How to enter a Finnish university after grade 11 – documents, requirements, deadlines, programs in English, and costs.
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For admission to a Finnish university, you need to provide a certificate of language proficiency in either Finnish, Swedish, or English. Some universities of applied sciences may also require bachelor’s entrance examinations, as well as confirmation of at least two years of relevant experience for master’s programs. Applying to universities in Finland is hassle-free, and the option to study in English is available. In this article, we will provide an in-depth guide to the admission process for Finnish universities.
For more information on higher education and universities in Finland, please refer to our dedicated articles.
| Program | Age | Duration | Min. cost / year | Avg. cost / year | Min. language level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation | 14+ | 1 year | Free | 11,300-13,560 USD | B1 |
| Bachelor's | 17+ | 3-4.5 years | Free | 11,074 USD | B2 |
| Master's | 22+ | 1.5-2 years | Free | 14,690 USD | B2 |
| MBA | 22+ | 1-2 years | 7,910 USD | 12,995 USD | B2 |
| PhD | 22+ | 3-6 years | Free | Free | B2 |
At public universities, education in Finnish and Swedish is tuition-free for all students.
The prices listed in the table are provided for your reference. For exact costs, please refer to the official website of your chosen university.
| Expense | Average cost |
| Language exam | 90-294 USD |
| Visa | 40-90 USD |
| Rent | 746-918 USD |
| Student housing | 181-429 USD |
| Public transportation | 3 USD / 66 USD |
| Food | 339-452 USD |
| Insurance | 130 USD/month |
The first step in choosing a university is determining your desired field of study and identifying your priorities for further education. We discuss this in a separate article.
When deciding on a university in Finland, you should consider several important criteria.
Finland has two main types of higher education institutions:
Only traditional universities offer PhD programs. Additionally, they provide a wider range of programs, with 1212 courses compared to 541 available at applied universities[-].
While the admission process is similar for both types of institutions, entrance exams tend to have a more significant role at UAS.
When assessing programs, take a close look at the subjects included in their curriculums. You can find detailed information on university websites. Keep in mind that courses with identical names may vary significantly in content and entry requirements.
University rankings come in two main categories: general and subject-specific. General rankings consider various indicators to determine the position of a university in the global academic landscape.
In the overall QS ranking, Finland boasts two universities in the top 150: Helsinki University and Aalto University[1].
However, for a more tailored approach to university selection, it is best to focus on subject-specific rankings. These rankings highlight where a particular field of study excels. At Finnish universities, areas like design, business and management, architecture, computer science, and pedagogy are notably strong.
If you are seeking cost-effective study options, consider programs conducted in Finnish and Swedish. They are free for all, including international students.
Costs for English programs in English start at 10,000 USD per year. Consequently, securing a scholarship becomes essential to offset a portion of your educational expenses.
The most budget-friendly bachelor’s programs taught in English — priced under 5,000 USD — can be found at the University of the Arts Helsinki[4].
If your preference is to exclusively study in English, Finnish universities of applied sciences offer approximately 100 bachelor’s and 20 master’s programs.
Traditional universities offer a smaller selection, with only 10 bachelor’s and about 100 master's programs[5].
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Advanced searchIn Finland, you can pursue higher education immediately after completing the 11th grade. Students have the option to study in English, Finnish, or Swedish.
You can apply to two types of universities: research universities and universities of applied sciences (UAS).
While both have the same document requirements, entrance exams hold greater significance at universities of applied sciences.
Documents for admission:
For bachelor’s programs, students may also need to provide SAT exam results, a description of their school curriculum (course description), and occasionally a motivation letter and recommendation letters.
When applying to master's programs, students must provide an academic resume and recommendation letters. Universities of applied sciences may additionally require confirmation of work experience in the relevant field.
Finland is a participant in the Hague Convention, simplifying the legalization process for diplomas and certificates. To legalize your diploma, you only need to obtain an apostille. For educational documents originating from the EU or Nordic countries (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland), additional legalization is not required.
Documents must be translated by an authorized translator, whose information can be found on a designated website. The language of translation should align with the specific requirements of the program.
For further details regarding types of legalization, please visit the Digital and Population Data Services Agency website.
Read more about: legalization of educational documentsFinnish universities have two semesters — autumn (August / September to December) and spring (January to May).
For the autumn semester, document submission typically occurs from January to March. However, universities establish their own specific deadlines, which are often quite brief — ranging from two weeks to a month.
In Finland, there are a limited number of programs that begin in the spring semester. In such cases, applications must be submitted in early to mid-September[6].
For precise deadline information, please refer to the respective university websites.
Documents to Finnish universities must be submitted through a designated website — Studyinfo.fi. Here, you can also explore suitable programs and access official university websites and contact information.
In Finland, there are three document submission methods: joint application, separate application, and rolling application.
Joint application. This entails completing a single registration form for multiple universities at once. You do not need to send documents to each university individually or keep track of various deadlines. The Ministry of Education and Culture establishes uniform admission deadlines. You can apply to a maximum of 6 universities through this method.
Most programs taught in English are available through the joint application method.
The joint application procedure occurs three times per year:
You can find a list of programs that are available for joint applications here.
Separate application — applicants submit their documents to each university individually. Under this approach, you can apply for an unlimited number of programs. If you are applying for multiple programs at one university, you do not need to send separate documents for each one; simply list all your chosen programs in the application.
For most programs, separate applications can be submitted through Studyinfo.fi. However, certain universities and specific programs may require applicants to submit their applications through their own website.
You can view the list of programs that fall under the separate application process here.
Rolling admission. Allowing applicants to apply throughout the year, this is a convenient method for those who have not yet completed their secondary education or bachelor's degree.
