Application Process – UAS Degree Program

In study programmes in English, you study in an international student group and complete a UAS degree in English. The programmes have the same contents and provide you the same qualifications as the corresponding programmes taught in Finnish. The language of instruction is English which helps you develop your competences in working in English.

Why study a UAS degree in English in Finland?

  • During your studies, you develop your English language skills and can easily work in English later in life.
  • High-quality education and good English skills are very useful on the international labour market.
  • You’ll make friends from all over the world, and you can also go on a student exchange programme abroad.
  • Degree in English offers you the same opportunities to continue your studies as a UAS degree in Finnish.

Eligibility in joint application procedure

In most cases, you are eligible to apply for Bachelor’s level studies in Finland if you are eligible to apply for higher education in your home country.

Eligible applicants for degree studies at universities of applied sciences have completed at least one of the following:

  • the studies required for graduating from the Finnish upper secondary school or a Matriculation Examination;
  • an International Baccalaureate (IB) degree;
  • a European Baccalaureate (EB) Diploma;
  • a Reifeprüfung (RP) or Deutsche Internationale Abitur (DIA) degree;
  • a Finnish vocational upper secondary qualification covering 120 credits or 180 competence points or a corresponding earlier Finnish vocational degree covering at least 80 credits;
  • a Finnish post-secondary or higher vocational level diploma;
  • a Finnish vocational upper secondary qualification or a further or specialist vocational qualification as a competence-based qualification, or a corresponding previous qualification;
  • a foreign qualification that provides eligibility for higher education studies in that country;
  • Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree.

Depending on the higher education institution, you can also be eligible if you hold an Advanced International Certificate of Education degree (AICE) in Finland, have the right to study towards a university degree in Finland, or hold a degree granted by a Finnish higher education institution or at least a Bachelor level degree granted by a foreign institution.

Please check the language skill requirements of the higher education institution before you apply.

Always check specific admission criteria directly on the description of the study programme.

Required educational certificates

When filling in the application form at Studyinfo.fi, you have to demonstrate your eligibility by required certificates. The required certificates have to be uploaded to your application, or submitted to the Admission Services of the UAS you applied for by the set deadline.

You need to attach a copy of the certificate/the final graduation diploma to your application if you have completed any of the following education:  

  • Finnish Vocational upper secondary qalification completed before year 2017
  • Finnish Further or Specialist Qualification completed before year 2018
  • Finnish Matriculation examination completed before year 1990
  • Finnish upper secondary school syllabus
  • Finnish vocational upper secondary qualification completed in Åland
  • International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma, European Baccalaureate (EB) diploma or Reiferprüfung (RP)/ Deutsches Internationales Abitur (DIA) diploma
  • Higher secondary school certificate completed outside Finland (e.g. high school diploma)
  • Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, postgraduate licentiate and doctoral degrees completed outside Finland

Note! If the degree certificate is not in English, Finnish or Swedish, also attach its official translation. The official translation needs to have translator´s signature and stamp. If you are a refugee or in refugee like situation and cannot submit documentary evidence of your qualification, you can submit a copy of the decision on asylum or a residence permit granted on the basis of a need for protection. Document must be delivered to the Admission Services of your first choice.

How to apply to university of applied sciences in joint application procedure

First joint application round in spring

In the first joint application in spring, you can apply for study programmes of universities of applied sciences conducted in English. The application period for the first joint application in spring is January. The application period only lasts a couple of weeks (2–3 weeks). Please familiarize yourself with the study programmes available for application and the available selection methods before submitting your application.

Filling in the application form

You can apply to university of applied sciences by filling in a joint application form at Studyinfo.fi during the application period. In the first joint application in spring, you can apply for a maximum of six different study programmes with a single form. The programmes do not have to be listed in any order of priority.

Studyinfo: How to fill in the application form in joint application

Accepting a study place in university of applied sciences

Depending on your selection process success, you can be accepted to one or more study programmes. However, if you are selected to more than one programme, you can only accept one study place for programmes starting on the same semester. You’ll find more information on accepting a study place at Studyinfo.fi.

