Finland is still a very attractive country for international students who want to study at the highest level in a very comfortable environment. Finnish universities have a hybrid of progressive education and strong research orientation, and they provide English, Finnish, and Swedish programs. This blog discusses all the Finland university admissions requirements needed to study in Finland and specifically what prospective students should know so that they can navigate the application process smoothly.
Understanding the Types of Universities in Finland
In Finland, two main kinds of institutions of higher education exist:
- Research Universities: These are research universities offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs.
- University of Applied Sciences (UAS): UAS is focused on practical and industry training with bachelor’s and master’s degrees available for specific industries.
Both kinds of universities are based on similar admission criteria but different procedures for the entrance exam.
Admission Requirements for Finnish Universities
General Eligibility Criteria
If you want to apply for admission to a Finnish university, you have to be in the following position:
Educational Background:
For bachelor’s degrees, you will need to have passed upper secondary education (the Finnish equivalent of the matriculation exam).
Students should have at least a bachelor’s degree.
Language Proficiency:
You’ll have to prove your fluency in English or the teaching language (Finnish/Swedish). Accepted tests include: IELTS
Required Documents:
- Completed application form
- Passport copy
- High School Diploma/Transcript (for bachelor’s degrees)
- Bachelor’s degree with transcript (for master’s degrees)
- Language proficiency test results
- Recommendation letters (if required)
- Motivation letter (if required)
Application Submission Methods
Applicants can apply in different ways:
- Joint Application: A way to apply to several universities on a single form. It comes 3 times a year and is particularly good for students interested in programs in English.
- Application on an Individual Basis: The student can apply to all universities one by one without any upper limit.
- Rolling Admission: Candidates can submit their application during the year so those who require more time can do so.
How to Apply for a Bachelor’s Program
Step-by-Step Application Process
- Choose Right Programs: Visit the StudyInfo.fi website and check for programs you are interested in.
- Check For Admissions Requirements: Examine for particular admissions requirements for each program that you wish to apply to.
- Gather Required Documents: Get all the documentation you need, per above.
- Submission of Application: Fill out your application using the corresponding submission mechanism (merged or separate).
- Stay Tuned For Admission Results: After applying, stay tuned for your admission status via email.
- Confirm Enrollment: Once you’ve been accepted, verify enrollment by sending original forms to your school of choice.
Are there any entrance examinations for some programs in Finnish universities?
Finland Admissions are different depending on the type of program and the university. Entrance tests don’t often apply to most programs but there are exceptions in certain fields. Here’s a breakdown of the place of entrance exams in the Finnish university admissions system:
Programs That May Have Entrance Exams.
- University of Applied Science (UAS): Many UAS programs ask you to take entrance exams. International UAS Exam, for instance, is a joint online exam for the recruitment of students in business, health care, and technology fields. This exam checks a candidate’s interest in studying UAS and is available online.
- Some Degree Programs: Some degree programs, especially competitive ones like engineering, business administration, and health sciences, might also have entrance requirements or standardized exams like the SAT or GRE. Some universities, for example, might require you to submit GRE or GMAT scores for admission.
- National Entrance Exams: In Finland, starting in 2025, there will be 9 national entrance exams to simplify the application procedure for different universities and programs. It’s a reform to take examinations from around 120 to nine but with each exam measuring the competencies needed for various fields of education.
Programs Without Entrance Exams
Finnish universities usually don’t even hold entrance exams for a majority of bachelor’s and master’s programs. Rather, the admissions are based on grades, languages, and other forms. Colleges such as HELBUS, for example, don’t offer an entrance exam for their business courses, but instead concentrate on academic achievement and language exams like IELTS or TOEFL.
The ability to learn what is required to be admitted to Finnish universities is very important if you are an international student and you want to study in Finland. The journey of a student will be smoother if they learn about the eligibility, application, and resources first.
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