You can find the list of programs with rolling admission here.
Finnish universities do not offer specific preparation courses. If your goal is to study in Finnish, you have the option to begin preparations in advance and enroll in a Finnish high school. This way, you can gradually improve your language proficiency and acclimate to life in the country.
Following the ninth grade, students can enroll in specialized preparatory programs designed for foreign students, such as TUVA. This program includes the study of Finnish and English, mathematics, social sciences and computer skills[7]. Additionally, experienced advisors provide guidance on university admissions. Some educational institutions permit students to merge the preparatory year with their high school education by transferring earned credits.
To qualify for these programs, you should have a proficiency level of at least A2 in Finnish or Swedish and have completed nine years of high school.
| Organization | Location | Entrance exams |
|---|---|---|
| Kastelli Community Center | Oulu | Interview |
| Mäntsälä High School | Mäntsälä | Interview |
| Vuosaari High School | Vuosaari | Finnish language exam, interview |
| Karku Evangelical College | Karku | Interview |
| Staircase Christian College | Lapinlahti | Language certificate |
Most bachelor’s programs offered by Finnish universities can be found here.
You can enroll in a bachelor's program at a Finnish university immediately after the 11th grade. The duration of these programs is typically three years at traditional universities and from 3.5 to 4.5 years at universities of applied sciences.
There are three methods for submitting your application:
Additional requirements:
Some universities, such as Arcada University, accept electronic certificates of language exams and the SAT exam from relevant organizations. In such cases, during registration, you should request that the exam results be sent directly to the university.
Specific requirements for language proficiency and documents may vary depending on the university and the program. Check for exact information on the official website of your chosen institution.
Applications are typically accepted from January to March, with the academic year starting in September. Specific application deadlines are determined by individual universities. These deadlines are often quite short, ranging from just two weeks to one month.
After being accepted to a university, you will be required to present your original documents for final verification. The deadline for this verification process is usually in early September.
You can explore available master's programs here.
In Finland, you can apply for a master's program in the same or related field as your bachelor's degree.
Master's programs at universities of applied sciences typically last 1.5 years, and they require a minimum of 2 years of work experience for admission. For creative fields, a portfolio showcasing your work experience and achievements, such as competition wins, participation in festivals, exhibitions, and more, may also be accepted as part of your application.
At traditional universities, master's programs last 2 years, and prior work experience is not a mandatory requirement.
For some specializations, particularly in fields like medicine, students follow a combined bachelor’s and master’s program, which lasts 5-6 years.
The process for submitting documents to master's programs is similar to that of bachelor's programs, including joint, separate, and rolling admission methods.
Deadlines for applications vary among universities. However, as a general guideline, applications for the autumn semester are accepted from December through the end of January. Universities of applied sciences may extend their admission deadlines until March.
For the spring semester, which starts in January, applications are accepted in July and August.
In Finland, you have the opportunity to pursue a master's degree in business administration (MBA). This field is relatively less popular in the country, with MBA and EMBA programs offered by only 5 universities.
MBA programs are designed for individuals aspiring to build a career in business and management, while EMBA programs are geared toward experienced top-level managers and business owners with 5-7 years of professional experience.
Required documents:
Please note that some universities may require GMAT or GRE scores and also conduct entrance examinations.
Find the appropriate PhD program here.
In Finland, there are two pathways to continue your education after receiving a master's degree:
PhD programs are only available at traditional universities, and a crucial requirement is that your chosen field must align with or be closely related to your master's degree.
To be eligible for PhD studies, you should have a master's thesis grade of at least 4 out of 5 and an average GPA of 3.5 out of 5.
Additionally, you need to provide your master's diploma, a research plan for your future studies, and find a prospective supervisor.
You may also be asked to provide a supervision plan, which outlines the principles of your interaction with your supervisor: including work summaries, rights, obligations, and the number of meetings. This plan can be modified and expanded as needed, and you can find a sample on the website of your university.
PhD programs typically last for 4 years, with graduates earning 240 ECTS credits.
A licentiate degree is an intermediary qualification between a master's and a PhD. If you are not inclined to dedicate 4 years to a PhD or do not plan an academic career, a licentiate degree may be more suitable.
Admission requirements for licentiate programs are the same as those for PhD programs. Licentiate education has a stronger practical focus and is suitable for individuals who require research skills for employment in a company or their own business.
Licentiate programs last for 2 years, encompassing 60 ECTS credits.
After successful defense of your dissertation, which is smaller in volume compared to a PhD thesis, you are awarded a Licentiate of Science degree.
All documents must be submitted directly to the university and translated into Finnish, Swedish, or English while being notarized.
Application deadlines vary between universities and specific programs. For example, at Aalto University, you have the opportunity to submit your documents once a month on specific dates. However, for certain engineering programs, applications may be accepted only twice a year. The University of Helsinki offers more flexibility, allowing applications to be submitted up to five times a year. To ensure you meet the deadlines for your chosen university and program, check and verify the specific dates well in advance.
State scholarships are available to master's and doctoral students, while funding opportunities for bachelor's students come from universities and private organizations.
Some private organizations offer financial assistance under specific conditions. For instance, companies like CustomEssayMeister provide scholarships for orphans, while universities like Nexford offer scholarships for women pursuing careers in business.
Foreign students intending to study in Finland must apply for a student visa, with a processing time of 2-3 months. The visa fee is 508 USD, but applying electronically can reduce the cost to 395 USD and expedite processing[8].
Required documents:
As of April 2022, a new law allows foreign students to receive a visa and residence permit for the entire duration of their study, eliminating the need for renewals[11]. This permit also lets students work up to 30 hours a week and provides an opportunity to obtain a work permit for two years after graduation.
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