Applying for education and training

Apply for general upper secondary school via the upper secondary level joint application process (yhteishaku) in February-March. You can apply for general upper secondary school if you have completed the basic education syllabus or a syllabus corresponding to basic education. Fill in an application form via the Studyinfo.fi service.

You can also apply for general upper secondary school if you have completed education equivalent to a Finnish comprehensive school abroad. In that case, you can be admitted to a general upper secondary school on discretionary grounds. The following will be taken into account:

• your need for education and training
• your ability to successfully complete the studies.

General upper secondary schools usually select students on the basis of their comprehensive school-leaving certificate. General upper secondary schools can also take into account the applicant’s other education and hobbies. Some general upper secondary schools have an entrance exam, which counts towards your total score.

Continuous application process for general upper secondary school

If there are any vacancies left in the general upper secondary school after the joint application, the general upper secondary school can fill these in the continuous application process. General upper secondary schools decide on their own application periods. Apply for general upper secondary school in the continuous application process via the Studyinfo.fi service or on the general upper secondary school’s own website. The admission criteria for the continuous application process are usually the same as for the joint application process.

Applying for general upper secondary school for adults

If you would like to attend a general upper secondary school for adults, contact the school directly. You cannot apply for a general upper secondary school for adults via the joint application process (yhteishaku). When you apply for a general upper secondary school for adults, your grade average does not matter. You can start general upper secondary school for adults in the middle of the term, but usually studies are started at the beginning of the autumn or spring term. More information on education and training opportunities is available in the Studyinfo.fi service.

You can apply for vocational education and training in Finland after you have completed the comprehensive school syllabus or have acquired the corresponding skills in other ways. The education provider assesses whether the applicant’s skills are sufficient to complete the qualification.

You can apply for vocational education and training via the continuous application process throughout the year or via the upper secondary level joint application process. The joint application process is normally held in February-March. The joint application process is primarily intended for those who graduate from comprehensive school. Fill in an application form via the Studyinfo.fi service.

Student admission criteria vary depending on the education or training for which you apply. Admission is typically based on points, which depend on the applicant’s school certificate grades, among other things. Many education and training providers also arrange an entrance exam or aptitude test. Some fields also have health requirements.

The educational institute may check whether your language skills are sufficient for the training. For more information, contact the educational institute that you are applying to.

If you need intensive special support for your vocational education and training due to, for example, a disability or learning difficulties, you can apply in the application process for intensive special education.

Continuous application process for vocational education and training

If you have already completed a vocational qualification or a higher education degree, you cannot apply via the joint application process. In that case, apply via the continuous application process. You should also apply via the continuous application process if you are employed and want to switch fields or if you want to apply for apprenticeship training. You can also apply in the continuous application process if you did not receive a study place in the joint application process.

In the continuous application process, educational institutes decide for themselves on their application periods and on the way in which they will carry out the search. Information on application periods and application instructions can be found on the websites of educational institutes or in the Studyinfo.fi service.

Preparatory education for programmes leading to an upper secondary qualification (TUVA)

If you would like to acquire more knowledge and skills before applying for general upper secondary school or vocational education and training, you can apply for preparatory education for programmes leading to an upper secondary qualification i.e. TUVA. In TUVA education, you can also improve your skills in the Finnish language.

Read more on the InfoFinland page General upper secondary school and Vocational education and training.

If you have a foreign school certificate

If you have completed comprehensive school or general upper secondary school abroad, you may be selected for vocational education and training on discretionary grounds. The following will be taken into account:

• your need for education and training
• your ability to successfully complete the studies.

Applying for vocational education and training as an adult

If you want to complete a qualification alongside your job, you can apply for vocational education and training as an adult. Your previous education, training and skills will be taken into account in your education and qualification.

As an adult, you cannot apply for education and training via the joint application process. Apply via the continuous application process instead. Information on application periods and application instructions can be found on the websites of educational institutes or in the Studyinfo.fi service.

You can apply for university of applied sciences to complete a bachelor’s degree if you have completed, for example, one of the following:

• general upper secondary school syllabus
• Finnish matriculation examination (ylioppilastutkinto)
• vocational qualification
• bachelor’s or master’s degree
• foreign qualification providing eligibility for higher education in the country in which you obtained the qualification

Read more from the Studyinfo.fi service.

