Student case study · Finland
Suman, from Syangja to Tampere
Bachelor of Engineering, Software Engineering, August 2025 intake
Average +2 marks, strong maths. He got in on the entrance exam, which counted for more than his GPA.
- After +2
- Entrance exam
- Average marks
- Starting point
- +2 science, GPA 2.86 (maths A)
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.0
- Study gap
- 1 year after +2, teaching maths at a tuition centre
- Paid for by
- Family savings and an education loan
- First call to visa
- 248 days
Where Suman started
Suman had a GPA of 2.86 from +2 science but an A in maths, and a year teaching maths to SEE students in Syangja. Australian universities he'd looked at wanted higher marks or a diploma first.
What we found
At Finnish universities of applied sciences, the entrance exam often decides the place, not the +2 GPA. For a software engineering bachelor's, that exam leans on maths and problem solving: his strength.
So we spent his preparation on timed practice in the exam format, not on polishing his marks story. His teaching year went into the motivation answers and explained the gap.
Step by step, with dates
9 Nov 2024
First counselling. Finnish entrance exam route explained.
14 Dec 2024
IELTS: 6.0 overall.
10 Jan 2025
Joint application with 3 IT programmes.
Feb to Mar 2025
Weekly timed practice in the exam format; online entrance exam in March.
16 May 2025
Study place offered with a 50% first-year scholarship.
3 Jun 2025
NOC, tuition paid, €9,600 in his account, permit applied.
15 Jul 2025
Residence permit granted, 248 days after the first call.
10 Aug 2025
Flies to Tampere.
The result
Suman is in his second year in Tampere, works 25 hours a week on average in a warehouse, and did a summer internship testing software for a local company.
In Suman's words
In Nepal my marks decided everything. In Finland the exam did, and I could prepare for the exam.
If your profile looks like this
- 1
If your marks are average but one subject is strong, look at Finnish entrance exams. They test what you can do.
- 2
Practise in the real exam format, with a timer. Past formats are the best preparation.
- 3
See the Finland process and IT courses abroad.
Everything about studying in Finland: cost, process and fees
