How to Apply to Universities in Finland: Requirements, Deadlines and Portals

Start on Studyinfo.fi

Studyinfo.fi (Opintopolku) is Finland's single national portal for higher education admissions, run by the Finnish National Agency for Education. Every degree programme at every Finnish university and university of applied sciences lists here, with its own entry requirements, language of instruction, and application timeline. Search by subject, city or degree type, then build a shortlist before your application window opens.

Application rounds

Finland uses a joint application system. The main round for programmes starting in autumn typically opens in January, and covers most Bachelor's programmes and many Master's programmes across the country in one shared window. You can apply to up to six programmes in a single joint application, ranked in your order of preference.

Not every programme sits inside the joint round. Some Master's programmes, and some UAS programmes with a January intake, run their own separate application periods on a different schedule set by the individual institution. Always check the specific deadline listed on the programme's Studyinfo.fi page rather than assuming the general January window applies.

Application fee

Since applications for degree programmes starting on or after 1 August 2025, applicants from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland pay a mandatory 100 EUR application fee, collected through Studyinfo when you submit your application, according to the Finnish National Agency for Education . Paying once covers every application you submit for programmes starting in the same term, so you do not pay separately per programme. Finnish citizens and applicants from EU/EEA countries or Switzerland do not pay this fee, confirmed on the Studyinfo tuition fees page . The fee applies regardless of whether you are offered a place, so research eligibility and entry requirements carefully before you pay.

Documents and qualification recognition

You need your upper secondary school leaving certificate (or equivalent) and, for many programmes, proof of English, Finnish or Swedish proficiency depending on the language of instruction. The Finnish National Agency for Education, which also runs Studyinfo, acts as Finland's national ENIC-NARIC centre and assesses whether foreign qualifications meet Finnish eligibility requirements. Check the specific document list on each programme page, since requirements vary between fields and institutions, and some fields (medicine, art, some Master's programmes) also ask for a portfolio, essay, or written statement of motivation.

Selection methods

Finnish admissions rely on a mix of methods depending on the programme:

• Entrance examinations, sometimes held online, testing subject knowledge or aptitude for the field.

• Certificate-based selection, using your prior school grades directly, common for some Bachelor's programmes with EU-recognised qualifications.

• Combined selection, mixing exam scores with certificate grades.

• Interviews or portfolios, mainly in art, design and some Master's programmes.

Read the selection criteria section on the programme's own Studyinfo.fi listing, since the method changes what you should prepare and when.

After you apply

Once results are published, accept your study place through Studyinfo within the deadline given, since an unconfirmed place is usually released to the next candidate. After acceptance, apply for a residence permit if you are not an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen, and start arranging housing early, since demand for student housing peaks right after results come out.

A realistic application timeline

Work backward from your target autumn start. Research programmes and entry requirements the autumn before, since some fields ask for specific prior subjects or a portfolio you cannot put together at the last minute. Submit your joint application in January, take any required entrance exam in the following weeks if your programme uses one, and expect results between February and May depending on the programme and selection method. Once you accept your place, move fast on housing and, if you need one, a residence permit application, since permit processing takes time and housing supply tightens right after results.

• Autumn before: shortlist programmes, check language and document requirements.

• Autumn or winter: sit any required language test (IELTS, TOEFL, or a Finnish/Swedish proficiency test).

• January: submit joint application on Studyinfo.fi, pay the application fee if it applies to you.

• Winter to spring: complete entrance exams or interviews where required.

• Spring: receive and accept your study place.

• Spring to summer: apply for a residence permit if needed, arrange housing and insurance.

EU/EEA vs non-EU applicants: what actually differs

The application portal, programme choices and selection methods work the same for every applicant regardless of nationality. What changes is the paperwork after admission. EU/EEA and Swiss citizens do not pay tuition or an application fee, and only need to register their right of residence after arrival rather than apply for a permit in advance. Non-EU/EEA applicants pay the 100 EUR application fee, pay tuition unless they win a full waiver, and must apply for and receive a residence permit before travelling to Finland to start their studies. Build permit processing time into your plan, since it runs separately from the university admission timeline and can take several weeks.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Missing a programme-specific deadline because you assumed the general January joint application window covered every programme.

• Submitting language test scores after the application deadline instead of alongside your application.

• Waiting until after admission to start the residence permit process, which leaves too little time before term starts.

• Ranking programmes in the joint application in the wrong order, since your ranking affects which offer you receive if you qualify for more than one.