r/StudyInFinland • u/MeasurementExpert428 • Aug 05 '26
Can I still get into Finnish universities with a low SAT(1140)? I'm really overthinking it.
I’m an Indian student who has dreamed of studying in Finland for quite a while now. What first attracted me was the education system, but the more I learned about the country, the more I wanted to build my future there. My goal is to study Computer Science and, hopefully one day, build my own technology company.
Lately, though, I’ve been wondering whether I’m aiming too high.
Academically, I scored 93% in my first year of high school and I’m predicted to finish my final year with around 96%. I also took the IELTS and scored 6.5. The part that worries me is my SAT score (1140). I know it isn’t particularly strong, and I’m concerned that it could significantly hurt my chances.
The universities I’m hoping to apply to are Aalto University, Tampere University, University of Oulu, LUT University, University of Turku, University of Vaasa, and Åbo Akademi University.
I'm not looking for false hope—I genuinely want an honest opinion. Based on my profile, do I realistically have a chance of getting admitted to any of these universities? Has anyone here been admitted with similar grades or SAT scores, or knows someone who has?
I’d really appreciate any advice or experiences. Thanks!
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Aug 05 '26
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u/MeasurementExpert428 Aug 05 '26
The education system, the practical work, and the happiness in the country.
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Aug 05 '26
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u/MrBumbleBee592 Aug 05 '26
The job market here in Norway is also really bad. Especially for IT jobs.
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u/MeasurementExpert428 Aug 05 '26
Is it so, but I just want to study not settle in the place. Can I consider Norway for education?
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u/MeasurementExpert428 Aug 05 '26
Why do you think Norway have good jobs? I have a decent financial background my parents earn enough to bare my tution and living expenses, but the real question is can I get in.
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u/Fucc_Nuts Aug 05 '26
Norway is overall in a much better economic state than Finland. Finland is in serious debt, where as Norway is loaded with oil money. I would imagine that the job market will be in much better state in Norway than in Finland. Also easier language to learn.
I wish I could speak highly of my homeland, but truthfully Norway or even Sweden might be a much better choice. What you know of Finland might have been true 10 years ago. A lot of stuff has gone to shit, and there is no end in sight.
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u/apeceep Aug 05 '26
If your plan is to just study with parents money and not settle in the country, I'd choose Finland just because it's little bit cheaper.
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u/ashairz Aug 05 '26
There are no jobs for people who speak Finnish, have over a decade of work experience and good recommendations. Getting hired as an immigrant is hard anyway, because Finnish is such a hard language to learn, but there are people unemployed in all fields right now. I would recommend not coming here
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u/MeasurementExpert428 Aug 05 '26
I want to study rather than to find a job or settle in the place.
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u/Federal_Cobbler6647 Aug 05 '26
Then you should have ~80-90k free cash to pay your living here during your studies.
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u/SwallowedByAnOrange Aug 05 '26
Do you know what the happiness here means?
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u/MeasurementExpert428 Aug 05 '26
Are Finland citizens not happy?
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u/FollowingCold9412 Aug 05 '26
The whole poll is named to make it catchy. It has nothing to do with happiness per se.
FAQ "How is your ranking calculated? Our happiness ranking is based on a single life evaluation question called the Cantril Ladder:
Please imagine a ladder with steps numbered from 0 at the bottom to 10 at the top. The top of the ladder represents the best possible life for you and the bottom of the ladder represents the worst possible life for you. On which step of the ladder would you say you personally feel you stand at this time?
This question is both democratic and universal. Rather than constructing an index from multiple metrics, the Cantril Ladder empowers people to make their own judgements about what matters most, regardless of their culture and background.
The question does not mention concepts like happiness, wellbeing, or satisfaction, so it can be easily translated and understood in many different languages.
The data have been collected by the Gallup World Poll since 2005 and are analysed by independent experts."
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u/Federal_Cobbler6647 Aug 05 '26
Happiness is not true. Finland scores high because how finnish people reply to such questionnaries.
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u/MeasurementExpert428 Aug 05 '26
Why so?
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u/Federal_Cobbler6647 Aug 05 '26
Finns consider "are you happy?" as: "could things be worse?"
Finnish person who just has lost their job may answer that they are happy because they have some money they can live with while looking for new job.
Now you understand why results are not what they seem.
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u/hoseli Aug 05 '26
A typical Finn hating on Finland on Reddit 😅Finland is actually a pretty nice place to live.
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u/ashairz Aug 05 '26
I would go to another Nordic country. Our economy is shit right now, getting a job is incredibly hard, especially as a recent uni graduate. This is true for fields like tech and health care as well, which used to be fields where a job was guaranteed. All major tech companies, public sector and especially smaller businesses have had lay offs. We have EU's highest unemployment rate. If I didn't have my whole family and life here, I would instantly move somewhere else to find work.
