How to Get Into a University in Finland as an International Student

Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.

Finland has one front door for higher education: Studyinfo (Opintopolku in Finnish), the national application portal run by the Finnish National Agency for Education. Most bachelor's applications go through it, but each programme decides how it selects.

Universities and universities of applied sciences

Universities are research-based. Many programmes, especially in Finnish, lead straight on to a master's degree, and medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine are taught only here.
Universities of applied sciences (ammattikorkeakoulu, AMK) are career-oriented, with work placements built in. They run most of the English-taught bachelor's programmes.

Our catalogue has 951 full-time bachelor's programmes at 70 campuses, all of them public.

The first choice: Finnish, Swedish or English

Programmes taught in Finnish or Swedish are free for everyone, whatever your citizenship. Most of them expect you to show strong skills in the language of instruction, and selection is usually in that language.
Programmes taught in English are free for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens, and paid for most other students. Our catalogue lists 226 bachelor's programmes taught in English.

Finland is officially bilingual. Swedish-language programmes are found mainly on the west coast, in Helsinki and Turku, and in the Åland Islands.

When to apply

There are two joint applications for studies starting in the autumn.

The first joint application, in January, is for programmes taught in English. For autumn 2027 it runs from 7 to 21 January 2027.
The second joint application, in March, is for programmes taught in Finnish or Swedish. For autumn 2027 it runs from 9 to 23 March 2027.

In one joint application you can list up to six programmes, in order of preference. Some programmes, for example a few English-taught bachelor's programmes at universities, have a separate application with their own dates, so check each programme page on Studyinfo. Applicants from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland pay a €100 application fee.

How programmes select

Finnish applicants are selected by two routes: on their matriculation examination grades (certificate-based selection) or through an entrance exam. Holders of foreign school diplomas usually take the second route, or the criteria the programme sets for international applicants.

Entrance exams. Many English-taught UAS programmes use the International UAS Exam, a common exam taken online. Universities run their own exams, often subject tests for fields such as science, engineering or medicine.
Test scores and international diplomas. Some programmes admit on SAT results or on the grades of an international diploma such as the IB.
Interviews or portfolios in arts, design and some professional fields.

There is no national score scale and no published cutoff of the kind Spain or Sweden have, so our Finland pages show no entry scores. Each programme's admission rules on Studyinfo explain how points are given.

Your school diploma and English

To apply for a bachelor's programme you need a school-leaving certificate that gives access to higher education in the country where it was issued. Finland has no separate recognition procedure before you apply: the institution checks your eligibility as part of the application, and each programme lists which documents it needs, and whether they must be certified or translated.

For English-taught programmes you usually prove your English with a test such as IELTS, TOEFL, PTE or a Cambridge exam. Accepted tests, minimum scores and exemptions differ by institution, so read the programme's own requirements.

Step by step

Shortlist programmes on Studyinfo and read each one's admission rules: selection method, language test, documents.
Book an English test early if you need one.
Apply on Studyinfo in the right joint application, listing up to six programmes, and pay the application fee if it applies to you.
Upload your documents by the deadline and take any entrance exam you are invited to.
Accept your place in time. You can accept only one study place per term in Finnish higher education.
Non-EU and non-EEA citizens then apply for a student residence permit.

Non-EU students: the residence permit

Students from outside the EU and EEA apply online to the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) through Enter Finland, then visit a Finnish embassy or consulate to prove their identity. You must show money for living costs and, if you pay tuition, for the first year's fee, plus health insurance. Start as soon as you have the admission letter. The amounts are in how much it costs to study in Finland.

Where to look next

Official sources

Studyinfo: national application portal
Study in Finland: Bachelor's and master's admissions: Finnish National Agency for Education
UASinfo: admissions to universities of applied sciences and the International UAS Exam

Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.