You can apply for university of applied sciences via the joint application process to higher education. The joint application process takes place three times a year, twice in spring and once in autumn. The education and training available for application vary at different times. In spring, there are usually more options than in autumn. Fill in an application form via the Studyinfo.fi service.

A joint application process for foreign-language education is organised in January. Foreign-language education means education that is in a language other than Finnish or Swedish. Universities of applied sciences can also organise applications for foreign-language education as a separate application process. You can find more information from the Studyinfo.fi service.

The majority of students are selected for universities of applied sciences on the basis of their matriculation examination or vocational upper secondary qualification. The rest of the students are selected through a UAS selection exam. If you are selected through the certificate selection, you do not need to take part in the UAS selection exam. You can also be selected on the basis of studies completed at an open university of applied sciences.

If you do not have a secondary qualification or you are not selected for the certificate selection, you must take part in the UAS selection exam. Register for the selection exam during the application period via the Studyinfo.fi service. The test is completed on a computer and you will need your own laptop computer for it. You do not need to prepare for the exam in advance.

The majority of the training programmes use the UAS selection exam. Some programmes have a separate selection exam or advance assignment. These include, for example, the majority of programmes in the cultural field. Find out for yourself how students are selected on the websites of educational institutes or the Studyinfo.fi service.

Master’s degrees at universities of applied sciences

You can apply for a master’s degree programme at a university of applied sciences if you have

• a suitable UAS bachelor’s degree or another suitable higher education degree, and
• at least two years of work experience in the same field as your degree and acquired your work experience after you completed your degree.

Apply for a master’s degree programme via the joint application process to higher education in spring or autumn. Many universities of applied sciences accept applications only in spring. Fill in an application form via the Studyinfo.fi service.

You can apply for master’s degree programmes at universities of applied sciences provided in foreign languages via the joint application process to higher education or via the separate application process. Further information and application forms are available via the Studyinfo.fi service.

You can apply for university if you hold one of the following qualifications or certificates:

• Finnish matriculation examination (ylioppilastutkinto)
• vocational qualification
• bachelor’s or master’s degree
• foreign qualification providing eligibility for higher education in the country in which you obtained the qualification

Apply for university through the joint application process to higher education or via the university’s separate application process.

You can apply for most university programmes via the joint application process to higher education. This takes place in spring and in autumn. In spring, the range of available options is much higher. For some programmes, such as foreign-language education, the joint application process takes place in January. Find out about the application period to programmes that interest you in good time. Fill in an application form via the Studyinfo.fi service.

The majority of students are selected for universities on the basis of their matriculation examination. The rest of the students are selected on the basis of a selection exam or using another selection method. For example, they can look at the studies you have completed at an open university. If you do not have a matriculation examination certificate, you may be selected on the basis of a selection exam. Prepare well for the selection exam. Some programmes accept only a small proportion of the applicants. Some entrance exams include advance assignments.

Universities and universities of applied sciences reserve some of the study places in the joint application process for first-time applicants (quota for first-time applicants (ensikertalaiskiintiö)). The size of the quota varies according to institute you apply for. You are applying for the first time, if

• you have not completed a higher education degree in Finland
• you have not received a study place for a programme leading to a higher education degree since autumn 2014

Some programmes at universities and universities of applied sciences can be applied for via the joint application or the separate application process. The separate application process is usually used by those who have already completed studies previously. These can include, for example:

• a bachelor’s degree
• studies completed in another higher education institute
• studies completed in an open university of applied sciences

Separate application processes are often organised, for example, for:

• master’s degree programmes intended for those who have completed a bachelor’s degree
• foreign-language education
• those who apply for a degree programme on the basis that they have completed studies in an open university or open university of applied sciences

Separate application processes may be held at different times and have different application procedures. Further information on separate application processes is available from the Studyinfo.fi service.

If you wish to take a postgraduate degree at a university, contact the desired university directly.

If you get a study place, you will be informed by e-mail. The e-mail will inform you of the date by which you need to accept the place. It is important to accept the place in time