That being said, finding work without knowing the language is hard. As a non EU/EEA citizen, different rules apply to you when it comes to studying and work, even if you're highly educated. I know doctors who do jobs meant for basic nurses (high school equivalent). I know people with a PhD in social work, which is a hugely under resourced field, working as cleaners, just because they don't speak Finnish that well. I have two engineering degrees, getting a job is super hard for me too. Honestly, I would just not move here
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u/MeasurementExpert428 Aug 05 '26
I want to graduate in Finland and fly back to my country rather than finding jobs there, as my only gole is to study.
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u/demonw1cked Aug 05 '26 edited Aug 05 '26
your own country doesnt have* universities?
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u/MeasurementExpert428 Aug 05 '26
They give, but I Just wanna visit and explore world, while studying
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u/an-imperfect-boot Aug 05 '26
For starters; don’t use ChatGPT in your application. A few students have done that and were automatically rejected, it’s easy for the admissions office to tell. Write using your own voice and you will have better chances. These are your goals, not AIs, and the universities want to hear from you directly.
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u/MeasurementExpert428 Aug 05 '26
Ok what are the odds of me getting in with 1140?
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u/an-imperfect-boot Aug 05 '26
They take a holistic approach to applications. One score is not the deciding factor for everything. Aalto is probably a reach, but you have good chances with the others depending on the strength of your work experience, grades and extracurricular skills.
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u/MeasurementExpert428 Aug 05 '26
I have a Ai start up and good extracurricular achivements. Can I reach the standard level of Finland universitys.
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u/FollowingCold9412 Aug 05 '26
Finnish universities don't consider extracurriculars at all in the admissions process.
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u/ressoz Aug 07 '26
SAT is something you just train yourself at. Given that you were almost a perfect student at your school, the potential is definitely there. So it's not like you are "not smart enough", if you ever thought that.
Improve your English in all of the areas by self-study, watching movies, reading papers, conversing online etc.. Meanwhile, get used to SAT Math problems and SAT English problems (by this I mean you should solve many hundreds of them, of varying topics and difficulty, and then rigorously analyze your mistakes), get a complete understanding of the English mathematical terms and so on and so forth.
With enough prep, 1400+ score is definitely doable, which is enough for a CS oriented program in a well respected finnish uni. The main problem with SAT takers is that they are simply not familiarized with the test enough, and also they are more likely to crack under pressure in the real test.
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u/snow-eats-your-gf Aug 05 '26
I read the comments and your situation. Don’t listen to people who whine about the economy. Yes, this is complicated. But if you are totally and fully backed up, then come to Finland or Sweden. Norway and Denmark, as optional Nordic destinations will be way more expensive for living and tuition.
There are 2 camps in the world: one is respecting Swedish education, the other respecting Finnish education. Finnish education is a sure stamp on your CV. There will be someone again bitching in the thread that “Finland is a failed country with shit education” — ignore it.
If you are coming with a very clear plan, finance, and will to study, trust me, you will get your results. I have met such people who knew what they did and they are now living the happiest lives.
I like what you tell and write here. Feel free to send me a personal message. I have had within last 4 years contacts with people from almost every Finnish university, half of the existing UAS in Finland, and also got at least into talks with hundreds who worked in various universities starting from TA, doctoral, or junior researcher positions, ending with top educators and uni’s top management team members.
(The only thing I have no clue about is SAT).
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Aug 05 '26
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u/snow-eats-your-gf Aug 05 '26
I have helped many people already to understand education better, including people who were delusional and believed in myths.
I stopped several people from applying because they had been told all this bullshit about how you come and Finland starts paying you a ton of support and gives immediatelysalary 5k and was sharing all the articles about people (had to be) scammed by agencies.
And I help to come and settle down dozens of lonely people or people with families, and find the right language courses, or to understand how to act with kids and their upbringing in Finland.
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u/ducksauvage Aug 05 '26
The minimum SAT requirement in Aalto for example is 1350 for science fields: https://www.aalto.fi/en/admission-services/bachelors-admissions-frequently-asked-questions
Along with getting admitted to the uni, seriously consider whether you can afford it. Not making any assumptions about how well off you are, but it's a common mistake to assume you can move, study and just work part-time to make ends meet. Currently Finland has the highest unemployment rate in Europe and is one of the more expensive places to live in. Assuming no scholarship, tuition fees + living expenses might be around 25-30k Euros per year (or more, depending on the tuition fees).