Higher education in Åland

Åland has its own legislative authority in education and training, with UAS education—based on upper secondary education—offered at the Åland University of Applied Sciences. At a university of applied sciences, studies are designed to meet the needs of working life, and the courses are often practice-oriented. 

Studies at universities of applied sciences leading to a degree are free of charge for citizens of EU/EEA countries and Switzerland. Citizens of other countries may be required to pay an academic year fee.

Åland University of Applied Sciences is Åland’s only institution of higher education and offers bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes in Swedish and English in fields such as engineering, maritime studies, healthcare, economics and tourism. The programmes combine theory and practice, and the degree is equivalent to the corresponding UAS degree in Finland.

Learn more about Åland University of Applied Sciences and its programmes on its website or in the menu tabs below.

Applications for the degree programmes at Åland University of Applied Sciences are accepted in the spring. To be admitted, applicants must meet the general admission requirements, which means that they must have one of the following:

• A general upper secondary qualification or matriculation examination from at least three years of upper secondary education.
• A vocational degree (120 credits)
• A corresponding education

Some programmes have specific admission requirements in addition to the general admission requirements. The university may also admit applicants who do not meet the requirements but who, based on an assessment, are deemed to have sufficient knowledge and skills for university-level studies.

The admissions process at Åland University of Applied Sciences differs from the admissions systems in, for example, Sweden and Finland. There is no minimum score requirement for applicants; instead, the applicants with the highest scores who meet the admission requirements are admitted.  The number of students admitted to the programmes is determined annually. Learn more about topics such as score calculation, admission requirements for individual programmes, entrance exams and language proficiency on the Applications page. 

The Nordic Agreement on Access to Higher Education gives everyone living in the Nordic region the right to apply for general higher education in another Nordic country on the same or equivalent terms as the country's own residents. Read more on the page Agreement concluded by Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden on Admission to Higher Education.

Åland University of Applied Sciences collaborates with higher education institutions in the Nordic countries and Europe and participates in the Erasmus+ and Nordplus exchange programmes. Students have the opportunity to complete part of their studies or internship abroad as exchange students in another country. You can find more information on studying and internships abroad on the university’s webpage Studying and internships abroad.

For exchange studies in Åland, the home institution must offer an exchange programme with Åland University of Applied Sciences. 

The grading scales in Åland vary depending on whether the studies are at comprehensive, upper secondary or university of applied sciences level. On the page Grading scales in Åland you can find information on the grading scale at Åland University of Applied Sciences and the conversion of grades for studies in Åland.

As a rule, it is the receiving institution that assesses the level of the foreign degree and the scope of the education. Åland University of Applied Sciences therefore decides itself whether a student can have their studies abroad counted towards their degree. However, the Nordic Agreement on Access to Higher Education and the Reykjavik Declaration on the mutual recognition of higher education qualifications are intended to ensure that higher education from one Nordic is as a rule recognised in the other Nordic countries.

Information on the recognition of professional qualifications and the right to practice a profession is available on the page on authorisation and recognition of foreign qualifications in Åland.

The Open University offers university and college courses, continuing education and open lectures. Admission is based on the order in which applications are received, and everyone is eligible to enrol in the courses regardless of prior education or work experience. Some courses have entry requirements and various tuition fees, as indicated in the respective course descriptions.

It is possible to take courses and earn credits without being admitted to a degree programme. The credits can be registered at the institution where the studies are being pursued or applied towards future studies later on. The current course offerings and additional information are available on the Open University's website.

The Info Norden website contains information on higher education in the other Nordic countries as well as contact details for the authorities that can answer questions.