📝 Admissions — Finland

Updated June 2026

Finland is one of Europe’s strongest study destinations for students looking for high-quality teaching, English-taught degrees, safe cities, modern campuses and strong links between education, innovation and employment. Admission is highly organised, but the rules are different from many countries: most degree applications are submitted through Studyinfo.fi, and applicants must understand the difference between joint application, separate application, universities, universities of applied sciences, tuition fees and residence permit proof of funds.

Quick summary

Applicant or route	How it usually works	Important note
English-taught bachelor’s or master’s in joint application	Apply through Studyinfo.fi	For autumn 2026, the main English-taught joint application was 7-21 January 2026.
Separate application	Apply through Studyinfo.fi or the university’s instructions	Deadlines differ by institution and programme.
University of Applied Sciences bachelor’s	Often entrance exam, SAT, document review or UAS-specific criteria	Practical, career-oriented degrees.
Research university master’s	Degree and subject-fit assessment	Requires relevant bachelor’s degree and language proof.
Doctoral studies	Direct university/doctoral programme application	No tuition fees, but funding is separate and competitive.

Official sources

Higher education structure

Finland has two main types of higher education institutions: universities and universities of applied sciences. Both award official degrees, but their focus differs.

Research universities

Universities focus on research-based academic education. They offer bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. Many English-taught options are at master’s level, although English-taught bachelor’s programmes also exist.

Universities of Applied Sciences

Universities of Applied Sciences, often called UAS, are more practice-oriented. They are strong for business, nursing, engineering, IT, hospitality, logistics, design, social services and applied fields. UAS bachelor’s programmes often involve internships and projects.

Application routes

Studyinfo.fi

Studyinfo.fi is Finland’s official application portal. Most bachelor’s and master’s degree applications are submitted there. You search for programmes, check requirements, submit applications and follow results through the official system.

Joint application

The joint application allows you to apply to several programmes with one form. Study in Finland states that the joint application for autumn studies is usually arranged in January, and Studyinfo lists the 2026 English-taught higher education joint application as 7-21 January 2026. You can normally apply to up to six programmes in one joint application.

Separate application

Some programmes use separate applications with different deadlines. Separate applications may be used by individual universities, scholarship routes, rolling admissions, master’s programmes or programmes with specific entrance exams. Always check the programme page.

Application fee

Studyinfo lists a €100 application fee for certain applicants. The fee does not guarantee admission and is not refunded if you cancel or are not admitted. Applicants must check whether the fee applies to their nationality, qualification and application route.

Admission requirements

Bachelor’s

You generally need an upper secondary qualification that gives access to higher education in the awarding country. UAS programmes may use entrance exams, SAT, online exams, interviews, document assessment or programme-specific criteria. Research university bachelor’s programmes can be more academic and may require strong language and subject preparation.

Master’s

You need a relevant bachelor’s degree or equivalent. Universities check academic fit, grades, thesis or research background, ECTS, language proof, motivation and sometimes work experience or portfolio. UAS master’s programmes often require relevant work experience after the bachelor’s degree.

Doctoral studies

Doctoral admission is direct to universities or doctoral programmes. You need a relevant master’s degree, research plan, supervisor or research group fit and funding plan. Doctoral programmes do not charge tuition fees, but living funding is the applicant’s responsibility unless a paid position or grant is awarded.

Language requirements

English-taught programmes usually require IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge or accepted previous education in English. Finnish- or Swedish-taught programmes require Finnish or Swedish proficiency. Each programme page lists accepted tests and minimum scores.

Tuition fees and scholarships

Study in Finland states that non-EU/EEA students must pay tuition fees for English-taught bachelor’s and master’s programmes, usually around €8,000 to €20,000 per year, depending on university and programme. EU/EEA students generally do not pay tuition for these degrees. Doctoral programmes do not charge tuition regardless of nationality.

Scholarships and tuition fee waivers for bachelor’s and master’s students are offered by individual universities. There is no general Finnish government scholarship for bachelor’s and master’s applicants, and scholarships usually do not cover living costs fully.

Residence permit, funds and insurance

Non-EU/EEA students usually need a residence permit for studies longer than 90 days. Migri states that students must have at least €800 per month for living costs, meaning €9,600 in the bank account for studies lasting one year or longer. If tuition has not been paid yet, the applicant must also have enough money for the tuition fee in addition to living costs. Students also need valid insurance.

Important: work cannot be used to prove funds for the first residence permit. Migri says that when applying for the first study permit, you cannot secure your income with work.

Recommended timeline

12 months before intake: search Studyinfo, identify joint/separate application routes and test requirements.
9 months before: prepare transcripts, diplomas, passport, language tests and possible SAT/entrance exam preparation.
January: many English-taught autumn-start programmes use the main joint application.
Spring: entrance exams, document checks, scholarship decisions and offers.
After admission: accept the place, pay tuition if required, apply for residence permit through Enter Finland/Migri and book embassy identification.

Common mistakes

Missing the short January joint application window.
Not checking separate application deadlines.
Assuming scholarships cover living costs.
Applying for a residence permit before having required funds and insurance.
Ignoring UAS master’s work experience requirements.
Using unofficial document translations when certified translations are required.

Official sources

This is starter guidance and changes often — always confirm on the official source before applying.

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