Tuition fees and scholarships

Universities and universities of applied sciences in Finland charge a tuition fee from students coming from outside EU/EEA area. If you are uncertain about the amount of the fee, please check the description of the study programme at Studyinfo.fi by following the link ‘Annual tuition fees’ or check the amount of the fee at the UAS website you apply to. More information is also available at Studyinfo.fi at Am I required to pay tuition fees?.

If you have to pay tuition fees, you can apply for a scholarship. Every UAS has its own scholarship programme. Please check the options for scholarships at the UAS website you apply to.

More information on tuition fees and scholarships at the UAS websites:

Health and functional capacity required for studies

If you plan to apply for a study programme leading to a degree in the fields of social services and health care, humanities and education, sports and exercise or seafaring, you have to assess your own suitability to the field already at the application stage, on the basis of your health and functional capacity. Discuss the potential restrictions related to your health and functional capacity with your study counsellor when you plan for your further education. Also, discuss this with your treatment facility representatives who can assist you in assessing your suitability to studies in different fields.

The so-called SORA legislation applies to education leading to a UAS degree in the fields of social services and health care, humanities and education, sports and exercise and seafaring. These fields have requirements concerning the safety of minors, patient and client safety or traffic safety which restrict student admission. In these fields, it is required that health and functional capacity of approved applicants are such that they are able to take part in the practical assignments or training relating to studies.

A restriction related to health or functional capacity does not prevent students from being admitted if the effects of the restriction can be reasonably eliminated, for example by making special arrangements. The purpose is not to impose unnecessary obstacles to access to education for applicants with disabilities, or applicants with physical or mental impairments. Restrictions apply only in situations where it is clear that the applicants cannot participate in the study programme because of their health or functional capacity. The severity of the restriction and its treatment status are taken into account when assessing the applicant’s suitability as a student in the degree programme concerned.

At the request of the university of applied sciences, students shall present a criminal record extract if, for their studies or practical training relating to studies, they are given assignments which substantially require work with minors. University of applied sciences may oblige a student to present a certificate on a drug test if there is reason to suspect that the student performs practical assignments or practical training relating to studies under the influence of drugs or that the student has a drug addiction.

Familiarize yourself with the field-specific requirements on health and functional capacity before submitting your application. You’ll find the field-specific requirements here.

Accepting a conditional study place

The study place is conditional until the university of applied sciences has processed and assessed the information related to health and functional capacity of the applicant required for the assessment of admission.

University of applied sciences may revoke the study place of the applicant:

  • if the certificates are not submitted within the time limit indicated by the university of applied sciences;
  • if the applicant has provided incorrect personal information;
  • if it is evident that the student does not fulfil the prerequisites for admission in regard of his or her state of  health or functional capacity (Universities of Applied Sciences Act 932/2014);
  • if the student has concealed a prior decision to revoke the right to study. (Universities of Applied Sciences Act 932/2014)

One study place per term provision

You may accept only one study place leading to a higher education degree in education that begins in the same term. This rule applies to all higher education leading to a degree regardless of whether you apply in joint application or in separate application. This rule does not apply to the Police University College, Åland University of Applied Sciences and foreign higher education institutions. However, you may have more than one study place if you have accepted them in different terms.

Claims for adjustment

You may file a claim for adjustment after the publication of the student selection results. Claims for adjustment have to be filed within 14 days after the publication of results at that university of applied sciences where you applied to, and where the error in student selection of the available study programme has, in your opinion, taken place. Further instructions for claims for adjustment are available at the Admission Services of the university of applied sciences in question.

Second joint application in spring and autumn joint application

Joint application rounds for study programmes leading to a degree conducted in Finnish and Swedish are organised twice a year (in spring in March–April and in September in the autumn). The study programmes open for applications vary between different application rounds. In the autumn joint application, there are usually less programmes available for applications than in spring. In the autumn joint application, there are typically some English-language study programmes available for applications as well.

In addition to joint application, UAS may organise separate applications for their study programmes taught in English. More information on separate applications is available at the UAS websites and at Studyinfo.fi.