states its own offers, requirements, and expectations from the student. These adverts are usually posted on the Student Career Centers at the universities or online, and international students need to make sure they keep in touch with the university to access the available positions. For example, the University of Helsinki offers a trainee program for international master’s students.
Job requirements can change depending on the type of study, yet common requirements include having a student visa, or it can be English, Finnish, or even Swedish language proficiency, a decent GPA, and so on. Common types of jobs at Finnish universities include assistance in libraries, student centers, international offices, and faculties.
2. Language Tutors
Certain foreign languages, such as English, German, and French, are popular among Finnish residents, which can be a great advantage for some international students to work as private language tutors to teach their proficient language to Finnish kids, university students, or adults. Private language tutors earn about €15 – €30 on average in Finland, and if they teach regularly for a month, international students can earn a good amount of pocket money during their stay in the country. An example is Yoopies, an online job advert website for finding online tutoring positions.
3. Bartenders/Waiters
Finland being a country having various work options also has a demand for employees in hospitality and leisure positions, including restaurants or cafes. Hence, they often look for local or international students to work part-time in their businesses. However, some of these businesses may require a proficient level of Finnish or Swedish, so it is important for international students to look for bartender or waiter positions that require only English.
The city of Joensuu is known for its international businesses, and many restaurants and cafes have open positions for English-speaking students to work part-time. The average hourly salary for bartenders and waiters in Finland is around €10 – €13, yet depending on the job description, the salary can be lower or higher. Popular websites to find part-time jobs as waiters and bartenders include Jobly and JobMarket.
4. Freelance/Online Jobs
Working online is a popular and one of the greatest ways to make money not only in Finland but also anywhere else in the world. International students with the necessary skill set in their chosen field can earn high amounts of money by working remotely with flexibility of time and place. Popular freelance jobs include graphic design, programming, telecommunications, and content writing. Unlike other job options, freelance jobs have a wide range of salaries since many of them are project works, yet generally, such positions can make the freelancer earn around €15 per hour.
5. Delivery Person
Delivery positions are one of the few jobs on demand in Finland, and they are suitable for international students in many ways: they give the student time flexibility, require little or no experience, and need only little or no Finnish language skills since there is a minimum level of interaction with the customers.
The salary for delivery positions is much better in Finland than in many other countries; an average hourly salary for food delivery, for instance, is about €17. International students can look for delivery advertisements on several websites in Finland, including Wolt and Foodora.
Finland is one of the ideal countries for international students for not only quality education but also hospitality and assistance. Many local and international students work while studying, and there are plenty of opportunities for prospective students to support themselves during their studies.
Hopefully, this article will be of great use when looking for a part-time job in Finland! If you want to learn more about studying requirements in Finland then make sure to also check out Study in Finland page! You can also check out the Available Programs in Europe for international students!
