For example, even though I am registered to attend the Business School I am entitled to take classes from the Abo Academy, and the University of Turku. All the students from Finland must pass exams in order to qualify for a higher education but once they are accepted they receive an allowance from the Finnish government for rent, food, and other expenses. Most of the students do not stop their studies after the bachelor degree level and it is normal for nearly everyone to spend about six years total earning a master's degree. All the students are very independent here and their academic schedules are at their own discretion. In fact, there is not any formal enrollment for courses here.
Students simply show up to the first lecture and sign up for the course.
Then it is up to the student whether or not to take the exam for credit in the course. If students should fail the exam they aren't upset, they get two more chances to take the exam for credit in the course. In addition to a different academic environment, the social culture is also very strange. I am having the experience of a lifetime and I am very sad that it will be over in four months. Media Relations Home Page Copyright 2000 - Emporia State University .