Higher education in Finland
In Finland there are two types of higher education institutions: universities and universities of applied sciences. Tuition is provided in Finnish, Swedish and English.
Applications to universities are made on the Studyinfo site, where you can also get more information on education opportunities at different levels.
On this page you will find information about higher education, how to apply, student exchanges and other matters related to higher education. If you are interested in higher education in Åland, see the page Guide: studying in Åland.
Universities of applied sciences
Studies at universities of applied sciences are designed according to the needs of working life. Universities of applied sciences provide practice-oriented and often multidisciplinary higher education, which can be based on upper secondary school or vocational studies. Studies are generally more school-like than at university and include five months of work experience. For information on the grades awarded, see Grading scales in Finland.
Degree courses at universities of applied sciences are free of charge for EU, EEA and Swiss nationals. Citizens of other countries may be charged tuition fees.
The majority of universities of applied sciences in Finland are Finnish-speaking, but there are also completely Swedish-speaking universities of applied sciences. Several universities of applied sciences also provide study programmes in English. Universities set their own language requirements, so check how to prove your language proficiency from the university itself.
Completing a UAS Bachelor’s degree takes 3.5-4.5 years, and studies include a practical training period lasting one term. Students can complete a UAS Master’s degree after they have graduated from an appropriate university and worked in a relevant occupation for at least two years. Completing a Master’s degree takes full-time students 1–1 ½ years.
Read more about studies at universities of applied sciences on Studyinfo.
Universities
Teaching at universities is based on scientific or artistic research. Studying at university develops students' scientific thinking skills. A university degree usually consists of a major and a minor subject, language and communication studies, an internship and a thesis. For information on the grades awarded, see the page Grading scales in Finland.
The target time to a bachelor's degree is three years and for a master's degree two years. For most degrees, the maximum time to complete a bachelor's and master's degree is seven years. After a bachelor's degree, it is possible to apply for a doctorate or licentiate degree.
Universities are either monolingual or bilingual, i.e. in Finnish and/or Swedish. There is also a lot of teaching and research in English.
Studying at the university is free of charge for EU and EEA and Swiss nationals. Citizens of other countries may be charged tuition fees. Students pursuing a bachelor's or master's degree at a university must belong to a student union, which has its own membership fee.
Read more about university degrees on the Studyinfo website.
Applying for higher education
Applications for Finnish- and Swedish-language degree programmes at universities and universities of applied sciences are made in the spring and autumn through the online joint application on the Studyinfo website. The joint application for some foreign language courses is in January. Read more on the Studyinfo website.
Many Master's programmes, especially those in English, are not included in the joint application, but are applied for through the universities' applications. Find out more about degree programmes in English at StudyinFinland.fi.
The Nordic Agreement on Higher Education ensures that everyone living in the Nordic countries has equal rights to apply for public higher education in the Nordic countries on the same or similar terms as residents of that country. You can therefore apply to a university or university of applied sciences in the same joint application procedure as Finnish applicants.
The majority of students for a lower degree at a university of applied sciences are selected on the basis of a basic vocational qualification and their matriculation examination, i.e. through certificate selection. The remaining students are selected on the basis of a selection test.
If you have completed your upper secondary education abroad and have not completed a European Baccalaureate (EB) or International Baccalaureate (IB), you cannot apply to a Finnish higher education institution through the certificate selection procedure. In this case, you can be selected on the basis of a selection test.
Applications for a higher degree at a university of applied sciences are also made through the joint application procedure.
The majority of students to universities are admitted on the basis of their matriculation examination certificate, i.e. through certificate selection. The remaining students are selected through a selection test or other selection method, such as the open study path.
If you have completed your upper secondary education abroad and have not completed a European Baccalaureate (EB) or International Baccalaureate (IB), you cannot apply to a Finnish university through the certificate selection procedure. In this case, you can be selected on the basis of a selection test.
Usually, if you are selected for a lower degree at university, you will also have the right to study for a higher degree. Postgraduate degrees are not part of the joint application procedure; they are applied for directly through the university awarding the degree. Read more on Studyinfo.
If you have completed your secondary education outside Finland, you must submit a copy of your certificate with your application. If your certificate is in a language other than Finnish, Swedish or English, you must also provide an official translation of your certificate in Finnish, Swedish or English.
Institutions decide on their selection criteria, which may vary by institution and education programme. There are sectoral restrictions for certain programmes. For some courses, you must be fit and able to carry out practical tasks related to your studies. In some cases, the student may be required to produce a drug test certificate or an extract from their criminal record. For sectoral restrictions, see the educational description of the programme you are applying for.
Note that you may not receive a separate invitation to the admission tests, so you will need to find out the time and place of the admission tests for the programmes you are applying for. They are usually easy to find on the institutions’ websites.
Want to go on a student exchange to or from Finland?
As a higher education student, you have the opportunity to complete part of your degree abroad. Usually you apply for an exchange through your own school. The best-known exchange programmes include Erasmus+ and Nordplus. You may be eligible for an exchange grant, which may also include a scholarship from your university. An exchange usually lasts for one semester or one academic year. Ask more about studying abroad in higher education from your university or read more on the Maailmalle.net website.
At the end of the exchange period, apply for recognition of your studies during the exchange. For more information, contact your school.
What should I know about studying in Finland?
If you are coming to Finland to study, it is also good to know about student housing, funding and taxation, work placements, healthcare and social security, and student discounts in Finland. We have collected information on these on the page Guide: studying in Finland.
Academic recognition of qualifications
It is up to universities and colleges to decide whether to accept studies abroad as part of your degree. However, the Nordic Agreement on Higher Education ensures that higher education institutions in the Nordic countries recognise studies completed under each other.
For information on the professional recognition of qualifications, i.e. when a person with a foreign qualification needs a separate decision on the recognition of their qualification or the right to pursue a profession, see the article Professional recognition in Finland of qualifications completed in other countries.
It is up to the universities and educational institutions themselves to decide whether to recognise studies completed abroad as part of a Finnish degree. It is a good idea to find out in advance what documents Finnish higher education institutions need to accredit your studies.
More information on the recognition of foreign qualifications in Finland can be found on the website of the Finnish National Agency for Education. For more information on degree programmes in English, visit the StudyinFinland page.
The international principle for the recognition of qualifications is that the host institution makes an interpretation of the level of the foreign qualification or the extent of the achievement.
You can also apply for a separate statement from the Finnish National Agency for Education. For a fee, the Finnish National Agency for Education provides expert opinions on Finnish qualifications for international use. The statement can be drawn up for completed qualifications that are part of the official Finnish qualification structure.
Read more on the website of the Finnish National Agency for Education.
Higher education in other Nordic countries
On these pages you can find information about higher education in other Nordic countries.
More information
Please fill in our contact form if you have any questions or if you have encountered an obstacle in another Nordic country.
NB! If you have questions regarding the processing of a specific case or application, or other personal matters, please contact the relevant authority directly.
